Urban flood adaptation plan

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION How can climate change flooding be ameliorated through urban design?

ABSTRACT As Aotearoa moves into the era of climate change, our urban landscapes are becoming more vulnerable to flooding. Along with climate change aggravating flooding, Aotearoa is short of housing (“45,000 dwellings” (Johnson et al., 2018)). The loss of land by flooding means the loss of potential to accommodate the housing needs of New Zealanders.

This project strives to develop a climate-adaptive design method for Maybury Street, Glen Innes. The site is at risk of pluvial flooding in the next 100 years. Therefore, the site’s design will include three parts; firstly, to create a flood adaptation strategy for the Maybury Reserve and its surroundings, secondly, to safely plan a new housing development along Maybury Street, and lastly, meeting the community’s needs by understanding what the community envisions for the site.

The urban flood adaptation design methods formed were tested and applied to the site using alternative methods and methodology. For example, Rob Roggema’s – Research by Design methodology was used to execute the project, and Geodesign was combined with scientific data (from NIWA, LINZ & Auckland Council). Also, community consultation with Glen Innes community professionals was used to make decisions about the site and, further, Geodesign will be used to apply them to the site as practical design solutions. This design method will provide a resilient water landscape site for the Glen Innes community. This method will help preserve the existing landscape’s good qualities and build a new landscape to enhance community participation and ameliorate flooding.

SITE: Maybury, Glen Innes, Auckland, New Zealand.