The urban design concept for the City Rail Link represents the very distinct way of living and constructing within the ever-changing New Zealand environment.
The key design principles are: function, performance and personality within an overarching principle of ecology.
The station designs provide safe, functional and clear transport solutions.
Each station has an even balance between functional design requirements, sustainability, engineering demands, performance objectives and cost, while reflecting the local culture, context and future city aspirations.
Embedded in these is a holistic approach to the ecology and wider cultural landscape to ensure long-term social, cultural, heritage and environmental sustainability.
Each station is designed with a unique ‘personality’ – an identity developed from entrances through to platforms
Ecology is embedded into the design process to achieve integrated, cost-effective and innovative solutions in order to create healthy, diverse and restorative environments
The identity and integration of the stations into their local precincts will reinforce both their existing identities and a more pedestrian-focused future in line with the City Rail Link intentions and the objectives of the Auckland Plan and Auckland City Centre Masterplan
The principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) have been incorporated, as well as the optimisation of performance in terms of cost, maintenance and safety.
Video: Our approach for each CRL station
Our design philosophy
Read our booklet outlining our design philosophy and how we are applying it to each station
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Note: All of the underground stations have been modelled in 3 dimensions in REVIT software and the alignment in 3 dimensions on MX. While the Level of Detail (LOD) is relatively low at present (LOD200) it is the intention for the BIM models to be developed to a higher level of detail through the detailed design and construction process and eventually transferred to AT's Asset Management department for future use.
Cultural Influences Design Philosophy
Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua (as man disappears from sight, the land remains)
Our design approach reflects our ongoing partnership with mana whenua.
City Rail Link is a world first for integrating mana whenua values, working collaboratively with eight mana whenua iwi to reflect and respond to cultural narrative.
Both the names and the designs are a unique expression of a cultural narrative for both the people and the city that hasn’t been seen anywhere else in the world, evocative of both people and place. They are quintessentially Aotearoa.
Design elements at the stations use a pattern language which aligns with the gifted te reo names, allowing the art, culture and other elements to converge. In some areas, the art manifests to reflect the cultural identity of the geographical location.
The holistic design process for the stations, in collaboration with mana whenua, allows for cultural expression in their design. Bringing together earth and underground elements and reflecting the culture of Tāmaki Makaurau we can create spaces that can only come from ‘here’, unique to New Zealand’s journey and history. The collective philosophy for the station designs is the Māori creation myth of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother).
The integration of public art throughout the station will showcase our unique cultures, contribute towards a positive user experience and create memorable experiences for Aucklanders and visitors alike.
The final designs of the stations also showcase the urban design around the buildings, extending the passenger’s experience into the surrounding streets. Significant engagement work, including gathering feedback from the last set of station designs, has been carried out and acted upon, to enable seamless, accessible travel to and from the stations.
Collaborating with mana whenua
City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd) has a longstanding partnership with our Mana Whenua Forum which began in the early stages of the project in 2012. Part of the purpose of this partnership is to ensure Māoritanga is intrinsically woven through the essence of CRL at every stage.
In 2017, the Mana Whenua Forum gifted us with four names for our stations. These names are steeped in history, represent important elements of iwi tradition and heritage and reflect significant geographical features around the stations.
“Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua - as man disappears from sight, the land remains. This demonstrates the holistic values of te ao Māori, and the utmost respect of Papatūānuku, the mother of the earth. People will come and go but the land will remain.”
This whakapapa is a chance to share and celebrate the rich history of Tāmaki Makaurau with the wider community. It’s about reinstating the traditional names of the area – looking back to a time before concrete and skyscrapers - when people lived off the land.
The gifted station names Maungawhau, Karanga-a-Hape, Te Waihorotiu and Waitematā reflect the mythology, atua, people and aspects of early life indigenous to the landscapes.
Station designs and names
The CRL is a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link up to 42 metres below the city centre that brings you new train station connections:
Maungawhau Station: A redeveloped station at Eden Terrace/ Mt Eden where the CRL connects with the North Auckland (Western Line)
Karanga-a-Hape Station: A new station just off Karangahape Road - with entrances at both Mercury Lane and Beresford Square
Te Waihorotiu Station: A new mid-town station with entrances at Wellesley and Victoria Streets
Waitematā Station: The station at the bottom of Queen Street is being transformed into a two-way through station that better connects the city’s rail network.
Maungawhau station design
Basalt, red glass triangles and the god of volcanic activity are just three of the many fascinating design elements that will feature in the future Maungawhau Station.
In this video, Mana Whenua artist Tessa Harris (who also designed our woven whāriki pattern in the pavers of Te Komititanga, Britomart) and station architect Gillian Hatch, explain the complex process and inspiration behind the station design.
This includes incorporating cultural narratives and the geological context of the station area with the technical and functional needs of a train station.
