The Urban Regeneration of Declining CBD Periphery Zones
The Study of the Strand Station Area in Auckland
Guanghui Jiang
As an increasing number of people’s agglomerate in large cities, the realm of urbanisation of these cities is becoming more significant. The CBD periphery zone (CBDPZ), which is the immediate edge area of the city centre between the CBD and the suburbs, is faced with several problems from this urban growth such as poor land use, low-quality public spaces and functional isolation due to heavy road traffic as the CBDPZ deteriorates. However, the CBDPZ has ahigh value for urban regeneration with potential opportunities such as introducing new public spaces, creating new transit nodes and promoting further urban expansion. This research by design project identifies several approaches to address current urban problems.
This research investigates a potential approach to regenerating the CBDPZ in large cities. After background reading and literature review, such as drosscape, landscape urbanism and transit-oriented development (TOD), several methods are employed including using design precedents, undertaking data analysis and developing a researchby design process. The research investigation looks at the Strand Station area on the north-east edge of Auckland City Centre as a case study, as it is run-down with similar problems to the defined CBDPZ. The site has a great deal of potential for environmentally friendly and transit-oriented urban regeneration, helping to create a sustainable and resilient city for its location and urban context.
The design project identifies an urban redevelopment strategy for the Strand Station, which is a unique Green-Blue TOD park. The result will optimise land use, rehabilitate geographic contexts, create high-quality public spaces and improve connectivity and mobility. This new type of TOD project without high-density buildings is likely a big park dominated by social green and stormwater treatment blue, beside a new train terminal. The renewal creates a park, encouraging big images of large-scale urban development, like recreating the Auckland waterfront and even linking other cities in New Zealand such as Hamilton and Wellington by high-speed rail. Ultimately, the research seeks not only to improve Auckland’s urban form through redeveloping the Strand Station area but also to help other big cities around the world make strategic plans for the urban regeneration of run-down CBDPZs.
Keywords
the CBD periphery zone; urban regeneration; land use; high-quality public spaces; environmentally friendly design, rehabilitation, high-speed rail, transit-oriented development; connectivity; mobility, sustainability, resilience.
Wenjin Zhan
Looking out – a process of designing with children and communities as Auckland densifies
With the acceleration of urbanization and the aggravation of population problems, urban planning and development are faced with several problems, especially the planning and design of urban space for children. The reduction of public space reduces children's access to nature and has an impact on children's physical and psychological health. In addition, the decrease of children's independent mobility and the concept of the child-friendly city cannot serve children well. This series of problems affecting childhood have attracted more and more attention. As adults becoming increasingly aware of children's current and future role as rights-holding city dwellers
Coupled with an increasing boilerplate approach to creating child-friendly cities. The ‘Lookout’ project is one approach has tried to improve people’s awareness of the city by a shared dialogue between children and adults. It is an opportunity for children to reflect the city in a different way.
This research project aims to improve children’s lives thru the design of outdoor public space. Firstly, do some background reading and literature review, then collect and analyze the data from the 'Lookout' project at Newton Central School in 2017 and search for themes that could inform my design. After that research public space in Auckland and do the design project. Finally, evaluation of the process, this research hope to invest design outcomes resulting from the performance-based method of participation ('Lookout') to provide increased nature experiences and more equitable urban environments for children.
Faizan Javed
“Prescription for Nature: Making room for urban green spaces in highly dense city to combat stress “
The importance of land and personal space among individual signifies a lot to one’s overall being. It is one of the necessities of a single person to fully express its’ true nature. But in this modern Metro Manila, many resources that are indeed important for an individual has undergone in a quite shortage manner due to the rapid growth of urbanization and people migrations from different parts of the nation seeking for better opportunities. This is the reason for the enormous land scarcity and uneven distribution on properties. Creating a wide range crisis on lot entitlement on individuals who dreamt of having a valuable life in the city. Despite of being the nation’s major center for commerce, services, leisure and entertainment, the life’s value predominantly decreases. Causing a lot of problems on how the people respond to everyday life around, making them more stressed and deprived to the point that Metro manila is now one of the top 10 most stressful cities to live in the world. (Tom Connick, 2017)
The association between urban green space and well-being has been extensively studied and practiced in many parts of the world such as Australia, Europe and North America. However, in tropical countries, especially in developing countries such as Philippines there are few examples of such studies.
