Knotting Karaka

By Andrea Reid

A comparitive study between: Thread Knotting Thread Grid Matrix Thread Web Thread Flow

Content

Introduction and Context Hydrology and Water Flows Vegetation Geology: Land Use Capability (LUC) Views Constraints and opportunities Vision: Knotting in a new Urban Fabric Settlement Pattern Density Zones

4 8 9 10 10 11 12 14 14 16 17

High Density Medium Density Mixed Use Revegetation Transport Connections Urban Farming Recreational Open Space Master Plan Conclusion Terminology References

18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 33 34 35

Introduction and Context

Auckland. Planned to be the world’s most livable city.

Auckland’s population is growing at an exponential rate. This means that a large amount of quality sustainable development will need to be distributed into and around the Auckland area to allow for the predicted increase of one million residents. A combination of upward and outward development needs to occur in Auckland.

Karaka is a rural settlement situated just outside the Rural Urban Boundary (RUB) to the south of Auckland. It is a small, spread-out community with a variety of low residential housing, farm land, vinyards, equestrian facilities and entertainment.

This growth strategy creates a sustainable development that conserves and enhances Auckland’s beautiful natural environment, while providing housing for 45-50,000 people.

The ecological features, patterns and processes of the land have been analysed to find the most appropriate areas to retire and revegetate, and the best land on which to place a settlement.

On the edge of the Manukau harbour, an area on the western coast of Karaka has been selected for further analysis; an experimental comparitive study on how different settlement types could work within this area. It shows a combination of medium and high densities, a mixed use retail area, an ecological patch of

coastal vegetation, urban farming areas and public space.

The art of threading different aspects and elements important to the Karaka community into the existing urban fabric was the main driver in creating the concept behind this project. Four analyses have been created to display the different settlement types; Thread Grid Matrix, Thread Web, Thread Flow and Thread Knotting.

This report will analyse how the many threads of Karaka can be knotted and tightly woven into the existing ecological fabric and help the development settle lightly on the land.

A comparitive study between: Thread Knotting Thread Grid Matrix Thread Web Thread Flow

Hydrology and water flows

Vegetation

Geology - Land Use Capability (LUC)

Views

Constraints and Opportunities

Site Elements -The Existing Fabric

Karaka has many threads that weave together to form its unique identity.

Equestrian facilities, productive land, low rolling plains, coastal views of the Manukau harbour, and at its heart, the rural community that inhabits the space.

The current natural systems such as the streams, water flows, vegetation and soils have been analysed to determine the constraints and opportunities within the space. This shows which areas would be more suitable for revegetation and which are suitable for development. Views from the Manukau harbour looking back at Karaka have also been taken into account, as it is preferable to minimise the visual impact on natural coastal land.

The site overlooks the beautiful Manukau Harbour, with which it shares approximately half a kilometre of coastline.

The overland flow paths and streams run directly into this natural treasure from the ridge by the eastern boundary of the site, making proper mitigation, intensive stormwater treatment and riparian planting vital for this area.

Streams Overland flow paths

Hydrology and Water Flows

A majority of the site consists of highproducing exotic grassland. A small patch of saline vegetation lies on the lower slopes of the western boundary by the coast.

It is proposed that a 50m native vegetation buffer be re-established along the coastline as the slopes in this area may present problems in the future with sea levels on the rise and native flora and fauna declining rapidly. A core of native vegetation is proposed for the northern peninsula of Karaka, which would continue down into the northwestern corner of the site. This area is to be richly vegetated and include connective recreational pathways.

50m coastal buffer native vegetation Saline vegettion High producing exotic grassland

Vegetation

This site consists entirely of good quality silt loam soil. Silt loam is a productive soil type and is well suited to the urban farming proposed for the area.

Gently sloping toward the western boundary, the permeable nature of this silt loam provides good drainage for farming and residential stormwater mitigation schemes.

The lack of slopes over 15 degrees allows for ease of development wherever settlements are needed.

