A recreation facility to provide a much-needed social hub and encourage more people to get active.

A 40-year community campaign for a public swimming pool in Hornby was finally rewarded in 2019 with the decision to build a $37-million multi-use facility within Kyle Park. The complex includes two pools, a water play area, library and community spaces along with a Council service desk. The project aims to form a ‘hub’ for the growing population in the western part of the City with close connections to the adjacent schools and commercial centre.

Location

Canterbury

Worked with

Aecom
PFC
Rawlinsons
Ruamoko
Warren + Mahoney

Project date

2019 - ongoing

Boffa Miskell landscape architects are providing design and CPTED assessment from concept stage through to detailed design and will assist with tendering processes and construction observation. The use of BIM-based production allows efficient production and collaboration across multiple disciplines and several design firms.

The site is within a lower socio-economic area and the surrounding neighbourhood has some of the most challenging social conditions in Christchurch. This area has one of the highest concentrations of crime in New Zealand. For this reason, CPTED has been embedded into the design process across all phases of the project.

There's an emphasis on creating a high-quality environment with clear sight lines and well-activated spaces will encourage a sense of community stewardship and safe use of the facility day and night.

The design had to respond to a challenging site with a complex set of design constraints shaped by historic land uses as a quarry and landfill. Contaminated soils required careful planning of site works with strategies for minimising disturbance of the legacy landfill materials. Stormwater has to be carefully managed to provide onsite detention without allowing infiltration into the subsoils that could mobilise contaminants.

The design creates a welcoming community courtyard and events lawn on the sheltered north facing side of the building. Massed native planting areas provide a cost-effective and low maintenance landscape that will significantly improve the biodiversity and amenity values in Kyle Park. The car park and stormwater treatment areas are located on the east and southern sides of the building.

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