3 studios | 1 city by Meg Back

3 studios 1 city

meg back 2012 -2013

A Quay Street Study: S M L XL Karaka: a new urban typology for regional developement

Double shadows in Quay St: too light...

S M L XL : An Introduction Auckland

CBD

“A site exists at an unlimited number of scales...” * Substantial parts of Auckland’s city centre are dominated by buildings higher than 10 floors (Gehl Architects study for Auckland City Council 1). This causes a poor microclimate within the city with shade in many of the streets for most of the day and wind issues. It would stand to reason that people in the city would be drawn towards the light and water of the water front and yet comparatively little foot traffic or sitting activity occurs in the Quay St area compared to cities of comparative sizes (Gehl), with the vast majority of the pedestrians passing through as part of a commute, especially from the ferry building and Britomart transport centre So why is the waterfront reasonably unattractive despite its favourable comparison to the city behind it? Maybe the ebb and flow of traffic and light combined with the large buildings means it is too big, too fast, too light.

The Draft Waterfront Plan for Auckland expresses the wish to “Transform Quay Street into a grand, civic boulevard and the primary organising element of the Waterfront” Auckland,

New Zealand

The light on Quay St actually comes from two directions, directly from its northerly aspect, but also strongly reflected off many of the taller buildings. This combined with the height of the buildings currently removes the human scale from the area, causing a large, bright and hence mentally daunting area. Coupled with the current lack of destinations to draw pedestrians, and the areas of exisitng street with non-active frontage such as the port security fences, car parks, and cark park entrances there is a low desire for humans to walk or bike through the waterfront area. This study looks at Quay Street and its potential on a series of scales, from the “XL”- the broader area, the links, the key facts, all the way down to the “S” -the small built details that equally contribute to the look, feel and functionality of our landscape.

*Pollack, L. Constructed Ground: Questions of Scale pg 130, The Landscape Urbanism Reader 1 Reference: Gehl Architects (2010) Auckland Public Life Survery as retrieved from Auckland City Coutcil Websitew

Auckland @ 1:5000 Auckland has three green spaces on the edges of what could be considered the central city: Albert Park, Myers Park (which also runs down through the centre of town) and Victoria Park. However the city has recently experienced an explosion in population: from 1,500 resident in the area in 1991 to 21,610 residents by 2009, arguably one of Auckland’s fastest growing suburbs over that time with no corresponding increase in green or community space.

Height of Buildings

Auckland’s city centre has significantly more residents than the equivalent area or larger area in Sydney (15,000 residents), Melbourne (12,000 residents) or Copenhagen (7,600 residents)(figures from Gehl): Additionally 56,000 people commute into the city each day to work, and are joined by 12,000 recreational visitors/tourists. The Quay St / Waterfront area suffers from a lack of “destinations”, especially compared to the viaduct or Wynyard quarters to the west, with the Tepid Baths, Maritime Museum, and Ferry Building being the only key destinations outside of a handful of cafes and shops. Development of appropriate public space on Quay St would therefore have the potential to remediate a number of issues in the CBD area.

Auckland is set on a hilly topography of volcanic origin which runs north to the waterfront and active shipping port. Although the topography means there are many alluring glimpses toward the waterfront, at the Quay St area (as shown above) a busy four lane road, port activity and a large fence completely cut off public access.

Lack of Human scale: 6’ person compared to buildings

Height of tree Human Scale in the CBD

Quay street: A Closer Look

Height of person sitting

A Concept for Quay Street Change in levels help form human space which can be used for large events, but also can be activated by small numbers of people to cater for the ebb and flow -or “temporal shifts” of the city. The change in level also forms a vista when viewing down Gore St directly onto Cooks Wharf, which could now also be developed as needed (in future) as public space, using similar level and texture changes to activate the area (activities such as performances, fitness trails, mini golf, markets, food stalls can easily be incorporated under this concept). Trees form level changes, and also interrupt the counter reflection of light, and are a foil to the large scale of the buildings. Fountains and structures, both fixed and moveable also form smaller spaces, alter the flow of light to introduce a more human scale, and can be adjusted to suit the number of people available to activate the area.

