Architect

Hugh Nicholson- Grey street water features;
Bill Culbert- Sky blues;
Athfield Architects- Taranaki Lagoon and Bascule bridges;
Catherine Griffiths, Athfirld Architects and Hugh Nicholson-Illuminated information signs;
Architecture workshop, Isthmus Group, Hugh Nicolson, Gerald Blunt- Orinetal Bay beach;
Andrew Drummond- Tower of light;
Kon Dimopoulos-Pacific Glass

Type of Area

Lagoon
Ornamental water feature or fountain

Land/water interaction

Harbour
Sandy beach
Fountains

Built Environment Types

Completely built

Scale of Impact

District/neighbourhood
City
Regional

Intervention Scale (Spatial)

Multiple sites

Project Types

Waterfront development
Urban water features
Urban design

Urban/ Rural

Inner urban area

Visibility and Openness

Fully enclosed
Fully contained view

Light as a design element

The Waterfront Lighting Strategy has been developed to connect the city of Wellington to the historic waterfront. The goal was to make the Lambton Harbour a night-time destination with a lighting framework to illuminate the wider waterfront area. The project defined minimum lighting standards for each of the precincts covered by the strategy. Thus it is a rather specialised project and is not a specific blue space creation.

Whilst the overall strategy was to unify lighting to illuminate the waterfront and provide safe routes to the water views, designers were given scope to develop unique approaches to lighting public spaces. Lighting had to be appropriate to the activities, prevent light pollution and not detract from the dark harbour night-time views.

Pools of light at 15m spacing were used to draw people along the safe routes and particular features were lit to provide way finders for orientation. Visual clutter was reduced and all potential hiding places lit. A lack of lighting was also used as design tool, for example not lighting areas with limited surveillance, and only lighting park perimeters, thus providing spaces with natural daily rhythms of light for flora and fauna. 

Aesthetic value was added through the use of different coloured neon lighting and art installations. For example, blue neon markers illuminate the walk to the water and the Bill Culbert sculpture ‘Sky Blues’, which comprises seven slim, tapering stainless steel poles nearly eleven metres tall, set in the pattern of a Fibonacci or koru spiral. Each pole supports three twisting spirals of blue neon light. 

Lights under the Taranaki Lagoon Bridge create the illusion of a floating structure and attracts fish and the occasional seal. The lights also animate the water. Illuminated information signs displaying historic photographs and stories about the buildings and past events along the waterfront, act as way-finders. The facilities at the Oriental Bay beach area create coloured cubes of light and ensure an attractive but safe space at night.

The Wellington waterfront is an economic zone and the waterfront is extensively used by locals and visitors that has spurred many business activities along the waterfront. These lighting projects have added value to the place and increased night use.