City to Sea Bridge

Last updated

City to Sea Bridge
Wood Wall 3 (30962970663).jpg
The bridge from Civic Square looking towards the lagoon
Coordinates 41°17′20″S174°46′43″E / 41.288775°S 174.778589°E / -41.288775; 174.778589
CarriesPedestrians
CrossesJervois Quay
Locale Wellington City, New Zealand
Characteristics
MaterialReinforced concrete and timber
History
Opened1993
Location
City to Sea Bridge

The City to Sea Bridge is a pedestrian bridge and public artwork located in Wellington City, New Zealand. Opened on 31 October 1993, [1] the wedge-shaped bridge crosses arterial road Jervois Quay, connecting the public spaces of Civic Square to the Wellington waterfront precinct at Whairepo Lagoon. [2] Around the square are the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Town Hall, Wellington City Art Gallery and Wellington Central Library.

Contents

Looking from the bridge down into Civic Square, with Matt Pine's sculptures at the base of the stairs Wellington NZ7 3367 (cropped).jpg
Looking from the bridge down into Civic Square, with Matt Pine's sculptures at the base of the stairs

In 1983 the Wellington Civic Trust ran a competition for ideas to address the separation of the city from the harbour. [3] Wellington City Council developed a brief for a bridge that could address the significance of the waterfront and public space, and, importantly, that it should be a bi-cultural project that celebrated a relationship between Māori and Pakeha. [4] Globally renowned Maori architect, Rewi Thompson, was appointed alongside prominent local architect John Gray. Gray was one of the founders of Victoria University of Wellington's architecture department and one of the lead consultants of the winning design team, Paperchase, which led the development of the Wellington central-harbour waterfront, converting it from an 'industrial wasteland' to an accessible public space. Gray and Thompson collaborated with artists Paratene Matchitt and Matt Pine, who contributed the sculptural artworks.

The primary role of the bridge was to connect the city to the sea, as part of an ongoing transformation of the waterfront and urban cultural center. It was also designed to be a public meeting place, a space to ask questions and reflect on both public and environmental concerns.

The use of manmade materials and angular sculpted forms on the side of the cultural center shifts at the midpoint to use of more natural and organic forms at the point where one first encounters the ocean and walks towards the harbour. At the central point as one turns towards the public square, materials shift to glass, carved limestone, and brick, the forms becoming more angular and carefully sculptured. A large pyramid shaped structure and brick steps representing an amphitheatre, where Matt Pine’s limestone sculptures, classically shaped at the base of the steps as one steps out towards the library and city gallery. In contrast to this, lengths of abandoned hardwood that had previously lined the wharf were used to form the original steps of the structure on the side where one walks down towards the sea. The steepness of the seaside of the bridge was proposed by Gray and Thompson to mimic the uplifted and eroded landforms of Wellington and symbolise a point of arrival and change. Although the base is concrete, it was designed to mimic a stone, cliff edge and the steep, uplifted typography that would have been discovered at Wellington's original harbour point between Lambton and the uplifting Terrace hillside, prior to the reclamation of the land on which the inner city stands. [4]

The bridge is adorned with non-traditional wooden sculptures carved by Matchitt out of Californian redwood grown on Matchitt's farm. These formed the balustrades, that included hidden alcoves where people could sit, huddle, and look out, down and through. Sculptures of different creatures adorn the outer edges. On one side are two whales representing the taniwha Ngake and Whātaitai, [4] who according to the Māori creation story of Wellington Harbour, carved a path to the open sea and turned to stone and earth to rest upon the shore. [5] On the other side are two large seagull birds, said to represent welcome and festivity. Matchitt said the concept came from the fact seagulls always seem to perch on bridges.

On top of the bridge, six tall pouwhenua point upward toward the sky, with metal shapes of stars, moons, and other symbols inspired by themes of celestial navigation celebrating Māori arrival to Aotearoa. One of the shapes is an arrowed heart that is thought to symbolise the sufferings of the Māori people. These symbols reference those found on the Te Wepu flag captured by Te Kooti in 1868, originally made for Ngāti Kahungunu by nuns at the Greenmeadows Missionary School. [6]

At the Civic Square base of the bridge are two Oamaru stone sculptures by Matt Pine, titled Prow and Capital. [7] A plaque here states:

Capital and Prow: The sculptures by Matt Pine on either side of the stairs are part of a series of 10 works called Reflections on an Ancient Past. Capital (above) is based on European classical architectural elements with koru form on the edges. Prow (on the other side) depicts a Maori canoe prow with Taniko weave motif on the edges - a mix of European and Maori cultural elements. [8]

Reception

Art historian Robin Woodward identifies City to Sea Bridge as what he saw as one of the top sculptures that "[integrated] the urban and the sculptural" in New Zealand, alongside Terry Stringer's Mountain Fountain (1981) and Greer Twiss' Karangahape Rocks (1969). [9] Public reaction to the bridge was mixed when it was built, [10] but it has become a tourist attraction in its own right. [11] [12]

History

Then-Mayor of Wellington Mark Blumsky on the bridge in 1996. Blumsky City to Sea bridge.jpg
Then-Mayor of Wellington Mark Blumsky on the bridge in 1996.

