Nikau Palms

1992

Athfield Architects

Accessible

Type

  • Sculpture
  • Sculptural Utility

Medium

  • Copper
  • Zinc
  • Steel
  • Terracotta tile
  • Stone

Dimensions

  • 17 x palms from Bridge and along Harris Street. Approx. H8980 (incl. fronds & stem) x dia. 1700mm (stem) / 3000mm (fronds)

Athfield Architects, 'Nikau Palms' (1992). Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024

1992–Current

Wellington Library, Civic Square, CBD, Wellington (bordering Harris & Victoria Sts).

Organisations
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

The Nikau Palms have been a defining element of Wellington’s Civic Square and the Public Library. Athfield Architects were commissioned to complete the library, and despite being met with some resistance when they were first proposed in 1989, the Nikau Palms that line the Harris Street boundary walkway and across the Victoria Street façade have since become ‘iconic’ in Wellington. Used as both a decorative motif as well as a shield for unsightly elements of the building, the library design received a national architecture award.

A local engineer spent several months crafting more than 130 fronds for the 17 trees. Each stands on a base of Oamaru stone and terracotta tile.

“Nine of the trees are structural supports for the City Library and six stand free from architectural burden. The free-standing nikau palms in different parts of Civic Square help to integrate the buildings and the space as a whole.”

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