(Judges Bay)
Once again the question of what the theme of x-section will be arises. X-section is a magazine unique in its ability to use a range of media, from a variety of submitters, to explore a theme pertinent to contemporary Landscape Architecture.
Recently two of us were attending at a
half-day seminar by David Engwicht, “New Tools for Local Government”. There was
a certain irony in the fact that the organizers believed we were from a large
hotel management company - but that can be explained at the end. As the talk
began Engwicht declared ‘‘Placemaking! Every other person today claims to be an
expert on Placemaking…’’ The audience of mostly local body officials sighed in
agreement. We pricked up our ears -what did they mean by Placemaking, and why
did it seem to be the new buzzword?
Project for Public Space describes
Placemaking as ‘‘a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and
management of public spaces. Put simply, it involves looking at, listening to,
and asking questions of the people who live, work and play in a particular
space, to discover their needs and aspirations.’’ Engwicht discusses the
reasons why your living room is more welcoming than that of a show home. The
Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago sees this as having ‘‘the potential to
be one of the most transformative ideas of this century’’. But is this
something that can this be successfully measured or reproduced?
Considering Placemaking as the core
objective has the potential to completely turn around the way we view our
design opportunities or constraints, as designers, planners, or even local
government officials. As Engwicht says, is the problem speeding cars? Or is it
that a group of total strangers have colonised the space we considered to be a
core part of our home territory? Is it really about wanting our sense of place
back?
If Meurk and Hall (2000) can create a series of
parameters to predict the ecological performance of an area of indigenous
forest then conversely can we measure or predict the parameters that contribute
to contemporary Placemaking? We know why we feel comfortable in our own home.
But why did one visit to see the altered Judges Bay, a redeveloped inner
harbour bay, close to the city and sandwiched between a posh suburb and a
railway line, lead to a whole summer of return trips back there with family and
friends?
The question expands even further when
considered in the context of New Zealand, especially given the bi-cultural nature of our country. Most New Zealanders feel a deep connection to the land
regardless of their background. However with the Maori word whenua meaning both
land and placenta, it alone denotes a significance of place, deeply woven into
culture. Consider also the phrase ‘‘mana whenua’’ - ‘‘territory rights’’ or "power from the land" and it becomes apparent that
for many New Zealanders land is integrally connected to our sense of place. Are
there specific differences or considerations to placemaking in NZ compared to
other countries?
How do Landscape Architects in NZ respond
to this challenge, especially as we face one of the largest contemporary
rebuilds undertaken in the world with post quake Christchurch? Just as Engwicht
states that children use their physical environment as more than just physical
elements, but also the repository of their memories and affections; the research of Ken Taylor has explored the notion that culture and memories play
an integral part in our enjoyment of our landscape. Can theories and principles
of Placemaking contribute to rebuilding a Christchurch that the residents will
recognise, enjoy and identify with? Meanwhile The Auckland Plan estimates that around
400,000 additional dwellings will be required by 2040. How can the principles
of Placemaking help Auckland achieve this objective and yet still be ‘‘the
Worlds most livable city’’?
The irony was that the ideas of
placemaking presented by Engwicht in the seminar that day would be equally
applicable to the management of hotels -every one values the feeling of a home
away from home, and it would be a very successful property indeed that could
consistently supply that. But it was as landscape architecture students we left
that meeting totally enthralled, about not only making clever designs, but also
making actual places.
The third issue of x-section aspires to
continue the established tradition of combining the thoughts of students,
academics and practicing Landscape Architects in articles, peer reviewed
research papers, photo essays and interviews while critically examining a
subject pertinent to the industry. Given the complexity and possible enormity
of the subject of contemporary placemaking, it’s possible no other format or
publication has the potential to explore it as fully: research it, debate it,
illustrate it.
Placemaking: what is it really? How do we
create a contemporary sense of place?
reference: C.D. Meurk, G.M.J. Hall. Biogeography and
ecology of urban landscapes
G.H. Stewart, M.E. Ignatieva (Eds.),
Urban biodiversity and ecology as a basis for holistic planning and design,
Wickliffe Press Ltd (2000), pp. 34–45 Proceedings of a workshop held at Lincoln
University 28/29 October 2000.
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