GREEN STITCH

HOW WE GOT HERE

After assessing the new plans for Christchurch, we discovered flaws that could potentially cause unforeseen circumstances. Our group felt that what the CCDU had proposed was not the only option, and so we chose to pursue an alternative.

Hew Kenn Chew | Han Chen | Samuel Wong

Garden Cities
WHY IT DOESNT WORK OUT

CCDU PLAN

IS THIS THE MOST SUITABLE PLAN? CULTURAL ZONE A comparison of the two master plans reveals little change to the behavioural patterns of pre-earthquake Christchurch residents. The new plan largely builds from the pre-existing behaviours of the pre-earthquake CBD, and contains similar qualities to the GARDEN CITY principles of Howard Ebenzer, in its seperation of residential zones from the core and main business districts -the GREEN FRAME serves to contain and densify the past pedestrian concentrations of the inner CBD. It is designed as an open space of natural environment that is capable of expanding for further development of commercial and residential zones. Within the green frame, lies only commercial infrasturctures. On the outside of the frame lies the rest of the city, its suburbs, and residential areas that lie close to the CBD. What may occur within the frame is a disconnection, and further reinforcement of the CBDs decrease in pedestrian density after 1800 hrs. This further disconnection may lead to the CBD decaying within the frame from lack of use. -the TRANSPORT HUB is located at the bottom of the compacted core, further down from the previous Bus Exchange. Whether past pedestrian behaviours will arise again is unknown, however from looking at trends, pedestrian concentrations may or may not wander purely within the inner core and retail zones, consequently ignoring access into the cultural bands. With street blocks remaining as large as they are now, pedestrian behaviours through and within the CBD will remain the same -There has been a larger focus on cultural aspects of the city by creating a band of cultural infrasturctures above the inner core. RETAIL ZONES have been situated more densely and compact, situated closely next to the transportation hub. The risk of planning master plans of cities is the loss of the intricate multi-faceted diversity of cities. Cities are messy and unpredictable, however from this you foster a petri-dish of communal involvement, diversity and energy between the varied districts of a city. -RESIDENTIAL has been placed on the outskirts of the green frame. This positioning only serves to disconnect, and decrease potential uses of the city during times after 1800 hrs, which would otherwise transform the city into a night-and-day alive city. What planners have missed, is that if you cant rely on people going to the CBD, you must place them there.

GREEN BELT

COMMERCE/ ECONOMIC ZONE RESIDENTIAL ZONE GREEN BELT RESIDENTIAL ZONE INDUSTRIAL ZONE GREEN BELT

ANALYSIS
Howard Ebenzer sought to fight against the slums within cities. His plan was to create a network of cities that were separated into bands of program, containing industry, residence, culture and commerce, separated by bands of open natural space. The model above is intended to become a module, in which city planners would then insert this model into their own urban fabric. Ebenezer separated and simplified urban spaces into bands of program to create an efficient and clean city. However, consequently, this master plan creates a module of bands that constrains the freedom and liberty of urban development, and its residents. Ebenezer has pre-determined the needs of the city, without getting to know its inhabitants and culture, which would otherwise provide the city with identity and culture.

Hew Kenn Chew | Han Chen | Samuel Wong

Hew Kenn Chew | Han Chen | Samuel Wong

Proximity of CCDU PLAN between outside of core to entrance of core

Time of use within CCDU PLAN

Hew Kenn Chew | Han Chen | Samuel Wong

DONT FRAME | INSTEAD, STITCH NETWORKS AND CONNECTIONS

Figure 1: Urban Grid Preserve historical colonial grid

Figure 2: Conservation of Historical and open spaces Preserve existing natural open parks and rivers Preserve Cathedral square for its historical significance

Figure 3: Perpendicular trajectories from Avon River Base Backbone of new Urban design on Avon River as it is located rougly within the middle of the CBD Potentail barrier that could separate one side of Christchurch CBD from the other. Can be utilised as a meeting point between two sides.

Stitch pattern drivers

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Selected Iteration with figures shown superposed

Program Accessibility into Green Stitch

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Program Accessibility into Green Stitch

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INHABITABLE CIRCULATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Due to the nature of our approach to the GREENFRAME, this project pursued urban planning in further depth and looked at a way in which landscaping could be utilised to further connect places that are different in nature and place. Since this projects original focus was on transportation, this project always held with priority, ways in which transportation could be enhanced, or made interesting.

URBAN PLAN
CHAPTER 1: RESEARCH..............................................................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 2: SITE ANALYSIS.......................................................................................................................................................19 CHAPTER 3: DESIGN CONCEPT..................................................................................................................................................25 CHAPTER 4: DESIGN STRATEGY................................................................................................................................................29 CHAPTER 5: FINAL URBAN PLAN...............................................................................................................................................41

LANDSCAPE STRATEGY
CHAPTER 1: DESIGN CONCEPT..................................................................................................................................................49 CHAPTER 2: DESIGN STRATEGY.................................................................................................................................................53

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URBAN PLAN

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Urban Plan

CHAPTER 1 - RESEARCH

Research into Urban planning, types of public spaces and typical dimensions of good models of urban design, such as Greenwich Village in New York, and Auch in France.

