At Sylvia Park, a bustling Auckland hub of transport, retail and residential life, a pedestrian walkway needed more than just a boundary, it needed a safe, durable and design-led solution. The result is a custom DuraPanel Axis fence that delivers on safety while enhancing the experience of the space itself.

This fencing project brings together practical performance and creative intent to create a walkway that feels bright, thoughtful and inviting. With more foot traffic expected between a new apartment development and the shopping centre, the fence needed to frame the space and offer a defined, colourful connection. “This wasn’t just a functional installation,” says Rachel Koks, National Partnerships Manager at Boundaryline. “It was about making a space that people enjoyed walking through.”

Previously, this stretch of Sylvia Park was flanked by standard mesh fencing, a purely functional barrier with no visual appeal. But with the area evolving into a key pedestrian link, the opportunity arose to inject life and personality into what had been a forgotten edge.

Designed to provide safety alongside the active railway line whilst leaning into it's surroundings, the solution was a custom DuraPanel Axis fence. “We looked at the buildings and surroundings,” says Yoko Tanaka of Boffa Miskell. “One side of the centre is dominated by red, orange, and yellow. The other, blue, green, and yellow. We wanted the fencing to reflect that, so we created a colour transition across the fins.” Wrapped aluminium fins shift in colour as people move past, creating a subtle gradient that mirrors the energy of the site.

With KiwiRail’s tight access windows and fixed apartment launch dates, the project required close coordination. Visual ID brought the fin wrapping to life, Greenscene NZ added planting, and prefabricated components helped ensure a smooth, on-time delivery. “Because of Boundaryline’s track record, we had confidence with you to start with,” Yoko explains. “Trust was a key factor.”

It’s rare that a fence becomes a talking point. But at Sylvia Park, it does just that. It draws the eye, guides the foot, and gently tells the story of a place in motion. This fence now does more than define a boundary, it defines the space. It shows how one bold design choice can elevate everyday movement into a meaningful experience.