Landscape Design

Reset Urban Design

www.reseturban.co.nz

Design Team: Landscape Architect Garth Falconer with Linda Falconer/The Potting Shed, Matakana.

Builder: Rod Cooper, Cooper Construction

Steel: Hugh Harvey, MS Engineering

Paving: Phil Holt, Sculptured Earth

In 2000 landscape architect Garth Falconer (former founding director of Isthmus Group Limited, and now managing director of Reset Urban Design) was approached by Richard and Christine Didsbury to provide a concept for the masterplan of the landscape of the Matakana Village Complex.

The brief was to complete an integrated landscape for the entire project including streetscape adjoining the public road (Matakana Valley Road), farmers market, car park area, riverbank walkway and pedestrian corridors . The client also wanted the design to follow sustainability principles and to develop a ‘riot’ of country planting

The input of the landscape architect was critical to the development from the beginnings at the urban design level, influencing the discreet modulation of the buildings, increasing active edges along the public street and opening up a wide pedestrian access down to a series of under-croft retail shops.

The historic element of the ‘Alameda’ (row of orchard tress used in the original 19th century nursery near the site) was used as a major site structural element linking the river up across the site to the street. From a situation of fundamental problem solving of getting people down a 3 metre drop between enclosing buildings to a concealed retail frontage, this design has developed to become a celebrated landscape feature.

Water is pumped from the river up the street to a well stone (carved by local sculptor Glenn Davis) set at waist height, and then split down a raised corten steel trough through a series of steps, continuing down a rill to a collecting pool before emptying back into the river. Along the way the water channel passes through a series of conditions. The steps are fronted with local glazed tile, and planting on either side in pots and under the trough. A series of of garden ‘rooms’ unfold with seating, broken by several timber ramps that curve across the rill. To the sides are planters that climb and edge the building…”

Along the river a public walkway has been developed that links through under the bridge to give access to a wide waterfall [see picture * above]. The planting follows the ARC guides for native re-vegetation. The whole scheme is lit at night with spots on the tall trees, strip lights under the ramps and jetty; with a blue light arching across the underside of the bridge.

The street along Matakana Valley Road extends the recycled timber, brick and river aggregate forming a wide sidewalk. Along Leigh Road a bold strip of planting featuring a beech hedge edges the back of the cinema; whilst across the road a series of gardens extend to link in the renovated Brookview Teahouse and kitchen garden (designed and planted by Linda Falconer)…”

Leading “Plantswoman” Linda Falconer of The Potting Shed was responsible for the detail planting plans, implementation of the gardens, and The Potting Shed remains responsible for the on going management of all the garden areas including the Brookview Teahouse/ Potting Shed gardens. Link here to linda@thepottingshed.co.nz.

The sculpted well-stone by Glenn Davis Looking along the rill to the bridges The shop-side bench seats, bridges and plantings

A big feature of the development has been sustainability. On the environmental front, the use of local recycled, low-energy-embodied materials; porous on-site drainage as well as increasing the biodiversity and edible planting.

On the economic front, the development has created 32 full-time jobs (plus a number of part-time retired people), plus outlets for many other locals. Retail includes a bookshop, two art galleries, two shoe shops, a dress shop, a chemist, a restaurant, interior designer, a florist, butchers, ice-cream shop, chocolate shop, and a wine bar selling only locally produced wines.

On the social side, the site has become a focus for community activity and gathering and has been drawing people from across the country and around the world! It has recently featured in many national magazines, TV, and even a New York Times Travel Destinations Feature.

The Matakana site has become a landmark of excellent development that has created wide-ranging spin-offs and benefits from a focused investment in design. Matakana village was awarded a Landscape Design Award for commercial landscape design by the NZ Institute of Landscape Architecture for stage 1in 2006 and for stage 2 in 2008 www.reseturban.co.nz