Architect scathing in criticism of Wellington's proposed Chinese garden

Thursday, 22 March 2018

Wellington's proposed Chinese garden has come under fire from an architect who says the structure would drastically reduce open space and accessibility at the waterfront park it would sit on.

The $5 million Garden of Beneficence - part of Wellington City Council's planned $10.5m revamp of Frank Kitts Park - is the subject of Environment Court appeals from lobby group waterfront Watch and former Greater Wellington regional councillor Michael Gibson.

The proposed 3000-square-metre enclosed garden has raised concerns about safety, a loss of green space, and impeded views towards the park and Wellington Harbour.

Architect and urban designer Richard Reid, director of Citymakers Richard Reid and Associates, said in court on Thursday the proposed garden would significantly reduce accessibility at the park and 'close down' the city's connection to the harbour.

**READ MORE:

* [Garden would have 'minor' impact

*](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/102453556/proposed-chinese-garden-would-have-minor-impact-on-park-view-architect-says) [Safety concerns over proposed garden

*](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/102420007/safety-concerns-raised-over-proposed-chinese-garden-at-wellingtons-frank-kitts-park) Chinese garden deemed 'provocative'

* Controversial garden goes on backburner**

'At the moment, there is unencumbered movement, there are no right angles or straight lines that one has to follow,' Reid said.

'In this proposal, you can only move in one direction and nowhere else.'

Reid was also critical of proposed wheelchair access to the park's upper level, estimating people would need to travel about 245 metres to get to where the garden's tea rooms would be, compared with about 55 metres to the same point now.

They would need to go around the harbour wall, down a ramp, across the front of the garden, and up another ramp, he said.

'The current park is far more accessible across the park, and particularly to the upper level, than the proposal.'

Reid acknowledged the current ramp was probably steeper than it should be for wheelchair users but said that could be addressed by simple modifications such as hand rails.

'You don't need to transform a whole park in order to provide hand rails.'

Reid was not critical of the garden itself, but did not like where it would be positioned because it would impede the view towards the park from Willeston St.

That view, from the Willeston St 'view shaft' at the intersection with Lambton Quay, would become more of an 'urban' view than one that looked towards the harbour or park, he said.

That was because it would feature the garden walls as well as the Clyde Quay Wharf apartments and the garden's 'pai lau' (main entrance gate).

'The character of the street would fundamentally change with the introduction of the Chinese garden within the view shaft.

'You'd have a layering of buildings … a wall behind a wall. It's a view to the city, not a view to the park or harbour.'

Wellington City Council lawyer Kierra Krumdieck suggested to Reid the view of the water was already blocked from Willeston St by the promenade wall near the park.

But Reid said the harbour view encompassed more than just water, and included features of the space above it such as yacht masts.

'So to me that is a clear view of the harbour.'

The wall of the garden would close down the city's connection to the harbour and that was 'profoundly more concerning than the sea wall at Frank Kitts Park', Reid said.

There were positive elements to the proposed redesign, such as upgrading the children's playground and 'redressing' the western edge of Jervois Quay.

'Clearly, parts of the park that have been degraded over time and would welcome better management.'

The court has reserved its decision.