WALKING IN THE CITY

Abstract

“Pedestrian friendly is a measure of the quality of an environment from the perspective of a person by foot. It is a place where people can enjoy public life in a comfortable setting”.1 Current urban fabric of Auckland City is extremely based on automobile travels. To create a more ‘livable city,’ streets need to give priority to people and public transport, slowing down the city to a human pace. Streets are not only for moving from one destination to another, but space where people interact. Public realm is an essential element of everyday urban life. It is all around us: the space where we walk, play, sit, relax or gather. A vibrant public realm encourages and creates opportunities to bring more people outside for public activities, becoming a point of social interaction. This thesis will attempt to transform future Auckland City towards more pedestrian friendly environment. It researches the pedestrian movement in between spaces and the requirements for spaces to be “pedestrian friendly.” Why is public realm important? How can architecture and infrastructure influence people’s behaviour and experience of travelling and also how they will help to transform the current car-based city into a pedestrian friendly city? In this perspective, the thesis will examine how to reconnect forgotten and vacant spaces in Auckland CBD creating an active-pedestrian and cyclist friendly loop. The aim of the proposed design is to transform a neglected place into an energetic public space, where people can enjoy public activities. Connectivity will be essential to encourage walking. Hence, the design will generate a more sustainable and safe connection for pedestrians. It is exemplifying the findings of the research at a design level for one of Auckland’s most car-centric locations. To conclude, I will interrogate through design, how it can become a driver of public activities and events to bring people back into public space.