Lachlan book 4 native wildlife gateway

Auckland’s Natural Wildlife Gateway

Book 4

Lachlan Munro

1

MASTERPLAN The Port will be Auckland’s largest urban redevelopment project focusing on activating the public realm and regenerating Auckland’s “Kiwi” identity.

The master plan will consist of multiple activated open areas, the harbour water remediation process, an organic and conservational food precinct, an exercise focused track scheme, architecture with cultural identity, and a cruise ship terminal. There is also an important focus of conserving the heritage of the site, and keeping in touch with the senses of “Tamaki Herenga Waka” – the gatherer of the canoes and “Tamaki Makaurau” – Tamaki desired by many lovers.

The Port redevelopment will establish four key urban concepts that activate the site individually, as well as integrating the site back to the rest of the city.

1) 2) 3) 4)

Attracting the public and wildlife Waterfront Precincts Open Spaces and Public Realm Cruise ship terminal

2

FUNCTIONAL OF

THE

REQUIREMENTS

PROPOSED

TERMINAL

Auckland’s existing primary cruise ship terminal is Shed 10. This buildings floor area is approximately 4,400m2 (approximately 95m x 25m over two levels). To compare this to other cruise ship terminals Sydney’s new White Bay Cruise terminal (one of several terminals servicing a city of 4.2 million) is 12,000m2 (approximately 240m x 50m). Japan’s Yokohama’s cruise ship terminal services a city of 3 million and is built on a 400m x 135m wharf with the structure taking up most of that at 48,000m2. I think as Auckland looks to expand its facilities for the predicted increase in number and size of cruise ships the new terminal should be around the 8,000m2 to 10,000m2.

The existing sea bed adjacent to B3 wharf is currently dredged to 12m from the top of Marsden Wharf to the top of Bledisloe Wharf (260m long).

Auckland has had to turn away the Ovation of the Seas because it could not accommodate it due to its size. (350m long). With Marsden Wharf removed and the sea bed dredged to 12m along the entire length of the B3 wharf it means there will be in excess of 450m of berthing space.

3

CRANE

INFRASTRUCTURE

When a tree falls in the forest it takes on a new function; it is inhabited by all sorts of insects and animal, moss and grasses grow over it and it continues to play a vital role in the forests ecosystem. Could this analogy also apply to the cranes?

The three existing 73m tall ship-to-shore cranes are an impressive site. They have a footprint of approximately 20m x 20m and are made from very large sections of steel. Could these remain as they are and be repurposed in the new terminal building? Could they be broken up and provide the structure for the new terminal? Also there are railway like tracks that run the length of the wharf that the cranes travel on, could these also be reused? A crane could be used as an entrance, or as a bird aviary or as a viewing platform?

4

TERMINAL

LAYOUT

The terminal building will be two ‘forms’, the bottom form will be a dedicated services area. The top form will contain the terminal which includes the departure/arrives lounge, security and customs areas. This will be a highly flexible space that can easily be turned into a function space. The roof will introduce light and allow views out to the city. There will also be a viewing deck looking out to the Hauraki Gulf and also looking west over the city and towards Wynward Quarter.

5

REUSE

-

ROCKS,

PIERS

AND

TIMBER Removing Marsden wharf means some of its material can be reused in the new design. The wharf is made from timber piers which will be reused to create the birds nesting posts around the boardwalk and over the salt spits.

Some of the remaining timber might be adequate to be used in the new boardway. Since the water cannot be dredged right up to the fore shore some of the piers can remain to mark this transitionally area while continuing to support to the existing marine ecology. All of the boulders and any concrete of the existing Bledsloe wharf will be reused in creating the natural habit.

Tui

New Zealand Dotterel

Spotted Shag

Kowhai Tree

Pohutukawa Tree

Kauri Tree

Coast Spear Grass

Spotted Skink - Endemic to the North Island

New Zealand Red Admiral Butterfly – Unique to NZ

6

THE

ATTRACTION

OF

WILDLIFE

The leaves of the kauri tree were traditional used for welcoming, waving the leaves is a welcome to the living, the dead and the influence they have on that person. The coastal forests that once surrounded the Waitemata included kowhai, pohutukawa, puriri, kohuhu and kauri tress as well as flaxes and grasses. All of these provided shelter and food for a wide range of birds and insects.

The New Zealand Dotterel is an endangered bird species found only in New Zealand. It was once widespread but there are now only about 1700 birds left.

New Zealand Dotterels are shorebirds, usually found on sandy beaches, sand spits or feeding on tidal estuaries. Tuis are already present around the city, specifically in Wynward Quarter, St Marys Bay and Freeman Bay. Studies have also shown that the timber piers in Auckland Harbour can support many forms of sea life, including; New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels, Sea stars, Seaweed crabs, and brown kelp.

7

WATER

AND

TREE

WALKWAYS

The current hard edge condition of the wharf could be broken up to provide sand spits, small protected pools, and plenty of rocks and planting to attack wildlife. Small places of shelter could be built along the path at vantage points for views out to the Hauraki Gulf and back over the city. Passengers could be greeted with a walk amongst the top of kauri trees while disembarking their ship.

This walk could somehow be quickly reconfigured (swung around by the crane which it hangs off) so it could also be used by the public when not required by ferry passengers.

8

CONCEPT

SITE

PLAN

I want to blend the teminal with the coastal site, as well as the experience of leaving/boarding a ship.

I propose to break up Bledislow wharf, particually the outer edges. All the existing boulders and timber piers will remain and be reused. A boardwalk will be constructed that will weave in and out of the boulders and sand spits.

The boulders will phase into the main structure of the terminal building that will appear to be sitting on top of a pile of boulders. Kauri, pohutukawa and kowhai trees, as well as flaxes and grasses will be replanted to recreate the type of coastal forest that use to grow along the Waitemata. The canal will travel through the site and run into the boulder wall, providing another attraction for wildlife and insects.

9

THE

TERMINAL

The terminal will be a simple but highly functional facility. It needs to contain a large arrivals/departure lounge, a customs controlled area for border processing and a space for the functional aspects of the terminal to take place (like refuelling and restocking of the ship). Passengers need to be able to easily walk (often with their baggage) to and from the terminal out to Quay Street and into the city, vehicles also need to be able to access the terminal for both passenger pick up & drop off as well as service vehicles. Passengers will disembark the ship through a walkway amongst Kauri trees. The new terminal will have dedicated service spaces and easily accessible car and foot transport.

10

SHIPS

AND

THE

TERMINAL

By their own right cruise ships are objects of design, they are highly thoughout, highly functional and highly technical. They are awe inspiring and exciting. They create interest and excitement when seen on the city scape.

They create an even more interesting scene when docked at the foot of the city where their size is comparable to many of Auckland’s buildings. When a cruise ship is docked in Auckland it should be a standalone object, the ‘main event’. For this reason the terminal structure that accommodates the cruise ships should be as low as possible, it should complement the cruise ships when they are in port but also compliment the harbour when there are on ships present.