4 minute read
Transport & Urban Design
George Weeks
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At BGS I’d always enjoyed human geography (thank you Mr Huckle). Growing up in Bristol, one experienced an ever-changing urban landscape ranging from the sublime (Queen Square restoration) to the abysmal (almost anything at Cribbs Causeway). Following a social sciences degree at Durham, I obtained an MSc in planning and real estate in at Glasgow and an MA in sustainable urbanism via The Prince’s Foundation for the Built
Cities are where most people in the world
live. Urban design is the process of making the human habitat a pleasant place to be.
In 2019, Auckland came joint third in the Mercer Quality of Living survey. One third of New Zealand’s five million people like Auckland enough to call it home.
For a few years now, this figure has included me. I’d previously spent five enjoyable years as an urban designer at Transport for London (TfL), working on highprofile projects like High Speed 2 and Battersea Power Station regeneration, with a (voluntary) side-hustle in cycling-and-urbanism study tours.
MA in Sustainable Urbanism
Environment. This led me to my urban design job at TfL. By 2016 I was looking to take my experience overseas.
In early 2017, I packed up my possessions, gave away my houseplants (biosecurity laws in New Zealand are very strict) and took a taxi to Heathrow Airport. £600 of excess baggage charges later, I was on my way to Auckland. My new job was in the City Centre Design Unit at Auckland Council, where I would conduct a full refresh of its City Centre Masterplan. First published in 2012, this was a detailed, attractive vision for city, bursting with drawings, ideas and energy. This had been instrumental in shaping major investments in transport infrastructure and real estate. My job was to bring the 2012 Masterplan up to date and get it approved and published, while retaining the excitement of the original vision. To cut a long story short, we finished this in 2020 and if you want to have a browse, visit www.aucklandccmp.co.nz
More generally, I had to become familiar with Auckland’ geography. The city sits on a narrow isthmus formed by over 50 volcanoes. With east and west-facing harbours. It is ideal for shipping and trade. Auckland was briefly (1840 – 1865) the capital of New Zealand and its early street plan (partly built) was based on Bath, with crescents, circuses and avenues.
Electric trams appeared in 1902 (seven years after Bristol), with a spiderweb of tramlines connecting walkable suburbs with a bustling city centre.
Academy of Urbanism study tour to Malmö Auckland cityscape
Inspired by futuristic visions underway in 1950’s Los Angeles, Auckland’s tram system was completely dismantled by 1956 to be replaced by a brutal urban ring motorway. This displaced 15,000
pandemic has meant more opportunities to explore this beautiful country.
Living and working overseas has given me a chance to get under the skin of a city to an extent that is impossible to get from a regular visit. If you have the opportunity to gain international experience, particular in an area of professional interest, I sincerely recommend giving it a go.
people during its construction and effectively severed the central and inner city from its surroundings (à la M32 in St Paul’s), a problem that remains today.
Major investments are now underway to try to repair the damage, with new streetscapes, public spaces and transport infrastructure. Much of Auckland city centre is dominated by construction of City Rail Link (CRL); a $4.4bn, twin-track, fourstation underground railway line. This is New Zealand’s largest ever transport infrastructure project – one which will move as many people as 16 motorway lanes.
City Rail Link under construction – this site will be New Zealand’s busiest railway station in 2024.
Light rail lines are also planned (and needed) in Auckland but progress has been hampered by disagreements about design and funding. This is painfully reminiscent of the Bristol tram debacle 20 years ago. Hopefully it will be resolved in less time – a government announcement is imminent.
Cycling from Mt Cook to Oamaru via the Alps 2 Ocean Trail
Within New Zealand I have travelled a great deal, with plenty of skiing, tramping and cycle touring. I also sail a lot – Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour is more appealing than the Bristol Channel and Westhaven marina is five minutes’ cycle from my office. It’s a good way to unwind after work.
Travel within New Zealand has been the sole option following last year’s COVID-19 border restrictions. While I miss having overseas visitors, New Zealand’s adeptness at maintaining relative normality during a global
George Weeks
(1995-2002)
Sutherland Falls, Fiordland National Park
