Suburbs to neighbourhoods : the conversion of a city fringe suburb into a sustainable neighbourhood

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION: How can the conversion of city fringe suburbs into sustainable neighbourhoods create the necessary change to a sustainable Auckland?

ABSTRACT: Sustainability has been a topic of interest since the 1800s and has been used as a design philosophy in architecture for up to forty years. The issue of sustainability has become prevalent in our cities as inefficient, high density, glass-clad buildings are built. Most developers look to create new buildings which are inefficient, these developments typically do not focus on environmental or social sustainability but rather look at short term returns.

For this study, the question is asked: How can the conversion of city fringe suburbs into sustainable neighbourhoods create the necessary change to a sustainable Auckland?

For the issue of sustainability, the New Zealand government ignores the construction industry as a factor. For the issue of increasing population and house prices, the proposed solution is to build as many single dwelling homes as possible. These solutions have led to the creation of inefficient and lifeless low-density suburbs sprawling further away from the city Centre. The result of these solutions has been more issues, more waste and more time in traffic for many people, decreasing both social and environmental sustainability.

This project proposes that there is another solution which incorporates peoples interests and environmental sustainability while allowing for quick and easy access to all the natural amenities which people use daily. This project will argue that the answer to these issues is to create sustainable medium-density neighbourhoods in city fringe suburbs, reducing traffic, emissions and waste while creating compelling places for people to live and interact with others.