This research looks at the effects of urban densification on urban green space and its planning. The researcher will identify the problems, challenges and strategies of urban green space planning during densification processes. Furthermore, this research will also investigate the effect of urban green spaces in relation to public health.
Junxiang Liang
Due to urbanization, cities, in specific, are facing problems as the shortage of green space. This issue would cause a problem called Urban Heat Island (UHI), where the temperature is higher than suburb. To deal with it, one of the possible solutions is to increase the ratio of green space. However, the lack of land could be another challenge to establish new green parks. In this case, what if the concept of Pocket Park could solve this problem in high density cities.
There are some questions about UHI and Pocket Park:
· How can we use Pocket park to deal with the UHI effect in high-density old town?
· How to design this park by investigating type, size and density of distribution?
Aims
To investigate and design which type of Pocket pack could mitigate UHI effect in high-density old city, Lanzhou, China.
Outcomes
To confirm the function of pocket park through research and investigation.
To prove that pocket parks reduce the UHI effect.
RAHELEH JAHANBANI
OPTIMIZING THE CYCLING NETWORKS IN AUCKLAND
Ministry of Transport (2018) of New Zealand stated “We are driving further and more than ever before”. Nowadays, most of high-density cities around the world are trying to reduce the amount of usage of motorized transportation mode and use a sustainable alternative choice such as cycling. It is quite clear that how cycling affect significantly on enhancing environmental, financial and health. Apart from greenhouse gas emissions and economic advantages, “bring back the bike” could provide more physical, psychological and social pleasures. According to Wild and Woodward (2019), “cyclists are consistently shown to have the highest levels of satisfaction with the trip to work, yet the reasons for this contentment remain understudied”. They point four main factors in their research as the high commute satisfaction amongst cyclists: 1- Commuting control and time reliability; 2- Sensory stimulation; 3- Moderate intensity ex- excise; 4- More social interaction.
In general tree important components play the main roles in cycling for daily travel which are geography, climate and infrastructure. From infrastructure site, “the perception of cycling as an unsafe mode of travel is a significant obstacle in increasing the mode share of bicycles in a city” (Lawson, Pakrashi, Ghosh, & Szeto, 2013). According to the Winters, Davidson, Kao, & Teschke (2011), location and design of bicycle routes are very important in promoting the cycling.
In this paper, I’ll try to investigate the causes and factors which are involved in the usage of cycling in Auckland and how can cycling became a more desirable & sustainable transport option in Auckland. At first, according to background reading and literature review, some criteria’s will be classified based on case studies. Then it will be evoked a suitable design plan based on findings and analyzing data’s. Improving safety not only prevent probable accidents, but also encourage more people to commute by bike.
Chentong Wang
Building a neighborhood containing dementia and age-friendly design features
Dementia, or another name, Alzheimer, can be defined as the mild cognitive impairment. People experiencing dementia not only lost survival abilities, such as poor memory, but also have emotional disease, such as depression, anxiety, even apathy.
In the past, dementia is a common brain disease for elderly. Whilst, the situation has changed that middle age group over 45 are possible have dementia. The latest statistics reveals that over 60,000 New Zealanders have a dementia diagnosis and the population is predicted to increase in terms of demographic population change. It is not a unique instance that Scotland and UK have the similarly increased tendency as New Zealand and these two countries have designed specific public parks for sufferers suffering dementia to encourage them to do outdoor activities for developing their physical and mental health. Actually, most of sufferers with early stage dementia are able to survive alone and they need open public spaces to do exercises and meet new friends, which have positive impact on slowing down the deterioration. Thus, it is necessary to create public parks for people with dementia at the early stage in order to satisfy their needs instead of locking them at home or sending them into care villages.
The aim is to improve the wellbeing of early stage sufferers through making them feel safe, comfortable and confident in outdoor public environment leading to their greater empowerment. This project will investigate the extent to how to design dementia –friendly parks for people experiencing early stage dementia in Auckland. After collecting related data and selecting a site, it will evoke a completed design plan. This kind of public park not only satisfy sufferers with dementia needs, but also healthy old people.Lookout - applying a process of design participation with children
Wenjin Zhan
Children face many challenges in urban life today, including diminished contact with nature and reduced independent mobility. These indicators point to an erosion of rights. However, children have the political right and intellectual capability to participate in all aspects of urban life. As adults realise the seriousness of this phenomenon, more projects are trying to make changes to promote children's rights. Lookout is one such project based on performance art that provided equal communication opportunities for children and adults.
