Our design philosophy combines a landscape-led approach (Land) with a creative and rigorous design process (LAB).
STUDIO Papamahi
About
We are an award wining, design-led and studio-based practice operating at the intersection of ecology, landscape and urban design. Founded in 2013 our Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland and Naarm - Melbourne studios have 18 talented urbanists, landscape architects, designers, makers and doers.
Landscape as Operating System
Landscape is our Operating System - structuring land, water and people into coherent urban systems, resilient landscapes and meaningful places.
Land + LAB
Land is how we understand place. We interrogate and interpret the physical, cultural and urban systems that define each project.
LAB is how we make it real. We translate strategy into enduring and sustainable outcomes through a rigorous and creative process.
Urbanism + Landscape + Place
Urbanism aligns systems. We integrate infrastructure, development and public life into coherent landscape-led urban strategies.
Landscape is both form and process. We apply a landscape first methodology that integrates culture, ecology, material intelligence and climate performance.
Place is experience. Through programming, activation, and co-design we create successful, healthy and responsible environments.
Ecology + Water + People
Ecology is the foundation. We reveal and align the living systems that shape land, movement, infrastructure, urban form and public life.
Water is infrastructure. We integrate blue-green infrastructures that restore ecological performance and embed climate resilience.
People activate place. We listen, collaborate and advocate to create environments that resonate with and connect people to places.
Services
Integrated Urbanism + Landscape + Place
Design Leadership + Management
Landscape Led Urbanism for Communities + Precincts + Campus’s
Public Spaces + Streets + Open Spaces
Waterfronts + Marine Ecology + Coastal Resilience
Green Infrastructure + WSUD + Climate Adaption
Transport Infrastructure + Bridges + Structures
Project Visualisation + Communication
Co-Design + Collaboration + Engagement
Affiliations
New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA)
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA)
Urban Design Forum (UDF) New Zealand
Urban Design Forum (UDF) Australia
Urban Design Forum (UDF) NYC
Infrastructure NZ (INZ)
Living Futures Institute (AU)
New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC)
Regenesis Institute (USA)
Sustainable Business Network (SBN) New Zealand
Toitu Carbon Zero
Awards
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WLA Award Winner ‘Conceptual Public Space’ - Te Ara Tukutuku
WLA Award Winner ‘Planning + Research’ - Ko Te Pūkākī
WLA Award Winner ‘Small Urban Landscape’ - Karanga Jump Platform
World Architecture Festival (WAF)‘Urban Design’ Category Winner - Te Ara Tukutuku
World Architecture Festival (WAF) WAFX Award Winner - ’Cultural Identity’ - Te Ara Tukutuku
World Architecture Festival (WAF) ‘Sport + Recreation’ Category Winner - Auckland University Recreation Centre
A+ Architizer Awards - Te Ara Tukutuku (Finalist)
A+ Architizer Award - Te Ara Tuktuku Headland Park
NZIA Award - University of Auckland Recreation Centre Plaza
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2024 NZILA Civic + Urban Landscapes, Putahi Whakatetonga - South Frame (Category Winner)
2024 NZILA Civic + Urban Landscapes, Putahi Whakatetonga - South Frame
2024 DINZ Best Awards ‘Quay Street Upgrade’ (GOLD)
2024 DINZ Best Awards ‘Queen Street Tactical Urbanism’
2024 DINZ Best Awards ‘Microsoft Plaza’
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2023 South Island Property Awards - Urban Design, Putahi Whakatetonga - South Frame
Wakatu Quay Masterplan World Architecture Festival - Future Project Civic - Finalist
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BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Tank Park
Monocle Magazine International Design Awards - Tank Park
NZILA Award of Excellence - Quay Street Upgrade
NZILA Award of Excellence - Amey Daldy Park
NZILA Award of Excellence - Daldy Street Linear Park
NZILA Award of Excellence - Tank Park
NZILA Award of Excellence - Auckland Downtown Program
Sirius Waterfront International Design Competition - Winner
WAN Awards - Tank Park
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BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Westhaven Promenade
BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Karangahape Road
BEST Awards Spatial - Commercial Bay Sky Terraces
BEST Awards Spatial - Te Mata Topaki
BEST Awards Spatial - Amey Daldy Park
NZIA Award Urban Design - Long Bay Village
NZIA Auckland Architecture Award - Tank Park
Dezeen Awards, Landscape Project Award – Amey Daldy Park
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BEST Awards Product - Commercial Bay Sculptural Seat
BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Lombard Lane + Denton Park
BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Viaduct Activation Interventions
WAN Awards Spatial - Tank Park
Dezeen Awards, Infrastructure Project – Vaughans Stream Corridor
Gelendzhik Botanical Park International Competition - Winner
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NZILA Supreme Award - Te Papa Ōtākaro Avon River Park
NZILA Category Winner - Te Papa Ōtākaro Avon River Park
NZILA Award of Excellence - Viaduct Promenade Interventions
NZILA Award of Excellence - Ponsonby PARK+
NZILA Award of Excellence - Vaughans Stream Corridor, Long Bay
NZILA Award of Excellence - Queenstown Town Centre Masterplan
NZILA Award of Excellence - Access to Water, Tauranga Waterfront
BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Vaughans Stream Corridor
BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Avon River Park + Promenade
WLA Award - 'Islands - Motutere'
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WAN Award - Ponsonby PARK+ (Civic Project)
WAF Awards - Ponsonby PARK+ (shortlisted)
WAF Awards - 'Islands - Motutere' (shortlisted)
WAF Awards - Queenstown Masterplan (shortlisted)
IPWEA Award - Queenstown Masterplan
Bay of Plenty Property Council Award - Tauranga Waterfront
BEST Awards - Te Papa Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct Literary Trail
BEST Awards Ngā Aho Award – Avon River Park Nga Whāriki Manaaki
BEST Awards Environmental – Avon River Park Nga Whāriki Manaaki
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LABC Tripartite Award - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
NZILA Award Infrastructure - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
NZILA Award Public Space - Westhaven Promenade
Denizen Heroes Award - LandLAB
WLA Award - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
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NZILA Award for Public Architecture - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
NZILA National Public Architecture Award - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
WAF Infrastructure Category Winner - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
WAF Infrastructure Award - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
BEST Awards Supreme Spatial Winner - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
BEST Awards Public GOLD - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
BEST Awards Spatial GOLD - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
BEST Awards Public Good GOLD - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
IPWEA NZ Excellence Awards - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
Architizer A+ Awards - Te Ara I Whiti, Light Path
Phaidon, 30:30 Landscape Architecture – Emerging Design Practice
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NZILA Award Sustainability - Daldy Street Linear Park
NZILA Award Urban Spaces - Karanga Plaza
NZIA Award Urban Design - Karanga Plaza
NZIA Award Urban Design - Wynyard Quarter Masterplan
2014
NZIA Planning + Urban Design Winner – Karanga Plaza + Halsey Wharf
NZILA Urban Design Award – Karanga Plaza and Halsey Wharf
Acknowledgements
LandLAB acknowledges the multi-cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand and the partnership between Tāngata Whenua (indigenous / iwi Māori) and Tāngata Tiriti (people of the Treaty) through the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Tino Rangatiratanga (Māori political independence) and the status of Tāngata Whenua as Treaty partners. We acknowledge that we live and work within the lands of tāngata whenua who hold the mana, and deep ancestral relationship with the taiao (natural environment) which is intrinsically linked to their wellbeing and cultural identity.
LandLAB acknowledges and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Elders, past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, tradition and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this land. We recognise the continuing connection First Nations people have to their lands and waters in which we work.
