Architecture Dissertations and Theses
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Item Weaving above waters: Designing a floating urban neighbourhood(2024) Tan, David Boon Way; Unitec, Te PūkengaRESEARCH QUESTION How can the design of an urban neighbourhood be adaptive to the climate impacts of rising sea levels? ABSTRACT TThe rapid urbanisation due to population growth in the mid-twentieth century has led to irresponsibly built environments that should have considered the implications of the environment, particularly its methodology that contributed to carbon emissions and in turn, increased the overall greenhouse gases. These emissions hastened the process of the melting of ice sheets and subsequently increased the amount of water in the ocean, which has led to rising sea levels on a global scale. Urban neighbourhoods, especially in coastal areas, are threatened by rising sea levels and the climate impacts in the form of storm surges, coastal erosion and increased intensity of flooding towards inland areas. Hence, the question is formulated as a result of the research project: how can the design of an urban neighbourhood be adaptive to the climate impacts of rising sea levels? The research project analyses the underlying causes of rising sea levels and urbanisation, followed by projections of sea level changes and its climate impacts based on global carbon-emitting activities to determine its threat to the built environment. The project uses this analysis and data to explore the floating typology in accommodating water as an adaptive strategy for rising sea levels. The typology is then explored with urban planning to a coastal environment as it is most susceptible to sea level changes, to determine a suitable urban neighbourhood capable of floating on water as an adaptive strategy. This is then followed up by contextual design considerations as provisions to achieve resilience, stability and protection against rising sea levels in the urban neighbourhood and the wider coastal environment. SITE: Kohimarama, Auckland, New ZealandItem Breaking barriers: An architectural solution to improve young people’s mental and physical well-being(2024) Selman, Sarah; Unitec, Te PūkengaRESEARCH QUESTION How can architecture enable access to acitivities that improve young people’s mental and physical well-being? ABSTRACT The journey of development children experience from childhood to adolescence is a pivotal period in their lives that ultimately shapes their identities. However, it is during this period that challenges often arise. They experience physical, social and psychological challenges that alter their thoughts, emotions and behaviour, and these alterations can lead to the development of a mental illness. In New Zealand, young people are encountering a deficiency in support within the current mental health services. These services predominately adopt a medical approach aimed solely at treating illnesses. Their environments are clinical and sterile, lacking the nurturing and comfortable environment that patients seek when ill. This environment often fosters feelings of isolation and confusion among individuals seeking help, reducing them to just names on a prescription. With this also comes stigma generated from outsiders whose views are clouded and influenced by their lack of understanding and knowledge about the issue. The negative emotions and qualities attached to the current healthcare infrastructure need to be reconsidered. A shift towards prevention and early intervention strategies should be implemented. With this, a pursuit of optimal well-being becomes desired within individuals. Thus, the project follows a different approach through a social lens that emphasises participation in activities to effortlessly allow young people to create meaningful connections and gain individual growth that contributes to positive mental and physical well-being. To successfully achieve this, the project employs Biophilic and Salutogenic Design Principles to foster humans’ desired connection with the natural evironment. It will utilise the analysis of precedents and literature strategies that aid human relationships and inclusive movement networks. The process creates the essence of the North Shore Youth Station, marking the beginning of a solution towards a far larger mental health system. A system required to be redeveloped to address the problem of mental health faced by New Zealand’s young people.Item In side out: Proposing an alternative, support based approach to women's incarceration in Aotearoa(2024) MCallum, Narelle Kay-Douglas; Unitec, Te PūkengaRESEARCH QUESTION How can Aotearoa’s correctional facility typologies be revised to positively support women and improve their long term outcomes? ABSTRACT Our women’s prison system is failing both prisoners and the public alike. The recidivism rate for female offenders in Aotearoa is 33 percent; this rate increases to 48 percent for those who are re-incarcerated. The more times someone has been to prison, the more likely they are to return. While women make up just six point four percent of Aotearoa’s prisons, 66 percent of those women are Māori, highlighting the significant disadvantage that the judicial system inflicts on our indigenous population. The intergenerational damage caused by incarceration means the problem of prison is self-perpetuating. Crime impacts the broader population at many levels. While some are unfortunate enough to be directly harmed by crime, everybody pays for it in the reduction of public spending that would otherwise be available for different public sector services. Incarceration is expensive. According to the Department of Corrections 2023 Annual Report, the Department’s total operating expenditure for the 2022-2023 financial year was two billion dollars. The average daily cost per convicted prisoner was $555 and per remand prisoner $452; in contrast, the daily cost per person serving a community sentence was $72. It is in the public interest to find a better way to address crime than incarceration. The invisibility of women’s prisons and the cost to facilitate them is intrinsically linked to society’s willingness to support custodial sentences and tough-on-crime politics despite any evidence that this approach is effective. Women, in particular, are more adversely affected by the blunt correctional tools of incarceration and solitary confinement. The Department of Justice’s statistics reflect the success of community based rehabilitation programs over incarceration-based sentencing. Most notably, the 2022 community-based Women’s Short Rehabilitation Programme substantially reduced recidivism rates of all sentence