Between 15 October 2011 and 31 January 2012, protesters set up a camp on the raised grassed area on the Civic Square side of the bridge. The protest, 'Occupy Wellington', began in support of the international Occupy movement but during the occupation the focus changed to an emphasis on homelessness. The protest cost ratepayers more than $65000 in legal fees, security and repairing damage to the lawn. [13] [14] [15]

Engineering

The bridge's superstructure and frame were built to then-current standards. In August 2018 an engineering assessment based on a visual inspection found the piles were built to handle lower earthquake loads than the rest of the bridge, but noted that these structural problems might actually improve its resistance to earthquakes, by taking load off other parts of the structure during an earthquake, and that previous strengthening work had been done correctly.

Proposed Demolition

The Wellington City Council consultation summary of the 2021 Precinct Framework incorrectly identified Ian Athfield as the designer of the City to Sea Bridge and commented that Mana Whenua were not represented in the area. The same document identified the potential for poor seismic performance and also highlighted a disconnection between Civic Square, the central city, and the waterfront.

In November 2023, the Council announced that as part of its ten-year plan it would cut $170m from its budget for Civic Square and the City to Sea Bridge. [16] Councillors voted against spending the $230m needed to strengthen the bridge and the Capital E building adjoining it, and instead allocated $65m to look at three options, one involving strengthening and two others the demolition of both structures. [17] One of the original architects, John Gray, began a campaign to save the bridge, stating that losing it would be like "losing a brother". [17]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington</span> Capital city of New Zealand

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand, and is the administrative centre of the Wellington Region. It is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state. Wellington features a temperate maritime climate, and is the world's windiest city by average wind speed.

In Māori mythology, taniwha are large supernatural beings that live in deep pools in rivers, dark caves, or in the sea, especially in places with dangerous currents or deceptive breakers . They may be considered highly respected kaitiaki of people and places, or in some traditions as dangerous, predatory beings, which for example would kidnap women to have as wives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Harbour</span> Harbour in Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington Harbour, officially called Wellington Harbour / Port Nicholson, is a large natural harbour on the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island. The harbour entrance is from Cook Strait. Central Wellington is located on parts of the western and southern sides of the harbour, and the suburban area of Lower Hutt is to the north and east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waitematā Harbour</span> Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand

Waitematā Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. The harbour forms the northern and eastern coasts of the Auckland isthmus and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is matched on the southern side of the city by the shallower waters of the Manukau Harbour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miramar Peninsula</span> Land in Wellington city, New Zealand

Te Motu Kairangi / Miramar Peninsula is a large peninsula on the southeastern side of the city of Wellington, New Zealand. It is located at the entrance to Wellington Harbour, in Wellington's eastern suburbs. According to Māori legend, it was formed when the taniwha Whaitaitai beached as he tried to escape the confines of the harbour. It contains the suburbs of Miramar, Seatoun, Strathmore Park, and Karaka Bays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lambton Quay</span> Street in Wellington, New Zealand

Lambton Quay is the heart of the central business district of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Aro</span> Suburb of Wellington City, New Zealand

Te Aro is an inner-city suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It comprises the southern part of the central business district including the majority of the city's entertainment district and covers the mostly flat area of city between The Terrace and Cambridge Terrace at the base of Mount Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Ngākau Civic Square</span> Public square in Wellington

Te Ngākau Civic Square is a public square in central Wellington, New Zealand, between the Wellington central business district to the north and the Te Aro entertainment district to the south. The square is bounded by Jervois Quay, Harris Street, Victoria Street and Wakefield Street

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Gallery Wellington</span> Art Gallery in Wellington, New Zealand

City GalleryTe Whare Toi is a public art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paratene Matchitt</span> New Zealand sculptor and painter (1933–2021)

Paratene Temokopuorongo Matchitt was a New Zealand sculptor and painter, known for combining traditional Māori art forms with those of modernist art. His work also references events from New Zealand history, particularly the Māori prophetic movements of the nineteenth century and most specifically Te Kooti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Kitts Park</span>

Frank Kitts Park is a public park situated between Jervois Quay and the Lambton Harbour waterfront in Wellington, New Zealand. It is named after Sir Frank Kitts, New Zealand politician and mayor of Wellington.

