Abstracts

 Jon Davies

Abstract 

Currently, there is limited research to improve an estimated 830,000 homes in New Zealand that have no insulation within the external walls. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive policy, standard or best practice guideline to housing providers and homeowners for retrofitting external walls that are not insulated. Therefore, this research aims to understand how practitioners can design and implement building interventions over existing wall claddings to increase thermal performance in existing occupied as-built homes.  

While retrofitting homes have underlying barriers to implementation, the research will primarily focus on application technique and practical knowledge while considering thermal and hygrothermal performance. Aspects of construction and social costs will be acknowledged within the research but is out of scope. 

The thesis is divided into seven chapters. Chapters one and two outline the research purpose and define the research question. They are followed by review of key background literature in chapter three and case studies within the subject field in chapter 4. These lead to the evaluation of testing methodologies and the design of experiments in the fifth chapter which also describes the software simulations of proposed materials and assemblies. 

Chapter six describes actively tested iterative scaled sections of building walls within a controlled environment. The knowledge gained from scaled testing is analysed and applied to a typical New Zealand bungalow wall and tested with wind, water and seismic pressures to provide insight into the process of retrofitting homes. The final chapter will review the value of the research and conclude with next steps.  

International research and practice show an existing building’s walls can be retrofitted externally. In New Zealand, cold houses cost New Zealand $7 Billion annually in respiratory healthcare, however there are major knowledge gaps in how to retrofit to create thermally efficient homes without causing harm to the building’s durability. Case studies of attempted improvements using external insulation suggest it can easily result in a negative outcome with building damage (moisture entrapment) when available building science is ignored or misunderstood. Precedents internationally have suggested positive outcomes when the insulation has been applied as an external blanket; however, specific material combinations are critical to this success or failure. 

Modelling the implementation of the proposed Parka Wrap system to existing buildings shows a 60% reduction of energy required to maintain 20 degrees inside a typical house where insulation already exists in floor and ceiling. Physically testing existing walls pre-retrofit shows they are leaky for both air and water as water is driven through existing cladding by wind pressure. The effects of wind alone contributes to cold internal environments. The addition of water requires either drainage and/or significant drying potential to avoid damage to structural framing.  

The subsequent physical testing for water penetration in NZS4284:2008 test rig included seismic racking, and repeated water penetration testing has shown evidence of successful development of a robust weathertight assembly with predictable thermal performance. Further software based analysis of proposed design ensures avoidance of predictable moisture accumulation. 

Junxiang Liang

Buildings and roads have covered urban areas, increasing numbers of vehicles and the population there has also rapidly grown at the same time. Those changes are the leading causes of the urban heat island effect because of the lack of green space, especially in high-density cities. As a result, the small-scale park could be a strategy for the city with limited space. From previous research, a small green space could also contribute cooling effect, and the shape and vegetation should be considered the main factors for design. This study will investigate how to use small/pocket parks to deal with urban heat effects in a high-density area with limited space. It is based on Research by design methodology and concentrates on Ecological Urbanism and Urban Acupuncture as two main theories. The design part of this case is also referenced from Landscape Ecology, which is patch – corridor – matrix. In other words, thinking about how to create an ecological connection is one of the main objectives. This workshop aims to analyse the site in Lanzhou, China, and deepen the pocket park as the core of the design scheme.

Abstract----Qi Yang, MLA

Due to changes in the world's climate, residents of Napier, on the west coast of New Zealand, are facing problems with rainwater pollution. Studies have shown that some of Napier's rainwater flows through surface runoff, residential areas, industrial areas and finally into Ahuriri and the surrounding harbour. In addition to this, rainwater collected from the roads flows into the estuary along with pollutants. As a result, the Health Authority in Hawkes Bay warns people against any contact with the water in Ahuriri. In particular, untreated rainwater can pose a more severe risk to the environment and people's health.

