new zealand | my design fix

Onepoto Footbridge – Beca Architects

June 24, 2009 at 12:03 am | Posted in architecture | 1 Comment
Tags: architecture, bridge, glue laminated timber, new zealand

Photo via Flickr: Ray Tomes

The Onepoto Footbridge is a shared use bridge for pedestrians and cyclists located in the Onepoto Basin, north of Auckland. Completed in 2008, it was designed by Beca Architects for the North Shore City Council.

“This vision was developed into an architectural form simulating a breaking wave, realised through a series of glue laminated timber rib components. From a sustainable urban design view, the bridge creates interest that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to use it. It also provides comfort for pedestrians and cyclists, separating them from the road.” Beca Architects

There is some very nice detailing in this project such as the view shafts notched into some of the timber ribs to allow people passing by to catch glimpses of the surroundings. Lighting has also been set into the concrete path to differentiate between the pedestrian and cyclist sides.

I also think the timber ribs also look a bit like a fish or whale skeleton sticking out of the mud amongst the surrounding mangroves.

For further reading visit NZ Wood here.

Visit the Beca architects website here.

Photo via Flickr: beejayge

Photos: Simon Devitt

Photo: Simon Devitt

Click on the above elevation to view a pdf brochure of the project containing this drawing and other images at shwan.net

Yellow Treehouse Restaurant – Pacific Environments Architects

March 6, 2009 at 10:44 pm | Posted in architecture | Leave a comment
Tags: architecture, new zealand

The Yellow Treehouse Restaurant, designed by Pacific Environments Architects, is situated north of Auckland, New Zealand. The project started out as a marketing campaign for Yellow Pages to build a restaurant in a tree using only services and materials listed in the Yellow Pages.

The restaurant is suspended 10m up a Redwood tree and is accessed via a 60m ramp. It can seat 18 guests at one time and still has room for a bar. The kitchen facilities are located in a marquee at the bottom of the ramp.

The form itself was inspired by a number of things found in nature – a suspended butterfly cocoon to name just one.

If you were thinking ‘That’s somewhere I might like to visit’ I’m afraid it was only open for one fully booked out month during January/February 2009 but who knows – maybe its popularity will lead it to be reopened and become a permanent fixture?