NB Architects submitted this entry to a design competition run by Timaru District Council in 2024 to transform a central corner to align with the recently adopted Citytown Master Plan. The concept strikes a balance between creating a peaceful, green retreat for everyday users and a vibrant platform for performances, busking, and community events. It reimagines the site as a multifunctional public destination—inviting, inclusive, and reflective of Timaru’s identity.
At the time of the competition, the space contained a dated water feature, lacked vibrancy, accessibility, faced away from the active main street into the shade. Our design addresses these challenges by removing barriers, reshaping movement through the site, and creating opportunities for pause, play, and interaction. Terraced seating, sunny and shaded areas, with playful landscape elements for young and old support both passive use and event-based activation, all while enhancing flow and visibility between Stafford and Strathallan Streets.
Cultural identity and sustainability are core to the concept. The design incorporates principles of kaitiakitanga and storytelling, developed in collaboration with Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua. It also acts as blue-green infrastructure, managing stormwater, reducing heat retention, and encouraging biodiversity through thoughtful planting and material choices. The new toilet block location was selected by Timaru District Council and had to be incorporated into the design.
More than a makeover, this project redefines what a civic space can be in a regional city—purposeful, beautiful, and rooted in community values. It’s a project that invites locals and visitors alike reconnect in the heart of Timaru.
Timaru District Council selected a design submitted by another firm and the corner has since been reconstructed in 2025.
Strathallan Corner Competition Entry Gallery
