Place and Space Making: Space-shaping on Te Whau and Placemakng for People

In October INNZ looks forward to a webinar on Place and Space Making.

Space-shaping on Te Whau Pathway: Gill Thurlow - Auckland Council  

Gill manages the development of Te Whau pathway, which wends its way alongside the Whau River, through mangroves, green spaces and suburbs from east to west. Eventually it will connect the Waitematā and Manukau Harbours. Gill facilitates the sharing of mana whenua stories and works with them and local artists on the innovative design of balustrades, piles, bollards and interpretation platforms. Along the way there will be a mara hupara (nature play space) conceived by local schoolchildren and play expert Hako Brown.

The Whau Pathway is a partnership project about connection, to the awa, to the community, to the environment, and each other.

Placemaking for people: Frith Walker - Manager Placemaking, Ak. Urban Development Office

Frith has what she describes as ‘the job of a lifetime’. She began her placemaking journey in 2011 with the redevelopment of Auckland’s waterfront (think Silo Park and the Wynyard Quarter), a 20 plus year regeneration project. Now she and her team work to ‘sprinkle magic’ in many other neighbourhoods throughout the city. ‘As a placemaker I know that understanding the people, stories and needs of an area are crucial in creating successful places’. Frith will explore her place-based approach and the value of integrating art within landscapes and building and sustaining relationships with mana whenua.

Some tips, tricks (and hazards encountered) for connecting people to places will be addressed in this webinar. Both speakers will share their experiences of managing differing demands and user groups and will convey some lower cost but effective ways of building a sense of place.