Story Place's warren of lanes and carparks has been re-imagined as an open plaza, with a shared space for cars and pedestrians.

Design experts from Warren and Mahoney architectural design and Boffa Miskell landscape architecture firm have been charged with imagining a "cultural precinct" between the green spaces of Tongariro Domain. 

The cultural precinct project aims to see what the best layout of civic buildings and community spaces could be, in the future, if a council administration building is built there.

The team presented four concept options to Taupō District Council at an open meeting on Wednesday 19 September 2018. About 30 members of the public also attended.

Each of the proposed concepts features different arrangements of the following civic building: new Taupō museum, a new office building, new shared community cultural and meeting spaces and Taupō library.

In Option A, buildings are clustered between the library and the Great Lake Centre, with a separate museum building.

In Option B, buildings are set further back, on the site of Rotary House.  Option C has fragmented, stand-alone buildings, creating a village presence. 

Option D is a consolidation of all the buildings, with new council offices and meeting spaces built on top of and behind the library.

Project lead Shannon Joe said the project aimed to maximise the public's use of the southern domain.

Taupō Bowls Club, which occupies land on the south domain and has a lake view, does not feature in any of the designs.

"These common amenity areas, which have the best views of all, should be open to everyone else as well," Joe said.

Following community feedback, the amount of green space increases in every option, Joe said.  The existing playground would remain, too.

He said the group were also aware community members feared a new council office building would occupy the best space.

Councillors questioned why underground carparking did not feature.

Joe said it could be done, but was very, very expensive – as much as $4500 per square metre.

"You might be able to achieve basement carparking for 160 cars, but you might need to double your budget."

Boffa Miskell's Morné Hugo said the concepts did include designated parking areas.

"We believe you can generate at least what you need, in those peripheral areas [carpark zones beside buildings and on Redoubt Rd]."

Council chief executive Gareth Green said new council offices in the area wasn't a given - councillors could still choose to build a council building elsewhere.

"It's about looking at the area fresh, and seeing what is we want to do."

Councillors will consider the concepts against a list of ten criteria before putting forward options for public consultation.

Criteria included the degree to which each concept reflects local character; how open and inviting the cultural plaza was, and whether the concept joins up the harbour, landing reserve, domain, lake and township.

A public meeting will also be held, but the date has not yet been set.

Source: Stuff.co.nz

For more information on the Cultural Precinct Project visit the Taupo District Council website here.