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Urban Plan
URBAN PLAN COMPARISON

CHAPTER 1 - RESEARCH

URBAN PLAN COMPARISON

City of Doing: Le Corbusiers master plan for St Di consists of object buildings dispersed in landscaped open space a city fragmented into differing things done in different places. This is a city in which not only is urban fabric fragmented, but so is civic life and the psyche of the citizens. In it life breaks down into discrete and discontinuous roles dispersed between different locations (home, workplace, sports field) requiring different modes of behavior (parent, employee, athlete or fan) all isolated, through which you travel by car or public transport .

City of Being: The Nolli plan of Rome shows a city of contiguous fabric, with the open space as the figure against the ground of buildings, a city in which you are immersed and exposed.

Nollis urban plan appears to be random and messy, however it is intended to richly configure an armature or capital web, of movement and green space systems interwoven to create as many qualitatively different places and locations as possible.

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RESEARCH

PUBLIC SPACES

A collection of different public spaces used throughout cities, created by landscaping and built structures.

VILLAGE PIAZZA, created by a collection of buildings surrounding a small square. Contained and comfortable space

PEDESTRIAN STREET, smaller in width, no access for vehicles, good for stores, businesses, markets, and festivals

CITY SQUARE, good spaces for market days, exhibitions, an communal area

POCKET PARKS, beneficial for economy of retail and commercial businesses.

PROMENADE, usually located along a river, good area for recreational activities.

BOULEVARD, beneficial for economy of retail and commercial businesses. Also, good place to position high rise buildings.

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RESEARCH

PUBLIC SPACE ARRANGEMENT

A city that exhibits good succession of public space is the compact historic center of Auch in south-west France.

The long axis of the esplanade is marked by a wider gap in the rows of trees that seems to continue into the arched doorway of the courthouse

Within a small area it has an extraordinary range of quite different interlocking spaces, each appropriately related to the civic buildings that face it, and that together offer a very interesting urban experience. Prominent in the plan of the city center are two squares of more or less the same shape and size centered on circular pools of identical size. One square, alongside the cathedral and where the medieval cloister once was, overlooks a steep slope and grand stair down to the River Gers and the countryside beyond. It is shady, quiet and contemplative, showing how the essential character of a place can persist through a public space. Across this square is the long market square, and the main facade of the cathedral. This relationship is made possible by the skewed alignment of the two squares. A smaller splay-sided square directly off the market square sets off what is the library at its end while steps up from the gyratory square lead to a long esplanade shaded by rows of plane trees In addition to this, Auch features a succession of pedestrian streets that hold cafes, restaurants and stores.

This square is a traffic gyratory on the main vehicular route through town. Here the fountain is a boisterously splashing affair to assert its presence above the traffic noise

Market square that links the two squares

A murmuring water spout is the fountain in the middle of the large pool, making just enough sound to enhance the sense of quietness.

Cathedral that overlooks the River Gers and the square

Long promenade that overlooks River Gers and the countryside

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RESEARCH

ROAD SIZES AND BUILDING HEIGHTS

Street is TOO WIDE and is not good for pedestrians

Street not beneficial for store owners and public activities. Street is only meant for vehicles. Buildings are higher than five to seven storeys in height. Not a good connection between storeys of building and ground level.

Street is a GOOD WIDTH for pedestrian only street

Street is a GOOD WIDTH and promotes good visibility for stores across the street.

A Euro street, optimized for a pedestrian only street, appears to be approximately five meters in width. Cobblestone paving replaces typical asphalt paving for cars. Buildings are only fourstorey in height.

Street within Greenwich Village in New York, a good example of pedestrian activity and community. Storefronts and workshops allocated on ground floor of building, while residences and offices located on higher levels. Five to seven storey high buildings with ten meter wide streets is a good module for sun penetration into street and optimal pedestrian circulation.

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Urban Plan

CHAPTER 2 - SITE ANALYSIS

Analysis of context within Christchurch, and the transportation systems within Christchurch before the earthquake. Many things changed after the Earthquake, however an analysis of Christchurchs previous behavioral patterns will be needed in order to fully assess what is best for the development of the city.

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Urban Plan

CHAPTER 2 - SITE ANALYSIS

TRANSPORTATION BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS IN CHRISTCHURCH

A statistical analysis of the transportation statistics reveal Pre-Earthquake Christchurch was a vehicle dependent city The region has the gift of flat topography, therefore the dominating method of transportation should be walking or cycling with public transport assisting long distance traveling. However as clearly shown in the diagram, Christchurch is a motor vehicle focused city with more than 1 vehicle registered per capita - These statistics and diagram is credited to Eric Nakajima, Justin Baatjas, and Yvonne Mak of Team transport and circulation.

PRE-EARTHQUAKE CONCENTRATION OF PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY CROSSREFERENCED WITH PROGRAM

The position of the Bus interchange(preearthquake) appears to have an effect on the pedestrian activities in the city center

Context of the zoomed in area, showing how rest of city was neglected as public space

Position of pre-earthquake bus interchange

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SITE ANALYSIS

CHRISTCHURCH GRID

NEW YORK GRID

BLOCK SIZES ARE 243 m x 120 m Block sizes are too big to promote good pedestrian activity. For a pedestrian, getting from point A to point B would take a long monotonous walk. There is no opportunity for the pedestrian to go through shortcuts as nearly all the blocks within Christchurch are the same size, and follow the same orthogonal grid.

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Urban Plan

CHAPTER 3 - DESIGN CONCEPT

Design concept came from analyzing the context of Christchurch and the different types of public spaces and Urban planning. What was revealed to me, is that in order to make a drastic shift away from dependency of the private vehicle, one needs to take on extreme ideas.

