Project Profile - Te Mata Topaki by LandLAB
One key thing has changed since we last profiled progress on the latest LandLAB project in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour - the name.
Our earlier stories referred to it as the Lookout - but it has since taken on its rightful name - Te Mata Topaki (to hover)
Te Mata Topaki is now complete. Image credit - Petra Leary.
Landscape Architect Bela Grimsdale, part of the LandLAB team on the project, says the inspiration for the project was the stern of a waka, the taurapa.
She says the concept was given to them by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei artist Graeme Tipene. “He was our maori artist involved with the project and we did a lot of research.”
She says they came to understand the project was about the relationship between papatuanuku (the land) tangaroa (the sea) and ranginui (the sky)
LAA has been speaking with Sam Gould of LandLAB about the project since July ( you can see the first story here ) when he told us Te Mata Topaki was part of a suite of projects which make up the Auckland Viaduct Harbour Masterplan.
Back then he and Henry Crothers told us the project set out to be a strong sculptural form probing 30m into the harbour from the geographical centre of the Precinct, visually connecting key destinations and re-connecting people to the water.
The LandLAB project was offically opened in November. Image credit - Petra Leary.
We caught up with Sam again in October and then again last week now the project is complete.
Sam says there were no last minute issues with finishing Te Mata Topaki, which he puts down to good planning and strong team work.
“Now that it’s finished we feel really great about the project. I think scale was one of the important things we really got right.”
He enjoys watching people use the structure. “It’s kind of funny to see them stick their heads over the side of the balustrade and get a real appreciation for the high to low fall.”
Bela feels the lookout really lives up to its name - “hovering over Te Waitemata and in between those realms of ranginui and tangaroa.”
You can see more from Sam and Bela about the project in the video below.
The details: Location - Viaduct, Auckland, NZ. Client - Tramco. Date - 2017 - Current Team - LandLAB, Novare, Alta + Design Production. Completed November 2020.