Each September, parking spaces all around the world are colonised with parklets and other installations for World PARK[ing] Day. The aim of PARK[ing] Day is to raise awareness of the important role that public open space plays in improving the quality of our lives. This year the New Zealand Institute of Architects collaborated with Boffa Miskell, Beca and Lysaght Consultants on Friday, 20 September from 9-5pm in Tauranga CBD and Mount Maunganui to highlight how different cities would be if public spaces were used with humans as their main focus and not cars! 

Lysaght Consultants

The installation by Lysaght Consultants was set up to align with the Lysaght ‘Healthy Mind, Healthy Body’ philosophy that they strive to live by within the office. There is a strong culture of being active and healthy and competing in multisport events, as well as encouraging others and our clients to do the same. They thought that would be the perfect theme for their [PARK]ing Day installation.

Boffa Miskell

Parking day encourages the re-imagination of public space through guerrilla design. This year Boffa Miskell is taking that idea one step further thinking outside of the (parking) box into the wider streetscape. Through the use of virtual technology within this space, they aim to create a direct and exciting connection between designer, design and audience. From what may seem like a relatively ‘blank’ canvas, Boffa Miskell transports you into the world of design. 

Beca

Beca’s parking day installation looked at the idea of re-imagining the kiwi-backyard. With intensification a likely reality for Tauranga, could you live with 12m² of private outdoor space (the space of 1 car park)?

Read more about the Festival of Architecture events here.