Tory Street decolonised
Victoria Landscape Architecture students Anthony Bolger, Francesca Crawford and Matt Wakelin have won the Reimagine Tory Street concept design competition with their project It's Tory Time.
Reimagine Tory Street is a partnership between Wellington City Council and the School of Architecture, exploring new options for temporary installations in lower Tory Street.
The winning concept was inspired by lower Tory Street’s history as part of Te Aro Pā, and features a structural pavilion, platform seating, and planting.
The students say their design aims to celebrate the natural decolonisation of the site that occurred in response to the Kaikoura earthquake in November last year, and hopes that it will restore cultural and community significance to this forgotten piece of New Zealand’s history.
The students' lecturer, Carles Martinez-Almoyna Gual says, “Temporary street design is a low-risk way to test new ideas and a phased approach to change, involving the community. The Lower Tory street project allows the university to participate new ways of decision making and develop design ideas that will be implemented.”
Students met with local businesses and residents, and ran a drop-in session at Courtenay Central where everyone could share their thoughts and ideas.
Members of the public were asked to vote at the concept exhibition in Courtenay Central or online through the Council Facebook page. More than 2000 people voted over five days, and It’s Tory Timetook top place by a significant margin.
During the coming weeks, a team of students will work with university staff and council officers to develop the concept design. Construction will begin later this year.