A new cruise ship terminal & urban waterfront proposal for the settlement of Lyttelton

Abstract

The aim of this project was to design a cruise ship terminal and urban waterfront master plan for the settlement of Lyttelton. My design acknowledges the existing environment and historic urban form but does so in a contemporary design solution. This is a two level solution that has first identified and addressed problems in the existing urban fabric and restored connections to the historic waterfront. Secondly it has delivered an iconic design for a new cruise ship terminal, aimed at generating public support for a well designed solution. I have studied a wide written history of Lyttelton’s architecture and settlement to understand how the existing urban fabric and architectural styles have evolved to what exists today. I have studied literature from various sources, including Sir Miles Warren and Peter Beaven, who are widely considered as authorities on Canterbury architecture. Their responses to designing contemporary buildings in a historic fabric are of interest to my design problem. I undertook a chronological / evolutionary investigation to comprehend the evolution of Lyttelton’s urban development and architecture. This enabled me to understand how the local conditions produced the current urban layout and architectural typologies and then appropriately respond in a contemporary design. This methodology ensured that my design is appropriate for, and acknowledges, the character of Lyttelton. The site has been carefully selected to ensure good urban connections between the township and its waterfront. I concluded in my historical investigation that there exists a history of liberty in style in Lyttelton enabling a contemporary design response. To answer my research question, the design acknowledged the historic nature and urban character of Lyttelton, not through style but in appropriate massing in a tentative master plan that reflects the urban town, pattern and scale.