Silt loam (productive soil)

Geology: Land Use Capability (LUC)

It is important when developing any area to consider the visual impact of a proposed development on natural coastland. As the coastline features largely in this section of Karaka, any proposed development will need to seriously minimise any visual impact from the coast.

When designing medium to high density housing, it is difficult to allow for views from the complexes out to the harbour without impacting the visual amenity of the coastline. As some areas need to be developed regardless of this, they will be designed to contribute to the view by incorporating features such as living roofs, living walls and large denselyvegetated green spaces.

View from the Manukau harbour

Views

The constraints and opportunities within the sections above have been collated and superimposed to show areas that need to be retired, and areas most suitable for development. The constraints within this section fall mostly along the western boundary, including streams, heavy water flows, areas better suited for revegetation (and existing saline vegetation) and low lying coastal land.

The remaining land can now be analysed to ascertain which parts of the section are best suited for settlement. Any proposed settlement that lies within or across the constrained area will be designed with mitigation techniques in mind and for minimal impact on the coastal environment.

Constraints Opportunities

Constraints and opportunities

Vision: Knotting in a new Urban Fabric

Grow, live, work, play. The worldwide architectural concept ‘live, work, play’ creates the core of the vision for Karaka, and by threading the concept of growth into this existing framework, opportunities for self-sustainability and food security are woven into the heart of each new settlement. The proposed introduction of large areas of native vegetation and growing space will directly contribute to the community’s connection with their environment and will define the focus on productive, high quality mixed use and residential spaces.

While maintaining the existing rural character of Karaka by incorporating urban farming along major roadways, room is left within the site for a semiurban lifestyle within the developments.

By threading the existing rural Karaka of today into the new urban fabric, many opportunities are created for a greater number of residents to become self-sustainable, meet their own food demands and work near to where they grow, live and play.

The idea of knotting in a new urban fabric was inspired by the closeness of rural communities and the observation that all rural processes and activities are tied in tightly with each other and the community.

A dreamcatcher has the right sized space for every dream; it allows for a variety of housing sizes, shapes and purposes, while maintaining a structured and central community base. The clustered nature of the proposed settlements makes room for urban farming and recreational activity on the outside, while creating a safe space to live and play on the inside.

Settlement Pattern Density Zones Revegetation Transport Connections Urban Farming Recreational Open Space

Master Plan

By utilising the existing ammenities (roads, vegetation patches etc.), and taking into account the proposed coastal vegetation buffer, the settlements are clustered tightly leaving large areas free for urban farming, native vegetation and recreational space.

The areas proposed for urban farming are separated from the coastal region by a thread of residential clusters, in order to tie up and treat contaminated run-off before it reaches the harbour.

Constraint areas Settlement Patterns

Settlement Pattern

Density Zones

The largest mixed use area (4Ha) is in the north eastern corner of the site along the main road connecting it with the proposed Weymouth bridge.

The high density complexes (2Ha) surround this mixed use zone for ease of access and close proximity to work and shopping facilities.

Medium density complexes (2Ha) run along the native vegetation buffer with access to walking tracks and other recreational facilities, and filter farming runoff to the coast.

High density Medium density Mixed use

There are 3 major density zones within the site; high density, medium density and mixed use.

High Density Pathway connectivity Walk/cycle/ horse ride Each settlement complex is based on the structured knotting design of a dream catcher.

3-4 story apartments unfurl from a central social community zone. Walking tracks connect to the outer ring and meet in the centre, lined by low-growing native vegetation (under 3 metres). A one-way ring road runs around the outside of the complex and parking is situated inside the end of each apartment block. The 5 apartment blocks within the complex incorporate different sized homes to allow residents with different spatial needs, living situations and incomes to come together to create strong, mixed, resilient communities.

Shared public space including social gathering areas and community gardens (purchase a patch) Native vegetation One-way ring road circling the complex 3-4 story joint housing/ apartment blocks.

Each complex has 164 dwellings and houses 492 people Urban farming and open space surrounding the circular lot.

Medium Density

The medium density complexes follow a similar structure to the high density model with 2-3 storey apartments that converge on spacious semi-rural community planting and social areas.