The purpose of this research is to utilise a child and adult participation project called ‘Lookout’, performed in Auckland, as an alternative process of participation in design. The methodology applied is research by design, taking qualitative data collected from the Lookout project and applying it in the design of a suburban park, in Mt Roskill (Puketapapa), Auckland. This area is currently undergoing housing intensification due to a need to replace aged housing stock coupled with an acute housing shortage in Auckland that is being addressed via the Auckland Plan 2050. This makes quality green space provision an even more important goal as the city grows and loses precious outdoor space for exploration and free play (eg backyards).
The design outcomes validate the importance of the Lookout project as a unique, egalitarian encounter between children and adults, with both parties contributing their ideas and aspirations for future Auckland in an environment of equality and openness. For the children, this was helped by the ‘mask’ of performance. There are limitations to its use as a participatory or consultation method – especially the time taken to workshop the ideas with the children beforehand. It may, however, be possible to develop an abridged form of this that still provides children with the tools to communicate equally with adults. Of particular value was the broad perspective it encouraged in the participants so that the ideas generated were applicable to a suburban site, while the Lookout project was performed in the CBD.
SUSTAINABLE HOUSING
LOOKING AT SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS OF TRADITONAL INDIAN SETTLEMENT
Deval Janak Patel
This research aims to strategize a comprehensive design, establishing a link between the traditional and current practice of housing. The intent is to provide the various housing issues; energy waste, social-cultural aspects, ignored the specific need of environment and local people, missing regional architecture characteristics. Social- cultural and environmental factors in the housing sectors have been affected by the forces of globalization during the rapid urbanization. In the last three decades, housing construction tends to reflect the requirements of the global market instead of local architecture or social demands. The concept of regional housing has been selected as a stepping stone of this research project to provide guidelines for the current housing practice. Hence, the research question: “How social and cultural issues can be addressed through the traditional practice of Indian settlement?”
It is a large number of migration that has created a shortage of housing. But modern rapid housing construction has given a roof to migrants at the cost of losing the local identity and characteristic of the city. A large number of migrants comes from the north of Gujarat villages, who are still rooted in their culture and believes. It is a crucial necessity to understand their lifestyle, needs, and provide good living ambiance for the betterment of life and maintain the identity of the local architecture.
As per the current scenario, the findings indicate that Ahmedabad, Gujarat is the first Heritage city of India declared by UNESCO. Belonging from Gujarat and having deep connections to Ahmedabad city, because of its rich heritage and culture, the observation of the city raised the need to reidentify the housing practice in the city with the social- cultural value of local heritage architecture.
Design methodology incorporates the comparative investigation of spatial form in traditional and current housing practice might provide some useful insights providing different type of activities and environment requirements, to develop typical housing model which will hold the local architectural identity for the local people. Regional housing is a relatively new approach which will consider different factors in the design process, such as location, climate, accessibility, people, construction techniques, and the vernacular environmental approach. Few planned and successful housing projects, provide the inferences to develop the best possible strategy for this approach.
Master of Architecture by Project
Applying a Life Cycle Approach in Designing Flexible Housing
Zahra Baradaran Khalkhali
Abstract
In designing a house it is usual to be focused on the current needs of clients and users. However, soon those initial needs will change for reasons such as family growth, aging and changing lifestyle. Various solutions for this issue have been suggested by architects. ‘Flexible Housing’ is a type of dwelling design that has the ability for a house to adjust to the changing needs of its occupants. Although all the qualitative research indicates that this type of dwelling is an economic and sustainable solution, there is little quantitative data to support that argument. The real financial benefit of Flexible Housing will only be recognisable when, rather than the routine design approach, based primarily on immediately available expenditure, life cycle costing is taken into account.
The term Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is used to describe a process in which all costs regarding to a property over its whole life cycle would be systemically calculated and evaluated. LCC is a significant task in a life cycle approach to buildings. This research aimed to indicate the financial advantage of Flexible Housing through designing a flexible house applying a life cycle approach.
