CONTEXT GREY LYNN
SITE
In Grey Lynn, there exists a clear division between commercial and suburban space. In other words, there is a boundary between the public (commercial areas) and the private (suburban). This can clearly be seen on our site which is located in the middle of multiple green public spaces. e.g. Grey Lynn Park, Cox’s Bay Reserve and Auckland Zoo. However although our site is in the centre of these green spaces, it still feels very disconnected and industrial.
GREEN WATER COMMERCIAL SUBURBAN
SCALE 1:10000
PARKS
The parks of Grey Lynn are a complete escape from the surrounding suburbs. In contrast, they are a peaceful and under utilized space in which needs to be activiated. It is clear from investigation that these parks are too far from social hubs and hence a proposal is required to integrate these parks into areas of heavy ‘traffic’.
COX’S BAY RESERVE FIELDS
COX’S BAY RESERVE ENTRANCE
COX’S BAY RESERVE FIELDS HILLS
VERTICALITY
There is a clear lack of verticality on the site (the only vertical objects being the surrounding trees and smoke stack). I would like to respect this focus on horizontality, and hence would not like to disturb the existing skyline of the site which is dominated by a canopy of trees.
GREEN BELT
In response to the discontinuity of the green spaces from the site, this project proposes a green belt that would run from Cox’s Bay Reserve to Grey Lynn Park. The proposed green belt will act as a catalyst to encourage more visitors into the parks whilst also take people away from the more congested commercial area. By introducing this strip onto the site, the potential of creating a masterplan using an idea of programmatic strips comes to mind.
DISCONNECTED GREEN SPACES
CONNECTION THROUGH GREEN BELT
PROGRAMMATIC STRIPS
The idea of programmatic strips originated from OMA’s proposal for Parc de la Villette, in which each strip houses a different program and hence is somewhat like a floor of a high rise building.This brings up this idea of the horizontal skyscraper which is very suitable to the respectful nature of this proposal as it will not intrude on the already existing skyline while also being able to house a large number of programmes.
CONCEPT
The cinematic promenade runs perpendicular to the programmatic strips hence creating a disjunction between the two, this promenade is has been divided into a grid that is approximately a 5 second walk apart from one another. On the intersection points of the promenade and strips, a unique building/structure will be placed. When walking through the promenade, views of these buildings will attempt to induce multiple feelings towards the viewers and hence cause them to become memorable structures unique to the individual. Through the cinematic promenade runs the existing street (Westmoreland st) that will be pedistrianized and turned into the main circulation axis through the site. The circulation points through the site run in line with the programmatic strips and will be informed dependent on the programmes each strip holds.
PROGRAMMATIC STRIPS
CINEMATIC PROMENADE
CIRCULATION LAYER
FOOD
While travelling through Grey Lynn, It was suggested that food was a major part of the suburb. One of the key aspects that was interesting was the fact that there was a van parked in a parking lot selling fresh local fruit, This suggested that there was possibly a lack of space for a food markets. However through further investigation, I discovered that Grey Lynn hosts a farmers market every Sunday at the Community Centre. The problem I discovered with this was that the Community Centre is not that large and hence a new location for this event may be required.
PROGRAMME
I arrived at the conclusion of using this site for the farmer’s market. By superimposing the three layers used previously, I arrived at a conceptual masterplan of how the site could be programmed. The strips will hold individual programmes, the cinematic promenade will contain key buildings/structures and the main axis of movement will be through Westmoreland Street.
RIVER
I saw a lot of potential in the stream that runs from Cox’s bay through the reserve. As proposed for the green belt, It made sense that this river could be brought through the site as well. This would hence enhance the green belt and hence enrich the experience for those that experience it.
REVITALIZE
By bringing Cox’s bay through the site, a lot of changes have to be made to the existing Cox’s bay. At the moment, the bay has been left in a huge mess that would require an immense amount of work to revitilize. My proposal for the rivitilized bay includes a more beachlike atmosphere and by linking the stream and allowing for swimmers, more visitors will become aware of the reserve and hence the farmers market that occurs
EXISTING
PROPOSED
MARKET
By bringing the market into our site, the market becomes more centralized. This will hence act as a social catalyst that will attract more and more visitors. The key buildings that are raised above the market will act as reference points for passerbys and notify them of the market that is present.