West Harbour School ENTRANCE GARDEN

project

The design of West Harbour School entrance garden is the result of a collaboration with the school and its community. It aims to bring people together and strengthen relationships with each other, our environment and the mana of the school.

The narrative of the design threads the kaupapa of the school into the land. 26 kauri trees ‘stand tall’ and are symbolic of the school mission statement to “stand tall, proud and confident.” The kauri trees are woven together by a meandering new pathway which is inspired by the local Manutewhau stream.

Three curved bench seats sit adjacent to the new path and represent the three arches of the West Harbour School logo. The journey through the garden starts with a blue bench which is symbolic of the natural environment. Secondly, a black seat represents the connections within and outside of West Harbour School. The pathways exploring the adjacent garden further emphasise the principles of the black arch.

Lastly, by the school office, sits a gold bench seat. The curved gold bench links with the gold arch of the school logo and is symbolic of ‘bridging between the worlds of students and the community.’ Behind the gold bench stand four kauri trees. The four kauri are symbolic of Te Whare Tapa Whā (the four cornerstones of Māori health); taha whānau (family health), taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (mental health) and taha wairua (spiritual health).

The project was a privilege and an absolute pleasure, as was the official opening in May 2021. A link to the video of the opening ceremony can be found below.

team

Design & Project Management - Neville Design Studio
Creative co-lab - Room 6
Build - Feature Landscapes
Murals - Erika Pearce
Garden care - The Mindful Gardener
Photography - Carme Aguayo & Scott Sinton
Video - Joshua McCormack

media

‘Whakawhanaungatanga at West Harbour School’ - Landscape Architecture Aotearoa, March 2022
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