Suburban renovation : linear intensification of urban transport corridors, incorporating mixed-use typologies

Abstract

The focus of this research is the linear intensification of urban transport corridors, incorporating mixed use typologies. Suburbs in Auckland which fall on motorway, and railway routes suffer many adverse effects of rapid growth from the last decade: excessive traffic congestion ; dangerous environment for cyclists, pedestrians and children; deserted corners and dead ends beside motorways and railways potentially brew crime etc. Public bus network also becomes inefficient due to excessive vehicles on the road. In attempt to relieve some negative impacts of urban growth, the implemented strategy will be to intensify existing underused low density suburban and industrial areas along motorways and railways with mixed use communities, with objectives to improve multiple aspects of sustainability and quality of the built environments. The studied site is based in Mt. Roskill, Auckland City, an industrial/commercial zone surrounded by low-medium density suburban detached housing. Existing industrial warehouses backed onto the new State Highway 20 motorway, with future plans to run a new Rapid Transit rail route along it, opens up opportunities to formulate designs which can cater for new public space while it is desirable, at the same time, to retain building structure which are still functional, as demolition is regarded as wasteful in terms of materials and labour. The research explores future possibilities for intensified re-development of the site, and its implications of how it can improve the quality of residential and business activities on a wider urban scale. Compatibility of typologies is investigated, and the study aims to create architectural solutions for mixed use, high density development along urban transport corridors. The design project proposed, in this context, a medium rise mixed development that rationalizes vehicular access and parking, introduces a coherent linear arrangement of public space, re-introduces elements of natural landscape, and suggests that good quality environments are possible in a typical example of these suburban higher industrial neighbourhoods.