Editorial: Looking for lively square redesign

Hastings Civic Square is in line for a much-needed design makeover.

As a focal point for the city, an important entrance space for the excellent Hastings City Art Gallery and Hastings District Library, it leaves a fair bit to be desired.

The barren stretch of paving, in places uneven and cracked, is more sombre Soviet Union than bountiful Hawke's Bay. There are, thankfully, some lovely trees in the adjacent greenspace so all is not lost.

Hastings District Council could have bulldozed ahead with its own plan for the redesign of the square but instead has called for submissions from design professionals for the redevelopment project.

The council has established a panel to assess entries to what is essentially a design competition for a project for which some $7 million in funds has been set aside.

The concept of throwing the Civic Square redesign out to all interested designers to contest has to be applauded.

It is a tactic that has worked well for civic projects around the world.

A qualified and diverse assessment panel is very important to the process, however, as there are practical, financial, cultural and civic requirements that must be answered in the successful redesign.

This is an important two hectares of space for Hastings and the council wants to ensure whatever results from this competition will encourage people to stay and spend more time - and money - in the city.

The city requires a Civic Square with heart and soul and with the ability to host events and gatherings of people. Right now, it is a space with very little life to it.

The competition is open for submissions until the end of January, 2012. The top three designs will go out for public comment.