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INHABITABLE CIRCULATION
Inhabitable circulation aims to retrn the condition of public space to urban space, encouraging social relations through a reflection on the nature of the street itself, on the uses to which it can be put - recovering others which have been abandoned or banned - and on the ability of ground floor storefronts to give energy to the street. Streets currently have a prevailing language: asphalt, streetlights, cars.........Inhabitable Circulation means taking it away from the setting of infrastructure and bringing it closer, through elements and activities, to its condition as a place.

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Urban Plan

CHAPTER 4 - DESIGN STRATEGY

Design strategy followed three steps:

STEP 1: CONNECT:
Establish connection within and through band.

STEP 2: IDENTIFY:
Establish identities within band.

STEP 3: SUPERPOSE:
Combine the two independent schemes to achieve an urban strategy that is well circulated, and

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Urban Plan
STEP 1: CONNECT

CHAPTER 4- DESIGN STRATEGY

IDENTIFY SITE

IDENTIFY KEY ANCHOR POINTS OF INTEREST

CONNECT AND DOMESTICATE BY EXTENDING HIGH STREET AND VICTORIA STREET, AND REMOVING VEHICLE ROADS

I IDENTIFY PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION ROUTES THROUGH NEW PEDESTRIAN ONLY BAND. HEW KENN CHEW
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DESIGN STRATEGY

IDENTIFY NODAL POINTS OF INTERSECTION BETWEEN TWO OR MORE ROUTES

ESTABLISH NEW CAR KISS AND RIDES, AND BUS STOPS IN BETWEEN THESE INTERSECTIONS TO ENSURE GOOD ACCESSIBILITY TO POINTS AND TO KEY ANCHOR POINTS.

IDENTIFY 100 METER RADIUS VIEW POINTS AT INTERSECTIONS ON OUTSIDE.

ESTABLISH CLEAR VIEWABLE AREA INSIDE BAND FROM OUTSIDE.

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DESIGN STRATEGY

RETAIN CHRISTCHURCHS GRID, BY SCALING THE GRID TO A MICRO SCALE OF 15 m x 1.5 m FROM 121 m x 243 m. CONNECT TO THE REST OF THE CITY BY DESIGNING WITHIN A SCALED VERSION.

SUPERPOSED INTERSECTIONS WITH 100 m MODULE TO CREATE A WORKING A TEMPLATE FOR THE FINAL URBAN PLAN, WITH KEY PUBLIC SPACES WITHIN THE NODES AND 100 m INVERTED BAND. HEW KENN CHEW
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DESIGN STRATEGY

STEP 2: IDENTIFY

IDENTIFY SITE ANCHOR POINTS

ALLOW ANCHOR POINTS TO INFLUENCE BAND

ESTABLISH DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WITHIN BAND. RED TO REPRESENT SHARED SPACES BETWEEN DISTRICTS.

IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS BASED ON SURROUNDINGS AND POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. HEW KENN CHEW
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DESIGN STRATEGY
STEP 3: SUPERPOSE

ASSIGN PUBLIC SPACE THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.

SUPERPOSED ALL CONSTRAINTS AND PUBLIC SPACE ARRANGEMENT TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE PRODUCT OF CIRCULATION AND PROGRAM DRIVEN PLAN. HEW KENN CHEW
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Urban Plan

CHAPTER 4 - FINAL URBAN PLAN

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CHAPTER 5 - FINAL URBAN PLAN

ELEVATION AND BUILDING HEIGHT PLAN

3-4 storey with ground floor throughways

1-2 storey

3-4 storey

5-10 storey

10+ storey

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FINAL URBAN PLAN

ORGANIZATION OF PROGRAMME All blocks within INHABITABLE CIRCULATION band is composed of multi-use programs, such as housing, offices, workshops, commercial and retail. Requirement for storefronts to be on ground level to ensure high street activity.

MULTI USE BLOCK

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LANDSCAPE STRATEGY

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Landscape strategy

CHAPTER 1 - DESIGN CONCEPT

The urban band is in danger of being disconnected due to the different uses and different forms of space within. In order to connect it as a whole, a network of connections between these spaces will be established by a GREEN TAPESTRY.

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Landscape Strategy

CHAPTER 1 - DESIGN CONCEPT

GREEN TAPESTRY Introduce native plants into city, only made possible with the eradication of asphalt paving and vehicles. Attract native birds and insects. Replace sound of cars and traffic with sounds of birds and trees. Introduce biodiversity in the city to provide the inhabitants city life with a filled with dense ecology.

INTRODUCE NATIVE ECOLOGY INTO CITY

ATTRACT NATIVE BIRDS INTO CITY

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Landscape strategy

CHAPTER 2 - DESIGN STRATEGY

Transverse ecological corridors will run through the band, along key circulation routes and will create paths similar to that of a nature hike through the city. Corridors are then joined together by a universal paving module to guarantee that these corridors are a connected unit, making a linear park to join CPIT to HAGLEY.

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Landscape Strategy

CHAPTER 2 - DESIGN STRATEGY

PAVING MODULE

PERMAEBLE PAVING

Again, carrying on from the urban strategy, utilize Christchurchs historical grid as a scale to create paving sizes. Grid that was used to establish building footprints will now establish the position of paving.

Provides stormwater retention, and water for native plants and groundcover herbs.

