National Stadium

When a proposed stadium for the Auckland waterfront was published in 2007, we prepared this alternative scheme in conjunction with Copeland Architects. It proposed a stadium on the shores of the Manukau Harbour, which we believed was much more appropriate in urban design and infrastructure terms than the inner city proposal. The stadium immediately received strong public support, with polls in the local newspapers showing it had captured the public imagination. Many independent consultants also wrote unsolicited analyses in support of the scheme.

Located within Auckland’s Manukau harbour, the scheme afforded the opportunity to provide a 90,000 seat stadium built to international standards to meet the stringent facility and cost parameters set for the project. Designed as a multipurpose sport and entertainment venue it addressed the many design and development issues that hindered other options such as improved public access, long term growth strategies, effective utilisation of existing transportation networks, iconic design, consenting processes, programme and cost.

The scheme was presented to the Ministry of the Environment and many of Auckland’s Local Authorities and community groups as an integral part of the stadium debate.

Although the proposal did not go ahead, it played a significant role in reversing the attempt to proceed with the city waterfront stadium, leading to the final outcome of redevelopment of the existing Eden Park stadium.