UPTOWN Site Analysis Group Member: Jose, Joyce, Jessica, Frost
People and Place
Site History The peaks now called Karangahape Road and Upper Symonds Street were part of a network of routes that Māori used to practise ahi kā, seasonally cultivating their land, or forging tribal alliances.
Site History More than 160 years ago, a “Newtonian” wrote to the newspaper suggesting that a road be built to: “... lead from the Khyber-Pass Road, at Mrs Fairburn’s, to the North Road at Mr Probert’s made passable ... It would connect the East and West Newton, bring the Cabbage tree people nearly a mile nearer to town, and cut off a long road from Mount Eden for the scoria carts, a very great advantage now that so many improvements are being made in the Western portion of the city.” The writer continues, “If the Newton Road be made, the metal carts that were leaving the Maungawhau (Mt Eden) quarry for Ponsonby Road and the lower streets of the City would no longer have to go via the windmill, and along Karangahape Road.” While Newton Road was not the first road to connect to the two ridgelines (that was East Street), its development was pivotal to the growth of a new suburb. When subdivided, the gully’s interior blocks of land became integral routes that led in and out of Auckland’s town. Within five years of the sale of the gully’s paddocks, what was first named Newtown had the bones to grow into the vibrant suburb of Newton East.
Site History Advance Auckland!’ was declared in an article in the 1862 New Zealander, celebrating the spectacular prices that the subdivisions in the Newtown gully had achieved. What an encouraging sign this would have been to the early European settlers! Auckland, the expanding capital city of New Zealand, was proving to be worthy of their time, energy, and investment. (14 May 1862 New Zealander Issue 1677 page 2) As the war in the Waikato intensified the center of the gully was ready for sale the following year. Owned by the Premier of New Zealand (Prime Minister) Mr Whitaker, the term 'Advance Auckland!’ was also used as the headline to advertise the sale of his 126 allotments in the New Zealand Herald. This time this term was used to alert the early settler investors to the ‘wonders of living in Newton’. Whitaker’s ability to mix politics with business is evident. Quite an achievement to create a new subdivision while leading a government initiative of war .
Site History - How does History affect our planning Because -
A lots of people chose Uptown as their starting point of living in Auckland since uptown is very convince for them to access to other commercial area.
-
At the same time this is a international community, people who live here come from different countries.
Therefore -
The planning will provide public place for people from different country to communicate with each other, and also cross-cultural exhibition center for people to present their culture (Showing your culture is welcome here)
-
Meanwhile we tend to make a better connection with the existing public space (park) and the public space we design. A better connection to other place will make this place more attractive.
Masterplan
Surrounding Buildings -
-
covering the key buildings within the site. we see that that there’s a number of different sorts of buildings with different uses. this is part of what gives the site of Uptown character.
Mt Eden Station Processing
Mt Eden is designed as a dual transferring station for CRL transporting from the city center to the west. CRL goes under the ground. Pedestrians can enter the station through RURU Street which runs between Mt Eden Road and New North Road. https://www.cityraillink.co.nz/mt-eden-work-city-rail-link
Connections and Circulation
Zones -
-
most of uptown is a mixed use zone for businesses, shops, etc. along the middle is the town centre zone (highlighted in pink)
Roads and Pathways
Motorway Footpaths
-
Shows the roads and pathways within the site of Uptown. Showcasing its accessibility to different areas of the map. Shows cohesiveness, and how the spaces are made for the building footprint and natural areas such as parks and native trees.
Main Road Sidestreet
Cycle Route
Cycle Way National Cycle Way
-
The cycle routes on the site Showing the flow and how to get from the city area to the public parks such as Mount Eden Park
Transport -
-
-
covering the multiple bus routes on site provides insight on building with the routes in order to provide easier access to transportation to people. people that go to work would want to have easy access to the bus stops.
Public Transport Routes
Railway Connection Built Stations Unbuilt Stations
Ecologies and Environment
Built Environment -
Focuses on the buildings within the site. Illustrating its positioning and orientation with regards to its site boundaries, and the relationship of each building sitting on site.
Parks
Parks and Greenery
Forest Site
-
Shows the access to nearby parks. Creates design opportunities for transportation to access parks from the site. Shows the amount of greenery in an urban area
Mount Eden
Contours -
-
-
-
-
to understand the slopes of the site of uptown. informative information on which parts are steep and and which parts are flat. the main focussed site of the station there are some parts that go up in steepness. provides opportunity to utilise the steepness for potential underground spaces similar to the train routes that go underground.
Natural Disaster Zones
As shown on the left, Uptown falls under Zone one of Earthquake zones within Auckland
The graph on the right shows the risks of building damage within the areas of New Zealand. The original site of Uptown being within Auckland, it falls under the category of low risk building damage.
Building damage risk
Greenspace Arrangement The green space of the Uptown area shows limited and concentrate in the Basque Park and Mount Eden.
Climate AKL - cold & hot during mid-season
Local Plant Species Crape Myrtle trees are introduced from southern Australia, the only 3 crape myrtle trees in uptown near the signal colorful wall.
Green wall In this site with urban landform, ivy walls are common to see on the building surface.
English ivy is shade, frost and drought tolerant, but prefers damp, fertile soil.
Trees On the Fence
On the Building surface & Structure
In Uptown, we have large trees such as Nikau palms, Corynocarpus, and small trees with fruits like Coprosma lucida: Karamu. Riroriro and sparrows are fed by those trees here.
Site Photos
Site Plan 1:2000 @A2
Site Model
Section -
To understand the slope of the site Gives info on what to build depending on the slope Keeping safe from floods - designing on which slope/highest point of site Opens up design opportunities on new locations for buildings
Section Line
Section
Mount Eden site Basque Park
Opportunities and Constraints
S.W.O.T analysis Strengths -
-
-
-
-
Accessible Competitive location: station & close to city and newmarket Active - Iconic characteristics: containing cross-cultural people which provide harmony environment for living and working Disaster defense: low risk of building damage Easy for living: mild wind and comfortable temperature Many retail shops available
Weaknesses -
-
-
-
Hard to walk on the street due to the landscape from city to the Uptown Noisy environment due to close to railway Away from Basque Park and lack of green area (plants) on the site to defend floods Lack of open and diverse activity space (need to be attractive)
Opportunities -
-
-
Potential for commercial transaction Establishing an iconic landmark in AKL for gathering and conducting public activities More potential international cooperation or meetings
Threats -
-
-
-
The prison can be a potential threat to families living in that area Night activities are not recommended to avoid crime The new station hasn’t been settled which would influence the design High cost for building construction on noise-control materials
Place Standard Tool ADVANTAGES: -
Enough routes to move around Convenient public transport Niche retailing market A range of housing types Historical buildings looks attractive Multi-cultural and religious respect
DISADVANTAGES： -
Traffic noise and little collective parking space Lack of playing and gathering space Lack of community and public facilities (any age or sex, for relaxation, health, etc) Little diversity of plants
Group Strategy on Site
Basic Concept & Key Words The community aims to attract and gather people living around, working around and passing by, so that they will conduct activities and interact with each other from diverse backgrounds. On the other hand, the community will provide people with multi-functional area meeting their requirements such as working, shopping, retailing, gathering. To encourage more interaction, our design may be considered as attractive, healthy and safe. Key Words:
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Iconic park Retail stores Gym Commercial offices Restaurants Cross-cultural center Living with nature - Green roof/interior/outdoor circulation/corridor Open market Communal/Public/Transaction space
Group Strategy on Site
Group Massing Proposal Exhibition Space Open Green Space Commercial Building Open Communal Area Markets Stage and performance
Precedents
Public Space & Roof Public space is a space for human contact, for meetings between different cultural and social groups, and where planned and spontaneous social interactions can occur. Because people will walk slowly in public space, the environment must be ‘pleasant’ (green roof) or ‘attractive’ (playful) or both.
