66 | CONTRACTING By Design Concrete and Paving T T Kelly Deeks Innovative technologies push boundaries The Herne Bay Permeable Tennis Court took home Bronze in the Residential Building Up to $250,000 category. By Design Concrete & Paving is celebrating a triple win at the 2025 Registered Master Landscapers’ Landscapes of Distinction Awards, with three Bronze Awards, recognising the company’s skill, creativity, and innovation in residential and commercial hard landscaping. The Auckland-based business, led by directors Peter Robinson and Darren Maxwell, received accolades for its Herne Bay Permeable Tennis Court, Athlone Poolside Revival, and Te Kori – Scott Point projects. Each award demonstrates the company’s ability to push boundaries in paving and concrete, from New Zealand’s first permeable tennis court, to a complex residential transformation, and their first fully- sustainable sports park. The Herne Bay Permeable Tennis Court, which took home Bronze in the Residential Building: Up to $250,000 category, marked the first of its kind in New Zealand — a full-size tennis court constructed in partnership with Permeable Concrete NZ, utilising Permcon to allow the homeowner to have a private court without breaching council permeability rules. Peter says traditional hardstand areas such as tennis courts can quickly exceed the maximum impermeable surface allowance on a property. By using the Permcon system, the court not only met strict International Tennis Federation standards but also complied with council requirements. “This client wanted a tennis court, but with a pool already on the property, they didn’t have the allowance for it under the standard permeability limits,” Peter says. “We came up with the idea of building the first permeable concrete tennis court in New Zealand. That innovation made it possible.” The project presented significant technical challenges, with concrete craned over a seaside home and poured from dawn until night to meet tolerances. “It was one of the toughest jobs we’ve done,” Peter says. “The client was thrilled — he has a tennis court where he otherwise couldn’t have one.” The Athlone Poolside Revival, which also won Bronze in the Residential Building: Up to $250,000 category, showcased the team’s ability to think outside the square on a difficult site. Traditional paving wasn’t possible due to waterproofing and access issues, so By Design built a raised deck structure which was waterproofed before the final paving was laid. Materials were conveyed onto site via a belt system, with demolition waste removed the same way. “In the end, we created a seamless result that looks like solid concrete paving but ties beautifully into the natural surroundings.” By Design’s third Bronze Award came in the Commercial Building: Up to $500,000 category, for its contribution to Te Kori – Scott Point in Hobsonville, Auckland. This 16.4 hectare development is New Zealand’s first fully sustainable sports park, designed in partnership with local iwi. By Design’s role included creating pathways, reserves, sports fields, and decorative public spaces. The company used a wide variety of concrete finishes including oxides, rock salt textures, sandblasting, and etched bird designs to make walkways and plazas visually engaging. Behind these award-winning projects is By Design’s signature innovation: Permcon, a permeable concrete system developed specifically for New Zealand conditions. Peter and Darren discovered the technology at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas in 2018 and brought it home, quickly establishing Permcon NZ. Unlike conventional concrete, the Permcon system allows water to filter through the slab into a permeable base course, where it can be detained, infiltrated, evaporated, or slowly released into stormwater systems. The environmental benefits are significant. The system removes suspended solids, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals from stormwater before it reaches waterways. It also helps cool stormwater, alleviates pressure on urban drainage networks during heavy rain, and even reduces urban heat by releasing moisture back into the air. “From a sustainability perspective, permeable concrete ticks every box,” Peter says. “It’s not just a building material — it’s a solution to some of the challenges our cities are facing.” A global leading product in high-performance construction and surface solutions, Permcon continues to expand its footprint across diverse applications, most recently with the installation of six premium padel courts in Melbourne. Permcon’s advanced surface technology was the perfect solution, delivering a resilient and high-performance playing experience for athletes of all levels. By Design Concrete & Paving combines Peter’s four decades in construction with Darren’s 25 years managing large projects. The family-owned company has built a strong reputation across Auckland, Waikato, and beyond for quality, innovation, and reliability. Both directors continue to invest in the future of the business, regularly travelling overseas to source new machinery and products. Benefits of Permeable Pavements Reduces rain fall run off decreasing demand on existing stormwater systems Reduces stormwater peak flows by detaining the storm water and releasing in a controlled manner Recharges natural ground aquifers as per greenfields natural filtration Filters stormwater by removing heavy metals, hydrocarbons and detritus Reduces the size of retention structures and maximises land use by retaining water within the system Maximises land use in a passive system, the permeable surfaces are considered as “grass” for design purposes Reduces the stormwater run off temperature mitigating damage to local waterways Mitigates weather extremes snowmelt and ice reduction in winter and cooling properties in summer Stuart Girvan +64 27 224 1361 sgirvan@permconnz.co.nz info@permconnz.co.nz www.permconnz.co.nz As Kiwi homeowners push to get more out of their properties – adding basketball courts, tennis courts, and putting greens – landscapers are increasingly running into a common problem: site coverage limits Most district plans across New Zealand restrict howmuch of a property can be covered by hard, impermeable surfaces such as concrete and asphalt. For sites already at or near their maximum coverage, even a single additional paved court can push the build over the line – stopping a project in its tracks. But with Permcon, there’s a way forward. Permcon permeable concrete is designed to allow water to pass through the surface and into a drainage layer beneath. From there, it’s filtered, stored, and released slowly into the stormwater network – reducing runoff and helping prevent flooding. Crucially, most councils consider permeable concrete to be a pervious surface, making it an ideal workaround for projects facing compliance constraints. Tennis courts, putting greens, and more Whether it's under a full-size tennis court or a compact backyard putting green, permeable concrete creates a strong, stable base without counting as a hard surface – perfect for synthetic turf overlays. It performs like traditional concrete but meets regulatory demands where standard materials can’t. It’s especially valuable for projects where space is tight, or where structural integrity is required – such as raised courts or builds on sloped land. Real-world example: coastal court with constraints A bronze medal recipient at the recent Landscapes of Distinction Awards, ByDesign’s Herne Bay Permeable Tennis Court project illustrates the benefits of Permcon perfectly. A client undertaking a full renovation wanted to add a tennis court and clubroom to their clifftop property. But with the clubroom’s footprint pushing the property to near-full site coverage, the court risked being non-compliant. The solution was a permeable concrete court – engineered to collect and manage its own runoff on-site. Because the court was cantilevered off the cliff, a concrete structure was essential. But to meet permeability requirements, the top layer also needed to support turf, remain level, and have zero movement. Permcon Permeable Concrete delivered exactly that: a fully engineered, load-bearing base with stormwater management capabilities – and a surface compatible with artificial grass. It ticked every box for the client, the architect, and the council. If a dream court or green is just out of reach due to site constraints, Permcon permeable concrete makes it possible. It’s the product that blends structure with compliance – and opens the door to more ambitious, high-performance outdoor spaces. Permcon delivers: • Courts and greens that don’t count against site coverage. • Durable, level bases compatible with turf systems. • Solutions that future-proof properties against changing stormwater rules. • A low-carbon product option for projects where environmental impact needs to be further mitigated. Don’t let a site coverage limit be the end of the conversation. With permeable concrete, it’s just the beginning. A concrete solution...
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