New possibilities

In this issue, Ludo Campbell Reid of the urban design unit talks us through the Auckland City Council's vision of the future and references two buildings that feature large in the city's urban development plans.
We also look at the Jasmax-designed Barat building at Baradene College of the Sacred Heart. The new art, science and technology block is designed to ensure existing heritage buildings retain their prominence.

If you would like to contribute to the next issue or have any feedback, please feel free to contact me directly.

Regards

Tim Lubeck
Commercial Design Manager
(09) 571 5715
tim.lubeck@trendsideas.com

Designing Urban Landscapes

“High-quality urban design is key to creating sustainable cities and is proven to lead to economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing,” says Ludo Campbell-Reid, group manager of urban design at Auckland City Council. “Fundamentally, it is the glue that can hold the city together.”

As one of the first signatories of New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment's urban design protocol, Auckland City Council has brought together a team of 15 urban designers from around the world to ensure development across the city accommodates growth through a people-focused approach to design.

With the mandate to sign off all significant council-led projects and review major third-party private sector schemes, the council’s urban design review team work to a clearly articulated framework providing a tangible benchmark for the quality development of Auckland city.

All projects are measured against six urban design goals that seek to create a city that is distinctive, compact, connected, sustainable, beautiful and human.

With an eye on the big picture, the urban design approach looks to influence and guide all the elements that make a successful city, including an efficient transport system and a sense of community cohesion, as well as a distinctive local identity.

The Britomart development along the waterfront - a large urban renewal project facilitated by council through a private sector partnership, the recently completed developments of Ironbank on Karangahape Road and Deloitte Centre on Queen Street, are great examples of the urban design programme’s influence on private development and proof that the city really is in the middle of a design-led transformation.

“Ironbank is an example of an urban design project where every facet is excellent. The building is greater than the sum of its parts. It has cleverly inserted itself in an appropriate way into the historic precinct and will help re-invigorate the area,” says Campbell-Reid.

“Likewise, the Deloitte Centre at 80 Queen Street was reviewed by council officers and the urban design panel and is now a landmark office building with active street frontages. It is also the first high-rise building in New Zealand to be awarded 5 Green Stars under the NZ Green Building Council’s Office Rating Design Tool.”

The urban design programme also works in the areas of advocacy, education, regulation and review, promoting a wider understanding of urban design goals for the city. Its mayoral conversation programme is just one of the methods the council uses to inspire, inform and educate professionals involved in the design and development industry.

Since 2005, more than 20 internationally renowned experts have shared their knowledge and experience with the design and development industry across the Auckland region.
“The results of the entire series are phenomenal,” says Campbell-Reid. “We have had more than 15,000 people be informed and educated in the area of urban design, which in turn has inspired quality urban development projects which are helping make Auckland a world-class city.”

For more information about the mayoral conversation programme and for general urban design advice, contact the council on 09 379 2020 or visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/urbandesign.

Seeing through the ages

A modern addition to Baradene College of the Sacred Heart, the new art, science and technology block features an expansive glass atrium, which allows an unobstructed view of the heritage landmark Duchesne building. Designed by Jasmax, the new building features bifold glass doors, which when opened further enhance the external link.

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