A N Quay St @ 1: 1000

Water features sparkle and add movement to the large areas, but also can be shut down or increased to manage the size of areas, or indicate direction or use. They activate areas with movement and sparkle, and alleviate the effects of the “double light”- the reflection of sun off the buildings will instead cause the water to really sparkle... Conversely at night they can be lit.

Quay Street: New Perspectives Large bike and pedestrian lanes link the city centre to walkers and cyclists from adjacent residential suburbs from St Heliers to Herne Bay. With the removal of the dominance of the car the area becomes more desirable on a human scale. As per the Auckland Plan light rail or tram tracks are added.

Change in ground textures help inform use in a flexible manner and provide scale and cues for people. As Quay St is â&#x20AC;&#x153;the linkâ&#x20AC;? textures which reflect adjacent area developments (eg Fort St, Wynyard Quarter) can be introduced in a tasteful way to form unity across the central city. The result is an area which is easily activated and can cope well with large crowds or smaller, but has the ability to also look good on an empty, rainy day...

Direction of links to Bays for cyclists and pedestrians 1:25000

Quay Street Cross Section

Quay St: A Section of Plan The plan drills down on a small section of Quay St, to form a strategy at 1:100, viewed here at 1:400. Basalt paving with subtle differences in each section is juxtaposed to subtly mark out different areas. Planters featuring upcylced worn wood introduce a human scale, and thev wooden deck raises up out of the road with gentle curving form. Bikes and pedestrians are prioritised, and rail introduced...

2000x50 wood decking is attached to custom made curved trusses to for curve however custom made trusses (as in detail) are a guide only and to be specified by engineer. Seats and side walls are formed from same wood or recycled timber.

1:100

Custom 50x50 Galvanised MS tube frame

Details: Found

Select galvanised ms fixing screw

50x20mm selected hardwood slat, end slat=50x70mm

Existing bench dimensions 1:20

Integration of existing features of the CBD is essential in creating unity between the other parts and the new development of Quay St as a central boulevard; before showing the details of the new development it is useful to compare some of the detail of the existing areas. These details- bench, tram rail, and slot drain are found in the Wynyard Quarter.

detail at 1:5

postioning rods

select dyna-bolt fastening under precast concrete slab

pre-cast concrete slab seat element

Select 40xVariousx400 mm granite/bluestone Paver 20mm mortar base 100mm in-situ reinforced concrete slab 250mm in-situ reinforced concrete slab

150mm Gap40 compacted hardcore

Existing bench: Wynyard Quarter

Wynyard Bench section BB at 1:10

to other rail

Ductile Iron slotted grating 100mm

Rail as specified Ground Angle at 2% toward drain

Finished surface of surrounding pavement should be 3-5mm above the grating surface as per manufacturers instruction

Galvanised MS anchor screw SS 40mmx5mm right angle

Cobble stones as per Auckland standard 40x90x90mm granite

20mm Mortar Resilient or elastomeric polyurethane as specified for shock absorption & vibration/noise reduction

20mm Mortar 100mm Reinforced concrete slab in-situ

spring fastening clips as specified

150mm compacted hardcore

stainless steel Edge 90angle 110mmx5mm 212mm concrete slab in-situ

150mm continuous reinforced concrete slab in situ concrete footing poured in-situ 150mm past base of drain as per manufacturers specification

150mm compacted hardcore

Kenadrain 100mm C250 Slot drain 1:5

Tram rails 1:5

154x162 steel girder

From left: Slot Drain at Wynyard Quarter, Tram track at Wynyard Quarter, installation on Jellicoe st (from eye on auckland blog)

Details: Designed

40x400xvarious bluestone Paver as per Auckland CBD areas 20mm Mortar

The design for Quay Street incorporates some of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;lookâ&#x20AC;? of other parts of the CBD, but presents them in a new and altered form...

