Abstract:
This thesis entitled Facade on Facade is a study recognizing that human experience in a key ceremonial and commercial city street environment is highly dependent upon the quality of the architecture and in the case of heritage buildings, on their facades, as well as the architecture of the surrounding buildings, and the full use being made of these buildings. Queen Street - Auckland city's axial, central and main street - is not only a main street with urban ritual roles but on a day-to-day level the major commercial area of Auckland's central business district. The design proposal of this thesis refers to Queen Street itself but Queen Street within its urban space environment. I investigate what elements appear to suggest further development and those in need of enhancement and intensification. I propose a solution, which would make of Queen Street a more enjoyable pedestrian-friendly urban space experience on the ground and a richer multi-level shopping experience, with due attention given to the importance of historical and architectural elements of its buildings and surroundings. Developing a protective and accessible 'second façade' within the space of the existing street would add quality to the experience of both residents and visitors. Based on the penetration of sunlight, the casting of shadow, play of time over the existing façades an assessment was made to identify key street amenities of accessibility and safety in proposing a new facade running alongside and in front of the existing facade for Queen Street at a higher level, creating a second pedestrian first floor access to the retail and commercial frontage area, access will be provided to pedestrians from street level. The new facade together with the old one also provides added value to commercial and tourism activities within this urban environment and allows for the creation of a walkway where locals and visitors can also sit, relax and enjoy this experience in a new environment. The central stretch of the street which is the focussed study area of this work with respect to the design, that is the east side from Vulcan Lane to Victoria Street, is comprised mainly of retail activity though with a significant proportion of commercial offices of the city centre. Building this new façade, walkway and its surfaces, is a challenge in its own right, when considering all the issues the design and ultimately the construction requires as essential elements to ensure all factors are taken into consideration, however the project will enhance this relatively under-used commercial zone adding substantially more accommodation and thus value to street and thereby making it again the busiest and finest urban street environment and shopping precinct in Auckland. Indeed as this work was being completed The New Zealand Herald headlined a number of articles [see esp that by Bernard Orsman] and letters on the pedestrialisation of Queen Street while reporting the measures to be undertaken by the Auckland Super City Council in March 2011 towards opening public consultation on this area as Auckland looks forward twenty years in the street's future development. Supporting the design a variety of research and design methods have been utilised to evolve the theme of the thesis as well as the design. Site study assessments, literature reviews, case study comparisons and design processes are reported and discussed. In particular the existing Queen Street facades and the streetscape are considered in depth and cross-referenced to the analysis of the street's history, geography, land use, built environment, economics, frontages, existing pedestrian links, transport, and traffic management. A record of the many various proposals for the enhancement and re-design of the street are recorded before the current façade design recommendations.