Walking tracks from the centre of the complex connect to the outer ring road and join walk/cycle/ride tracks through

native vegetation corridors along the coast. The medium density apartment blocks within the complex also allow for different sized homes, but are generally more spacious than the high density appartments. Each complex has an average of 117 dwellings and houses 351 people.

storey

horticulture, mills and breweries.

Mixed Use

There are 2 mixed use development models, the 4Ha complex (being better suited to the needs of the adjacent clusters of high density housing) and the 2Ha complex (consisting mainly of smaller-scale community markets and retail stores).

The fourth level contains a greenhouse growing area, which will provide food for the residents within the complex and be sold in the markets below. The main road has been altered to run through the centre of the complex in order to slow traffic down.

The 4Ha supermarket complex is the main shopping centre for the region. At street level it contains a variety of retail stores, a cinema, produce market etc. and has open covered areas for markets and outdoor stalls and cafes. The second level comprises mostly work space and offices, creating workspace for 2,430 people. The third level is a living zone that consists of 230 dwellings, housing 692 people.

The 2Ha complex is a hub of smallscale retail outlets and community produce markets which provide a local store within walking distance. The office space on the second level provides room for 1,215 people. The third level has 46 dwellings to house 140 people and the fourth provides a growing space for residents to utilise.

Revegetation

The area along the western coastline will be revegetated to supplement the patch of existing saline vegetation with a 50m native vegetation buffer.

Vegetation close to the housing development will consist of shorter varieties (under 3m) to avoid shading out apartments, keep walk/cycle/ride pathways safe and optimise views. Such species may include: Phormium tenax (flax), carex sp. (grass species) Cordyline australis (Cabbage tree), Coprosma robusta (Karamu), Hebe stricta (Koromiko) and Leptospermum

scoparium (Manuka). These plants will help provide a quick-growing canopy, insect habitat and bird and bee pollination which will benefit the local ecology.

Riparian planting will be used along stream edges and major water flows.

Saline vegetation will be supplemented and enhanced along the coast.

Plants will be eco-sourced from the local Karaka nursery where possible (Oakmeadows 12 William Potter Lane,

Native vegetation (core, saline species on coast) Native vegetation (edge species under 3m tall) Riparian species along waterflow areas Native vegetation (within complex, under 3m tall and capable of filtering runoff from apartments)

Transport Connections

The site contains a series of pathways through sections of native vegetation that link the coast, complexes, mixed use area and recreational areas. These pathways are designed for walking, cycling and horse riding and separates these activities from major roadways to provide a safe, walkable community experience.

A one-way ringroad surrounds each complex, providing private vehicle access while discouraging through traffic.

The main road follows the ridgeline and contours of the site and travels through the centre of the mixed use shopping complex. This slows vehicles down as they enter the community from the Weymouth bridge in the north. An auxiliary road provides access to the medium density complexes.

Easy access to the southern motorway and airport will be available upon completion of the Weymouth bridge connection.

An efficient bus service will be provided along the main road.

A proposed railway line runs parallel to the main road to the east of the site.

Walk/cycle/horseride trails Roads

Urban Farming

The overarching vision for this subdivision is that it will ultimately be self-sustaining and meet the food and job requirements of residents so they can work near to where they grow, live and play. A combination of intensive orchards and market gardens will be grown in smaller areas, fielp crops and pasture on larger areas and sustainable mills, breweries and processing plants on the larger areas.

The site is suitable for productive growth as the soil is silt loam.

Crops that thrive in Auckland’s loam soils are tomatoes, tomatilloes, lettuces peppers, rice, wheat, barley, oats, corn and most fruit trees including citrus, apple, cherry, pear, peach, apricot, plum and almond.

Paddocks can be used for grazing, then rotated with crop growing, encouraging co-operation between the farming residents. This way of farming creates a lower ecological impact on the environment and utilises fecal nutrients as fertiliser.

Intensive Orchards and market gardens Field crops Pasture Mills , brewaries and processing plants.

Recreational Open Space

Recreational open space areas are integrated into the urban farming matrix.