100 mm Reinforced Concrete in-Situ 150mm compacted hardcore Concrete Precast Planter edge/ Curb

Tree as specified in Planting Plan 100 o perforated drain to dewater drainage layer & flow to stormwater Concrete Precast Planter/curb Bluestone Pavers as found in Auckland CBD

Clean Weed free screened topsoil, slow release fertiliser around the rootball to manufacturer specifications, mulch surface as specified by Landscape Architect

Approved Geocomposite membrane at least 300mm as specified, according to root vigour of particular chosen plant

Garden Curb 1:5 Exisitng Tree with new surrounds in granite paving with feature concrete edge 1:20

NB Stake not shown on new trees for detail clarity, but stake as per Landscape Architect instruction

Reinforced concrete feature wall in exposed aggregate formed in situ to 450mm high, and at least 75mm thick 200mmx400mm concrete reinforced footer formed in situ

Elevation of continuous planter. Exisiting trees are integrated with new trees and raised beds with in ground, bluestone pavers are laid as per the overriding specifications over structural soil mix or exisitng soil. Beds are linked by a common watering/aeration system which can be linked to stormwater to also provide drainage

Geocomposite membrane as specified by Landscape Architect or Nursery

Bluestone paver 40mmx400xvarious 20 mm mortar 100mm reinforced concrete in situ 150mm compacted hardcore

Planters are designed to be varied in size, but must have a width of twice the rootball of the chosen specimen tree

Lightly compact soil under rootball to prevent settling Remove all non-fertile soil to form pit as shown Aeration/watering pipe o75

Aeration and watering system connects to stormwater

Clear stone 20mm diameter

Planting Overview 1:50

Raised Planter 1:10

Fountain system

Square 450x10 ss Grate, fixings as approved by manufacturer Bluestone paver 40mmx400xvarious sizes 20 mm mortar 100mm reinforced concrete in situ 150mm compacted hardcore Fountain pump unit including aerating nozzle, drain and lighting unit in metal casing as supplied by H2O Engineering, to be inset in Bluestone paver to their specifications Outlet pipe o 110PE Inlet Pipe 0 40PE

700mm base for fountain unit formed with 100mm reinforced concrete in situ, over 150 mm compacted hardcore. Unit is attached using recommended fixing

Karaka: A new urban Typology for regional development

The Draft Auckland Unitary Plan is the key document that sets the strategic direction for Aucklandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth for the next 30 years. It has been developed under the Resource Management Act 1991 and sets the framework for managing Aucklandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources as well as the direction for urban growth. As Auckland grows, it has been noted that there is need for a range and choice of different homes as well as the desire to improve housing affordability. It is expected that Aucklandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population will increase over the next 30 years by one million people, and as part of the planning for this rural areas in South Auckland such as Karaka and the satellite town of Pukekohe have been identified as greenfield sites suitable for future subdivision and growth; with advantages including their proximity to existing urban areas and reasonable access to transporvt corridors (Auckland Unitary Plan, Auckland Council). This proposal looks to investigate the suitability of Karaka as a new urban development. As this was a group project there was the ability to cover a wide range of variables. While history and density planning also came into the first section, I have included only the parts I was solely responsible for, including the GIS analysis, from which I derived a concept suggestion for the group presentation. It is essential that future urban developments within Auckland resist the need for urban sprawl; compact housing and apartment style living must be integrated into new housing developments. At the same time, new housing developments must respond to their surroundings so that the local character of an area is enhanced or protected.This study looks to develop a new town within the greenfield site of Karaka West and Karaka North. The town would ideally feature a mix of low, medium and high density living within a rural framework of productive land. It would seek to protect productive landscapes while interweaving them with medium and high density living so that urban sprawl is greatly reduced. There is also a strong need for an ecological framework that would integrate environmental best practice including green roofs, swales, grey water collection and, green belt establishment to help reintroduce biodiversity to the area as well as protect the waterways and catchments and to help reduce erosion. The aim of the GIS analysis is to create an intimate relationship between the new development and the form of the land.Analysis includes reviewing the current situation, while identifying opportunities for the form of future development. ment site using innovative forms of settlement growth to form a low impact urban design which maximizes ecological performance. (altered from original introduction written in conjunction with Matthew Lay)

