Hutt City Council, Waka Kotahi (The NZ Transport Agency), RiverLink project, the Southend Business Group that represents businesses in Lower Hutt, and students from Massey University all worked together to reimagine Andrews Avenue.
Hutt City Council CBD Development Manager Cyndi Christensen said Massey University students approached the Council in search of an under-utilised space they could energise. The Council closed Andrews Avenue to allow the students to bring the space to life through tactical urbanism.
“The area was reutilised with moving pinwheels attached to gabion walls, creating moving works of art, while sections of artificial grass, beanbags and temporary seating provided a space for people to informally gather for lunch, read a book, have a business meeting or meet friends. Closing the road allowed us to open it up for people and provide a model for how the wider area could be revitalised and regenerated in the future.”
“Andrews Avenue provided a glimpse of how a central city space could be improved to better cater to people using active transport. Making Lower Hutt easier for people to get around on foot and two wheels is a really important part of the planned regeneration of the city.”
Creating safe and attractive spaces for people is part of a wider movement led Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) through the Innovating Streets for People initiative. Hutt City Council is committed to making our city safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Lower Hutt Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis says making our streets more vibrant has a positive effect on the way people are able to interact with our city.
“Andrews Ave is a great example of how we can make our urban spaces more functional and enjoyable. This sort of work encourages shopping, dining, getting around or just enjoying the surroundings. By creating safe and vibrant spaces we contribute to the wellbeing of our people, the environment and the economy,” Tui Lewis says.
Waka Kotahi created a video on the Andrews Avenue Summer Activation project:
