Diffusion

Strata, a design driving concept. Derived from an...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:11:22 -0500

Strata, a design driving concept.

Derived from an interpretation of the sites history and geology (the layers of which were revealed extensively by clay quarrying) the notion of Strata was to heavily influence the process of designing the clay pit park concepts.

This concept reflects the manner in which New Lynn’s gritty industrial past has been progressively overwritten by new development, becoming strata in the ground itself, and was used to reveal these layers of heritage through its influence on the character of my design, both during the day and at night.

Context: Site History Now Suburban and Commercial in nature, New...

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:15:10 -0500

Context: Site History

Now Suburban and Commercial in nature, New Lynn was once an industrial hub of Auckland, with Tanneries, Factories and Timber yards. However the scale Ceramics Industry overshadowed all of these and has left the most lasting imprint on the region.

West Auckland is well known for its boggy clay soils, initially unsuited to farming. But it was in this clay that enterprising businessmen saw an opportunity to create the bricks, drainage pipes and tiles the fledgling city of Auckland was craving. By the 1920’s the industry was fiercely competitive, with 3 major works in New Lynn. Realising this could not last many of the companies merged or were taken over to form the conglomerate Amalgamated Brick and Tile, which later created the famous but defunct NZ dinnerware brand “Crown Lynn”.

The site of the proposed park is located in one of this firms now infilled Clay Pits, which was closely bordered by its major kilns and works. Clay was initially extracted by hand, but later by mechanical means as in this 1929 photograph of the nearby ex-Gardner Works clay pit (Incidentally today’s Manawa Wetland Reserve).

Image sourced from local history blogger “Timespanner”

Context: Site Analysis Today the future location of the planned...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:58:00 -0500

Context: Site Analysis

Today the future location of the planned Clay Pit park is defined by a large storm water pond, home to families of resident and visiting birdlife. Two Council owned industrial units currently occupy the parks other half of the proposed park, with demolition planned only when construction of the developments first stage gets underway.

Under the New Lynn Urban Plan the new park will occupy an entire block, initially bordered by a fenced industrial boundary to the west and another similarly uninviting rear of a supermarket to the north. This leaves the eastern and southern streets as being the most attractive boundaries to be developed and indicates an opportunity to provide pedestrian access across the park between the residential and urban areas of Southern New Lynn.

In addition the Urban Plan specifies that the park shall be formal, a minimum of 1ha and contain a stormwater retention pond, Play Park, Kiosk, Passive Grassland, Food Producing Landscapes and Mass drift planting.

A Clay Pit Park

B Shared Space Lanes

C Margan Reserve

D New extended avenues from Memorial Drive and Clark Street

E New or realigned local roads

Context: Site Selection Planned as a Transit Oriented...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:14:00 -0500

Context: Site Selection

Planned as a Transit Oriented Redevelopment, the New Lynn Urban Plan Aims to create a sustainable High Density Metropolitan Centre centred on the new transit interchange. It is hoped that by 2030 it will attract and maintain a population of 20,000 residents and 14,000 local workers.

Under this plan The Crown Lynn Precinct (marked 2 on this map) contains the Clay Pits site and is intended to become a transition zone between the higher densities of the town centre and the suburban fringe, containing a mixture of building types and heights centred around the new Clay Pit Park, my chosen site.

With a predicted population of 1900 people within walking distance, this park will play a large role in the lives of the surrounding residents and is hoped to become the show piece park of the region. This makes it the ideal site to investigate how light may contribute to achieving high patronage throughout the day and year.

(Map originally sourced from the Waitakere City Council New Lynn Urban Plan Document)

Context: Site Selection “Auckland has a shortfall of about...

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:12:00 -0500

Context: Site Selection

“Auckland has a shortfall of about 10,000homes and will need 13,000 additional houses each year to meet the projected population growth of one million by 2040” Auckland Plan paragraph 609

I chose New Lynn as the site you my research project because it is one of 10 regions defined as Metropolitan centres under the recent Auckland Plan. These centres are the target of urban intensification strategies to accommodate the projected population growth and as such must offer a high quality of life to attract residents from the traditional suburban model of living.

Among other qualities these centres are expected to have day and night activities, and contain high quality public spaces. (Auckland Plan, Table 10.2)

In New Lynns Industrial past competition was rise between rival...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:50:00 -0500

Iron on Brick. Tramway Rails used as bracing on New Lynn's Gardener Kiln

Down Draft Kiln of the Gardener Bros & Parker Brickworks as it stands today

Fireclay: The kilns product, redfaced bricks.

The kilns entrances

The kilns coal fired furnaces, from here the flames and smoke would travel up into the arched roof of the kiln.

Brickbat cobbles such as these once covered much of the site.

In New Lynns Industrial past competition was rise between rival brickmakers. In the 1900’s competing firms paid £500 per annum to the firm Gardener Bros & Parker to prevent from manufacturing pipes. When this was threatened, Gardener Bros & Parker built a downdraft kiln capable of burning pipes, forcing the agreement to be upheld. The kiln was instead used to burn bricks, producing the high quality red-faced brick used in the construction of the Beach Road Railway Station. This Kiln is now one of the few intact relics of this era of New Lynn’s ceramics history, located incongruously as it is within the high density housing of the Ambrico Place Development.

New Lynn Railway Station and Totara Ave at night,...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:37:00 -0500

New Lynn Railway Station Entrance

New Lynn Railway Station and Bus Platforms

The former New Lynn Post Office, with warm brick texture up lit with Fluorescent Fixture.

Halogen or Sodium up-lighting of Grasses and Trees or Totara Ave Shopping Street

New Lynn Railway Station and Totara Ave at night, 10/09/2012.

These areas of New Lynn contain the most detailed aesthetic and architectural lighting schemes/designs of the area.

New New Lynn Picture of the recent big changes to the Landscape...

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:30:16 -0500

New Medical Centre

Recently completed Underground railway station

New Lynn Transit Centre with new buildings under construction.

New New Lynn

Picture of the recent big changes to the Landscape of New Lynn. Construction Cranes have become a new feature on the local skyline as the suburban town rapidly turns high rise (comparatively speaking). It will be interesting to see how the urban planning turns out.

New Lynn Site Context-shabby/gritty light industrial commercial...

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:43:58 -0500

Astley Tanneries Building, New Lynn

Portage Road, New Lynn

Sellotape Building, New Lynn

New Lynn Site Context-shabby/gritty light industrial commercial buildings.

The former Astley Tanneries Complex is easily the highlight of the portage road area, with its textured concrete walls and sawtooth roof. It could become apartments or offices if the areas revitalisation is successful.

Light Pollution Over Auckland City, from Titirangi Road,...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 03:40:27 -0500

Light Pollution Over Auckland City, from Titirangi Road, Waitakere Ranges. New Lynn and my site is mid shot.

It’s only when you get up high that you realise how important well considered lighting is at a regional scale, and how much is wasted, creating light pollution.

Clay Pit Park Concept, for New Lynn, Auckland, 2019 The study of...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 04:56:00 -0500

Shady Stormwater Retention Lake gets the morning sun

Quarry Themed Playground gets the Afternoon sun

The event lawn takes advantage of the winter sun with sun decks to lie on

The complete Clay Pit Park Concept, for the future New Lynn, Auckland

A Feijoa and Citrus orchard reflects sunlight onto the fruit trees, improving the crop.

Clay Pit Park Concept, for New Lynn, Auckland, 2019

The study of the fall of sunlight and shadow upon the site from the surrounding buildings and the sites history of clay brick and pipe manufacturing were the key influences in the creation of this design, which places a stormwater lake, playground, event space/lawn and orchard around a central Pavilion, with a Landmark Chimney Structure.

Each use is placed to best take advantage of the sites annual fall of sunlight, among other factors, within a path framework that will connect the Residential Areas to the south with the Town Centre to the north. An industrial influenced character will also help to place this design within it’s context.

Sun Studies, Clay Pit Park, New Lynn Shadows of the projected...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 07:21:37 -0400

Sun Studies, Clay Pit Park, New Lynn

Shadows of the projected development are mapped and layered to guide the spatial layout of the public space design. Mapped for Summer (21 Dec), Winter (21 Jun) and Autumn/Spring (21 Mar/22 Sept). North is at the top of the image.