The study aims to use green infrastructure to help improve water quality in Napier. Setting a series of objectives based on the current situation, including assessing and analysing existing problems with the Napier stormwater system and development around the Ahuriri River. Research existing theories, analyse case studies and collect data relating to land use, natural conditions and infrastructure around the city. Conduct site surveys to analyse specific sites, their conditions, problems and opportunities for future development.

Building on existing issues, the question was posed: How can we use green infrastructure to improve the stormwater quality in the suburb of Ahuriri?

Based on a literature review of Water sensitive urban design and Low Impact Urban Design and Development. The creation of rain gardens, depressions, roof gardens, permeable facilities and artificial wetlands throughout the catchment area can help to purify stormwater. A site analysis of the entire catchment area was also carried out using ArcGIS. The results show that stormwater problems will become more of a problem in the future. However, the creation of wetland parks at the perfume point, rain gardens, permeable pavements and green infrastructure throughout the catchment can effectively reduce the impact of stormwater pollution. In addition, it is also essential to provide a space for residential activities at Perfume Point.

Aachnal Aachal

THE URBAN FLOOD ADAPTION PLAN 

Abstract 

As Aotearoa moves into the era of climate change, our urban landscapes are becoming more vulnerable to flooding. Along with climate change aggravating the flooding, additionally, Aotearoa is short of housing (“45,000 dwellings” (Johnson et al., 2018)). The loss of land by flooding means the loss of potential to accommodate the housing needs of New Zealand. 

This project strives to develop a climate-adaptive design method for Maybury Street, Glen Innes. The site is at risk of pluvial flooding in the next 100 years. Therefore, the sites’ design will include two parts; firstly, to create a flood adaptation strategy for the Maybury Reserve and its surroundings, and secondly, to safely plan new housing development along Maybury Street.  

The urban flood adaptation design methods formed will be tested and applied to the site using alternative methods and methodology. For example, Rob Regma’s – Research by Design methodology will be used to execute the project, and Geodesign combined with scientific data (from NIWA, LINZ & Auckland Council). Also, community consultation with Glen Innes community professionals will be used to make decisions about the site and further, Geodesign will be used to apply them to the site as practical design solutions.  

This design method will provide a resilient water landscape site for the Glen Innes community. This method will help preserve the existing landscape’s good qualities and build a new landscape to enhance community participation and ameliorate flooding.  

Wenwan Zhang

After COVID-19, investigation into how to create a new public park design. 

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it became hazardous for people to stay in poorly ventilated office and gather together in high numbers. To avoid spreading the virus, “social distance” was encouraged to stop the virus effectively.  

“Social distance” still determines how public space is used in different countries 

As an essential role in people’s daily lives, the design for public park needs to develop. Create the design of environments that positively facilitate human life, and be more resilient to epidemiological crises in the future. 

My research will choose a public park to address the problem, use the knowledge from theory studies, case studies to develop a design. The methodology is designed by research. The research outcome will be to establish a healthier public park. Suitable for public park design in the future at the same time provide the ideas for existing park development.

Piyush Verma

How living in Auckland CBD be made more affordable?

Aim: 

Design a Self-contained well-designed unit placed anywhere intending to go in a vertical direction giving a chance to expand the dwellings helping to meet the required numbers by the year 2048. Recreating the residential neighborhood by proposing improved recreational and communal spaces to make the relations between people working and living much stronger.

Objectives:

Analyzing the different housing typologies and design strategies of the megastructure affordable social housing examples and implementing them with a minimalistic approach to accommodate more than the feasible capacity specified for the area. This can happen only by promoting the redevelopments of underdeveloped and underutilized sites to enhance and form opportunities for residential developments.

1. To analyze different criteria for case studies including the number of people housed in the project; density; communal spaces; nature; climate; and topography.

2. Considering green spaces as crucial factors and ways to incorporate with the design solutions to create recreational and communal spaces.

3. To determine the location of the specific site to analyze the local plans and conditions.

4. To validate the possibility of the new housing typology designs that can help solve the crisis.