New Plymouth- Mountain to Sea

A strategic landscape masterplan for the Central Business District of New Plymouth to regenerate the city, for the Isthmus Group. It was implemented in several stages from 1997 to 2002 and the Foreshore project is still being extended, connecting it to the Coastal Walkway.

New Plymouth had for years turned it's back on the often violent Tasman Ocean. This plan re-vitalised the central business district through environmental and infrastructure improvements and re-connected the centre to the sea.

The Mainstreet was reopened to two-way traffic, planted with Alnus cordata street trees and the pavements were totally repaved in basalt ('bluestone') stone slabs. We custom-designed a full range of furniture and lighting and had it manufactured locally.

We also proposed opening up the stream by demolishing one empty building on the mainstreet to create a connection through to the Puke Ariki Landing at the mouth of the stream. This was the landing area for the whaling boats, and is now the site of a major new museum.