Abstract:
Globally we are facing an uncertain future due to non-renewable energy depletion and climate change due to global warming. This thesis is about looking into decreasing the environmental affects that we have caused and finding the right solution to create an eco-sustainable community while decarbonising Auckland. Auckland suburbs share problems of suburban sprawl with fairly low density development connected by a few large roads, causing the need to travel long distances to facilities and workplaces which resulted in a dominant reliance on cars. This also leads to environmental problems since the energy consumption and carbon emission increases which resulted in a dominant reliance on cars. Furthermore, few houses are built with good energy performance and application of sustainable concepts. Suburban sprawl also influences the physical and psychological health of residents because the heavy reliance on cars resulted in less physical exercise and less interaction with neighbours, which affects social sustainability. The thesis is presented in the following order. Firstly, it analyses the relationship between architecture, ecology and nature. Secondly, it introduces and discusses sustainable ideas in both macroscopic and microscopic views with examples of international and domestic sustainable communities. Thirdly, it analyses the attributes of Auckland suburbs. Mt Albert is chosen as a typical suburban site as it has the medium range of population and income among the suburbs. Its current land use, zoning, traffic and ecological conditions are to be taken into consideration. The findings of these analyses are important in understanding the currant challenges that are faced in order to draw the appropriate solutions. Finally, it proposes a suitable and feasible residential scheme for the chosen site, Mt Albert. From the research findings and site analyses, the design proposal is mainly focuses on ecological and decarbonisation aspects in order to create an eco-sustainable community design and contemporary sustainable technologies for housing projects.