Kahikatea Bus Stop

The Kahikatea Bus Stop reimagines stop 6119 in Newtown, Wellington, through the lens of Kaitiakitanga — guardianship and care for the environment. The project explores how a small piece of urban infrastructure can embody values of safety, accessibility, and ecological responsibility.
The design integrates a sculptural shelter whose roof extends along the pedestrian path, creating a sense of protection and continuity. Glass seating and tinted refractive panels bathe the space in shifting colour, transforming the everyday act of waiting into a moment of sensory engagement. Overhead, a roof garden of native flora combines with solar glass panels that filter light and power built-in wireless charging shelves, supporting both sustainability and digital connectivity.
At the heart of the design stands a Kahikatea tree, planted to the north of the shelter. As it grows over centuries, it will eventually surpass the structure itself, reminding visitors of the temporal nature of human intervention and our role as temporary custodians within a living landscape. The project invites reflection on our relationship with place, time, and the enduring rhythms of Te Taiao.