A significant anchor project providing an important cog in Christchurch’s central city recovery opened to the public on the 25 November 2018. The Avon River Precinct (ARP) is a new city promenade and waterfront enhancement along the Otakaro/Avon River. It extends 2 kilometres through the heart of the central city from Christchurch Hospital to the Margaret Mahy Family Playground.
The city promenade has been designed as a collection of interconnected usable spaces. This includes a ‘shared space’ for walking, cycling, driving, relaxing and tram riding, and a ‘flexible space’ for outdoor dining, parking bikes/scooters, and social interaction.
r+m has been involved in the project since 2015, providing landscape architectural services as part of the ‘Design Build Team’ led by Downer NZ, on behalf of Otakaro, a crown led firm delivering Christchurch anchor projects. More recently r+m has been partnering directly with Otakaro on the Avon Loop extension to the project.
r+m are proud to have played a part in delivering this important project alongside Otakaro and the Design Build Team and look forward to more work opportunities together in the future. They are excited at how this project will provide a catalyst for future development, events and activities, transforming Christchurch’s central city into a truly great place to live, work, play and visit.
The promenade includes an extensive raingarden for stormwater management and landscape amenity. The ‘river walk space’ provides better opportunities for sitting, relaxing and engaging with the river.
connect and create
