From Concept to Concrete: A Collaborative Urban Design Project - St Paul Street
BACKGROUND
Jagas was engaged by JFC for a project presented to them by Auckland Council, involving the creation of four unique concrete seats featuring artwork designed by AUT students.
The seats were part of a design inspired by the Rangipuke ridgeline and were a collaboration between AUT’s Masters of Spatial Design students from the TMDO (Tāmaki Makaurau Design One) and Material Imaginaries Research Collective. The project was also part of the Tactical Urbanism Initiative (TUI), which aimed to give students real-world experience working on urban development projects.
The design process was carried out in two phases.
The initial phase saw Auckland Council trial a parklet by removing parking spaces and creating a public seating area with plants, bike racks, and trees. This quick, low-cost trial focused on improving student safety and reclaiming the street for public use.
The second phase, informed by lessons from the trial, aimed to provide a longer-lasting and higher-quality solution, featuring more permanent materials and design enhancements.
- Claire Davis
CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS
Initially, the seats were to be constructed from multiple smaller pieces, which would have required several moulds. Jagas proposed a more efficient production process by creating larger, custom-designed moulds. This streamlined approach reduced the number of pieces without compromising the integrity or design accuracy of the final product. Creating larger moulds allowed for the design to be portrayed seamlessly without harsh cut-off lines.
One of the key challenges was replicating the Rangipuke ridgeline in the concrete benches. The fast-drying nature of concrete made it difficult to form the intricate lines necessary for the design. Throughout the production process, the Auckland Council team provided feedback and shared their vision for the final look. Jagas worked through several trials, refining the process until we successfully captured the detailed mountain ridgeline that the council envisioned.
OUTCOME
The collaboration between Auckland Council, AUT students, and Jagas resulted in a set of visually striking, wave-like concrete benches that rise and fall along the site, with the Rangipuke ridgeline carved into their surface in a contrasting colour. These benches not only provide everyday seating but also serve as a gathering point for students and passers-by to rest, park their bikes, or enjoy events in the adjacent plaza.
The unique combination of the clean lines of the concrete, the timber inserts, and the cultural significance of the Rangipuke ridgeline has created an inviting urban space. Jagas’s ability to deliver a high-quality product that met both aesthetic and functional requirements was key to the project’s success.
- Claire Davis
FINAL THOUGHTS
Jagas’s involvement in the St Paul’s Streetscape project demonstrated our ability to collaborate on complex urban design projects while delivering practical solutions that enhance public spaces. This project not only improved the streetscape but also created a lasting space for community interaction, perfectly aligning with Auckland Council’s vision for the area.
“Jagas was able to craft the benches in a way that ensured the integrity of the design remained intact, while further emphasising it through their methods of construction. The process behind how the line surface detailing on the exterior faces of the benches were crafted, was different to how I initially imagined it would be done, but both the process and outcome really exceeded my expectations and has inspired new possibilities of how making can be explored.
The line surface detailing on the benches speaks not only to the initial sketches done by the team, but also to the hands of jagas who brought them to life. At the end of the day this project was/is about people, connecting with the site and with each other. In working with Jagas, they’ve crafted benches that speak of people. So, this project has been a real special and personal one, as in all aspects it speaks of all the people that had influence on it, from concept drawings and designs through to the process of manufacturing and installation.”
- Jessica Juno | Student | AUT