![Stairs](/media/cache/03/75/0375bd7ce5912d69c117fc64addbe574.jpg)
![Planted Wall](/media/cache/7f/20/7f208d64e9c59a2ac51a086a6b8fd205.jpg)
This project built in 2013, resolved a common Wellington problem of providing low-cost, safe access on a steeply sloping site. The main design driver was to work with the necessary retaining structures to provide a playful and welcoming entry experience. The scheme uses simple black-stained timber retaining with an unstained slat overlay to create visual interest and provide simple safety barriers for the clients while maintaining the planting above.
![Sea View](/media/cache/18/2b/182bd2654bbd73e7538c01c9123d1708.jpg)
LED lights wash up from the base of the retaining wall from behind the slats to provide a dramatic light play at night while providing soft, low-glare wayfinding at step level. Reinforced, exposed aggregate concrete steps provide a structurally sound, non-slip surface. A simple, easy care planting scheme was designed to soften and blend the hard landscape into its coastal context with minimise maintenance and survive on the steep, windy site.
Project & Photos: Mark Newdick