Aspect, Hydrology & slope West Karaka is located between the Whangamaire Stream, Pahurehure Inlet and Manukau Harbour and contains five hydrological catchments that are separated by undulating ridges on the highest ground. Within these catchments smaller stream tributaries wind their way through characteristic rolling countryside to the coast. Ideally native forest and wetlands should be planted around the main steam networks to prevent erosion, maintain clean water and healthy freshwater ecology. There is immediate opportujnity for the building footprints of Taihiki development to be located so they become an active part of each hydrological catchment. Rainwater harvesting will be required for all new buildings to create extra water storage, which can be released to procuctive land downhill during periods of drought. Wastewater and grey water will be processed separately to prevent excessive loading of wastewater fields. Our objective is to try and preserve productive land, and where possible grey water will be recycled for use on this land. GIS analyis shows the the catchments in our area, and the streams which will be buffered with planting to a width of at least 15m on each side. All south facing areas have been identified as being unsuitable as building foot prints within Karaka West. These areas will be revegetated or managed as existing farmland. North facing aspect is preferred as it allows for maximum sunlight for buildings; this is in line with sustainable development as the location of buildings and has a large impact on energy use and on the health of a community. Areas with slopes over 15 degrees are to be avoided for building sites due to their potential ground instability. Karaka West is predominantly flat and consists of gentle rolling hill country though some steep sloped areas have been identified. This plan recommends revegetating any steep sloping areas, especially as they can be erosion prones, and there is a general lack of natie planting in the area (GIS by me, writing in conjunction with group). Hydrology

Aspect

Sloope

exclusions stream buffers The factors covered previously, slope, hydrology and aspect, form our exclusions -areas that will not be considered for development, and, due to the modified nature of the site, revegetated.

exisiting vegetation

aspect

slope

exclusions Development exclusions in brown colour Existing significant vegetation

land use capability & other considerations Land Use Capability forms a strong framework for the development of Taihiki. As cities grow, farmland is often converted to subdivisions or industrial or commercial land. This study looked to identify the areas with the highest LUC score and protect them so that they could continue to be used for food production. Slope and aspect contribute to LUC, and combined with it provide our development opportunities. The new town development ensures that horticulture and agriculture continue to be part of the cultural practices of the area. With careful consideration and management of the different types of agriculture and horticulture, it is believed that both urban living and farming or orchard practices can co-exist. Low water use crops that are managed organically would be well suited to the area. They would provide food, jobs, community gatherings around harvest periods, could be used as public spaces and contribute to the continuity of the rural environment. LUC classes are limited within our area of study, there is no class 1, and predominately class 2. It would be our preference to preserve any highly productive sites within this area if possible.Currently the area is as described already, rolling farmland. There are some exotic hedrows and single trees, but no areas of native planting remain except a small area just outside the Karaka area. It is vital for biodiveristy that some of these areas are rehabilitiated, and the suggestion would be to initially choose the areas excluded from development such as those south facing, or over 15 degrees in slope, as well as the river buffers and revegetate these areas. The new settlement of Taihiki will therefore be ideally connected by a green belt that runs from North-West to South-East. It follows the various contour lines, waterways and at times runs alongside the main roads. It could be comprised of native forest and wetlands and will protect the environment from soil erosion, increase surface water quality and provide new and much needed habitats for fauna and flora, as well as having ammenity values for the human residents. Farr (2008) states that compactness (density) and biophilia (human access to nature) are core values of sustainable urbanism.The new apartment blocks and subdivisions will have close contact with the native forest. This aims to educate people as to the importance of providing these habitats and makes them an integral part of the community. The forest will also provide a much needed connection point for native bird species between the Hunua and Waitakere Ranges.

Land Use Capability

The idea

GIS identification of subsets

“Sustainable Urbanism expands the role of the neighbourhood to address it’s proportionate share of society’s social and environmental needs” (Farr, 2008)

Having found the exclusions to development, which in the case of this project will be marked as part of a revegetation and rehabilitation project, the next step was to use a weighted combination of the attributes of LUC, aspect and slope to identify different use types.

There are things both societal and ecological in most of our urban areas that, despite our best intentions, tend to be out of sight, out of mind. These include the poorest, the elderly and just as importantly infrastructure such as stormwater and wastewater. There is a great deal of debate around the direction the urban expanison needed to cater for the increasing population will go, with many against the city expanding outwards any further. While sustainable urbanism is defined as having high performance infrastructure and buildings, our thoughts initially turned to Havana, Cuba, where they surprisingly increased productivity by planting vacant lots within old buildings of the city (Altieri & Monzote, retrieved from http:// monthlyreview.org/2012/01/01/the-paradox-of-cuban-agriculture), thereby acheiving biophilia.

LUC, aspect and slope were reclassified, and then multiplied. The reclassification was as follows:-LUC reclassified into 5 values: 1, 3 , 7, 9 and 0, prioritising protection of the top land with the lower number values.

-Aspect was reclassified into 0 for South , 1 for north or flat , 3 for north east or north west, 7 for east or west, 9 for south east or south west, hence proritising the better aspects.

To reach a high ecological standard, measures such as reduction of permeable surfaces, swales green roofs and other commonly quoted strategies (most within the scope of LIUDD practice) really were taken as read within this project. However the wish was to use GIS technology to see if responding to the landform -using the slope and form of watersheds, the aspect, and preserving the most productive land; would give us a mixed use development which could be fully integrated with the land, and provide a proximity to the environment to the benefit of both the residents, and the land itself.

-Slope was reclassifed into 0 = do not build -this was slope over 15 degrees 1= 0-4 degrees 2= 4-8 degrees 5= 8-15 degrees

According to the CNU charter, neighbourhoods are compact, pedestrian friendly, and mixed use. A density of 7 to 8 dwellings and population of 5,000 or more can if properly constructed for these needs (Farr 2008). As the classification of slope involved the only even number -2, and the only 5, when all values were multiplied we could still consider slope, as a slope between 8 and 15 degree would yield a value ending in 5, while a slope of 4-8 degrees would create a value ending in an even number. The multiplication of these values within our area yeilded 25 new unique values ranging from 0 to 315 which I then reclassified into six values we dubbed the “Taihiki Mosaic”. Our wish was that the best land be preservied, so the lower values were classified as productive land, and low density, with only a few houses per hectare (see density notes in next section). Land with slopes of 8 - 15 degrees ended in the number 5, so those with great aspect were classifed for high density housing. All of the highest values 15, and 21-315 joined the exclusions to be revegetated. 2, and 7 with good aspect and medium slopes became our medium density areas. 5, 6, 9,14, and 18 with good aspect and slopes of 4-15 degrees became the sites of compact housing. This way the grey water from these buildings could be held, and released down the slope to productive land on the flatter slopes below, forming an intimate relationship with the land. Placing the compact housing on the hillside also allows for multiple points where the house meets the land (eg uphill and downhill), and tweaking the design of each house to fit the topography lessens the chance of the homogenous appearance that often plagues new subdivisions.

References: Auckland Council Draft Unitary Plan Overview: as retrieved from www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ Farr, D (2008) Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design wiht Nature. New Jersey, USA: John Wiley & Sons Harrison and Grierson (2010) Kingseat Structure Plan –Landscape and Visual Assessment, as retrieved from www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz 2010.

The reclassification yielded a series of values which clearly indicated the green belts, and the location of the compact housing blocks within each watershed. Blocks which would yield small groups of sections potentially from 300 m2 to 1000 m2 for medium density could also be clearly seen. From the general overview 3 watersheds could be clearly seen where there was a good mix of land use typologies, while another watershed was clearly mostly productive land. As the three groups were potentially in a close cluster with the addition of a linking bridge these were selcted. .

Newman, P and Jennings, I (2008) Cities as Sustainable Ecolsystems.Washington DC: Island Press.

The end result identifies in a mosaic form how the different land use typologies can be inerwoven across the Taikihi watersheds of the Karaka district. This close up below shows how the forms work; although straight out of GIS the forms of compact housing blocks of approximately 250m2 (in teal) and sections of around 600m2 (in white) can already be clearly seen with a site for native green belt and productive land surrounding the buildings. The resulting mixed typology is compact and yet intimately connected to the form of the land. The sections are similar in size to the near adjacent (across the water) suburb of Weymouth, however the productive land is threaded around the buildings and can be farmed cooperatively, or alternatively used as orchards with recreational spaces in between.

productive land compact housing areas private sections (less dense) re-vegetate, preferably native

The mosaic over the three watersheds

Our original anaysis centered around 3 watersheds in the Karaka region; this was followed by further testing of our model involving only part of one watershed with an area of around 100 HA. The Whangamaire watershed was chosen for its variation in landuse types according to our mosaic model, and for the potential for strong rural urban links and the formation of a pedstrian friendly town centre, with strong links to existing infrastructure. The addition of a ferry service and/or a bridge across the estuary at the east of this site would enhance these. The landscape that surrounds the site is predominantly rolling productive land with single standing farm houses offset from Linwood and Urquhart Roads. Farming operations include horse studs, dairy, sheep, market gardening and intensive horticulture as well as lifestyle blocks (Kingseat Structure Plan, Landscape and Visual Assessment, Harrison and Grieson, 2010). The settlement of Karaka has a War Memorial Hall, a Church, a rugby club with sports grounds, a childrens day care centre and several shops and a cafe nearby. Various exotic tree species are visible from the main roads (as seen in image on p5). Mature specimen trees such as Magnolia grandiflora, Liquidamber sp., Araucaria heterophylla, Platanus x aceriflora, Phoenix canariensis can be seen beside farm houses, at entrances to driveways or planted in rows in driveways to give a grand appearance. Other exotic species are planted along the border of farm blocks, as shelter belts and include Pinus radiata, Populus spp., Macrocarpa spp., Casuarina spp. and Berberis glaucocarpa. There are very few native plant species visibly present except for Mangroves (Avicennia marina) and Cordyline australis, Phormium tenax growing beside the road. The dominant feature of the proposed settlement is the Whangamaire Steam and estuary. It separates the two peninsulas (Karaka North and West) and is approximately 150 m wide at the coastal edge of the settlement. The site is raised (up to 40 m at the top of the site) above the estuary and therefore has great viewing opportunities over the water towards the east. The site is sheltered from the west and is barely visible from Urquhart Road. The hills to the west have almost created a micro climate. Two private farm roads form entrances to the site from Urquhart Road and one excends north east toward the coastal edge. (Analysis and choice of next site was a group decision with Matt Lay, Tosh Graham and Brad Congdon, with this page written as a group collaboration.