types. The issue identified in this research is the need for more community based facilities available to run support programs, especially for women experiencing housing insecurity. There is a clear gap between the extremity of forensic healthcare facilities and prison versus community sentencing. Prison provides on-site skills based training and temporary relief from financial pressures but lacks fundamental emotional empathy, social connection, and real-life context. Community sentencing provides home context but can exasperate financial pressures and does not provide consistent therapeutic support programs. This project seeks to discover a place in between the damaging environments of incarceration and the unsupported space of community sentences. A safe space where therapeutic support can lead toward restorative justice outcomes. Aided by precedents and trauma-informed design approaches, the project design outcome seeks to define what a supportive justice community architecture may look like. The architecture of incarceration is counter-intuitive to fostering communities; instead, it removes people from neighbourhoods. The architecture of progressive mental health institutions assists in the context of applying trauma-informed design principles, but the buildings do not mimic domestic life; the architecture still contains and controls. The scale, spatial planning principles, and intent of Papakāinga and Co-housing developments provide the best precedent for evolving the architecture of urban community-based support facilities and accommodation. This project seeks to build on the architectural precedent that co-housing provides in creating communities, by adding layers of insight from trauma-informed design principles, Te Aranga Principles, and Biophilic design. The resulting urban community-based support and accommodation hub architectural outcome is a step toward a future typology where communities can be involved in helping reduce crime through direct support and connection with justice-involved women. SITE: Great South Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New ZealandItem Transitional harmony: Bridging the heritage of Galle with modern urban life(2024) de Alwis, Ganidu Rajitha; Unitec, Te PūkengaRESEARCH QUESTION How can preservation of architectural and material characteristics of historical heritage be included in modern construction to promote continuity of culture and sustainable urban development? Case study: Galle, Sri Lanka ABSTRACT Against the backdrop of monumental architectural heritage and rapid urban development in Galle, there is an urgent requirement to fill in the gap that exists between historical and contemporary urban environments. From its colonial times to traditional Sri Lankan architecture, the city of Galle has undergone a transformation. Its landmarks as cultural expressions have come under threat in the contemporary era. This project deals with redesigning the pavilion of the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Of this course is to revitalise this essential public place while preserving its historical significance. The project introduces architectural heritage, urban connectivity, and sustainability by applying contemporary design principles and relevant case studies from other similar historical urban centers around the world. The design strategy i1wolves the careful incorporation of discarded Sinhala Ulu (half-round tiles) and old terracotta floor tiles into the facade and flooring of the pavilion by connecting to the architectural heritage of Galle. The proposed pavilion will serve as a multifunctional space by encouraging community involvement, promoting eco-friendly living, and aligning pedestrian access to Galle Fort and nearby green open spaces. The introduction of modem technologies such as energy-efficient systems and intelligent design should be provided, while the area is being made open and inviting for the safety and accessibility of its users at all standards. Ultimately, the Galle Heritage Nexus Pavilion aspires to create a most dynamic urban landmark within the area, celebrating the historical essence of Galle by adhering to the demands of contemporary urban life in a harmonious relationship between the past, present, and future of the city.Item Revitalising Port of Suva, FIji: Seaport infrastructure and urban waterfront development(2024) Kumar, Pranay; Unitec, Te PūkengaRESEARCH QUESTION How can the Port of Suva address the need for a better arrival experience for cruise ship tourists and increase the cargo-carrying capacity of the port for economic growth? In addition, how can the port development enhance the urban waterfront for the residents of Suva and recognise the maritime voyaging legacy and architectonic culture of Oceania and Fiji? ABSTRACT This thesis focuses on developing the seaport infrastructure at the Port of Suva. The project proposes a cruise port that hosts a cruise terminal building, a tour, hospitality and office building, and a maritime museum building. In addition, an integrated urban waterfront is proposed that includes a promenade with waterfront parks and recreational facilities. This comes because of the current situation at the port of Suva, which faces significant challenges. Currently, the port cannot handle the growing demands of both cruise and cargo operations. Challenges include limited capacity, outdated and insufficient infrastructure for cruise tourists, and the shared port spaces between cargo and cruise operations affecting the efficiency and overall experience of cruise tourists. The design proposal of the project focuses on developing waterfront spaces and buildings that enhance the arrival experience of tourists and reflect the maritime voyaging legacy and architectonic culture of Oceania and Fiji. A comprehensive site analysis indicates the possibility of a port extension, and exploring Fiji's voyaging legacy and material culture suggests some key design drivers. Supporting analyses of international cruise terminals provide insights for creating vibrant public spaces and enhancing passenger experience. The project proposes a comprehensive redevelopment of the port of Suva, where the design showcases the architectonic culture of Fiji. Integrating cultural themes like traditional architectural forms, Fijian canoe elements, carvings, patterns, and materials creates a sense of place and connection to Fijian culture on arrival for tourists while connecting residents to their local cultural heritage. Ultimately, infrastructure development at the port of Suva is a transformative project that addresses cultural preservation, economic growth, and sustainable development.