UFDD: Applying Research

The Now Home Through the design, construction and monitoring of the NOW Home, Beacon Pathway is testing ways to achieve affordable, desirable, and environmentally sustainable homes.

Approach
Extensive research about sustainability and the built environment has been undertaken or is currently underway, yet is not well reflected in the shape of the Auckland region’s urban development. Further research is needed to inform specific aspects of sustainable urban form design and development. This project will connect existing research with practice, identify any necessary further research and – where possible – source it.

Projects
Towards Sustainable Urban Form: Connecting Research and Practice
Two workshops have helped to clarify the research needed for the Auckland region to achieve sustainable urban development, and to better connect the sustainable urban form efforts of the Auckland Sustainable Cities Programme and the research community.

Connecting Research and Practice I (Oct. 2004): Workshop Report (PDF 390k)
Connecting Research and Practice II (April 2005): Workshop Report (pdf 394k)

View some of the sustainable cities research currently underway:

Beacon Pathway Creating homes and neighbourhoods that work well into the future and don’t cost the Earth. A strong emphasis on retrofitting the existing housing stock.

Low Impact Urban Design & Development (LIUDD) Transformation of urban development, construction and design. Using natural systems and low-impact technologies to mitigate excessive environmental and social impacts.

Tool for Urban Sustainability Code of Practice (TUSC) A web-based analysis tool to assess and plan new and retrofitted urban developments against sustainability indices

Foundation for Research Science and Technology

Social Implications of Intensification
Analysis of New Zealand surveys and media reports reveals significant concerns that intensified housing is associated with poor quality design and low amenity. Some of the specific issues raised include poor quality construction; concern about long-term maintenance; poor layout; insufficient space; and lack of integration with surroundings.

This project has analysed public perceptions of intensive housing, as outlined in recent community surveys and local media coverage, and compared the views expressed in these with national and international research. Findings included:

• No clear link (positive or negative) exists between density and social implications. This is contrary to recent surveys and media coverage, which tend to focus on perceived connections between the design of intensive developments and social problems.
• The built environment is just one factor in a wide range of economic and social forces influencing social problems.
• The quality and diversity of development design, which has not received much attention to date, may be the biggest challenge to intensification.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service has commissioned complementary work, on the health impacts of intensification, beginning with a Health Impact Assessment project in Avondale (Auckland City) and training for practitioners. Urban Form issues are being incorporated into the ARPHS’s policy and research, for example the State of Public Health in the Auckland Region report.

The Social Implications of Intensification (pdf 337k)
Media Release (Auckland City, 5 May 2005): Research Dispels Intensive Housing Myths (pdf 69kb)

Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is a significant issue for the Auckland region. This project identifies that if the Auckland region’s economy is to remain strong, housing is needed throughout the region that is affordable to a range of income groups. Insufficient, inaccessible, or inadequately distributed affordable housing – meaning workers cannot find affordable housing within a reasonable commuting distance – will cause employers to locate elsewhere. Housing affordable to a range of income groups is also necessary for the Auckland region’s society to remain strong, diverse, and inclusive.

This project is being led by Housing New Zealand Corporation. The overall objective of the project is to ‘encourage sustainability through a co-operative approach to promoting quality, affordable housing, with good urban design features, within a context of increasing regional population and limited land supply.’