The landscape design was developed in response to the scale and character of the large format retail buildings. A bold, simple design approach was adopted to complement the surrounding architecture and provide clarity across the public realm. The design prioritises clear, comfortable pedestrian connections for people visiting, working in, and spending time within the area.

Mana whenua engagement played an important role from the outset, helping to strengthen the cultural identity of the site and its relationship with the wider Sylvia Park precinct. A key reference within the kōrero was the historic stream, or awa, that once meandered through Sylvia Park, reflecting the site’s historical connection to the surrounding landscape. The area was culturally associated with water-based travel, communication routes, and settlement patterns.

Today, the landscape is almost entirely urbanised. Within this context, the design carries an important responsibility to make the most of opportunities to reintroduce cultural narratives into the urban environment.

Boffa Miskell played a central role in supporting the client team through the mana whenua engagement process and translating the cultural narrative into the landscape design. During the site narrative phase, four artists were appointed to explore opportunities to express these narratives through integrated design elements. Boffa Miskell worked closely with each artist from concept development through to construction delivery.

The landscape design supports the functional needs of a large-scale retail development, while also creating moments of pause for visitors, and opportunities to connect with the site’s history and cultural narratives as part of their experience of the precinct.