Book 1 lachlan munro

Book 1

Auckland’s Locked Front Door Lachlan Munro

1. Barriers A huge proportion of the Auckland foreshore is currently inaccessible to the Auckland public. It is contained behind high fences, busy roads and even signs visible from on the harbour warning to “KEEP OUT�. Walking east from the CBD the first opportunity a pedestrian gets to directly interact with the water and Waitemata Harbour itself is a short discreet public walkway along the eastern side of the Fergusson Container Terminal, however this short walkway is difficult to find and located away of any real public thoroughfare, the walkway is also accompanied by loud trucks driving directly beside it.

2. The all-consuming machine The Port is a 24/7 machine. It is like a giant robot with bells, whistles, sirens and smoke. Seen from a distance the port is one large mass which consumes and spits out large trucks day and night, the mass seems to be forever searching for more area to consume while creating a barrier between Auckland city and the sea. It is an ever changing, ever working and ever growing machine with numerous appendages and extremities. The activities performed within the port have no direct relationship to the activities going on within the CBD and the two appear to be at conflict with each other.

3. Recreation Recreation around the harbour has been reduced to a narrow strip of pavement running along the southern boundary of the port. The pathway is sandwiched between a high metal fence and a busy motorway. Walking along this narrow path feels more like walking through an industrial area, or the type of road you are forced to walk along after your car has run out of petrol. The pathway is split into two lanes, one for pedestrians and the other for cyclists, this may seem logical but having cyclists speed silently past you from behind is unnerving. As a recreation space this area is unsuitable and uninspiring.

4. The 2.2km back path The sea offers a sense of freedom, relaxation and escape, for many it reminds them of their childhood. Auckland city and its people have lost their sense of the water. Along the entire walk from the bottom of Lower Albert Street east to Solent Street there is no place where the sea can be touched, smelt, sensed or even seen. The distance of this void is approximately 2.2km as shown by the red line. The blue line indicates where you can be close to the sea. Auckland City no longer touches the sea, in fact it is possible to enter the CBD and not appreciate the presence of the sea at all.

5. First impressions count When passenger ferries enter the Waitemata Harbour the first view they get of Auckland City is the Fergusson Container Terminal. This entrance or ‘door step’ to Auckland City is an opportunity to create a unique welcome, a symbol or an identity for Auckland and New Zealand. The view from Auckland City out towards Waitemate Harbour and into the Hauraki Gulf is also constrained by the wharfs and their activity. Again this represents an opportunity to create a sense of identity for Auckland and New Zealand as a whole. There is an opportunity to ‘mold’ the harbour to better suit our needs.

6. The excitement of a visitor Passenger ferries docking right at Auckland’s front door not only makes financial and practical sense but it is also an exciting and impressive scene. This is also partly true with the large car carrying cargo ships. These huge ships are an impressive sight, however it is the large parking lot of cars that they create which is an eye sore and a waste of central city land. I think it could be exciting to see these large ships continue to dock in the city as long as their cargo can be quickly moved off-site (perhaps by train to the Port’s East Tamaki or Wiri inland ports). Auckland has grown alongside its harbour activities for over 150 years so this could be an imported link to the city’s origins.

7. A permanent place for all & reconnecting to the sea For a long time the foreshore has been completely inaccessible to Aucklanders. A new masterplan should turn this on its head and make the foreshore accessible to all for a range of activities e.g. swimming, fishing, boating etc. It should reconnect the city and its people to the sea and it should include a permanent space, structure or facility that is used for all kinds of gatherings, events, concerts, displays etc. This could also be a symbol of Auckland, its people and its history. This should be used to draw people onto the site and could be an icon of cultural relevancy.

8. An identity As a city Auckland lacks an identity, an instantly recognisable landmark or feature that is uniquely Auckland and hence New Zealand. This could also be an opportunity to create a welcome or a greeting when viewed from the sea.

Some of the most famous cities in the world feature landmarks and icons which are instantly identifiable and recognised worldwide. This is an opportunity to create something original, iconic and truly Kiwi.

9. Alternatives to housing and offices There is not any substantial green park space available to inner city workers and residents. Some interesting park space is required and a zoo could be a good way to activate the space while also attracting tourists. The zoo could slowly phase out the keeping of certain animals until it primarily showcases New Zealand’s unique wild life and regional species. Kelly Tarltons, Whitford Bird Garden and Tiritiri Matangi Island wildlife sanctuary could all be combined. In parts moats or canals could be used in the place of fences.

Proposed design for 132 Halsey

10. Housing types With the release of so much inner city land this could be seen as an opportunity to ease the stress on Auckland’s housing market. The prices of the new high-end apartments in the new proposed Wynyard Quarter and at 132 Halsey begin at $565,000 and $2,075,000 respectively. This is out of reach of most people. With these new luxury apartments about to begin construction does that leave room for some more affordable inner-city living? It is an opportunity to experiment with a new concept of inner-city living. This new concept could form part of Auckland’s new iconic redesigned “door step”.

Thanks