A photograph showing the damaged streetscape of Dallington, following the series of earthquakes in Christchurch.
A photograph showing the damaged streetscape of Dallington, following the series of earthquakes in Christchurch.
A photograph showing the damaged streetscape of Dallington, following the series of earthquakes in Christchurch.
An often overlooked aspect of urban housing development is the composition of the space between buildings; the streetscape. The pressures of suppressing suburban sprawl have seen housing developments respond by increasing residential density within more centralised city sites. Medium-density housing typologies are often used as urban infill in response to the challenge of accommodating an increasing population. A by-product of these renewed areas is the creation of new open space which serves as the fundamental public space for sociability to develop in communities. Street space should emphasise this public expression by encouraging social exchange and interaction. As a result, a neighbourhood owes its liveliness (or lack thereof) to its streets. The issue of density when applied to the urban housing landscape encompasses two major components: the occupancy of both the private realms, constituting the residential built form, and the public spaces that adjoins them, the streets. STREETSCAPE: dialogues of street + house. Continual transition between the realms of public and private (building and street space) enact active edges, giving way to public stimulation; the opportunity for experiencing other people. The advent of seeing and hearing other people in connection with daily comings and goings encourages social events to evolve, enhancing the notion of neighbourly conduct. Within New Zealand, and specifically in Christchurch as considered here, the compositions of current streetscapes lack the demeanor to really encourage and facilitate the idea of neighbourly interaction and public expression. Here lies the potential for new street design to significantly heighten the interplay of human activity. In response, this research project operates under the notion that the street spaces of urban residential areas are largely underutilised. This lack is particularly evident in the street. Street design should strive to produce spaces which stimulate the public life of residents. There exists a need to reassert eminence of the street as a space for vibrant neighbourhood life. This thesis employs design as a tool for researching and will involve using numerous concept generators to trigger the production of multiple scenarios. These scenarios are to explore the ways in which the streetscapes within medium-density urban communities could respond in the event of (re) development.
A PDF copy of pages 44-45 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Colombo Street Temporary Streetscape'. Photo: Tim Church. With permission: Christchurch City Council.
A PDF copy of pages 42-43 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Oxford Terrace Temporary Streetscape and Interpretation'. Photo: Tim Church. With permission: Christchurch City Council.
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 19 November 2011 showing part of the north side of London Street. The properties visible from left to right are: Himalaya Design (obscured), Coffee Culture (downstairs), J Voyce and Co Ships Providore (upstairs), empty shop, and Lyttel Piko Organic and Wholefoods The Lyttelton streetscape has cha...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 27 May 2013 of London Street in Lyttelton. Taken from Sumner Road looking west across the intersection of London and Oxford Streets. The photograph shows several empty sections and the remaining buildings. The Lyttelton streetscape has changed dramatically from its pre-earthquake appearance and w...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 19 November 2011 showing part of the north side of London Street. The properties visible from left to right are Lyttel Piko Organic and Wholefoods, and Satchmo Café Pizzabar The Lyttelton streetscape has changed dramatically from its pre-earthquake appearance and will continue to change as new bu...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 19 November 2011 showing the temporary premises of the Bank of New Zealand in a relocatable building on the footpath. The sign above the tellers window read "Lyttel Bank" The Lyttelton streetscape has changed dramatically from its pre-earthquake appearance and will continue to change as new build...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 19 November 2011 showing earthquake repairs being undertaken to the Irish Pub on the south side of London Street. The Lyttelton streetscape has changed dramatically from its pre-earthquake appearance and will continue to change as new buildings are erected on empty sections. In this photograph Lo...
One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 11 May 2011 showing the town of Lyttelton looking north from the footpath of the Oxford Street Over bridge. The Lyttelton streetscape has changed dramatically from its pre-earthquake appearance and will continue to change as new buildings are erected on empty sections. In this photograph the dome...