What are you doing?
Why are you doing it? A study of unlikely public life at St Lukes By Alex Smith, 1347248
St Lukes is a regional shopping centre in Auckland City, drawing people from many kilometres away, as well as serving the local population. Because of this a wide variety of people pass though its doors every day, both as customers and workers. This has also led to its haphazard form of expansion. The Shopping Mall is formed from two major blocks, a multiple story parking building to the north of the site and the mall and covered parking to the southwest. Their growth has created gaps between them, spaces that are neither part of the activities of the car park or the shopping mall.
One of these gaps (which extends over three stories) has a greater degree of public life in a place for which these activities was not intended. In an area of paving between the ramp and stairs and the Car Park on the 2nd story (Fig 1, Below) and areas around an atrium like garden at ground level (Fig 2), it was noticed that people would stop and smoke, both on their own and in pairs, who would sit or stand and have a conversation. So why do these people choose to use to these places in this THUULY& ;V Ă„UK V\[ ^L T\Z[ W\[ V\YZLS]LZ PU [OLPY ZOVLZ
1
2
Having decided to leave the mall for a cigarette, you (and possibly others) pick a convenient location to smoke in, one that’s close by and suited to you needs, perhaps unconsciously by habit. As you enter the closest exit corridor, the noise and crowds of the mall drop away and your eyes focus on the destination, the doors at the end as you pick your route towards them.
Controlled You decide to head back to you car and leave the mall, HZ `V\ LU[LY [OL JVYYPKVY HUK TV]L V\[ VM [OL SH[LYHS ÅV^Z VM WLVWSL TV]PUN \W HUK KV^U [OL ZWPUL VM [OL THSS `V\ ILJVTL WHY[ VM H UL^ ÅV^ H ÅV^ Y\UUPUN IL[^LLU [OL THSS HUK JHY WHYR ;OPZ M\UJ[PVU KLÄULZ [OPZ JVYYPKVY ZWHJL @V\Y attention is directed to the destination, the doors at the end, ^OVZL IYPNO[ SPNO[ M\Y[OLY HKKZ [V [OLPY JVU[YHZ[ HUK HWWLHS
Enclosed Nearly all of the people who use these places in the gap do so after exiting the mall. The mall environment is the dominant context to the experience of using these places. Through it’s design, purpose, surveillance and owned spaces (in which if you linger you feel obliged to purchase something) the mall controls and directs behaviour. When you leave this place, it’s because it no longer suits or opposes your conscious and unconscious needs and wants, such as a need to smoke a cigarette, or a want to go elsewhere.
When you exit through the doors, panorama of the dark car park and surrounds open up. To your gaze is instantly attracted to the left by the contrast of the bright natural light, greenery and fresh air to the dark, hard car park. Being only a few steps away from the exit, it is easy to get to.
Detached
In the time you take to walk a meter from the doors you unconsciously assess your surroundings as they an opening up to you left and above you, the bright light spilling in from all around causing your eyes to adjust. A panorama of possible routes from the mall to the car-park presents itself, and you perhaps have to consciously think about where you have left your car. Choosing a direction as you move, you
Disconnection
head towards an inconspicuous causeway which you can see leads to the stairs to you car.
1st Story
To Car Park
Covered Walkway
Ramp Stairs to Upper Car Park
To Car Park
Nut Stand Retail and Services Covered Walkway
As you near the exit you become close enough for a brighter natural light to attract your attention, a view out towards your ÄUHS KLZ[PUH[PVU @V\ TH` \ZL [OPZ TVTLU[HY` ]PL^ [V JOLJR PM P[»Z I\Z` VY PM P[»Z YHPUPUN
Entry/Exit
Entry/Exit
Driveway
Car Parks
Car Park
Garden
Garden
Stairs to Level 1
Entry/Exit
Ground Floor You move further towards the green space, and as you pass the drinks machine, a range of opportunities begin to present themselves, you become close enough for another panorama to open up, this time one of many choices in a place to have your smoke.
Interaction
the site, and each spot has different qualities, bound together by their contrast to both the mall and car park. They are free from the active surveillance and control, NYLLU HUK JVUULJ[LK [V [OL ^VYSK [OYV\NO [OL PUÅ\LUJL VM the elements.
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As you move out from under the awning the sky above you instantly opens up further, however the horizons to either side are still blocked by the structures of the mall and car park. You unconsciously aim towards the stairwell, which presents itself clearly. You climb the stairs and the physical exertion and the vibrations in the structure attract your conscious attention as
you head towards the top and the sky. You reach the top rising up over your surroundings and for [OL ÄYZ[ [PTL H KLNYLL ]PL^ VM [OL OVYPaVU HUK ZR` P[ WVZZPISL /LYL `V\ HYL L_WVZLK VWLU [V [OL LSLTLU[Z YH[OLY [OLU ZOLS[LYLK ^P[OPU [OL THSS ;OPZ IYPUNZ ^HYT[O HUK Z\U but also wind and rain.Your route to your distant car runs
Open 2nd Story Car Park
den r a G
Ramp Stairs to Level 1 Entrances
Eddy 1
Eddy 1 and two offer completely different experiences. Eddy 1 is sheltered under the ramp system, making it private, and yet just close enough to the mall to make it feel safe. Eddy 2 has a long view down to the mall, is more exposed and as a result sunnier, but less attractive for private conversations.
Connection
[OYV\NO H SHYNL VWLU ZWHJL ;OPZ ZWHJL OHZ UV ZL[ W\YWVZL P[ PZ UV[ KLÄULK I` HU` ZOVWZ P[ PZ UL_[ [V VY [OL HJ[P]P[` VM [OL JHY WHYR /LYL `V\ OH]L [OL MYLLKVT [V HJ[ OV^ `V\ ^PZO [V [HRL H YLZ[ HM[LY JSPTIPUN [OL Z[HPYZ [V OH]L H ZTVRL ^P[O H MYPLUK ILMVYL ULNV[PH[PUN [OL JHY WHYR ;OPZ SHJR VM H KLÄULK HJ[P]P[` SLH]LZ [OL ZWHJL VWLU MVY VWWVY[\UPZ[PJ HWWYVWYPH[PVU I` passing people.
Eddy 2
There is a clear connection to the horizon in this upper space, with views to Mt Eden and One Tree Hill