Mt Albert, located to Auckland’s inner city western suburbs is a small town centre which has recently undergone an upgrade to improve vehicular, bicycling and pedestrian access, lighting, usability and aesthetics.
Mt Albert is a key transport hub with more than 2,100 people using public transport every day on top of the thousands of road users travelling through the centre. Over the next 30 years, Mt Albert is expected to change significantly, so the new streetscape design seeks to acknowledge the past and create a legacy for the future by reconnecting the town centre with our maunga (mountain) - Owairaka Mount Albert.
Working alongside the team of Cathy Challinor and Kieran Dove at Boffa Miskell Auckland, Walkspace’s involvement in the project saw the design and supply of a new suite of bespoke street furniture consisting of seating, bench’s and perch’s. The seating, arranged in various clusters enhance and facilitate meeting points to relax and pause. The addition of bike racks and drink fountains also worked to reinforce alternative means of transport and to offer better usability and access.
The design and supply and installation of a new bus shelter was also a major component of Walkspace’s involvement in the project and presented many design challenges. Foundation limitations, working around protected trees and existing buildings all had to be addressed whilst still being able to function successfully as a bus shelter. The shelter’s colour palette, the same as the furniture was further employed to reinforce the design and cultural language present throughout the shopping village.
If you would like to learn more, don’t hesitate to contact the team at Walkspace