Devonport Navy Museum Activity Space, Auckland

Client
New Zealand Defence Force
Date
2010 - 2013
Category
Community
Parks
Public Realm
Devonport Navy Museum Playground 10
Devonport Navy Museum Marker Poles PORT

The Navy Museum is a significant and frequently visited attraction. A portion of the Museum grounds offered the potential for a children's activity/play space and Reset Urban were engaged to produce an overall landscape plan to be developed through to construction. 

Key objectives for the project were to create a fun and vibrant play space, improve connections to surrounding areas, enhance existing features and preserve views of the Waitemata Harbour and Auckland CBD. 

The children's play space was developed to be an attractive, safe and colourful play area that incorporated some old Navy artefacts and create a stimulating fun space for 2-5 year old children to play while their parents relax in the adjacent Navy Museum Cafe.

Services Design Team Lead, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Construction Documentation, Construction Observation/QA

Team Blakey Planning, BGE Landscapes

Awards 2015 New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) Award for Outstanding Design 

"A playful, functional and dynamic landscape on the edge of the Waitemata Harbour elegantly links the water and the Navy Museum; the site is one of those small jewels that frequent Auckland’s landscape sequestered in the lee of North Head. Reset Urban Design marshalled an array of naval memorabilia and motif that has inspired and defined spaces that are part playground, part courtyard and part pier. These three elements come together as one in a design and play space that has a unique and legible identity has been created against this historical maritime gem. What was a small, simple space between harbour and ‘boat shed’ is now a vibrant link between Devonport and its naval history." — 2015 NZILA Awards citation

Devonport Navy Museum Playground 15
Devonport Navy Museum Boardwalk Shot 6
Devonport Navy Museum Steering Wheel
Devonport Navy Museum-Playground Shot 2 PORT
Devonport Navy Museum Playground Shot 2
Devonport Navy Museum Timber Seats
Devonport Navy Museum Design Concept MP ISSUE
Devonport Navy Museum Furniture Options ISSUE
Devonport Navy Museum Stepping Stones Detail