‘Attractive’ example: Park ‘n’ Play by JAJA Architects in Denmark https://www.archdaily.com/884956/park-n-play-jaja-architects The task was to create an attractive green façade and a concept that would encourage people to use the rooftop. The railing runs from the bottom of the building and continuously transforms to becoming swings, ball cages, jungle gyms and more on the rooftop. This can inspire us to take the most use of building’s roof and design multi-functional and dynamic activity/entertainment/gathering methods.
‘Pleasant’ example: Public Redevelopment for the City of Tokyo by Heatherwick Studio https://www.archdaily.com/923 462/public-redevelopment-for-t he-city-of-tokyo-by-heatherwick -studio Creating a particular ambiance for the city with a contextual approach, they imagined a pergola-like building that can hold and unify different elements under its roof. Greenery will spread on the ground level and climb up to the curved slope-like structure, making the whole intervention very natural. For more contact by people and the environment, they smartly combined grid, glazing and plants that make people experience it inside and outside.
The Triangle Concept - Houston, Texas “The Triangle,” is a real piece of property local to Houston selected for a conceptual project. The convergence of two major streets creates a unique urban condition of a triangular nature, perfect for a mixed use development. The commercial wedge to the West serves the residential wedge to the East, which is why we chose this one of a kind site for this spec project. The study shows how it is possible to create a vibrant mixed use development of office, retail, restaurants, and grocery in the heart of Houston. The concept is derived from view corridors throughout the site which serve to visually maintain the connection between the ever separating streets. The residual space in the middle serves as a central market for local vendors. The market would also serve as an extension of a rooftop park which slopes down to the pedestrian level for an event space.
https://www.arcthreestudio.com/the-triangle
Istanbul Gülsuyu Cemevi and Cultural Center A series of repeated modules express a differentiating of programmatically distinct areas, while maintaining the unity of the entire complex. The experience at street level and spaces to socialize are taken into consideration. Public spaces are created within the complex by a roof and terrace landscape with visual and physical connections within itself for people to interact.
Pavilions/Resting Place
SPG Pavilion-Canopies | BŌK Modern https://www.archdaily.com/catalog/ us/products/21739/wallscreens-spg -pavillion-bok-modern?ad_source= neufert&ad_medium=gallery&ad_na me=close-gallery Staggering aluminum panels display beautiful shading and gathering function under the philosophy of less structure by BOK Modern.
Networking Jakarta | Arcasia Student Design Competition 2021 https://www.behance.net/gallery/127242265/Ne tworking-Jakarta Their concept is “Public Space in 15-Minutes Life Circle”. This is an attractive transition queue open space which allow visitors to look through different viewpoints. The architecture may create more interaction and evoke people's awareness of their surroundings.
Building + Nature Qingdao Future City / CLOU Architects https://www.archdaily.com/996616/qingda o-future-city-clou-architects?ad_source= search&ad_medium=projects_tab This Future City is a shopping and leisure destination devoted to the mingling of aesthetics, creativity, and social experiences, hoping to bring a fresh vitality to the old town and its surroundings. Because the consumers of today value comfort and intimacy in commercial and public spaces and cherish nature, the outdoors, wellness, and social interaction above all. The architects design a place that make visitors feel like wandering in jungles. They tried mix the circulation with green area and develop more interaction for people.
Encouraging Safe Nightlife This shows a good example of how each space can create a different atmosphere within the different stages of the day. We want to create an opportunity for nightlife in the site of Uptown. Since we are also designing for students they would want a place they can go to interact with people, and enjoy quality time. Creating architecture for nightlife can encourage to bring people together.
Landscape Circulation Hyperlane Linear Sky Park / ASPECT Studios https://www.archdaily.com/996616/qingdao-future-city-cl ou-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects _tab Hyperlane is a 2.4km multi-level linear sky park. It establishes a vibrant and fun youth, music and life oriented linear space, linking the local transportation hub with the university community and campus in Chengdu. The Urban Gallery is a sociality orientated, pocket place for the community to come together. Defined by the simple notion of ‘community and connection’, the Hyperlane Urban Social Gallery is a bold, vibrant youth-oriented point of identity that reflects the artistic and creative culture of the district.