To achieve the purpose of this research, first, a literature review was undertaken to determine the main features of a flexible house. Among varying techniques that have been applied by architects to achieve flexibility, ‘slack space’ was chosen for the present research project. This concept allows for adding flexibility to design by preparing some unprogrammed spaces to be occupied by users to address their new needs in the future. These phases will be done through a Building Information Modelling-based design process, using its features especially in cost estimation and documentation. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a recent approach in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Applying BIM potentials in the design process could help the architect to make better architectural decisions at the outset where there are enough quantitative data to support the financial analysis of the design.
Key Words: Flexible Housing, Life Cycle Costing (LCC), Building Information Modelling (BIM), slack space
PŪTAHI A WHENUA
voices flowing as one
Te Kerekere Roycroft
Ngāpuhi-nui-tonu
Ngāti Korokoro – Ngāti Whārara – Te Poukā
As a descendant of Kupe, Nukutawhiti, Rāhiri and Kahi the time I can be with our whenua in Pākanae (Hokianga) is precious. Though I often think of myself as a visitor in what should be my turangawaewae, I think of others in my position have similar feelings, a feeling of having to rely on my own personal memory association for any legitimacy of interaction. It is through our own kōrero/waiata/pūrākau/tikanga that we can reconnect and increase our confident in who we are and feel more connected to the future of our maunga, awa and moana. Connecting the tikanga and ways-of-doing developed by our tūpuna to the actions and ways-of-doing of our whānaunga.
Through a process of co-creation, with specific members of our hau kainga, to determine what the most useful output for this Masters project. Gaining advice, guidance and support from our hau kainga is of integral importance to be BY US, FOR US, WITH US!
Together we have chosen a dual output that incorporates a mapping platform and a hapū-based whenua assessment. It is important for the product of this project be the most useful and applicable to the outcomes and aspirations of our rohe/ngā hapū.
Utilising QGIS the [yet to be named] online mapping platform will enable whānaunga, regardless of where they live, to better connect to our whenua and moana through geo-spatial positioning. Multiple modes of experience are possible through using Google Street View and attaching recordings, videos, documents and external links. Making it possible for the recreation of personal references and links that can be reinforced and grounded when walking our whenua.
The hapū-based whenua assessment will demonstrate another output use of the platform as a self generated resource. Using our wāhi tapu, Roiho, as a case study to investigate our response to issues like climate change and wave erosion; while examining the structure and purpose of such an assessment from a Te Ao Māori world view. Allowing us to determine our own actions based on our own knowledge and ways of doing, enabling a practical sense of kaitiakitanga and self identity.
Dexell Frankie Aita, BLA, IFLA, ICOMOS NZ, Master’s student
Apia Flood Management – Weaving Fa’asamoa and Landscape and Landscape Architecture
Apia is suffering from an on-going flooding issue, that seems to grow and intensify over the years due to climate change. As a result of reoccurring flooding; the local economy diminishes under rebuilding and recovery costs, natural and cultural heritage are damaged and life threating situations are formulated. Apia, the capital of a small island estate of Samoa in the south west pacific, stretches through three water catchments along the coast.
An on-going research, seeks traditional practices and knowledge from local people, narratives and experiences to weaving into a landscape hybrid solution, which would reduce the effects of flooding while acknowledging the nature and origins of the Vailima River (Loimata O Apaula). The project weaves strand of Samoan culture, knowledge and experience together with technical landscape and engineering solutions to form a hybrid design. Opening potential opportunities to improve the overall well-being of Apia, boosting the local economy through tourism that appreciates the culture, history, and nature of the Samoa. Involving local communities by show casing traditional tattooing (Tatau), cooking, and other traditional practices. While flood mitigation is driver of this Master of Landscape Architecture study, the potential of introducing a different approach of incorporating and recognizing opportunities of enhancing and conserving existing infrastructures, experiences and knowledge are also a basis of contributing to a resilient Apia.
Rob Small
The Māori Ethnobotanic Garden
A New Botanic Garden for Aotearoa/New Zealand?
Aotearoa/New Zealand has four well long-established Botanic gardens in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and several smaller centre botanic gardens and some well-established arboreta. Most of these gardens have included native plant collections but have not presented or interpreted the native plants of Aotearoa/New Zealand in a way that comprehensively reflects their Māori usage and their connection to Te Ao Māori (The Māori world view.) These collections are also not seen as a resource for Māori. There are also some ethno-botanic collections such as that held by Landcare Research, Christchurch and Dame Anne and Jeremy Salmond in Gisborne but these collections are not generally open to the public or for wider use.
