Avon River Park Terraces + City Promenade @ Christchurch, New Zealand

Streetscape is a term used to describe the natural and built fabric of the street, and defined as the design quality of the street and its visual effect, particularly how the paved area is laid out and treated. It includes buildings, the street surface, and also the fixtures and fittings that facilitate its use – from bus shelters and signage to planting schemes. It plays an important role in forming the visual image of sustainable cities. It is one of the important components of the public realm that helps define a country’s aesthetic quality, identity, economic activity, health, social cohesion and opportunity, not just its mobility.

Case in point is the Te Papa Ōtākaro Avon River Park (ARP) and City Promenade project in Otautahi, Christchurch, New Zealand.

DESIGN CONCEPT

The streetscape project enhances access to water. It brings the spirit and ecology of the river (fluid) into a dialogue with the city (grid) where the combined cycles of nature, culture and infrastructure and business come together at the Avon - Ōtākaro in Christchurch.

The design of the Terrace at the river edge precinct – located at the epicentre of Christchurch’s revitalisation – transforms Oxford Terraces from an ordinary, conventional street into a 2km shared-use city promenade that replaces cars with pedestrian priority, cycling and the integration of a new tram circuit. This unique city promenade and edge condition provides the catalyst for the city to turn and face the river and the critical connecting element for the park’s sequence of public realm experiences.

The refurbished heritage-listed Bridge of Remembrance and nearby Park of Remembrance are restyled to create a cohesive rivers edge destination. Herein lies a network of heritage-listed monuments and landmarks to captivate locals, visitors and tourists.

THE SETTING

A series of terraces built as a sculptural set of stoneclad seats and bleaches provide new opportunities for access and occupation of the river bank. The site offers a reciprocal relationship between the opposing forces of both river banks and supports

social occupation for various recreational opportunities from quiet contemplation to city-scale celebrations.

A unique feature of the Te Papa Ōtākaro Avon River Park and City Promenade is its low-impact design strategy, which treats the run-off from the promenade before discharging it into the Avon as well as the establishment of a river corridor.

All-year-round activities are possible at the promenade as it provides many delightful experiences along the length and breadth. Bespoke paving, street furniture and lighting establish a wonderful new identity for Christchurch. The paving gradient provides a transition from the city (dark) to the river (light) as well as the subtle variations that reflet the movement of the river corridor. Beach forms and other detailing are made of traditional “mōkihi” or reed river rafts used by aborigines. This place provides an opportunity for artists, writers and those in the performing arts or creative professions to indulge in their passion.

Upon the re-imagined banks of the Ōtākaro, this project establishes a new, continuous, and vibrant edge, which fundamentally redefines the relationship between river and city. The Promenade provides a focal point where the flows of the river, community, and commerce come together. It reconfigures the river edge from its pre-earthquake condition as a conventional vehicle dominated streetscape to a pedestrian priority precinct with shared use for cyclists and public transport and limited/ controlled access for private cars.

This is why the Te Papa Ōtākaro Avon River Park and City Promenade sets to excel and draw many visitors, both local and foreign, and offer an atmosphere and ambience to be savoured and enjoyed. It is set to be a major draw for the city of Christchurch and the nation of New Zealand for a long time to come.