Commercial - Resene

Urban Sea Wall
This design focuses on a possible urban
response to a worst-case scenario for
sea level change: a rise of one metre by
the year 2100.
Much of Wellington City sits on lowlying
reclaimed land. A rise in sea level
of one metre could result in extensive
damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Dykes, sea walls and levees have been
constructed for centuries to protect local
populations. These can be detrimental
to urban quality, and can impede the
connections between cities and their
waterfronts.
The design for Wellington is a sea wall
that acts as a public element, promoting
visual connections between city and sea.
Rather than surrounding the waterfront,
the wall sits within the city. As well
as forming a boundary impervious to
seawater, it is a building, a shelter, a
park, and a walkway.
The wall is to be built before eventual
flooding. Space has been allowed for
tidal surges in front and within it. This
is to direct development towards new
buildings processes that work with, and
react to, sea level changes over time.
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The Resene colours Resene Tipping Point
and Resene Half Pearl Lusta have been
chosen for their allusions to parts of
New Zealand that are so unique.
Resene Tipping Point, as the fundamental
colour of the wall, helps to to act as a
strong continuous element throughout
the city. Resene Tipping Point reminds
one of the classic kiwi ‘tin shed’, and
rusting steel on sea-side piers. Resene
Half Pearl Lusta aims to bring back
memories of white sand and Toi Toi
plants along the shore.
Colour Selection: Emily Oakley
Colours Used: Resene Pearl Lusta,
Resene Tipping Point
Pearl Lusta
Tipping
Point