Nohonga installation at Auckland's Britomart

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Takutai Square in Auckland’s Britomart precinct is now the temporary home to three of the four finalists in the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora/Brick Bay Nohonga design challenge.

A Monday morning ceremony saw the launch of the temporary installation before the stunning finalists make their way to the Brick Bay winery near Matakana.

One of the two “Whiria” nohonga by a Boffa Miskell team freshly installed at Britomart.

One of the two “Whiria” nohonga by a Boffa Miskell team freshly installed at Britomart.

This stage of the landscape architecture competition wasn’t without its issues though, with one of the entries, Boffa Miskell’s “Bioluminescence” proving too heavy to sit above the Britomart rail tracks.

Bioluminescence has arrived at Brick Bay after proving too heavy to sit at Britomart.

Bioluminescence has arrived at Brick Bay after proving too heavy to sit at Britomart.

This is by the Wilkins sisters and explores the idea of framing the landscape but also provides a clear measure of the two metre social distancing required in the age of Covid-19.

This is by the Wilkins sisters and explores the idea of framing the landscape but also provides a clear measure of the two metre social distancing required in the age of Covid-19.

Matthew Jones, speaking on behalf the Auckland branch of the NZILA, says he is excited to see the finalists take their place at Britomart, but also looks forward to seeing them all at Brick Bay as that is where they were designed to sit.

A vibrant glimpse of ‘Te Whakatohenehene” (The Disruption) by a multinational team.

A vibrant glimpse of ‘Te Whakatohenehene” (The Disruption) by a multinational team.

In early March the call went out to challenge students and all levels of graduated landscape architects to design and construct creative nohonga (seats).

The Judges for the competition are Brick Bay owner Richard Didsbury, Jacky Bowring, an NZILA Fellow, Jeremy Hansen from Britomart and Viva editor Amanda Linnell. The event is sponsored by Brick Bay, Britomart, NZILA (Auckland Branch), Resene and the New Zealand Herald’s Viva.

Watch the video below to see the finalists in their temporary home, and to hear more from Matthew Jones.

NZILA, VideoGuest UserNohonga