SOIL

STONE PAVING

100 mm

200 mm

300 mm

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HAGLEY PARK ZONE

S KIS DR AN IDE AR EA R PA KT ER CE RA
KIDS PLAYGROUND BUILDING

Paving to influence way people circulate through the area. Park Terrace domesticated by adding median and additional pedestrian crossings into Hagley park zone. Kids playground provided within the village park, residences surrounding it to provide safety and constant surveillance. Poplar trees to be planted in grass areas to add some privacy and ecology. Benches provided around park.

AVON RIVER

HAGLEY PARK

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AVON RIVER ZONE

CAFE/DINING TERRACES SEPERATED BY PLANTER

50 metre gap between built forms and river, huge setback to allow for esplanade walk for pedestrians and cyclists. Clean, no gap paving used for esplanade walk for cyclists and cafe terraces near building. Loose, permaeble paving used as you descend down to river. Stone benches provided everywhere. Poplar trees to be planted in between wetland plantation and esplanade walk Stormwater to filter to wetland marshes and help it grow.

AVON RIVER BUILDING

WETLAND PLANTATION ESPLANADE WALK

POPLAR TREES AND SMALL PLANTATION

CYCLISTS LANE

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AVON RIVER ZONE

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A RECREATION STRIP

TABLE OF CONTENTS

P 8 INTRODUCTION P 11 AFTER THE FRAME P 12 IDENTIFYING THE STRIP P 14 CONCEPT P19 PATHWAYS p21 RIVER VECTORS p26 BRIDGES p35 ENERGY P39 PLANS P 43 FOCUS

INTRODUCTION

RECREATIONAL STRIP

The green stitch consists of four bands, the cultural, transportation, mixed use, and the production band. The avon river is an important element to the city of Christchurch but seems to slice the city into two. This project aims to present the Avon river as a strip which runs along the city connecting the two islands together offering the people of Christchurch entering this area or choose to cross the river rest and recreation. The recreational strip comprises of a series of different pathways, bicycle lanes, and bridges which offers a recreational and restoratonal experience to the people of the city of Chirstchurch, connecting the city together instead of segegrating it.

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AFTER THE FRAME

RECREATIONAL STRIP

IDENTIFYING THE STRIP

TRANSPORTATION CULTURAL MIXED USE PRODUCE RECREATIONAL The recreational strip runs across each of the Green Strips bands and with each time it intersect with another band, an area of influence is created, where recreational and rest activities will be directly influenced by the band. The spaces in between will continue a green recreational strip to the next area of influence. As a result there will be 9 different green areas created as a result of the band intersections.

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CONCEPT

RECREATIONAL STRIP

ROOTS
Places of rest. Research into roots contained in soil revealed that once a root has set itself into soil, its interaction alters the ground conditions allowing the soild to becmoe capable of sustaining a system of life around it. This research can be translated into an architectural representation taking influence from the functionalties of roots. The concept of roots becomes a good starting point to the recreational strip as it the strip should not only be situated by the river to merely be there, but to sustain it, and give it more life, spreading sustianance throughtout the band. Sustainable and rich with vegetation

Functions
Socialable Enviroments Services/Functions working with other areas. Functions which allow for community involvement Architectural moments influencing the cityscape Marketplaces To absorb water and mineral salts from soil. To store food from the shoot system. To form a passage way for water and dissolve substance from the root into the stem. To structurally hold the plant from uprooting and overturning.

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PATHWAYS

RECREATIONAL STRIP

RIVER VECTORS

RIVER VECTORS

Much like finding the strips, the recreational strips pathways will be derived from the river vectors. After comparing the two potential vector lines, again the perpendicular lines . The perpendicular vectors provide more linear pathways throughout the proposed recreational strip area which allow more flow to each part of the strip.

TANGENTIAL

PERPENDICULAR

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

PERPENDICULAR INTO CONTEXT

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

PATHS CHOSEN
Recreational pathways exit at existing streets to continue the circulation.

LICHFIELD STREET

Pathways were chsoen to provide good public acress across the river, which includes pedestrians and bikers. They will also divide the strip up into different areas which can be focused on differently.

MONTREAL STREET

TAUM STREET

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BRIDGES

RECREATIONAL STRIP

BRIDGES
TRANSPORT REST The connection across the river is important, and to make it more accessible and pedestrian friendly I have allocated 15 identifiable bridges that stretch across the river. Giving each bridge an identity makes them easy meeting places, and places of interest. The bridges have different functions which run from reading bridges, to a bridge for a market place, not to mention that each bridge within areas of influence of other bands will function directly under the influence of the area it is in. GARDEN BRIDGE

THREE PATHWAY BRIDGE LIBRARY BRIDGE READING BRIDGE

GENERAL SHELTERED

INHABITABLE REST

RECYCLED BRIDGE

GARDEN BRIDGE

SOCIAL SPACE STONE OBSTACLE BRIDGE ISLAND BRIDGE ART BRIDGE WEAVE BRIDGE

GRASS BRIDGE

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

GRASS BRIDGE

WEAVE BRIDGE

ISLAND BRIDGE

OBSTACLE BRIDGE

The grass bridge is a continous strip of grass which runs across the bridge which continues onto the land. This bridge will offfers a lot of oppertunities such as picnics and rest. Where one can admire the sound of the river and fresh air.

The weave bridge consists of four layers of bridges which are formeed together in a weaved pattern to mimic the same way flax is weaved together. A techninque praticed by a lot of different cultures living in New Zealand such as the Maori and Polynesian

The island bridge crosses itself over to connect to an island located within the Avon River making it acessible to the public. This allows for the oppertunity to stay on the island to pratice different activies such as picnicing ,embracing the vegetation grown on the island and enjoiying being by the water side.