As part my research project I have chosen to design the public...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:05:29 -0400

New Lynn's Clay Pits Site, Sunset

This weedy field will soon be developed

The current Stormwater Pond

Pukeko roam free through the field

As part my research project I have chosen to design the public spaces of a planned high density subdivision in the centre of New Lynn, Auckland, with the aim of reflecting the history and industrial character of the area and activating spaces within the design to function in specific ways at certain times of day and night. The focus of the design will be the use of lighting to translate the spaces daytime character and uses to the night time environment.

The site of the Clay Pit Park Development today is a large field of weeds formed from an in-filled clay pit. This open space creates a beautiful panorama of wild grasslands not often found in the city and provides views out to the harbour and volcanoes of the central city. Perhaps part of what makes this a refreshing place amy be retained in the development.

English Architect and Lighting designer Mark Major and his Dark...

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:26:38 -0400

Viaduct, Durham L+D PLan

Neighbourhood View, Durham L+D PLan

2007 Durham Light and Darkness Strategy

English Architect and Lighting designer Mark Major and his Dark Cities concept has heavily influenced my opinion of how light is managed at night. In a Dark City, areas of darkness, light and low light are planned for the night to give the best mix of environmental, safety and economic outcomes.

The 2007 Durham Light and Darkness Strategy is the work of Speirs and Major, Major being a principle in the firm. Both the natural dark landscape and the illumination of the cities iconic and historic sites influenced its design, resulting in a staged creative and technical framework that will translate the cities charming and spectacular daytime urban environment to the night.

Light pollution is reduced through more efficient use of the existing levels of light, by better utilising lighting to structure the public spaces of the town for the purposes of visibility, accessibility and to define character, encouraging its use after dark stimulating the area’s night time economy.pedestrian traffic is less, light levels are reduced though the removal of lights, restoring a healthy level of light for Humans and Wildlife to live by at night.

hi-inspiremeplease: Sonja VordermaierStreet lamp foresta...

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 18:08:15 -0400

hi-inspiremeplease:

Sonja Vordermaier

Street lamp forest
a collection of 30 european streetlamp

More of this sort of thing could enliven parks everywhere. It is very much an island of warmth and light in the dark of night.

New Lynn at night. 1/5/12

Thu, 31 May 2012 08:51:36 -0400

To the station

Shadow Alley

Light Fan

New Lynn at night. 1/5/12

The night time look of New Lynn’s recent Totara Avenue...

Tue, 29 May 2012 18:58:00 -0400

Clark Street entrance

Unintended Lighting Subject,Totara Ave

Uplights, Totara Ave

Epiphytes highlighted on a Pohutukawa

The night time look of New Lynn’s recent Totara Avenue Shared Space. The lighting of this street space functioned to make pedestrians visible to drivers, however some of it missed the goal. The focusing of the footpath lights was also a little strange, such as the prominent focus of some streetlights on the Rubbish Bins.

Overall I feel design here missed a chance to further reflect New Lynn’s historic past of Brick and Pottery in the materials used. The lighting, while probably on a budget, also could have interacted in more interesting ways with the paving Materials. However the lighting of the former post offices vertical front provides a nice sense of scale at night, a contrast from the rest of the design.

The space is currently very quiet at night, despite the significant investment in it. I hope it lives up to expectations.

Experimenting with the characteristics of light. Taken in...

Thu, 17 May 2012 21:07:11 -0400

Experimenting with the characteristics of light. Taken in Unitec’s Entertainment Lighting Design Elective.

An industrial wharf undergoing redevelopment into an urban...

Sun, 13 May 2012 06:26:00 -0400

Gantries and Shadow, Wynyard Wharf

'The Gantry', Wynyard Quarter

Port and City, Wynyard Wharf

An industrial wharf undergoing redevelopment into an urban centre, the Wynyard Quarter/Wharf contains several contrasting areas of lighting, the designed lighting new public spaces and streets, and the organic, unplanned lighting of the Tank Farm.

It’s central location meant people from the city and inner suburbs walk here to see the ships and views of the harbour and port. Seeing two tourists playing classical songs on a Piano in the middle of the empty Silo Park was something quite enjoyable, as it leant an air of mood to the place.

While both areas proved interesting, I found the accidental way the functional lights of the tank farm created sculptural shadows and highlighted gritty details by far the most memorable.