Karaka War memorial Hall on existing main rd

Laing and Urquhart Rd at the top of the Whangamaire watershed

view shafts

overland flow path & flow accumulation

Key: 1: productive land to be used as shared community space, for food production, job creation, and to encorporate low density housing 0,4,5: revegetation and rehabilitation of more marginal areas to increase biodiversity, phytoremediate, and provide recreation amenity including a walking trail around significant cultural sites 2: this classification has low slope and good aspect, so is the areas for medium density sections, split into plots of 300 - 1200 m2 3: these areas have great aspect, but are sloped and often at the top of the watershed. Compact housing of up to 4 stories is proposed for here, but will be of varied shapes and designed to hug the land form, providing access to the land on several levels, with courtyards in the centre to give each level their own access. Although compact in nature the individual apartment sizes start at 80 m2 for single bedroom so are similar in size to houses. Green roofs ensure they blend into the land; solar panels, grey water control and other ecological systems ensure they have a low impact on the environment in which they nest. Mixed use commerical buildings and amenities such as retail and community areas can also go on this category, with location depending on the status of the Weymouth Bridge.

mosaic on Whangamaire watershed.

The resulting look of a high density model:

remaining land is green space: Roads and stormwater devices are added. The remaining area has been classed as â&#x20AC;&#x153;1â&#x20AC;? to be kept as productive/shared/community/recreational areas. The area is 23.4 ha

private sections : Layout of private lots of 300 - 1000m2 on class 2 areas to complement the shapes generated by the land form gives 156 lots on 24.4ha

Area to revegetate: Revegetation of identified area (classes 4 & 5) and excluded area (0) comes to 30.9 ha

medium-high density compact housing: Apartment buildings of 2-3 stories to be placed on an area of 22.3 Ha. With blocks modelled on current city fringe blocks of 250-360m2, but with larger style dwellings with greater floor space per person. To be designed to nestle into the hillside with as much parking as possible underneath as basement, and different floors able to open to different levels of ground. Inner courtyards help build a feeling of space. 60 blocks will house approximately 3000 people : possibly too many?

The mosaic indicates the use types

A contemporary approach to LIUDD in New Zealand and internationally generally includes the following considerations: -engagement of the public -passsive stormwater treatment in open areas -conservation and or remediation of soils to retain permeability -Collective management of all water –potable, waste, storm and grey with a view to re-use scenarios including grey water treatment and use for irrigation. -micrograding to optimize waterflow across areas of the catchment -celebration of stormwater management, with its integration into stunning landscape architecture, or beautiful scenic amenity complete with interpretation signs

A Green Street System Streets are being constantly reinvented, and following decades where they got wider and faster design is now becoming more environmentally focused, allowing them to be more pedestrian and bike friendly and hence reducing emissions The new green street also has integral role in stormwater management at the local scale. A “living street” blurs the distinction between public and private spaces, between itself and open spaces and between impervious and permeable surfaces (more on page 8). All impervious streets in this development feature swales and trees in specialised tree pits.

Rain Gardens and Overland Flow Paths

Compact Housing & Green Roofs

Raingardens filter, detain and evaporate stormwater in a densely planted, deep porous bed. They are placed in low lying areas and typically pond between 100 and 300mm in depth for up to 36 hours after rainfall (more on page 9). In this project rain gardens and overland flow paths provide valuable links from one element of the treatment train to the next, also helping manage stormwater control across sloping sections of the watershed.

Compact housing typologies provide more efficient use of resources and are considered part of a LIUDD methodology. The aim to provide compact housing options in this development without compromising the residents floor space (so 120m2 and upwards per apartment) has meant the roofs represent significant areas of impervious material within this development; hence it is vital solutions are added to the treatment train for storm water coming off these roofs (more on page 8).

