29 November 2016

Pop-up garden transforms empty CBD lot

Gardens, seesaws and shaded seating will be installed on 30 November 2016 over the scarred concrete foundations of the Griffiths Building, creating an urban oasis on the corner of Albert Street and Wellesley Street in Auckland.

The new pop-up garden, Griffiths Gardens, will be an inner city back yard and will include inviting, informal seating, picnic tables, child-friendly play equipment and even a garden shed for gardening tools and quick bike repair gear.

It’s the brainchild of the Auckland Design Office and is funded by the City Centre Advisory Board as part of its efforts to retain the vibrancy of the city centre during major capital works. The site was scheduled to lie empty for up to two years, pending the development of the Aotea City Rail link station.

“As Auckland grows, we will see more sites left bare while they wait to be transformed into new civic amenities, and this a great opportunity for us to work collaboratively across council-controlled organisations to use those spaces, make them beautiful again and keep the city vibrant and appealing,” says City Centre Advisory Board Chair Kate Healy.

Ms Healy says the board supports the City Centre Masterplan’s vision to grow and consolidate Auckland’s international reputation as one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic business and cultural centres.

Individuals and community groups will be able to schedule small-scale activities in the garden through Auckland Council’s events listing system.

“Use of the space will be free but there are criteria for listing an event in the garden. We are keen to see group meetings, yoga, dance, craft or writing workshops, chess – anything that a group might want to do in a small, urban park space,” says Auckland Design Office Specialist Activation Designer Liz Allen.

The pop-up garden will feature a Community Fridge, sponsored by the Love Food, Hate Waste project. Donors will be able to leave unwanted food items for others to make use of. The Community Fridge pilot will be in place until Christmas.

Griffith Garden will also become a central teaching hub for the city bee collaboration project, “For the love of bees” in the new year.

Artist Sarah Smuts-Kennedy is the originator and vision holder of the social sculpture ‘For the Love of Bees – A City Bee Collaboration 2016-2018’ commissioned by the Auckland Design Office at Auckland Council.

Griffith Garden will act as the home-base for the project and provide ongoing activation and community presence on the site. It will host workshops, talks and offer a place for people to ‘get their hands dirty’ during their lunch breaks. There will be no beehives on the site.

ENDS

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