St John’s College is the Theological College where ministers in the Anglican and Methodist Churches are trained in Auckland. The site, with a north-facing aspect, is partially enclosed by a large number of mature trees and has views out over the Waitemata Harbour and Rangitoto Island.
Boffa Miskell was engaged to design a niche wall, with places to inter ashes behind memorial plaques, for the historic cemetery and adjacent St John’s Chapel.
The project brief sought a solution to provide demarcation for the cemetery area, while respecting the historic character of the space. Our design nestles the niche wall into the slope and includes a lychgate and bollard-and-chain designed to match the chapel's architecture and detailing.
The project involved obtaining a resitivity survey to ensure the 24 unmarked graves within the area were not disturbed. Arborists and archaeologists subsequently monitored the site as contractors undertook the construction work. The completed project blends into the site as though it were always there.
