UPTOWN SANDY, KARIN, JOSH
MAPS
Uptown - Building Usage Mixed building uses in Uptown. Mostly residential, dining, industry, and commercial
Uptown - Notable Buildings A
Identifying the characteristics of the site. Different landmarks in the area.
Uptown - Notable Businesses
Basque Park They are currently renewing to provide more seating, footpaths and picnic areas.
OMG Garden Garden feeds community and provide a green area amongst the concrete jungle.
Hard to Find Bookshop Small quiet place to read and buy books.
Soar Print What they do: They are a printing company that began in 1920 in Onehunga and moved to New North Road in 2000. They have gone through the depressions, world war and the pandemics.
T. White’s Bikes What they do: bikes accessories and parts. They also buy,recondition second hand bikes. “We also love the planet, which is why we use sustainable practices in our retail and workshop. We re-use and re-cycle in every aspect we can and enjoy giving our customers the choice of new or second hand bikes and bike parts. In our workshop we will always attempt repair before we replace!”
This store is founded by Fred Soar and then passed down from one generation to the other. They are also the first and only offset printing company that holds the carbon zero certification.
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UPTOWN BUSINESS Floralcentric Gemmell’s What they do: fixes bags and shoes. They also sell leather bags, shoes and leather care products. This store is owned by Arram Gemmell who is a fourth generation cobbler. Family Business: “Being born into the Gemmell’s family, where we have a proud tradition of being leathersmiths and cobbler.”
What they do: They are a flower shop and arrange flowers for events,weddings and installations. This store is founded by Michele and Ainsley (mother and daughter).
Uptown - Surrounding Suburbs The surrounding suburbs in relation to Uptown.
CONNECTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Waterway Connections
Waste water
Waterways
Stormwater
FLOOD PRONE AREAS
Flood Prone Areas The area around the Maungawhau station is flood prone.
Flood Prone Areas
BUS ROUTES
BIKE LANES TRAIN
SCHOOLS
HISTORY
Schools and Childcare Centres
THE MAUNGAWHAU TRAIN STATION •
The MT Eden railway station opened 1880
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1912 the island platform was established
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The original station removed for upgrade in 1990s and reopened in 2004.
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Although it was called the Mt Eden station it was located closer to symonds street
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There were constant upgrading during the mid 1890s with the arrival of the horse trams in 1880s and electric tram from 1902.
ARRIVAL OF THE MOTORWAY • The Motorway system arrived in 1960s on the gully area which consisted on several primary and intermediate schools and six churches. • The best location for the motorway was the Newton Gully.
UNITARY ZONES
Unitary Plans - Zones ●
Mostly made up of ‘H13. Business - Mixed Use Zones,’ which are typically located around centres and served by public transport. A transition area between the residential (suburban) and business centre zone (city).
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Enables up to four storey high buildings. However, greater height may be allowed in areas close to the city centre.
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Objectives of the H13 zone: A strong network of centres that are attractive environments and attract ongoing investment, promote commercial activity, and provide employment, housing and goods and services, all at a variety of scales. Development is of a form, scale and design quality so that centres are reinforced as focal points for the community. Moderate to high intensity residential activities and employment opportunities are provided for, in areas in close proximity to, or which can support the City Centre Zone Activities within the zone do not compromise the function, role and amenity of the City Centre Zone Have a high level of amenities (local facilities, services etc) Contributes to the visual quality and interest of streets and other public open spaces, pedestrian amenity, movement, safety and convenience for people of all ages and abilities
Unitary Plans - Overlays -
The ‘D18. Special Character Areas Overlay - Residential and Business’ mostly runs through the town centre zone in the centre of Uptown.
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Respond positively to the design, scale, height, setback and massing of existing development, any distinctive pattern of subdivision, intensity of development, its relationship to the street, streetscape cohesiveness and is of a compatible form which contributes to the identified special character values of the area.
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Recover or reveal special character values of buildings and features.
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Require new buildings, alterations or additions to existing buildings, or infrastructure, which are within the overlay but are not character defining or character supporting buildings, to maintain the integrity of the context of the area by providing quality design, materials, colour and decoration which respects and enhances the built form and streetscape of the area.
The Transition Between The Suburban and City
ENVIRONMENT STUDY
Uptown - Shadow Study Strong shadows cast on the site during winter. Lack of natural sunlight closer to the north part of the site.
