TOCKER, John S3

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International Cities Town Centres & Communities Society

ICTC2011 Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart, Australia 25 – 28 October, 2011

Participatory Urban Design in Kiribati: A Community Driven Solution John Tocker B. Arch (Auckland), ANZIA, ICTC, Registered Architect (NZ) Director / Jerram Tocker Barron Architects Ltd / New Zealand Phone: +64 4 4739803 Fax: +64 4 4739805 Email: john@jtbarchitects.co.nz Web: www.jtbarchitects.co.nz

ABSTRACT Kiribati comprises 33 islands spread an exclusive economic zone of 3.6 million km2 of the central Pacific. The land area is only 816km2, and the population is approximately 100,000. South Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, has a population of nearly 50,000 on a string of islets 19km long & averaging 250m wide. The highest point is 3.6m above mean sea level, the population density is extremely high and is the fastest growing urban population in the Pacific. This paper examines the “Sustainable Towns Programme” for South Tarawa, Kiribati, through a case study that outlines the challenges facing the expanding population significantly affected by climate change and consequent sea level rise. Consultation between local residents, government stakeholders and independent experts indicated an “enquiry by design” approach allowing for direct input from all key stakeholders. Inclusive, “enquiry by design” charettes were undertaken involving local residents as well as Government officials and technical experts. There was a real need to understand climate change and culturally specific requirements, as well as accepted Urban Design tenets. Lessons learnt are the benefits of an inclusive approach, how graphic techniques in charettes break down cultural and language barriers, the need to understand local settlement patterns, and the necessity to avoid solely skills based approaches when dealing across geographical and cultural boundaries. KEYWORDS: Urban Planning, Pacific, Climate Change, Public Participation, Sustainable Development.


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TOCKER, John S3 by Rob Henshaw - Issuu