Abstract:
Census figures reveal that Auckland is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of the cultural backgrounds of its inhabitants. The purpose of this research is to explore the potential design for a community and food space in urban Auckland to support this diversity. This architectural design-research uses the existing context of the Balmoral Shopping Centre as the platform for exploration, notable for its transformation into a commercial hub of diverse peoples over the last two decades. Exploration of cultural stimulus on the built environment focuses mainly on the presently dominant Chinese influence in Balmoral. The approach includes research of relevant literature to provide a theoretical context for exploring the relationship between culture and the built environment, field and empirical research at various locations including China, Melbourne, Auckland’s night markets and Balmoral, community events, interviews, and a ‘research by design’ methodology via a design project. It was found that archetypical Chinese spaces may be inappropriate in the Auckland context as they would be contrary to the aim of supporting diversity. It was found that food space, acting as a ‘social mediator’, can help catalyse an environment where different cultural influences can co-exist, partake and share with one another through the practices surrounding food. For the future development of a diverse city, an openended approach to design is needed. Because of the constant change in the cultural make-up of Auckland places, such as the change seen at Balmoral over the decades from a European colonial tram terminal to a predominantly Asian centre, a culturally tailored environment could quickly become alienating to its inhabitants. Thus, an architecture that can support a flexible range of programmes is necessary to support diversity, with community and food space proposed as the primary vessel for this diversity. By specifically exploring Balmoral as a touchstone for how community and food spaces can bring together different cultural influences, the results from this research could be considered when designing architecture for other urban communities around Auckland or New Zealand.
