Rotorua’s key new urban space Te Manawa (formerly ‘City Focus’) was officially opened by Mayor Steve Chadwick at the weekend with a morning of celebration as the Farmers Market moved into their revitalised home. Bespoke congratulates Rotorua Lakes Council for their vision and commitment to the people of Rotorua, and are pleased to have been involved with this project from initial public consultation all the way through to construction. For more on this project click here.
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August saw the completion of an exciting new playspace at Milford Reserve, Auckland. The playspace is in close proximity to Milford's stunning beach, and draws much of its inspiration from the surrounding natural and historical context. A key component of the design is the integration of a feature ship wreck piece, surrounded by washed up flotsam and jetsam-like crates, timber beams and cargo net play equipment. This project was completed for Auckland Council and is the first stage in the overall Reserve redevelopment. For more on this project click here. This month saw the completion of Dominion Park Playspace in Hamilton. An opening celebration was held on December 8th with a great degree of interest from local children and parents alike. The playspace is another succesful completed project within the Hamilton City Council destination playground programme. Bespoke are delighted to have been involved with this project from initial concept all the way through to construction. See more on this project here. Last week saw the official opening of Albany Stadium Pool, Bespoke were delighted to work alongside Auckland Council and architects Creative Spaces in the delivery of this project. Final testing and commisioning for the pools will continue over the coming month and the facility will open to the public in January 2017. The landscape creates a distinct promenade along the front facade of the building, which will eventually create a more formal connection to the adjacent stadium facility. See more on this project here.  Bespoke are excited to announce our selection to develop a detailed concept plan for two public spaces in Taumarunui. Out of ten registrations of interest, Bespoke's submission was the highest scoring submission: demonstrating 'an excellent level of alignment with the limitations and opportunities of the site, with Council and with the Taumarunui area.' Lee Brazier and Leigh Wilson visited Taumarunui this week to participate in a series of focus group meetings with Council and key stakeholders, and to examine the site in greater depth.  Construction has now begun on the Dominion Park playspace in Hamilton, a key project within Hamilton City Council's destination playspace programme. Bespoke were honoured to be selected to progress our design for Dominion Park after our conceptual work was most highly favoured through a process of public consultation. The Dominion Park Playspace will provide a unique and engaging playground for local residents and visitors to the Hamilton area. Inspiration is derived from the distinct geology, native flora and fauna that is archetypal of Hamilton’s former diverse ecosystems. Three distinct ecological ‘zones’ represented in the design of the playspace to generate a series of dynamic and interpretative play experiences. See more on this project here.  Bespoke is excited to announce the appointment of Melanie Schroeder to our team. Melanie joins us after completing her Master of Landscape Architecture degree at University of Minnesota and her internship with a leading United States multidisciplinary practice. She brings a background in environmental design and provides our design team with a progressive approach and intellect on emerging design and urban issues. As a Graduate Landscape Architect, Melanie will play a key role in contributing towards the design and development of our upcoming projects. We look forward to introducing you to her over the coming months.  The redevelopment of Point Chevalier's Town Square was officially opened on Saturday with a blessing, sod turning ceremony and musical entertainment. Bespoke are proud to have been involved in the design and construction of this vital transformation, along with HEB, Aecom and leading artist and craftsman Carin Wilson. See more on this project here. Photo courtesy of Albert-Eden Local Board.  Last month saw the completion of Stage One of the Uxbridge Arts and Cultural Centre redevelopment. An open day was held on June 11th with celebratory performances, artist talks, kids activities, a food truck or two, and the opening of the Malcolm Smith Gallery's inaugural exhibition. Bespoke are delighted to have been involved with the landscape and urban design aspects of this project from initial concept all the way through to construction. See more on this project here. Photos courtesy of Howick Local Board and Uxbridge Arts and Cultural Centre. The weekend saw the opening of the Birkenhead Pump Track! Officially opened by members of the Kaipatiki Local Board, the track is a new typology of bike park for Auckland that seeks to create a fun and challenging space for those looking to advance their riding skills and confidence. It is the first sealed, all weather pump track in the city. The opening was well attended and the kids all had a blast riding, scootering and skating the track. Design for the track was completed by experienced track designer Nathan Greenwood, in conjunction with Bespoke. See more on this project here. Bespoke is excited to announce the appointment of Luoyun Lee to our team. Luoyun joins us after completing both her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Lincoln University and an internship at a leading Singapore based practice. As a Graduate Landscape Architect, Luoyun will play a key role in contributing towards the design and development of our upcoming projects. We look forward to introducing you to her over the coming months.  