The obstacle bridge consists of 20 flat stones which stand in the river spaced away from each other. The intention of the bridge is purely for a recreational experience of stepping over each stone.

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

LIBRARY BRIDGE

SOCIAL AND REST BRIDGE

SOCIAL AND REST BRIDGE

GARDEN BRIDGE

The library bridge is a wooden structure which is sheltered. The idea for this is that there will be books available to the community to read from inside this bridge with seating enough for up to 20 people.

This bridge is an extension of the social space it is situated next to, offering places to sit and be social suchs as benches and stairs while there is is a strip for pedestrians to walk across through the middle to friendly acess across the river. There is also a bicycle pathway which runs across the edge.

Though each bridge should have its own individual identity, I have another bridge dedicated purely just for social and rest as this bridge is also directly connected to the social spaces it is directly surrounded by, and should be treated the way it functions instead of just purely for connection.

The Garden Bridge is semi sheltered bridge constructed of wood with a steel frame which allows it to span across the river. It will be home to many different plants and trees, and allow for people to come to rest and enjoy nature, as it is also connected to another island, similar to the island bridge, but only has one exit.

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

ENERGY

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

LUNAR RESONANT STREET LIGHTS

Moonlight sensitive public lighting is a system that utilises available moonlight rather than overwhelming it with artificial light. The lights are designed to dim or even turn off on nights of brightest full-moonlight and can between 80 and 90% of energy normally spent on street lighting. This form of lighting would allow the public to have a sense of reconnection to nature while saving energy from public lighting. A nation wide swith to these lights would save a lot of money in the long run.

RECREATIONAL STRIP

PLANS

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

FOCUS

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

MIXED USE
SHELTERED SPACES FOR PUBLIC ACTIVITIES RESTAURANT AND CAFES BASKETBALL COURT OUT DOOR WORKOUT PLAYGROUND SKATEPARK

OUTDOOR COURTYARD

EXISTING RESIDENTIAL DWELLING

PUBLIC FRUIT TREES

THREE WAY BRIDGE

OUTDOOR COURTYARD

SHELTERED FARMERS MARKET WETLANDS WITH EDIBLE CRCROPS

BRIDGE FARMERS MARKET

OUTDOOR SOCIAL/REST SHELTERED BRIDGE

SHELTERED FARMERS FOOD STALLS

LIBRARY BRIDGE

GARDEN

OUTDOOR COURTYARD

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RECREATIONAL STRIP

PRODUCE

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GREEN TRANSITIONS
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table of contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................5
THE POTENTIAL IN CRISIS.................................................................................................................................................... 8 CONCEPT-WIND.................................................................................................................................................................... 11 PROGRAMME....................................................................................................................................................................... 14

BAND.......................................................................................................................................................................17
THE PROBLEM........................................................................................................................................................................18 THE SOLUTION......................................................................................................................................................................21 A NEW FORMULA...................................................................................................................................................................23 DESIGNING THE BAND...........................................................................................................................................................29 BUILT FABRIC..........................................................................................................................................................................37 CIRCULATION.........................................................................................................................................................................43

BLOCK.....................................................................................................................................................................51 POTENTIAL.......................................................................................................................................................53
BUILDING ORGANIZATION....................................................................................................................................................55 GREEN ALLOCATION............................................................................................................................................................. 59

BUILDING................................................................................................................................................................65
FORM.....................................................................................................................................................................................67 THE BRIDGE............................................................................................................................................................................73 FLUID STRUCTURE................................................................................................................................................................ 79 REACTIVE SKIN......................................................................................................................................................................81 PLANS ......................................................................................................................................................................82 TODAY................................................................................................................................................................................... 86 TOMORROW...........................................................................................................................................................................88

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INTRODUCTION

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A POTENTIAL IN CRISIS
Christchurch has lost an enormous amount of its urban landscape following the February earthquake in 2011. The city has estimated the rebuild cost to exceed a total of $40 billion, stating that it would take the country 50-100 years to recover from this tragic event. This project aims to turn this catastrophic event into an opportunity to address the urban and architectural problems that coexisted before the earthquake in the new design of the city. This design centres around a green strip which introduces residential facilities into the city centre in the form of mixed use blocks to tackle the ever-growing need for accommodation. With this step, the project also aims to simultaneously address the rising dependency for long distant motor vehicle transport and the need for more retail and locally owned business to fuel the weakened economy. A large portion of space within this strip is dedicated to green for leisure and public services to encourage local gathering and establish a sense of community within the context of christchurch in hopes to activate the CBD and re establish christchurch city with a true notion of a Garden city.

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CONCEPT - WIND
Wind is the primary element which acts as the initial architectural module for this program. This element is often undermined however research into Christchurch Regional winds, building shelters and public spaces in relation to wind volumes have revealed many beneficial attributes in the urban and architectural context which will become the main drivers in the design for this strip. The architecture will become an evolution of this initial concept as it mediates a series of logical developments from the initial design to activate the CBD and breath life into the devastated city.