Feb 8am
Feb 5 pm
June 8am
June 5pm
Topography Inverted horseshoe area around the Mt Eden Railway Station (Originally where Shaddock Street was)
Topography Gradients Very sloped topography on Flower Street and Nikau Street
Average temperatures and weather
Temperatures between 7°C and 23°C = Not too hot or cold
Generally does not get a lot of sun. Mostly ‘partly cloudy’ = Solar panels would not be very effective
Wind studies
Prominent south westerly winds
Volcanic Lava Field and Soil Type The geological map of the area indicates that the site is underlain by Holocene to Late Pleistocene igneous rocks of the Auckland Volcanic Field. These are described to comprise grey to dark grey, dense, fine grained olivine basalt or basanite lava flows. Basalt rock can be highly variable, with potential voids / caverns throughout. It is highly recommended to have the inspecting Geo-professional inspect all excavations to appraise the likelihood of voids / caverns. Should voids / caverns be encountered, backfilling with aggregate, or bridging across with geogrid reinforced gravel rafts etc may be required.
Plants in Uptown A variety of native trees helps the local birds and insects thrive, while also providing solar shading.
Kōwhai Sophora microphylla Produces bright yellow flowers in spring that attracts native birds. Semi deciduous and often lose their leaves in winter prior to flowering.
Pōhutukawa Metrosideros excelsa Lines of Pōhutukawa trees are placed along the main roads of Uptown: New North Road and Mount Eden Road
Karaka Corynocarpus laevigatus Produces large orange berries favoured by Kereru (native wood pigeon).
Coastal evergreen tree with vibrant red flowers that emerge during Christmas season. Beneficial for bees in the area,
Evergreen tree; great for providing shade all year long.
Plants in Uptown - Hedging plants Hedging plants are ideal for creating privacy in residential areas or to divide areas.
Kohuhu Pittosporum tenuifolium Small evergreen hedging tree with small reddish-purple flowers. Ideal small hedging plant if clipped regularly.
Lemonwood Pittosporum eugenioides Quick-growing, evergreen hedging tree with highly scented flowers.
Titoki Alectryon excelsus Evergreen tree with glossy, green foliage that responds well to trimming
Ideal tall hedging plant if clipped regularly.
Good specimen tree or plant in groups as tree hedging.
Plants in Uptown - Vines and Climbers Vines and climbers help create attractive architectural spaces, and they provide ecological and biodiversity benefits.
Puawananga Clematis paniculata
Akakura Metrosideros carminea
Kaiku Parsonsia heterophylla
High-climbing evergreen woody vine with masses of white flowers in spring.
Coastal vine climber with stunning red star flowers in late winter / early spring.
Evergreen climber that produces small, sweetly scented, creamy-white flowers in spring and summer
Useful for covering walls and fences. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Excellent vine for growing up walls and rock faces. Attracts invertebrates for birds like pīwakawaka to eat, and creates habitats for birds.
Effective as bee forage flowering, and attracts birds.
Ecology and Environment
Kōwhai Sophora microphylla Produces bright yellow flowers in spring that attracts native birds. Semi deciduous and often lose their leaves in winter prior to flowering.
Mostly south-westerly winds
Pōhutukawa Metrosideros excelsa Lines of Pōhutukawa trees are placed along the main roads of Uptown: New North Road and Mount Eden Road
Karaka Corynocarpus laevigatus Produces large orange berries favoured by Kereru (native wood pigeon).
Coastal evergreen tree with vibrant red flowers that emerge during Christmas season. Beneficial for bees in the area.
Evergreen tree; great for providing shade all year long.
Kohuhu Pittosporum tenuifolium Small evergreen hedging tree with small reddish-purple flowers.
Lemonwood Pittosporum eugenioides Quick-growing, evergreen hedging tree with highly scented flowers.
Ideal small hedging plant if clipped regularly.
Ideal tall hedging plant if clipped regularly.
Puawananga Clematis paniculata High-climbing evergreen woody vine with masses of white flowers in spring.
Akakura Metrosideros carminea Coastal vine climber with stunning red star flowers in late winter / early spring.
Useful for covering walls and fences. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Excellent vine for growing up walls and rock faces. Attracts invertebrates for birds like pīwakawaka to eat, and creates habitats for birds.