Māori practitioners of traditional Māori healing have accessed native plants from the bush (Te Wao Nui a Tane) in the main but some cultivation of plants in common traditional use and those used in specialist medicine and culture have been cultivated around marae. The planting of native flax cultivars that yield high fibre content for example for weaving and Kawakawa (used in medicine) are most common. It is reported that access to some plants in the wild for rongoā (Māori medicine) is proving more difficult today than in the past. (Sujarwo & Caneva, 2015)
The science of ethnobotany around the world has been a major contributor to medicines, foods, and materials for construction, clothing, and the arts and for maintaining the various cultural practices and customs of their indigenous communities. In Aotearoa New Zealand the Māori world of ethnobotany has been an intrinsic part of the Māori people’s food sources, medicines and remedies as well as tikanga and mātauranga Māori for 750 years or more. (Pharmac date?)(Sujarwo & Caneva, 2015).
The gathering of plants for medicinal purposes has been through scavenging native forests and the cultivation of foods such as kumara and yam. (which were brought from the Pacific Islands) These gathering, planting and preparation processes are accompanied by rituals and cultural practices which are part of the tikanga (culture and rituals) of the Māori world (Dr Audrey Robin 2019).
The proposed process of this study is:
1.To examine the definition and history of botanic gardens internationally and their evolution over time.
2. To research models of ethnobotanic gardens around the world
2. To understand a Māori world view of the use of native plants in their traditional lives
3. To understand the opportunities, limitations and barriers to creating a botanic garden that represents a Māori world view.
4.To interrogate the design elements that would best present a Māori ethnobotanic garden for the purposes of education, research and practical use
5. To co-design a garden including plants for rongoā, māra kai and toi, that meet the needs of Ngāti Whātua Orākei for their use in craft, traditional healing, education research and potentially as a tourism attraction
Ahlia-Mei Ta’ala
The Fires of Ambition: Strengthening the Mātauranga and our connection to Ancestral Lands
Kia mura tonu nga ahi kaa mo te matemateaone
keep the home fires burning so loved ones will always return.
Ahi ka is often described as those keeping the ancestral fires of occupation burning. The notion of ahi ka has faced transitions in how it is used since the coming of the Pakeha with the imposition of land ownership - specifically with the establishment of the Native Land Court in 1840 (Te Ao Hurihuri p.91). The ‘urban drift’ has further led to a shifting of the meaning - with economic growth and industrialisation focussed in the cities, Maori were forced to migrate from their traditionally ‘rural’ areas into urban areas, and in some cases their rural settings turning into urban settings (!). This ‘urban drift’ and the westernisation of our society has disrupted Maori connection to ancestral lands, often leaving few to practise ahi ka in rural areas (!). These ahi kā maintain tangata whenua presence and practise their matauranga by maintaining the land and retelling ancestral stories - purakau, enlivening kaitiakitanga. Ahi ka is practised in preservation of the land - for future generations, but also, awaiting the return of loved ones.
The Te Awa Tupua Act - recognising the mauri of the Whanganui River - mark the shifting tide towards a time in which Whanganui Maori can transition from the fires of occupation to begin to realise their ambitions and aspirations within their lands. Strengthening the matauranga of our land/people can progress this shift for Maori ambitions and aspirations to be realised - moving from the fires of occupation into the fires of ambition. A time in which Maori can begin to strengthen their ties back to their land and feel empowered by knowing their turangawaewae, knowing their history and whakapapa connection to the land. A shift, that could encourage the return of many urbanised Maori, or at least, strengthen their connections back to their turangawaewae, in knowing their matauranga.
This marks a critical time to assess where we are, reflect on where we have come from, and imagine where we can go based on our past and present. An ancestral landscape framework can allow for this as an analysis of the past and present through social, cultural, political dimensions in embodying the relationship of the landscape and its people - expressed through our own perspectives under Te Ao Maori (Merata Kawharu, pg 334). Such a framework has the potential to strengthen matauranga Maori. Strengthening our matauranga has the ability to strengthen collective and individual identity within place and to empower our people. It also has the possibility of influencing educational initiatives - addressing the need for our educational curriculum to teach the history of its people, as localised as possible.
