Abstract:
To prevent more damage to the natural environment, both our built environment and lifestyles need to be reconsidered. This thesis examines the relationship between sustainability and resilience theories applicable to architecture within an urban context. This can be utilised to generate positive outcomes for the natural environment through rethinking the ways suburban neighbourhoods are designed. The suburban fabric is currently integral to urban New Zealand, which in turn has helped shape the identity of residential lifestyles here. Maintaining identity of place allows for the continuation of our society’s culture, in which persistence is important while at the same time enduring change. Auckland authorities are currently reviewing their existing urban planning strategies. Increases in population and the subsequent demand for housing means there is a strong focus on urban intensification. While exploring how this will affect behaviour patterns and lifestyles, it is important to consider in what ways lifestyle changes at a suburban scale will affect the identity of place. By applying resilience-thinking it is possible to consider how such shifts in the organisational structure of the existing built environment can generate lifestyle changes.