Appendix 3: Site Analysis
Existing Site: Key Features.
· Great Views to the Waitakare Ranges.
· 5 Minute walk to the Avondale Train Station.
· Recent development ‘The Set’ in-between 10
Racecourse Road and the Avondale Racecourse.
· Great North Road adjacent to the site.
· Park/reserve on southern edge.
· Weekly food markets at the racecourse.
TRAIN STATION
AL
ANGES
ALE CENTR
AVOND
ARE
ARE R
TOWN SQU
ARADE
AK
OURSE P
ACEC
10 R
ALE
AIT
AVOND
W
T
OURSE
THE SE
RACEC
VE
AL RESER
ALE CENTR
AVOND
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
New Infrastructure: Key Moves.
· New roads created for vehicle access into the
new residential and mixed use developments.
· Upgrade to town square.
· Cycle and walkway along the southern edge.
· Upgrades to Avondale Central Reserve.
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
New Buildings: Key Upgrades.
· Anchor project (Library & Community Centre)
built first to enliven the heart of Avondale.
· Town Square upgraded alongside Library/
KAINGA
Community Centre.
· Kāinga Ora development near the 10 Racecourse
ORA
Road and Avondale Central Site.
ARE
TOWN SQU
LIBRARY
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
Courtyards: Key Moves.
· Two housing/mixed use blocks creating private
greenspace/courtyards for all residents.
· Allows maximum sunlight into the surrounding
buildings.
· Provides a place to interact (BBQ’s, kid’s
play areas, sport and gardens (urban food
production), etc.)
· Wide street through centre of development to
allow parking around peripheries.
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
Pedestrian Routes: Key Moves.
· Introduce laneways to activate the town square.
· A porous perimeter allows air and light to
permeate across site.
· Maintain a larger opening onto town square to
increase midday light on southern edge.
· Increase connectivity and activity throughout the
site and surrounding area.
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
Height Variation: Key Moves.
· Smaller buildings break down the scale of the
development. With larger separation of buildings
along the southern edge to allow more light
through to park and town square.
· Each building to vary in height with the taller
buildings on the Southern and Eastern edges to
enable maximum sun into the development and
create a varied building form.
· Active edges to attract people into the area - retail
and hospitality.
· Predominantly active in the town square
attracting a lively atmosphere avoiding the space
reducing to a thoroughfare.
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
Building Objectives.
· Maximise density to allow land/build cost
ratio to be as economical as possible allowing
high commons content. Take advantage of
the height limit, while also being conscious of
overshadowing and view shafts for the rest of
the development and immediate context.
· Create a building with the minimum amount
of residents needed to create an effective
community.
· Maximum exposure to northern sunlight.
· Active ground floor incorporating commons
areas for resident use as well as wider
?
community. Commercial activity such as a
cafe, co-working and community workshop is
suggested.
· Engage with public space as much as possible,
and integrate with context. (Don’t create a
enclosed fenced off island like the neighbouring
development).
· Reduce the need for car parking through shared
cars, promotion of public transport and cycling.
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
Location Options: Reasoning for NOT
choosing any of the other sites available
for this community-focused development:
1. Location doesn’t maximise the community
benefits and connectivity on the ground floor,
4
over shadowing and obscured views would effect
a lot of adjacent residential. Scale relationship to
residential on north side of Racecourse Parade
3
wouldn’t be complementary. A higher building
would be best suited on the southern side of the
2
development. Staging of the whole centre would
1
mean this would possibly be one of the last
buildings built.
2. As per location 1.
5
3. As per location 1.
4. As per location 1. This is a prominent corner
which will have different design emphasis than
what this development is trying to achieve. GRN
6
building mass should remain at a medium sized
scale.
7
5. As per location 4. The commercial aspect needed
along GNR is beyond the scope of this project?
6. No connection to town square and would
overshadow the park area.
7. As per 6. A dead edge adjacent to Ockham
development.
Appendix 3: Site Analysis
Chosen Location: Reasoning for why the chosen site (in red) is preferred
for the community-focused development:
· Creates an active connection with
development still have views to the
public space, namely the community
Waitakare Ranges.
centre, the library and the town square,
· The ten stories next to the town centre
by delivering an active ground floor.
acts as a beacon/way finder signifying
· The southern facade of the building
the location of the town square.
would be composed in a way that
· This position will not visually overpower
increases activity through placement
the whole context as it sits behind and
of circulation and common spaces that
is broken down by the building mass
look over the town square on multiple
along GNR and the large mass of the
levels of the building. This vertical core,
library.
along with the active ground floor, will
· A 10 story building is going to create
provide passive surveillance over the
shadowing. To mitigate this and
community space.
minimise the impact as much as
· Dual access to building from north
possible the building is situated along
and south sides will also help in the
the southern edge with wide spaces
activation of the public space.
between buildings. This allows light
· Laneways created around our building
as well as good connection and
enable the community-aspects to be
integration of public and private areas.
enhanced.
The building creates shadow over the
· The building being constructed at the
public space at certain times of the
same time as the public space could
day (based on equinox), however there
allow better co-ordination between the
is good light in the morning, midday
public and private developments. As
and early afternoon with the majority
well as completing an active edge to the
of overshadowing in the evening. This
town square early in the development.
overshadowing is reduced slightly with
· Our community based development
a smaller building but not significantly
model will compliment the community-
due to the depth of the town square. In
building objectives Panuku has for
summer there is a good amount of sun
the town square and help through
at different stages throughout the day.
neighbourhood establishment as the
In depth sun studies with the designed
co-design process is undertaken for the
building form to be explored further, in
site.
the next stage, to maximise high quality
· Views for all other buildings within the
urban spaces.