Auckland Airport

Creating Resilient, Water-Efficient Planting

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The redevelopment of Auckland Airport’s restaurant precinct included a new courtyard and louvre system, with extensive planting designed to soften the space and create a welcoming environment for diners.

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The site presented challenging growing conditions — north-facing, exposed to strong south-westerly winds, surrounded by heat-retaining hard surfaces, and with raised planters positioned beneath the louvre receiving little natural rainfall.

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We installed interconnected sub-irrigation channels across five large raised garden beds. With approximately 500mm of soil depth, the reservoirs provide consistent moisture from below, helping the planting withstand the hot, windy conditions while reducing reliance on surface watering.

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Sub-irrigation was also incorporated into the ground-level gardens, where a shallower 300mm soil profile allows rainfall to be captured and stored beneath the soil for use during extended dry periods. Planting was carefully selected to provide controlled growth, maintain visibility of signage and enhance the overall arrival experience.

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Along the precinct’s kerbsides, we designed the planting layout, selected species suited to the exposed conditions and carried out the planting. We installed corten steel edging to define gardens and walkways, and finished the beds with gravel to complement the surrounding materials.

The plant selection and durable finishes were chosen to keep the gardens looking good over time in a demanding environment.

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The result is a resilient, water-efficient landscape designed around the different conditions across the precinct — capturing and storing water where possible and providing plants with consistent access to moisture when they need it.

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