Boffa Miskell led the design on behalf of Housing New Zealand (now Kainga Ora), undertaking the masterplanning and the landscape design of public and private open spaces, and led the planning workstream.
The challenge presented by the Marfell transformation was to develop a scheme that worked commercially; it had to be viable, along with maximizing the site's generous adjacent open space network, developing well-designed affordable housing, providing pedestrian-friendly roads, new open space and enhanced connectivity through the development for the existing and new residents in the area.
In our role as the masterplanners, we embraced the challenge to transform Marfell in the hearts and minds of New Plymouth residents. We explored opportunities for modular housing and utilised various house typologies to create a variety of forms and maximise yield for the client. The masterplan provides a range of housing, two new neighbourhood parks and a road connection to create a new ‘front door’ to the development and connect the currently land-locked site with the wider neighbourhood.
We worked alongside project engineers WSP-Opus to develop the streetscape design including shared-space and water sensitive design outcomes.
Boffa Miskell prepared an engagement and place-making strategy to inform the community engagement process.
Working with Housing New Zealand, the project identified engagement strategies such as utilizing new streets and parks for wayfinding and incorporating local narratives, engaging with a local artist to involve children in designing tiles/pavers for pocket parks or gateway locations, establishing an environmental group in collaboration with Sustainable Taranaki and Marfell School, setting up a mobile café during construction, organising small events to promote interaction among residents, and encouraging food growing through welcome packs including fruit trees or vegetable seeds for new residents.
We successfully achieved Housing New Zealand’s key outcome which was to develop a scheme that worked commercially and created a well-designed neighbourhood that was embraced by the existing residents.