There are designated sports fields, children’s playgrounds, dog parks, picnic areas and equestrian arenas.

A combination of native and exotic street trees will be used along the edges of these areas to provide shade including liquid ambur, plane trees, maple and titoki.

Playgrounds Dog parks Picnic areas Equestrian arenas

Master Plan

Native vegetation (core) Native vegetation (edge) High density complex Medium density complex Mixed use complex Stormwater treatment zones Urban farming Public open space Connectivity cycle/walk/ride pathways Roads

A comparitive study between: Thread Knotting Thread Grid Matrix Thread Web Thread Flow

Conclusion

The existing ecological fabric of Karaka is enhanced by the above development.

The dreamcatcher motif provides an aesthetically pleasing combination of sustainable housing, revegetation, shared community outdoor area and transport connections surrounded by native ecological zones, urban farming and recreational open space.

This proposal is the sensitive addition of a carefully balanced complex in a knotted and tightly woven development that settles lightly on the land. It can now be compared with Thread Grid Matrix, Thread Web and Thread Flow, to see which aspects of each settlement work best on this site.

Terminology

Complex A 2-4Ha circular cluster of buildings Extensive Farming Practised in low to medium density residential zones, crop yield dependant on the natural fertility of the soil, terrain, climate and water avaliability.

High Density Tightly woven network of complexes, surrounding the mixed-use area, 3-4 stories.

Housing calculations: All calculations using an average of 3 people per house with Auckland’s average house size of 158m2 and average office space of 15m2.

Intentesive Farming High yielding, smaller-scale farm - labour and technology intensive.

Low Density Clusters of complexes spread over a large area of open space, the average height being 1-2 stories.

Medium Density Clusters of complexes more tightly knit, with an average height of 2-3 stories.

Mixed - Use A high-density residential model combined with commercial, retail, office space and greenhouse growing area.

Self-sufficient subdivision Each complex collects it’s own water, provides it’s own energy, treats it’s own sewerage, has a high level of food security and provides employment opportunies within the region for residents, reducing dependance on the wider auckland region.

Urban Farming Involves the animal husbandry, aquaculture, agroforestry and horticultural opportunities avaliable in this proposed semi-rural settlement

References

CBRE Group. (2012, 04 20). CBRE. Retrieved 05 2013, from NZ office worker space ‘average’, says CBRE: http://www.cbre.co.nz/aboutus/ mediacentre/mediaarchives/Pages/042012.aspx Knowles, M. H. (2012). Conservation Subdivision: Design Phase – Patch Size and Shape of Conserved Open Spaces. Retrieved 05 2013, from EDIS: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw320 Landmatters Property Services Pty Ltd. (2012).

The Ecovillage at Currumbin An international award winning sustainable community.

Retrieved 05 2013, from The Ecovillage: http:// theecovillage.com.au/ Maria Ignatieva, C. M. (2012). How to Put Nature into Our Neighbourhoods. Retrieved 05 2013, from Moodle: http://moodle.unitec.ac.nz/ mod/resource/view.php?id=29161 Marshall, G. (2013). Intoductory lecture.

Unitec.

QV Property Information. (2013). Average house size by area . Retrieved 05 2013, from QV Property Information: http://www.qv.co. nz/propertyinformation/KnowledgeCentre/

Averagehousesizebyarea12042011.htm Steve Allen, M.S. candidate, North Carolina State University.

(2010).

Conservation subdivision handbook . Retrieved 05 2013, from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/pdf/ag/ag742. pdf The Permaculture Research Institute. (2013, 04 21). Letters from New Zealand – a Permaculture Food Forest in the Far South. Retrieved 05 2013, from The Permaculture Research Institute: http://www.permaculturenews.org/2013/4/21/ letters-from-new-zealand-a-permaculturefood-forest-in-the-far-south/ Van Bergen Kolpa Architects. (2010, 02 24). Park Supermarket, a spatial development model for urban agriculture in the Metropolitain Parks of the Randstad.

Retrieved 05 2013, from Youtube: http:// w w w.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_ embedded&v=shrWmQpb9Hk