Sylvia Park precinct’s new outdoor living room
Seating and greenery are positioned outside restaurants and eateries to create a revitalising hub for socialising, rest and play.
The new mixed-use space is sheltered to shield against the wind and creates an indoor feel in the outdoor setting.
Sylvia Lane’s welcoming and formal entry invites passersby into the new public space via a pedestrianised streetscape.
Lights are suspended along the roof canopy to create an ambient and safe atmosphere in the evening.
The arrangement of furniture and greenery creates the feeling of an outdoor living room.
Woods Bagot and Peddlethorp’s collaboration on the Sylvia Park precinct continues with Sylvia Lane. The architectural partnership, joined by landscape and urban designers Boffa Miskell, has together reimagined the public arrival to the Sylvia Park Shopping Centre.
The development of the Sylvia Park masterplan and the introduction of urban-scaled towers, has presented the opportunity to improve pedestrian connectivity via the realignment of Te Kehu Way and improvements to the former Grove Plaza, to elevate the quality of these public spaces.
With works encompassing signalisation of Te Kehu Way alongside the addition of architectural interventions to the public plaza, the project reimagines Sylvia Lane as an outdoor living room to greet, gather and linger.
Te Kehu crossing redesigned as a signalised intersection creates a pedestrian-oriented streetscape with the provision of direct and safe crossing points into Sylvia Lane. A new visually permeable colonnade provides formal arrival into the precinct with ‘open roof’ canopy designed to mitigate wind effects for year-round comfort, connecting both indoor and outdoor hospitality spaces.
“The Sylvia Lane development extends and reinforces the strong food and beverage offer through the Lane, says Tessa Pawson, Senior Associate at Peddlethorp. “By emphasising nature in light, planting and the outdoors, it shows the way for the delivery of future authentic living places within the Kiwi Property portfolio.”
Designer at Woods Bagot, Joseph Crowe adds: “Elevating the Mt Wellington arrival into the Sylvia Park lifestyle and work precinct, the redevelopment of Sylvia Lane creates a welcoming public space for year-round occupation and entertainment.”
By extending the public ground plane with increased sheltered spaces, the design encourages social interaction and activity. The redevelopment of Sylvia Lane continues the growth of Sylvia Park into an outward-reaching urban mixed-use precinct.
The imminent completion of Sylvia Lane alongside the expected delivery of another Woods Bagot and Peddlethorp collaboration, the 3 Te Kehu Way tower designed in mid-2021 marks an exciting development for the collaboration and continues their working relationship with both local partners and Kiwi Property.
Sylvia Lane is now open to the public ahead of the Christmas and summer period.
Woods Bagot is a global practice operating from studios in seventeen major cities around the world. woodsbagot.com
Peddlethorp (est. 1968) is a design and architecture studio operating from Auckland and Christchurch. peddlethorp.co.nz
