Tauranga City Council’s upgrade of the Spring Street and Elizabeth Street Car Park Buildings was part of a city-shaping initiative to transform overlooked infrastructure into joyful, intuitive, and safe public spaces, supporting Tauranga’s broader Playful City vision.

Previously perceived as dark, unsafe, and uninspiring, these car parks deterred use and contributed to traffic congestion as drivers favoured kerbside parking. The challenge was to shift behaviour by improving the experience, making these spaces appealing for people of all ages and abilities. The goal was to create environments that were not only functional but also engaging, memorable, and reflective of Tauranga’s identity.

The central design concept was a suite of tessellated patterns, with each parking level inspired by a different local ecology—from Astrolabe Reef and Tauranga Harbour to Mount Maunganui Foreshore and Waikareao Estuary. These abstracted, bold graphic patterns serve both as visual identity markers for each level and as storytelling devices that connect users to the natural landscape and cultural heritage of the region.

Environmental graphics were concentrated at key pedestrian points to support intuitive navigation. Patterns were repeatable and scalable, offering high-contrast visibility. Each level also features native flora and fauna silhouettes, designed as playful surprises for younger users. Integrated lighting further enhances safety, wayfinding, and the overall sense of welcome, especially at night.

The project reimagines civic infrastructure as a platform for storytelling and placemaking. It supports safer, more efficient city movement, enhances public perception, and aligns with wider placemaking initiatives like the Waterfront Park and weekend markets. Most importantly, it reinforces Tauranga’s aspiration to be a city that values creativity, accessibility, and playful public experiences.