A central heart
New Brighton has a buzzing community, from familiar faces and spaces to the new Village Green.
A key part of bringing new life back to the New Brighton town centre was creating a space where people could come together. The result is The Village Green – Te Hiato Kuaka. More than a public square, it is a flexible community hub designed for live music, markets, exhibitions, and events.
The vision was brought to life by Common Ground Studio, whose founding partner, James Lunday, has a long connection with New Brighton dating back to his work following the Canterbury earthquakes. Working alongside the Harris family, who own the site, and following extensive consultation with community groups, the project evolved into something that genuinely reflected local needs.
The Village Green is centred around a generous lawn beside New Brighton Mall. The design responds to its coastal setting. Sheltered by neighbouring buildings while enjoying excellent sun, the site features high-quality, insulated beach huts that house small businesses, public amenities, studios, and galleries. These flexible spaces can adapt as the community’s needs evolve. A purpose-built stage provides a home for performances and community events.
“We were trying to bring the beach into the main street,” James says.
Community consultation was key to getting the project off the ground. Common Ground Studio, community groups, and DCM Urban worked closely together to ensure the design reflected what the community wanted.
DCM Urban was involved early in the design process, providing services to support public consultation meetings, social media engagement, and mail drops. “It is rewarding to see the Village Green come to fruition,” they say.
Importantly, much of the development has been designed to be adaptable, allowing it to evolve as the community’s needs change. The structures have also been well engineered and raised to reduce the risk of inundation and are designed to better accommodate future seismic events. They are built to H1 standard, supported by specialist firm ENGCO.
“ENGCO supported the New Brighton Village Green revitalisation, providing civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering services for a project that has transformed Brighton Mall into a vibrant community space.”