Subgroup Work Summary
300 words to sum up group work The site proposal is required by Uptown Business Associate which is next to Mt Eden Train Station. As the station is under construction, it has the potential to do diverse urban planning. In the first week, the group investigates the general information of the site, including location, history, landscape, environment, green species, surroundings, and transportation. Joyce, Jose and Frost visit the site and take some useful photos for the land and its surroundings, so that the group visibly get closer to the site which benefits for the later planning. In the second week, Jessica joins the group, helps the other people refine their previous research and then analyses and concludes about the site’s situation. Joyce, Jose and Frost make a digital model for the site in order to test the contour and sun path. The group discusses online and comes up with a final strategy of planning. In the third week, it is an initial start for the whole group to think about planning the site. The group starts from researching precedents to approaching more ideas and makes a basic concept of the planning. At this stage, the group agrees that the community aims to attract and gather people living, working around and passing by, so that they interact with each other from diverse backgrounds. On the other hand, the community will provide people with a multi-functional area meeting their requirements such as working, shopping, retailing, gathering. Therefore, the group’s direction of searching precedents is more about spaces attracting activities and the group discusses how we achieve the goal of ‘gathering and living’. Finally, at the end of the third week, the whole tutor group decides a site plan by Johnny. According to his ideas of division of the site, the group gets the task of making sections for the week 4 presentation.
500 word summary of Group Proposal - Framework -
To investigate the Pre-existing site, we did a brief analysis of the existing site of the Train Station in Uptown.
-
We investigated the site context marking the built environment, the roads and pathways, the amount of existing green areas within the urban site, a contour map, a zoning map, and a public transport route map.
-
We found on our site research that Mount Eden attracted many tourists as it is its highest natural point in Auckland, providing good views throughout the city.
-
We analysed the existing buildings as part of what gave the site history and character. We incorporated view shafts onto the site plan to use as one of our drivers for the site plan layout design.
-
Within our subgroups for draft development, we covered the new layout of roads and pedestrian pathways. We wanted to separate the site between streets for car accessibility and pedestrian pathways all along the middle of the site. This relationship between the new paths and roads is to promote human interaction.
-
Another proposal was determining the type of spaces we wanted on the site. Coming from the idea of gathering and human interaction, we incorporated spaces like markets for independent business owners in Uptown and open communal areas for people to walk and interact. And we also wanted to offer a residential space to provide homes for people and families within that site. This addition is to offer more options for living.
-
Another proposal we investigated was incorporating native trees within site; the original location lacked greenery. We wanted to add more nature to the site by having native trees to respect the heritage and give character to the design. Another idea that we had was to use greenery to provide noise protection from the train station.
-
For our first draft proposal, we had a formal approach to laying out the lots' plot. The northern side is mostly roads for cars to pass, and the middle area is only for pedestrian access—the apartments are located to the south.
-
In our final master plan, we refined the design to clarify the uses for the colour-coded lots. We have decided to have retail shops, markets, residential, office spaces, parks, and public parking. We have another idea of discovery, which we showed with the mix of multiple walkways in between lots. At the centre of each lot is a communal gathering area where people can come together. Each cluster of buildings all have a central meeting point so each cluster has its own special void space to piece everything together.
-
The view shafts informed us which parts of the buildings we could build multiple stories on without blocking the view along the site. Colour-coded on what parts of plots have limited levels to build in height.
-
We included a bridge that goes over the site to provide a better connection from the highest point of the slope to the station to give a different experience of a new space above ground.
-
Our subgroup produced the sections and its to cover how the buildings sit along the site's natural slope, followed by precedences of what we picture in that area. We start to map out the interactions we want in each space.
-
We created the models were created to help us with our future design iterations.