Constructed Wetlands The key element to managing the hydrology across this site are a series of constructed wetlands, needed to provide the capacity required. A number of constructed wetlands fulfil a vital role in peak rate and volume control, as well as water quality control and temperature maintenance, biodiversity and provision of amenity. This is wetland A as marked on the plan (page 5) and provides valuable amenity while blurring private/public boundaries (illustrated overleaf)

As a modified and ecologically degraded system a lot of our site’s natural resilience to deal with change is also lost, however can be built back into a development by applying the above LIUDD principles. Natural hydrological flow paths have been protected in the plan; the aim is they can be managed to effectively function within the ecosystem again and respond to conditions, act as buffer zones, process wastes and slow, hold or release water through the addition of other LIUDD tools. In a new development local resources can be efficiently managed from an individual lot level to a catchment wide level. An example is rainwater tanks on private lots being used as local water sources, or development clustered to create larger green space and less scattering of resources. With additional space more plants can be used to filter contaminants, and because of less travel from place to place less contaminants are produced in the first place. Clustering also helps shape the development form in less grid like and more natural or dendritic forms. Our GIS multiplier had already had the effect of shaping our subdivision to the existing landforms, and we have applied varied lot sizes and road widths in a further attempt work with the natural form.

Revegetation/Restoration Our site is a significantly modified agricultural area featuring mainly monoculture non indigenous plantings. GIS studies confirm a lack of indigenous species in the district. However natural systems can be restored as well as imitated, (eg daylighting of streams), and revegetating the slopes and hollows is an example of this. Our GIS multiplier identified areas for revegetation with native species according to slope, aspect and current land use capability, and this is one of the areas identified, providing valuable amenity, and views for the compact housing shielding them from thje private lots on the next ridge over.

LIUDD for Pirvate Lots: Rain Water Tanks, Planting Our private lots allow the NZ ideal of a house surrounded by a garden, however could have significant cumulative detrimental effects if not incorporating some of the LIUDD principles (more on page 8). These include for private lots use of provided native plants, pervious driveways which double as overland flow path, and rainwater and/or grey water storage systems.

upper catchment

lower catchment

Rendered examples of constructed storm water as amentiy. Pond has been placed to take advantage of flow accumulation while still being offline to the creek bed.

THE GREEN NEXUS:

(A GROUP PROJECT: sharing just some of my parts)

Our group began by studying the centre city master plan, and in particular, the concept of applying a linear park to the Auckland CBD. In conjunction with Morgan Taylor we walked the streets of the CBD and analysed on paper and through wire modelling to try and seed a resilient response that was easy to walk and drew tourists in while meeting the objectives of the master plan, in other words: “doing a few things well” . Basic research on where hotels and large installations of apartments were in Auckland (source: Bayleys Real Estate) helped ensure that the Nexus passed by or through those areas, and historic areas and vistas to the sea were factored in as well to maximise those connections.

Vistas to the ocean from within the nexus

1 Map of Auckland showing new “nexus” linear park route, and visual links to the Victorian park system of Albert and Victoria Parks, and from one part of the nexus to another. It also features an improved gradient and indepth tour of historic Auckland. It is resilient enough to be able to take up opportunities for improvided biodiversity or amenity, eg 1: proposed convention centre with a green roof, or 2 & 3 car parks both on ground and built turned into park and amenity....

mark making analysis of: traffic flow, pedestrian flow, wind, building height and sunshine, relationship to green areas, possible tracks of animals and humans to redefine the area and reintroduce a human scale.

While the response across the entire nexus is to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;Greenâ&#x20AC;? that can be physical, or metaphorical, actual plants (which include a palette of natives that would have been part of the original post volcanic vegetation), or art installations, birght colours or lights. One of the key points is the views from one area into another, drawing the people through into their discovery, or drawing people from outside the nexus into it.

SKETCHES

Further development of this micro-area of the nexus will aim to meet overall objectives while also taking advantage of the area’s individuality. Strong visual links will still draw people in and from the other parts of the Green Nexus, providing discovery and exploration as well as valuable amenity and a uniquely Auckland experience referencing the past, the heritage, the ecology and the future. In the Hobson section daylighting the historical names and ecology will create a genuine connection and experience, while forming a quasi “home zone” with a change in texture for the two lane road changing the feel. Changing Vogel into a shared space capitises on the sunny sheltered aspect and 24 hour nature of this very highly populated residential and hotel area.