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WIND Christchurch is situated along the coastal lines of the South Island and is Generally met with a very strong North Easterly and subtle South and North Westerlies through the day. Most people do not realise that this constitutes to many factors including the low temperatures of the city during winter, disturbing urban wind tunnels and uncomfortable urban landscapes. This project aims to address this natural disturbance and design a new Urban fabric which augments the winds away from the inner CBD to establish comfortable microclimate pockets for inhabitation

ENERGY Over time many have noticed winds potential as an ecologically friendly, renewable power recourse. Wind Farms have been a great source of energy within New Zealand for many years providing electricity for homes and business. The question here is how can we integrate this notion of a self sustaining recourse more closely into the design of the urban landscape. Although it is impossible to place wind farms directly into the CBD, architecture within this strip will adopt energy conservation principles to reduce the demand for energy.

AIR QUALITY Air pollution is one of the biggest health issues in our world today and many cities have failed to address these issues properly. Beyond the tragic events of the Earthquake, Christchurch offers a rare opportunity within the redesign of the city to address this problem. Green spaces will be spread out generously across the strip in between built spaces to maintain air circulation within the CBD and provide plants which will benefit the overall air quality.

BARRIER Investigations into the relationship between wind volume and public spaces have proven that the strength of prevailing winds is indirectly proportional top the atmospheric satisfactory of public spaces. As humans we naturally enjoy calm weather and gentle breezes which is why shelter belts have become a main focus for the project at hand. The proposal will look into how architecture can mold the urban landscape into a series of barriers which divert the energy of the wind away from areas which expect high urban population.

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PROGRAMME
The mixed use block has been adopted by many urban designers as the ideal building typology to carry forward for future design. In the context of christchurch, it is crucial to take this opportunity to not only reconstruct, but to build a new city which consists of many mixed use blocks which replace the previous single function buildings to provide benefits which include - Greater housing Variety and density, affordable accommodation - Reduced distances between housing, workplaces, retail businesses and other amenities and destinations - More compact development, land synergy, more space to devote to green spaces - Strong neighbourhood character, strong sense of community - Walk able, bikable neighbourhoods, increased accessibility to public transport, resulting in reduction of carbon footprint - Opportunity to design more energy efficient architecture -24 hour building occupancy

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-Band

BAND

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THE PROBLEM
The urban fabric of Christchurch before the events of the earthquake consisted of large clusters of building functions. There existed a major segregation between the Business and Residential sectors divided by the Avon River. This division was the common cause for high demands for motor vehicle transport across the city by locals to carry out day to day tasks. The Green Frame proposition fails to address this major issue in its design and instead of establishing a connection between these two divisions the frame runs parallel along the Avon to further intensify this segregation. The green outline marks a new proposition, an alternative to the green frame and the basis of this project.

Residential Business Historical Education Vacant Other

Green Band

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PRE-QUAKE URBAN FORMAT
PROPOSITION

THE SOLUTION
Gloucester Street Gloucester Street Hereford Street Hereford Street

The green stitch proposition aims to connect and integrate these sectors together by distributing mixed used blocks consisting of both business and residential evenly across the entire band. Unlike the green frame, the band has been orientated perpendicular vector across the river that stretches next to CPIT and into the heart of the residential zone at the ends. This placement hopes to activate the city by acting as a urban bridge that allows each sector to cross over each other, introducing housing towards the southern end of the Avon for students and local business towards the north for residents.

Hi Hi gh St re

gh

St re

et

et

CPIT CPIT

RESIDENTIAL

BUSINESS

EDUCATION

MIXED USE

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A NEW FORMULA
SHIFT + DENSIFY + MITIGATE + OPEN + GREEN

The proposition for a new urban module is guided by 4 logical attributes which will give character and help distinguish the band as part of the new green stitch model

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SHIFT - Residential across the river by means of mixed use to provide

accommodation closer to the business and education sectors of the CBD

SHIFT - Retail across the river by means of mixed use to establish local
business to boost the economy

DENSIFY- The urban grain below the river to match the more dense grain

above to activate the band as a whole and introduce neighbourly connections throughout

MITIGATE - dominant wind patterns to sustain a comfortable microclimate for outdoor living

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This series of design principles will govern the design process as it is applied within context. The aim for this new formula is not only to address the errors of the urban and architectural design of the past, but to distinguish the band from the rest of christchurch and help characterize it as the true solution for future christchurch as opposed to the green frame proposition.

OPEN - Public Spaces within the band to encourage social gathering and strengthen the sense of community

GREEN - Applying sustainable design and eco friendly principles to the band

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DESIGNING THE BAND

With the principles in mind, the project can begin its first phase in the design of the band. Wind will be the initial driver for the design, from there, it will be iterated by the new urban formula and logical design to achieve the final form.

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240 X 2146m

AVON RIVER

515040m
HIG HS TR EE T

CPIT

POST QUAKE SITE

The remains of christchurch after the events of the Earthquake

PERIMETER
Outlining the limitations of the design

GRID
A geometry is drawn out based on pre dominant north easterlies and south westerly winds, the number of stokes attributed to the directional wind strength

PERPENDICULAR
Taking the perpendicular vectors of the previous grid to form shelter belt geometries

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MANCHESTER ST BANDS MAIN SPINE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING

CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS

HIGH STREET GRID

EXTRUDE
Extruding the pattern to 12 m high, leaving at least 15m for road and paving

OVERLAY
Overlaying the band with christchurchs historical grid and the Avon River

PRESERVATION
Keeping the historical church of St Francis, private homes and the unique urban fabric of High street

CONNECT
Widening Manchester street to better connect the top and bottom halves of the Avon river, small building blocks are removed and turned into voids to provide circulation off the main road.

