South Frame - The Greenway

The South Frame is the rejuvenation project for the area from Hagley Park towards the Central city, specifically straddling St Asaph and Tuam Streets, with larger blocks included at either end. Okataro Ltd is leading the public portion of this "Anchor Project" rebuild with vision far removed from the previous vibe of the area. The precinct had been semi industrial, with rundown Victorian retail and light industry buildings mixed awkwardly with newer office blocks, and was known as a colder and less hospitable part of town.

With the slate wiped clean by earthquakes, Okataro focuses firmly on the ground in this area, cementing this part of the city's future by focussing design elements on paving choices intended to be spiritual and solid. Volcanic basalt is the choice for the walkways, reminiscent of the Port Hills, Paved with basalt, a mixture of Greywake from the Southern Alps and the special features, sandblasted stone images and illuminated inserts of real Pounamu. Another new and special feature is the use of technology to etch poetry into paving in a way that it only becomes visible when wet with rainwater. They area calling it New Zealand's first "Raining Poetry."

The block at the eastern end has been termed the 'Innovation Precinct" with the intent being to attract startups to this corner of the city. The heart of South Frame, The Greenway, a wide mixed use pedestrian and cycle path, runs westward between the Tuam and St Asaph blocks, through a series of squares and greens, towards the "Precinct" and Hospital.

Some permanent residents have already moved into the middle block, with 2000 staff populating three purpose built buildings which are the new Justice and Emergency Services Precinct on Tuam Street.

The first assets to spring to life were Vanguard Square, Nurseryman Lane, Poplar Street and Ash Street. Real success has been measured with the opening of was Matipo Common in June 2017, popular approval personified by locals doing away with the previous slang term "Mullet Street" (Unfashionable haircut) and allow Mollett Street part of the Greenway to come into it's own, with excitement building about the rest of the project.

Image Credit: Vanguard Square and Artists impression of public spaces, Okataro Ltd