The urban edge : an integrative approach towards a sustainable and resilient waterfront

Abstract

The human manipulation of landscape and environment has remained a prominent area of urban and environmental discourse over the past century. Contemporary urban waterfronts reflect and constitute changes in urban ecology, economic regulation, and societal issues under the influence of coastal cities (Bunce & Desfor, 2007). The urban sustainability framework articulates the relationship between humans and the environment and needs to remain at the heart of urban discourse. This project explores the positive and negative impacts on Auckland’s waterfront, further understanding the values of cultural shifts, trade, productivity, transportation, social cohesion and ecology in the urban realm. This project will comparatively critique, analyse and assess urban waterfronts, through a set of criteria drawn from literature relating to sustainable cities. The scope of Auckland’s waterfront can be re-imagined through design ingenuity to support a sustainability framework that aims to further enrich natural systems in relation to enhancing human well-being.

The final design proposal has five sections: Section 1: Gateway to Auckland (Cruise terminal, waterfront park & cultural centre) Section 2: Economic hub (Retail, commercial & entertainment) Section 3: Quay Park Community (Residential living & leisure facilties) Section 4: Wetland Park (Passive water recreation & leisure) Section 5: Stormwater Treatment System (Stream daylighting, wetland park & detention basin)