Vertical village In the Heart of Auckland CBD

Abstract

Auckland’s population continues to increase every year, shown as the fastest growth in New Zealand. People from everywhere in the world come to Auckland to travel, work and study, making Auckland their new home. However, the current public transport will not be able to cater this growth as people nowadays prefer to live close to the central city that offers more opportunities for employment and education. Therefore, the City Rail Link is delivering a new train station to maintain the accessibility between Auckland CBD and other parts of the city. Aotea, described as the busiest station within 10 minutes walk to anywhere in the central city, will allow more than 13,000 people to access the CBD per hour. Thus, the new station will not only lead more people to access to the core of the city, but it also stimulates many further developments around the railway station to provide more housing and employment within the area. As a city that must grow to adapt the rapid growth of population and infrastructure development, it is an opportunity for architects to rethink the design of the future dwelling, office space and a wellfunctioning community. This is in response to the demand for living, working and studying in close proximity to the Auckland CBD, since the urban sprawl is no longer a solution due to the Auckland housing crisis and traffic congestion. This project proposes a vertical mixed-use development that incorporates with the new railway station, which will achieve a higher density architecture, and offers a sustainable lifestyle and community within the building and surrounding areas. The programmes in this mixed-use development reflect the predominant patterns of the surrounding uses in four significant areas – Victoria Quarter, Learning Quarter, Engine Room Quarter and Aotea Quarter. Vertical mixed use development in condition of public transport will create a unique transition at the junction of horizontal and vertical movement. This research project will promote the viability of the public transport, enhance the surrounding infrastructure, and provide a unique experience to live and work in the heart of Auckland CBD.