The Egmont Street project was designed to make the street safer, more attractive and more inviting – bringing more foot traffic into the lane, supporting local businesses, and creating a clear link between Ghuznee and Dixon streets.
The recently completed project has greened the lane using corten steel planters, honeycomb greenwalls, catenary lighting and a new parklet, giving the street an industrial but greened feel overall. All of the works have added to the appeal of the area, but there is more to come.
The Council is now calling for artists’ proposals to adorn some of the walls and doors of the street with art.
The theme ‘If the walls could talk’ asks artists to come up with graphic ideas that represent the street’s chequered history. This proposal is a dynamic new approach to heritage interpretation that aims to make people more inquisitive about the history of Wellington.
The street was originally called Little Taranaki Street until 1911, and has a long and colourful history through both names, with a number of fires, murders, brawls and accidents reported over the years.
“The new lane is the perfect canvas for some young up-and-coming artists to showcase their work in a very visible part of Wellington,” says Trudy Whitlow, Manager of Urban Design.
“Everything from brewing, through to importing tea, the presence of American troops during WWII, and a dead horse that lay out in the street for days are part of the street’s past. We want something quirky and original that really reflects the history of this laneway in a fresh new way,” Trudy adds.
The call-out to artists will be in the coming weeks – so watch this space.