Nelson architects, urban designers and artists will share ideas at a workshop later this month on how city council-owned land near the waterfront might best be developed as a public space.

The council recently spent $2.4 million on two sites in Haven Rd with the aim of one day being able to use it to extend its city-to-the-sea project.

The land bought from Port Nelson was previously occupied by Reliance Engineering and the Four Seasons store.

Councillor Pete Rainey, who holds the community services portfolio, said the 2933 square metres of prime land had been bought as part of the council's strategy to connect the city with the sea.

The council approached the Nelson Marlborough branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects for ideas for the land, which sees it as an opportunity to improve an important public space and to promote good urban design.

Nelson architect David Wallace, who is part of the team organising an urban design workshop on September 29, said it was a good opportunity to share creative ideas and for those in the industry to give something back to the city.

The mixed group of architects, urban designers, landscape architects and artists would be giving their time free.

Mr Wallace said the workshop would be an opportunity for architects and designers who did not normally work together closely to share ideas.

He said the recent announcement that funding was secured through the New Zealand Transport Agency's latest budget round for a planned $6 million walking and cycling boulevard around the waterfront would make the workshop more relevant.

The workshop will be informal, with teams of four or five formed, who will spend the day creating an option for the Haven Rd site. They will then present their scheme which will be assessed by judges.

Mr Rainey said the announcement about funding for the boulevard had added extra weight to the desire to further the waterfront development.

He hoped the workshop would produce concepts that would show what could be achieved in the area.

Mr Rainey endorsed the mixed co-operative approach being taken by Nelson's architects and designers.

"It's great they're setting time aside to help out."

The council was already under way with plans for the first stage of the city-to-sea link as part of the Heart of Nelson strategy, which will take in staged development of Rutherford Park, the Trafalgar Centre upgrade and the Maitai walkway through to the Nelson marina. A portion of the money for the project was budgeted through the 2012-13 long-term plan.

The second stage would incorporate linking the city to the sea beyond the marina and possibly to Tahunanui.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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