Name of case study
East Street Water Feature: Three Rivers
Location
Ashburton, New Zealand
Year
1994 originally, then upgraded in 2021
Scale
Building/single site
Area / size
Undetermined
NbS employed
Flow forms and urban water features
Type of NbS
Engineered interventions (not using vegetation)
Initiator
Ashburton District Council
Funder
Ashburton District Council
Budget
Initial cost of $NZ45,000 in 1994
Design group
Designed and cast by Iaian Trousdell, a sculptor
- reduced fresh water availability / quality
- urban heat island effect
- increased temperatures
Including flowforms into urban landscapes, like the Three Rivers water feature in Ashburton is a way to combat the urban heat island effect. The water helps to lower temperatures and alter humidity making urban settings more comfortable particularly as temperatures increase. This water feature has been a landmark in the area since it was created in the 1990s, and was seen to be a key part of the restoration work to restore and revitalise the town centre.
Aesthetically, the Three Waters water feature is a key part of the Ashburton town centre, providing a space for locals to stop and relax. It is a point of connection in the public realm.
- Fresh water
- Habitat provision
- Purification
A potential ecological benefit of the flow form is enabling water to be exposed to UV light (sunlight) as it moves through the sculpture, improving water quality.
Summary of case study
The East Street water feature was first installed in 1994, designed and cast by Iain Trousdell, a sculptor. The design is a reference to three major rivers in the area, and was given the name Three Rivers. It is made from fibreglass moulds and a concrete base. East Street is the town centre of Ashburton, a town in the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand home to about 35,000 people. The centre was damaged during the Canterbury earthquakes, so redevelopment was undertaken to strengthen and revitalise the area (Ashburton District Council, 2024). The project included restoration and upgrade of water infrastructure, new pedestrian surfaces and landscaping features. As part of that work, the water feature was repaired in 2021, with LED lighting and new planting added.
References
- Ashburton District Council. (2024). Ashburton CBD Revitalisation Project. https://www.ashburtondc.govt.nz/ashburton-district/projects/ashburton-cbd-revitalisation-project
- Ashburton District Council. (2021). TLC for Three Rivers water feature. https://www.ashburtondc.govt.nz/news/2021-news/r-and-m-for-east-street-water-feature