Book 1 naomi

Port of Auckland proposal Naomi Steel

Ports of Auckland

The site sits in Auckland city and acts as the welcoming view for commercial ships, cruise ships and more frequently local ferries. The Port of Auckland is the largest hub for importing goods and a significant hub for exporting goods. The port is often filled with hundreds of imported cars and of course stacks of shipping containers. There are ferries that run through the harbour on a daily basis, connecting the city centre with places such as Waiheke Island, Devonport and the Beachlands.

Reclaimation of land proposal

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bledisloe wharf

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Recently there have been plans to reclaim parts of the Waitemata harbour. Of course there has been a lot of contention over the topic. The plans have been criticised for the loss of views of the Hauraki Gulf, the environmental impacts they will have on the Waitemata Harbour and the limitations they will put on the ports ability to re-use the land for other purposes. However the plans have also been defended due to the significant] role Port of Auckland plays in the New Zealand economy.

history of site The Auckland city harbour has long been used as a port. First by Maori in the 1300s when they settled on the shores of the Waitemata Harbour and used it as ‘a resting place of many waka’. However it wasn’t until the 1840’s that the port was officially established and used as a trading centre. The addition of property to the shoreline can be seen in the map. The improvements were made over 18 years with the most significant being the Queen street wharf that extended out into the harbour by 500 meters. The port continued to be developed as the city of Auckland expanded and demand for importing and exporting grew.

1841 shoreline

Important places around the site

The Auckland central area is becoming livelier due to the development of many new and vibrant spaces. On the western side of the city, a proposal for the redevelopment of Wynard Quarter has been passed with major changes focusing on residential and commercial development as well as various public areas. These areas are what I find most appealing. In the centre of the city there is also Britomart, which is seen as a restaurant and bar hub, as well a high end shopping area. Behind the site, up on the hillside is Parnell, which is also important for dining and links well to the domain and Museum. Of course to the far east are the ‘bays’ which are known as the cities beaches.

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wynard quarter britomart site parnell ‘the bays’

Important attractions around the site

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After looking at the surrounding areas of the site I wanted to pinpoint certain places and events that I thought would be important in finding out what this particular area is lacking.

Britomart is the main area that integrates multiple functions with dining and shopping options and markets on Saturday morning. These functions work well together, however it could be more successful in the port site if more utilities and attractions were integrated together.

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Markets Key Parks Attractions Beaches Dining areas Shopping areas

research of precedent harbours and piers I wanted to do some research about other cities and what defining and iconic features they have either on their wharfs, ports or view of arrival via boats. Of course Darling Harbour is well known and is one of the most attractive harbours. Another city that has an iconic arrival by water is New York, with the Statue of Liberty welcoming boats entering the harbour. Dubais’ marina also holds a lot of intrigue with the heavily man made islands and beaches that surround the main land. I also wanted to explore how different cities have utilised their water’s edge as well as how attractions have helped to populate these areas, such as fisherman’s wharf in San Francisco and Santa Monica pier in California.

research of precedent canals and parks I also wanted to look at precedents of popular parks, boulevards, markets and canals and see what makes them successful as well as how cities have effectively integrated these spaces together.

I have found that Central Park is the best example of a park that has many different attractions. It has special ‘nature’ areas for certain types of plants and wildlife, many sports fields and walking tracks for athletic enthusiasts and various attractions for families and children, including a zoo and wildlife centre. There are many kiosks and cafes scattered throughout the park that offer refreshments or lunch.

However, given the size of the site I would aim to create a denser multi-functional used space.

research of precedent market and boulevards Here I wanted to focus on precedent boulevards and kiosk areas. I have looked at Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, which can be seen in the right three images, and focused on how it has multiple attractions along the promenade. I have also looked into many different market areas and what aspects I have found successful.

Drawing from these images I envisage a boulevard that incorporates all of these various aspects into one. A boulevard that has parks, sculptures, markets, attractions and cafes all along it to encourage all ages of people to visit the area.

My proposal As the site is currently used as a port it does not hold any attractions for visitors. If I was to assume that the site was bare I would take a look at what features could liven up the area and attract people. Aucklanders’ do not think of Auckland as a great city, there is a stigma that Auckland is boring and that there is nothing to do here. After looking at great cities and experiencing some of them I took another look at Auckland and thought about why people think this way and what is lacking.

In my opinion, Auckland has great parks, great playgrounds, great cafes and shopping areas however all these things are dispersed and isolated. I think the city would definitely benefit from more integrated and connected areas and attractions.

My proposal I want to propose a series of promenades with shopping, cafes, markets, parks and small attractions that lead with a direct view and connection to the harbour and is all held together by green area, roads and walkways.

I have taken a diagrammatic approach to illustrating how I could arrange and integrate the various features of my proposal around the site.

The image on the left focuses on two wharfs in the port and is a vague idea of how the various functions and attractions could be scattered throughout the site.

The image on the right takes a closer look at a boulevard and the traffic circulation around it with the mixed use space in the center.

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Markets Key Parks Attractions Access to water Dining areas Shopping areas