Hall Street Pier

This project began with a speculative interpretation of Nelson’s most famous boat: the Ladybird. The Ladybird won the world’s speed record in 1933 and became an international success story borne out of a collaborative process that involved the entire community. The project galvanized Nelson and still resonates as a matter of pride for the city’s residents.

Like the Ladybird, the Hall Street Pier is a community initiative that involves co-design with a multitude of volunteers, stakeholders, local wood workers and suppliers, as well as time and materials donated-in-kind.  This effort not only made the project a reality, but also transformed it into an expression of pride and purpose reflective of Nelson’s culture.

The design intent of the project is to suture city and lake, reconnecting the city to its most prominent but underutilized amenity. The design is characterized by a wood canopy that defines the entry to the pier while providing covered programmable space. The lower section of the pier creates a publicly accessible swim area and boat mooring locations.

The project widens the existing footprint of the pier and provides new services (electrical, data, water, and gas) to facilitate community programming and everyday activity, including informal gatherings, boating, strolling, and people-watching. Finally, the new pier is home for the Ladybird itself, housed in a climate-controlled glass pavilion as part of the outreach of The Nelson Museum of Art and History.