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2 Urban design subject areas

Subject areas commonly addressed in the context of urban design were identified to provide a basis for reviewing the urban design case law. These are listed below with references to their relationship to relevant qualities of urban design included in the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol.

Each subject area has a brief description outlining what is meant or included for consideration in this review. Some meanings and definitions have been drawn from the RMA, others have been developed specifically for use in this report.

Urban design subject and meaning for review Relationship to the Urban Design Protocol seven ‘Cs’
Amenity  
The qualities and characteristics of an [urban] place or area that contribute to people’s appreciation of its pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, and cultural and recreational attributes (from section 2 RMA). choice, context and character
Character  
The physical qualities of an urban place or area as determined by the combination of building types, age, street pattern, open space, slope, vegetation pattern, mix of land uses and climate. character
Heritage  
Includes historic sites, structures, places and areas; archaeological sites; sites of significance to Māori, including wāhi tapu and surroundings associated with natural and physical resources [in an urban area] (from section 2 RMA). character, context
custodianship
Density  
The number of rooms or buildings per hectare, including combinations of height and footprint – in this context, this also refers to the process of changing density through infilling or intensification. character, context
choice
Movement  
The way in which people and goods are conveyed within and to urban places and areas, including by walking, motorised and self-propelled means and the infrastructure required to facilitate it. connection, choice
Commerce  
The type, location and interaction of businesses within an urban place or area that influence employment opportunities, viability, services and opportunities for growth. choice, context
Urban growth  
The definition of the extent and location of new urban areas, including the processes and mechanisms for planning the form and patterns of these areas and the implications for change in land use, such as for transport. context, choice
character, connections, custodianship
Open space  
The provision of, or changes to, open spaces within an urban place or area that may be for recreational, aesthetic or natural values. character, context

 

 

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