Civic spirit in suburban centres : achieving a sense of community in the intensification of Auckland’s existing centres

Abstract

Auckland’s population is increasing rapidly and requires high-quality urban and architectural development to accommodate for its growth. After years of suburban sprawl, resulting in spread out communities reliant on private vehicles, and malls surrounded by surface car parking, Auckland Council has acknowledged the need for intensification.

This research project, Civic Spirit in Suburban Centres, builds on the council’s current ambition towards the improvement of existing residential centres, and pays particular attention to how the civic realm can be enhanced.

The project analyses ‘sprawl repair’ in terms of its quantitative and qualitative values, and provides a set of guidelines for the intensification of Auckland’s nodes. It acknowledges a lack in civic amenities and space in the current centres, and uses the theory behind establishing a sense of community to achieve successful public architecture.