The landscape design for the Auckland Surf Park follows the language of the natural landscape, utilising horizontal low slung and vegetated built forms that recede into a landscape journey from the rural context to a coastal forest and foreshore-inspired experience.
The creation of a powerful sense of place begins with grounding experience in the landscape itself. Our landscape design re-establishes a strong vegetated framework across the site, structured along stream corridors and reflecting the surrounding rural land pattern. This framework enables the seamless integration of the lagoon and associated development into the broader landscape, forming a cohesive backdrop within which diverse activities and experiences can be thoughtfully developed and curated across the wider Surf Park Community Masterplan.
Beyond placemaking, the landscape strategy supports more sustainable stormwater management, incorporates the naturalisation of previously channelised waterways, and strengthens active transport and ecological habitat connections both through and beyond the site.
We wanted to create that sense of excitement from the moment you arrive. As soon as you catch a glimpse of a peeling set of waves – you’re connected to the energy that the sport provides. The beauty of the surf park is that there are a huge variety of spaces and places for everyone to enjoy – and its safety features make learning to surf or honing your skills a much safer and thoroughly enjoyable experience. We really want everyone to ‘get the stoke’ that surfing and being connected to nature provides.
Within the Surf Park itself our team has collaborated closely with the client to develop the functional and experiential planning of the Surf Park operation, from visitor arrival though to afterhours maintenance. By closely integrating amenities, movement routes and ‘hang out’ spaces with the adjacent surf village the design provides both public and ticketed access around the lagoon - supporting it as a vibrant place within the community alongside its wellness, recreational and high-performance surf facilities.