Titoki Alectryon excelsus Evergreen tree with glossy, green foliage that responds well to trimming Good specimen tree or plant in groups as tree hedging.
Kaiku Parsonsia heterophylla Evergreen climber that produces small, sweetly scented, creamy-white flowers in spring and summer Effective as bee forage flowering, and attracts birds.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Demographics - European Population Half of Uptown’s population are Europeans
Demographics - Māori Population Around 5% of Uptown’s population are Māori.
Demographics - Pasifika Population Only 3% of Uptown’s population are Pasifika.
Demographics - Asian Population 37% of Uptown’s population are Asian.
Demographics - Other Ethnicity Population Around 7% of Uptown’s population are other ethnicity.
Demographics - Median Age Distribution The median age in Uptown is 30-32 years old.
Demographics - Child Population Less than 10% of Uptown are children (under 15 years old).
Demographics - Studying Population Around 20% of Uptown’s population are students.
SWOT
SWOT Analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Views of Maungawhau
- Good views of Maungawhau
- Unable to see Maungawhau at certain areas
- Opportunity to frame the view
- Other buildings may block the view
Communal gardens
- Strengthens the community
- Requires maintenance
- Opportunity to expand
- Thievery, limiting the space to a specific community (not like a public park)
Public green spaces (Basque Park)
- Inclusive
- Requires maintenance
-more seating area -walkway -more shade -lighting
Sloped part of Flower Street and Nikau Street
- Spatial variation - Good views at the top
- Bad accessibility
- Better accessibility - Opportunity for seating - Reshape the area
- Safety - Accessibility issues - May deter people away from the area - Waste of space
Ventilation shaft
- Provides ventilation for the tunnels
- Noise issue - Ugly by itself
- Opportunity to make it blend more with the context. - Could be a centerpiece of the area - Space around ventilation shaft: workshops, service area, circulation area for level-change,
- Potentially dangerous - Unpleasant to be around
Urban Design Concept
Deciduous and semi-deciduous trees are planted here to provide shade during summer, and allow sunlight penetration during winter. Pōhutukawa trees from New North Road are continued down into the development site, creating a main pathway that entices people to walk in.
Evergreen trees are used as a sound barrier between the train station and southern buildings.
Urban Design Concept
Oishii Park / td-Atelier
A private park and library that provides a fun area for children as well as lodging for travelers. They could also harvest delicious food in this area .
Gigantium Urban Space / JAJA Architects
OMOKEN Park / Yabashi Architects
Garage Screen Cinema /Syndicate Architects
Creating an urban space where sports and cultural life inside the Gigantium.
Regenerating the ruins of buildings from the earthquake. Creating public spaces on the roofbecoming a multi purpose plaza.
Offers new way of experiencing cinema and creating an open cinema within a public space.
Ideas we like: -New road to the south of the rail line allowing the public transport near the station -Similar Green spaces -Residential towards the south -Having the mixed used building( commercial and residential towards the east -Bike parking near the ventilation shaft and train station
January 8:00
January 5:30
Group Work: Our group worked well together; there were no issues with the task. At the start of the group work, we did a site visit together to Uptown. We took photographs and investigated the topography of our site. Sandy worked on the connections and infrastructure: so, looking at the transport around Uptown, water connections, flooding, and nearby early childhood centres and schools. She also investigated a small amount of history on the train station, shadow studies, and some small local businesses around the site. Karin worked on the Ecologies and the environment: She researched the zoning of Uptown, the overlays, the contours, the topographic gradient, the sun and wind study, the volcanic lava field, and all the plants in Uptown. Josh worked on the people and place section: He researched the surrounding buildings of Uptown, especially the heritage sites around Uptown, the building usage, the surrounding suburbs, and the demographics. Once we finished researching we each did a urban plan that reflects our own vision of the site.Once we individually completed the plan, we did a group discussion on the ideas we like on each of the plans. Some ideas we liked were: Having a new road on the south of the rail line, we had similar green spaces,having the residential on the south side, having mixed used building towards the east and bike parking near the ventilation shaft. We combined all these ideas into one plan drawn up by Karin and made into a 3D model by Josh. Sandy looked into precedents that could potential ideas on the communal spaces.
The proposed master plan created collaboratively as a tutor group.
The proposed master plan showing height restrictions. Created collaboratively as a tutor group.
Our group worked together to create a 1:1000 physical model of the final master plan that the tutor group went with.