Location: Auckland, New Zealand.

Architect: Monk Mackenzie + Jasmax.

The Te Whau Pathway is a 13-kilometer boardwalk that traces the historic Maori portage route linking the Waitematā and Manukau harbours in Auckland. The project is designed as an abstract form that contrasts with the natural surroundings of mangroves and mudflats. The boardwalk’s serpentine alignment is inspired by the rivulets covering the mudflats at low tide and the meandering alignment of Te Whau at a macro level. The alignment consists of a series of simple radii that meet tangentially to create a smooth and seamless trajectory. The materiality of the project is critical, with the balustrade made of marine grade aluminum and the deck coated with crushed glass over a glass reinforced plastic structure. The dusk lighting is through the handrails and is a continuous cold white LED strip to reinforce the floating contrast of the boardwalk over the mangroves. The project operates at two distinct levels – the macro and the micro levels, both being critical to the success of the project. The project needs to resonate with its context but also juxtapose it in a sensitive manner, creating a contrast of modernity and nature. The conceptual allusion for the project is the shimmer of water, which will give the shared path a lightness and allow it to visually float.