Manurewa Constellation Garden: 2025 Gold medallist

Gold, Commercial Build (Up to $500,000), Landscapes of Distinction Awards 2025. Manurewa, Auckland. By Luijten Landscaping Ltd.

Manurewa Intermediate wanted a celestial courtyard: an extension of the maths and science classrooms that wove the school’s four houses into the design. Luijten Landscaping built four planted zones as planetary bodies, each with intricate Corten steel cutouts of the house mascots, orbiting a central Sun sculpture.

Railway sleepers and sculptural steel create depth; layered planting mimics orbits; floating benches integrate with the decking as if drifting. The school calls it more than a courtyard, an immersive experience that sparks wonder and curiosity.

Why it matters

Every Registered Master Landscaper has earned the right to carry the mark, so the professional you hire is current, accountable, and backed by a national association that stands behind its work. Find a Registered Master Landscaper at masterlandscapers.org.nz.