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The final design of the band has outlined the build spaces in relation to green and open areas. The Buildings have been designed to mitigate incoming winds to control the micro climate within the band to establish comfortable inhabitation. Manchester street runs across the band and will act as the bridge or spine that will connect the two parts by means of circulation. Generous allocation of green spaces ensures air purification as well communal gatherings for public events.

OPEN SPACE
Central blocks grouped and pressed to provide open spaces for green and public allocation

10

FINAL

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BUILT FABRIC
The blocks derived from the previous iteration must now be broken down into buildings, the exact same process is applied with similar logics to determine the final urban fabric of the band.

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TRANSPORTATION BAND TRANSPORTATION BAND

GUIDES
Taking the historical 200x100m grid and shrinking it down to 10x10m guides to introduce a densified urban fabric

BORDER
Outlining the border with a widened grid to maintain the outline of the band and distinguish the buildings as shelter belts

CONTEXT
Broadening the width of Worcester Street to connect the Cathedral with Latimar square . The blocks respond to the river by with an orientation that allows for residents to cross between the buildings for direct access to the Avon

INTERCEPT
Building blocks follow the form and orientate parallel to the Transport Band at the intersection points

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The design of the built urban fabric continues the logical sequence at a more refined scale to carve out the city scape of the CBD. The final design offers a densified, more lively and more integrated public and private urban sectors to activate the green band.

POCKETS
The centre piece of each block is removed and connect to the large open space of the band. The urban pockets provide further shelter from high winds and encourage public interaction

SCALE
Remaining fabric is scaled into building sizes and corner blocks are cleaned up

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CIRCULATION
Allocating street widths to the circulation pathways within the band in an order of hierarchy to establish a connection between the top and bottom halves of the band and provide access to major areas in between building spaces

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PRIMARY ACCESS LANES DOUBLE LANED STREETS WITH PEDESTRIAN PAVEMENTS AND BICYCLE LANES 25m

CROSS TRANSFERATION LANES SINGLE LANE WITH PEDESTRAIN PAVEMENTS AND BICYCLE LANES 15m

INTERBLOCK ACCESS PEDESTRAIN AND BICYCLE PATHS 10m

BLOCK CIRCULATION PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS 7m

25M

PRIMARY ACCESS LANES

Double laned streets with bike lanes and pedestrian pathways

20M

CROSS TRANSFER LANES

Single laned with roadside parking, bike lanes and pedestrian pathways

15M

INTER BLOCK ACCESS

Pedestrian and bike pathways

10M

BLOCK CIRCULATION
Pedestrian pathways

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MIN 100 m2

PUBLIC SPACE ALLOCATION REMOVAL OF CENTRAL BUILDING MASS MIN: 100m2

BRANCH OFF POCKETS

Central areas that circulation pathways cross have been taken out to provide connection to public spaces

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THE FINAL DESIGN Taking the initial concept of wind as a driver for this Green Band and applying a new urban formula integrated closely within the christchurch context lead to a series of logical design iterations which moulded the band into the final design at hand. The new proposition address the past, present and future by reconstructing the urban format of post christchurch, challenging the proposition of the green frame and providing a module for future development. The new green band connects the city, rather than segregates, it mitigates wind to provide comfortable living spaces, its generous in its distribution of green space for health and public services, it connects and brings together a stronger sense of community through public space distribution and lastly it keeps hold of the historical context of a city which has lost so much.

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BLOCK

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POTENTIAL
*The block chapter zooms into a small area within the green band and carries forth the same principles of design on a smaller scale. The same design applications within this certain block can be applied to the design of the whole.* THE CURRENT CONTEXT The chosen site is situated at the southern end of the green band located to the west of CPIT. The block faces the high street intersection, the main promenade of the CBD which leads into cathedral square. Unfortunately, the current site has become an urban junk yard consisting of factory garages, vacant spaces and car sales. The only populated area would towards the south where Countdown and some eatery places are situated, the other 65% of this block has become mainly carparks and the buildings fail to provide any services to neighbouring areas. THE SOLUTION The aim of this project is to carry forth the urban fabric derived from the Band iteration of the previous chapter and build up a logical sequence of design proposals within the context of this block. The new design aims to activate this block by providing CPIT students with accommodation and retail facilities as well as a public courtyard to hold events. The Block will also open up towards the High street intersection to attract locals and tourists.

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BUILDING ORGANISATION
Further development of the initial design from the band, applying the exact same process with a similar logic this time in relation to the site.

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BASE
Taking the initial proposal from the Band Chapter as a base for this design iteration

ACCESS
Allowing public and student access from the High street intersection, Manchester Street, CPIT and St Asaph street, removing buildings which blocked these points of access.

BLOCK
Joining the bottom 5 buildings into a combined block to segregate the block away from noise and visual disruption of Moorhouse Ave

VIEW
Removing the centre cluster of buildings to dedicate the space to green/ public whilst simultaneously providing views towards this space to the south eastern buildings.

