Otahuhu Station wins prestigious prize

The new $28 million Otahuhu bus and rail station

The new $28 million Otahuhu bus and rail station has won a major design award.

The station, which opened last October, picked up an Award of Excellence in the Te Karanga o te Tui category, at the 2017 New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) Awards.

The new facility incorporates the existing train station, linking the rail platform with two new bus platforms and a terminal building via an elevated concourse.

The judges said: "The design team expertly weaved together multiple cultural and historic narratives, all whilst navigating a raft of complicated technical planning issues required for this complex site."

Auckland Transport's Group Manager Major Capital, Andrew Scogginsm, said the council body takes care to build public transport infrastructure that reflects and respects the area's cultural and historical importance.

"The project team worked closely with mana whenua from project inception through to its construction. Partnering with mana whenua at the outset of the project allowed clear priorities and narratives to be established. These were further refined through the use of the Te Aranga Design Principles.

"As a result of this consultation there were two key design outcomes: the desire to restore the mauri [life force] and the establishment of three key narratives to be incorporated into the project design: navigation, portage/waka and maunga. This influenced the layout and design of the architecture and landscape, and resulted in the integration of iwi art and design throughout the station site."

Auckland Transport recognises the important role played by the wider team and consultants, including artists Tessa Harris (Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki) and Graham Tipene (Ngati Whatua Orakei) and architects Jasmax in building a significant structure and associated landscape at Otahuhu.