Bespoke are fortunate to have Jovany Chediak working with us at present, having joined us on a short term basis to gain exposure to and experience of Landscape Architecture in New Zealand. Jovany is an experienced landscape architect, gaining his degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Florida and then working for 5 years with a leading multidisciplinary practice in Miami. He has particular interest in the integration of ecologically sustainable practices within contemporary urban spaces. Since his arrival at the start of May he has already proved to be a great asset to the team and brings a wealth of knowledge and new perspectives to every project in which he is engaged. Jovany remains with us until the end of July upon which he and his wife will venture on with travel plans around New Zealand and Asia.  Nic Moon's sculpture 'Breathe' has recently finished installation at Auckland Airport. The pieces are set within a low planted mound addressing both the streetscape of Leonard Issit Drive and signalling one of the key entry points into the Outdoor Gallery sculpture walk. Bespoke were delighted to work with Nic Moon, Brick Bay and Auckland Airport in the siting, landscape setting and management of this exciting new addition to the Outdoor Gallery.  Bespoke are enhancing our 3d visualisation capabilities utilising Lumion. Lumion offers a quick and easy way to produce photo quality 3D graphics which has helped in the visualisation of complex spaces through the design phases of a project as well as at client presentations. Quality 3D renderings add another dimension to a design proposal, hinting at the proposed look and feel of a space, rather than relying on a simple plan to convey a complex design message.  Toia, the Otahuhu Recreation Precinct project featured within the October issue of Metro Magazine, with urban design columnist Chris Barton providing a review of the project. Bespoke, in the lead landscape and urban design role for this project, gained particular mention in relation to the landscape with the author noting that 'it’s the landscaping by Bespoke Landscape Architects that brings this leisure complex together'. The article also acknowledged the 'skilful integration of the outside basketball court and the adjacent children’s playground' by fellow landscape architects Isthmus, who we engaged to work alongside us on this project. The full article can be read here.  On Wednesday 4th November Councillors at Rotorua Lakes Council's Strategy, Policy and Finance committee voted to proceed with the redevelopment of Rotorua’s ‘City Focus’. As a critical urban hub within Rotorua's CBD, the redevelopment of this space will form a catalyst for change within this area of the city and put people rather than vehicles to the forefront. Bespoke are honoured to be working alongside Rotorua Lakes Council in developing the design of this space. The project started as a selected design competition, of which Bespoke were one of three practices invited. As the result of an extensive public consultation process, our design was selected as the preferred option and developed further to now form the approved design scheme moving forward. See more on this project here.  The redeveloped destination playspace at Lake Rotokaeo (Minogue Park) was officially opened on the 17th of August, much to the delight of crowds of eagerly awaiting children. Mayor Julie Hardaker cut the ribbon following some short speeches and a blessing performed by local Iwi. The design and construction of the playground has taken place over the past 6 months, a process where Bespoke worked closely with Hamilton City Council and playground specialists Park Central, to define a unique and creative result that melds appropriately into its stunning natural context. See more on the project here. The 8th of August saw the long awaited opening of Toia (Otahuhu Recreation Precinct), a new library and aquatic centre, set within a park like environment with new playground, hard court areas, community garden and splashpad water play area. This a project that Bespoke have been working upon since master planning for the current facility began early in 2012. We're extremely proud to see the stunning final built results some 3 1/2 years on. Auckland Mayor Len Brown, Local Councillors and members of the Mangere Otahuhu Local Board were all on hand to officially declare Toia open. It was a fantastic day for the community of Otahuhu who have been waiting many years for their new pool and library. See more on the project here. July saw the completion of a stunning new duo of sculptures within the Outdoor Gallery at Auckland Airport. Dream Vortex and Abundance Basket by leading New Zealand artist Caroline Robinson are a valuable addition to the sculpture trail and take pride of place nestled into and beneath a Pohutukawa tree on the north west corner of the lake. We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the installation process and share in the journey with Caroline. Construction has begun on an exciting new destination playspace at Minogue Park in Hamilton. The project being developed for Hamilton City Council and working in collaboration with Tina Dyer of Park Central.  Bespoke are excited to announce the appointments of Leigh Wilson and Amy Collingbourne to our team, both highly talented individuals whom will play a key role in contributing to the design and development of our projects going forward. We look forward to introducing you to Leigh and Amy over the coming months.  Two projects by Bespoke have made it to the final shortlist of their categories at the NZILA Pride of Place Awards 2015. The winners will be announced on Friday 20th March at an awards evening in Rotorua. Both finalists are within the outstanding design awards category. William Green Domain has also been nominated for the People's Choice Award.  The Hamilton Lake playspace was officially opened by Hamilton mayor Julie Hardaker on the 18th of January. This to an audience of eager children, whom have watched one of the cities favourite play areas transformed over previous months. Bespoke were honoured to play an integral part in the design of this project in collaboration with Future Landscapes, Playrope and Hamilton City Council. 
The splashpad at Potters Park was recently featured within the New Zealand Herald. Read more here or by clicking on the image below. Look out for more outdoor water play projects around the city in 2015..... 
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