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GREEN ALLOCATION
Designing the centre green space with the same logic to provide an area for public use

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BORDER
Allowing a 10 M border around the buildings and pathways for seating and circulation purposes

ACCESS
Main block access geometries are extruded to penetrate through the green space to provide walkways across the area. The green space is extruded also above ground by 1M for a more dynamic urban plane, there is also no need to dig into the concrete ground to make room for tree roots with this design

CENTRE
The central block is removed and the area is paved to hold events and night markets

FILL
The remaining voids have been filled with green spaces

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THE FINAL DESIGN What was once an urban wasteland, consisting of old warn down warehouses and factories which failed to draw any life into an area so close to highly populated areas is now a fully functional, mixed used block. The warehouses have been swapped out for shops and retial, with cafes with stunning views towards the centre green space and plenty of food and shopping areas. A gallery, bank, gym and library have been added amongst the large list of services provided within the block to cater for the students, public and local residents. Countdown has been kept towards the south to continue to attract plenty of residents and the carpark remains. Above the two floors of retail are an additional two floors dedicated to apartments. With at least enough accommodation to house 200 residents, an attractive green courtyard and easy access and circulation to a wide range of retail and shopping, the block has been transformed from a once dead urban wasteland, into a green urban eco village as part of the design of the green band.

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BUILDING

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FORM
*The building chapter zooms into a group of buildings within the block from the previous chapter and carries forth the same principles of design on a smaller scale. The same design applications within this certain building can be applied to the design of the whole.* Further development of the initial design from the block, applying the exact same process with a similar logic this time in relation to the building.

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EXTRUDE
A more specific extrusion of the 3 buildings, the southern ones pulled to 11m in height whilst the northern building extruded to 13m due to its function as a gallery at the low floors

EXPAND
Distorting the form so that the floor plan continues to increase in size as the building rises, this will prove roughly 400 m2 of additional floor area for the residents on the higher floors

LIFT
The buildings form opens up on the lower floors to reveal a glass facade to the major access pathways to welcome more people into the building

BRIDGE
The space lost to the circulation pathways below have been reestablished as both a communal space and a bridge which connects the 3 buildings together

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CENTRAL
The centre piece of the 3 buildings has been removed and turned into a deck for neighbourhood gatherings and small events

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BRIDGE
Design iteration of the bridge for the purpose of connection, green space and lighting

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DECK
Decking is applied to the pathway below the bridge to signify its function as a green pathway

DUPLICATE
Another deck is added below to provide circulation for the second floor

LIGHT
A 5m perimeter is drawn around the building facades to allow light to penetrate into the buildings and onto the green circulation pathway

BEND
The form is bent to allow for views across both sides of the bridge

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CONNECT
Small ramps are attached to provide circulation across the and around the centre.

ACCESS
A stairwell is added to the first floor to provide public access to the bridge, the decking of the middle building will serve as the primary access for private residents to access the bridge

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FREE STRUCTURE
The Structure of the building is modelled after Le Corbusiers domino house. It consists of an open floor plan consisting of concrete slabs supported by a minimal number of thin, reinforced concrete columns around the edges, with a stairway providing access to each level on one side of the floor plan. The frame is completely independent of the floor plans of the houses thus giving freedom to design the interior configuration. What this freedom allows the building to do is position the rooms and balconies of the upper residential levels for passive solar design whilst keeping a relatively open plan at the bottom floors for circulation.

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REACTIVE SKIN
Because most buildings within the band preform as shelter belts, the facades of the architecture consists of two separate skins to protect the building against strong winds. The inner skin is make up of entirely glass, with minimal breaks for privacy giving plenty of glazing for passive solar heating. Timber slates are used for the second skin of the building, the timber being locally important remains a cost efficient, aesthetic and eco friendly material. The slates themselves are designed like shading louvres, the bottom floors for shopping are fixed and ensure consistent natural light to entre the building throughout the day. The upper floors are thinner and have louvre slats which are able to turn and adjust to control heat gain/loss or privacy. When needed, the facade can stack across to fully open up the skin to areas such as the balcony to allow maximum solar gain. North facing facades protrude out more to provide extra shading during summer whilst still allowing the low angled winter sun to enter the building.

LOWER LEVELS FIXED GLAZING 200 x 400mm

UPPER FLOORS FOLDABLE/STACKABLE 100 x 200mm

NORTHERN FACADES FOLDABLE/STACKABLE 100 x 400mm

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KEY Cafe Retail Exterior Bridge Gallery Balcony Bathroom Vertical Circulation Store room Kitchen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 1 9 6 8 2 2 7 7 8 9 6 1 2 8 6 1 2

KEY Cafe Retail Exterior Bridge Gallery Balcony Bathroom Vertical Circulation Store room Kitchen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 2 8 22 3 7 7 2 8 9 6 1 8 9 6 2 2

GROUND FLOOR SCALE 1:200

FIRST FLOOR SCALE 1:200

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KEY KEY Bedroom Bathroom Balcony Hallway Kitchen + Lounge Vertical Circulation Private green space 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3 5 2 3 1 5 2 3 2 3 5 1 4 6 1 1 1 5 2 3 1 5 1 3 1 11 1 5 3 3 2 5 1 5 2 1 3 3 3 4 7 6 2 1 2 5 3 6 11 2 1 2 5 3 1 4 5 5 6 4 2 1 1 1 2 5 2 1 5 3 3 Bedroom Bathroom Balcony Hallway Kitchen + Lounge Vertical Circulation 1 2 3 4 5 6 3 5 2 3 5 3 3 2 1 5 2 2 1 6 3 2 1 5 1 1 4 1 5 2 2 5 3 2 5 3 2 6 4 2 1 5 3 1 1 1 2 5 2 1 5 3 3

THIRD FLOOR SCALE 1:200

FOURTH FLOOR SCALE 1:200

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TODAY

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TOMORROW

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