The five groups of finalists in the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora/Brick Bay Nohonga (seat) design challenge are now in the process of bringing their designs to life.

The finalists’ nohonga will be temporarily on display in Britomart in Auckland’s CBD, later in the year.

Jacky Bowring, speaking on behalf of the judging panel, says the when the challenge was announced in early March, no one saw the Covid-19 lockdown coming and it challenged the teams and indeed all in the landscape architecture profession to “explore space in different ways.”

She said suddenly we were thinking “about social distance and two metre buffers around ourselves and we changed our feelings around proximity.”

Ten days ago 11 teams presented their designs for the challenge at a special event in Auckland. Teams pointed out their design phases were largely carried out during the lockdown with many designs reflecting concepts of ‘bubbles’ and social distancing.

We can now bring you the video presentations from the five finalists and a link to all 11 presentations below.

The judges for the competition are Brick Bay owner Richard Didsbury, Jacky Bowring, an NZILA Fellow as mentioned earlier, Jeremy Hansen from Britomart and Viva editor Amanda Linnell.

The team for each of the five finalists will be paid a minimum of $2,000 to support the further design, construction and implementation of their proposal.

The site for the initial, temporary, public install will be at Britomart in Auckland during November/December and some or all nohonga may be transferred to Brick Bay sculpture trail outdoor gallery for a further install of up to 12 months.

Below you can see the presentations of the five finalists - where teams discuss their plans, their processes and how their nohonga will be constructed.

The team behind - Te Whakatohenehene - The Disruption, says the design explores tensions between the built and natural environment through Te Ao, Maori principles.

Topsy Steele and Anna Li of Boffa Miskell announced Bioluminescence - which incorporates design elements reflecting our coastal landscape and the shape of shells found there. 

An Isthmus team spoke about their design concept, Titiro, which finds form for the quiet practices of being still, dwelling and observing.

The Wilkins twins, Anne and Rose, presented  their entry “Connection versus Isolation” which plays with the new spatial awareness which developed during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Team Tenax from Boffa Miskell outlines “Whiria” which references the weaving of Harekeke and its resonance in the weaving together of people.

You can see the video presentations from the remaining entrants here.

The challenge is sponsored by Brick Bay,  Britomart,  NZILA Auckland Branch,  Resene and Viva.