An award 30 years in the making
Landscape architect Dennis Scott has made the trip to Waiheke Island countless times. On a Saturday morning in August we make the trip together so he can show me his island - the place where he reimagined and responded to its growing popularity - leading and collaborating in an applied landscape planning approach that lead to a sustainable landscape transformation for the once “bohemian community.”
An aerial view of Waiheke Island. Photo credit - Skyview Photography Ltd.
D J Scott Associates were the winners of the enduring category in the 2017 Resene NZILA Pride of Place Landscape Awards for the Waiheke Island Western Entrance Headland. Dennis’ pride in the transformation is obvious as he shows me what he can of the landscape response which covers 430ha and has spanned a number of projects and years throughout its development. He tells me he is delighted to see further maturation of the vegetation and tells me tales of the personalities he worked with over the three decades spent on the development.
Dennis Scott looks over the Matiatia entrance to Waiheke Island.
During our time together Dennis speak with passion about the process - the constitutional changes (the Resource Management Act 1991) - the new District Plan and the many significant changes to Waiheke’s community and land uses over the time he has been working on the project.
In the video below we celebrate the project as Dennis talks us through his 30 year association with the island.