Whairepo Lagoon is an open public area at the centre of Wellington, New Zealand. It is a small man-made lagoon filled with sea water and connected to Wellington Harbour through a narrow channel. A split-level footbridge over the mouth of the lagoon was designed by Eastbridge. The lagoon is surrounded by The Boat Shed, City-to-Sea bridge, and the Wellington Rowing, Star Boating Club, and Te Raukura buildings. Tanya Ashken's Albatross fountain sits on the north side of the lagoon between it and Frank Kitts Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Museum</span> Museum covering the history of Wellington

Wellington Museum is a museum on Queens Wharf in Wellington, New Zealand. It occupies the 1892 Bond Store, a historic building on Jervois Quay on the waterfront of Wellington Harbour. In 2013, it was voted by The Times as one of the world's 50 best museums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evans Bay</span> Bay in Wellington, New Zealand

Evans Bay is a large bay at the southern end of Wellington Harbour, New Zealand. Located between the Miramar Peninsula and Hataitai, it was the site of New Zealand's first patent slip and served as Wellington's international flying-boat terminal from 1938 until 1956. It is named after George Samuel Evans, an early Wellington settler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Raukura</span>

Te Raukura, otherwise known as Te Wharewaka o Poneke is a building located on Taranaki Street Wharf, Wellington waterfront, New Zealand. It houses a conference venue, Karaka Cafe, and waka house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Central Library</span> Library building in New Zealand

Wellington Central Library is a public library building in the central business district of Wellington, in New Zealand. It is owned by Wellington City Council and is listed as a Category 1 historic place by Heritage New Zealand. The building was opened in 1991 and was a key element of Wellington’s municipal centre, Te Ngākau Civic Square. It served as the main hub for the municipal library service, Wellington City Libraries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BNZ Harbour Quays</span> Office in Wellington, New Zealand

BNZ Harbour Quays was a large, award-winning office building on the waterfront in Wellington, New Zealand. It was built in 2009 and leased to the Bank of New Zealand, but suffered earthquake damage in the 2013 Seddon earthquake and the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. The building was demolished in 2019.

The Wellington Sculpture Trust is an independent charitable trust which funds and advocates for public sculptures in Wellington, New Zealand. It is funded by private and corporate donations and works with the Wellington City Council. It has commissioned and bought sculptures sited in the Botanic Garden, Cobham Drive at the head of Evans Bay in Rongotai, the Wellington waterfront and Lambton Quay in the central city.

<i>Mountain Fountain</i> Public sculpture in New Zealand

Mountain Fountain is a public sculpture located in the Parnell suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It was designed by Terry Stringer and depicts a bronze Cubist volcano thrusting up from a concrete base, with streams of water falling from three of the sculpture's four faces. It was erected in its original location in Aotea Square in 1981. In 2008, it was decommissioned and placed in storage during redevelopment of the square. It was relocated to its current site in the forecourt of Holy Trinity Cathedral in 2010.

<i>Waharoa</i> (Aotea Square sculpture) Public sculpture in New Zealand

Waharoa, also known as Te Waharoa o Aotea, is a public sculpture located in Aotea Square, the city centre of Auckland, New Zealand. The expressionist piece was designed by Selwyn Muru and depicts a waharoa, a traditional Māori gateway in front of a marae ātea; the open meeting courtyard at a marae. Muru took elements from traditional Māori and Pacific art forms, as well as contemporary elements. The work was erected at Aotea Square in 1990 and relocated to its current position in 2010. Artist Mei Hill has described Waharoa as "probably the defining Māori artwork of scale in Auckland".

References

  1. ↑ Archives Online (18 September 2020). "Timeline - We Built This City". Wellington City Council. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  2. ↑ "Rot attacks bridge from city to sea". Stuff. The Dominion Post. 3 May 2009.
  3. ↑ Foneska, Dileepa (29 January 2019). "Demolition an option for Wellington's City to Sea Bridge after structural issues investigated". Stuff. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Gray, John (1994). "City-to-Sea Bridge - More Than Meets the Eye". ProDesign. April/May: 28–30.
  5. ↑ Grace, Wiremu. "Ngake and Whātaitai the taniwha of Wellington harbour". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  6. ↑ Lloyd, Helen (2013). "Art in Context" (PDF). Te Papa. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Civic Centre - Wellington Heritage". Wellington City Council. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Denben (13 January 2015). "Capital and Prow - Civic Square - Wellington, New Zealand". Waymarking. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Rodney; Woodward, Robin; Twiss, Greer. Greer Twiss: Sculptor. Auckland: Ron Sang Publications. p. 20. ISBN   9780473258764.
  10. ↑ "City to Sea Bridge, R. Thompson, J. Gray, P. Matchitt". Wellington City Libraries. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  11. ↑ AOL travel - City to Sea Bridge, Wellington, New Zealand
  12. ↑ AsiaRooms.com - City to Sea Bridge Wellington
  13. ↑ Rothwell, Kimberley (19 October 2011). "Welcome to Occupy Wellington". Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  14. ↑ Torrie, Bronwyn (31 January 2012). "Wellington Occupiers vow to return". Stuff. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Torrie, Bronwyn (19 April 2012). "Occupy protest cost Wellington ratepayers $65,000". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  16. ↑ Gourley, Erin (10 November 2023). "Airport shares, City to Sea Bridge could go in council plan" . www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  17. 1 2 Jacobson, Julie (22 June 2024). "Fight to save City-to-Sea Bridge". The Post .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.