Construction has started on The Landing, a retail, dining, commercial and community centre southwest of Christchurch city. The Buchan Group was appointed by Ngai Tahu Property in 2010 to design key components of the retail and office buildings.

It worked with Kamo Marsh Landscape Architects on two significant features: a public town square and a high street with a continuous folding roof, dubbed ‘the runway’.

“The centrepiece of The Landing is the town square, and restaurants and cafés will spill out into this common area, creating a piazza-like environment,” says Buchan Group principal Anton Tritt.

The design aims to encourage visitors to take time out to appreciate their surroundings, he says.

The Landing, in Wigram, will cost around $20 million. Stage one has an 8975 square metre site with retail and office space across three buildings, and a supermarket. 

Image: The Landing Wigram