Abstract
Medium density housing in Auckland is pivotal for the City’s future growth and intensification. Its recent introduction has increased housing options for Auckland’s diverse population, but has also presented design challenges for its inhabitants and surrounding residents. These include reduced suburban amenity values, and unclear demarcation between public and private space. This study aims to offer insight into recent medium density housing by investigating outdoor activities in front yard and street spaces in four West Auckland housing developments.
This research consists of five objectives. The first objective involved using international urban design literature to provide a theoretical framework for this study. The second objective looked at where housing development resident outdoor activities occur. The third objective involved finding if fence and vegetation thresholds, which delineate between private front yards and public space (Stewart & McKenzie, 1978), increase front yard leisure activities. The final two objectives looked at other variables that possibly influenced outdoor activities, and the correlation between outdoor activities and resident social contact levels. Postal surveys and field observations were the most appropriate tools for data collection.
The research findings indicate that residents spent more time in backyards, and nearby parks and playgrounds than front yards. Residents identified more leisure activities in front yards with a fence threshold and it is argued that the fence affords resident privacy through horizontal distancing and legibility. Also, high leisure activity levels correspond with high resident social contact levels. By considering these findings, the study argues that lively streets and community cohesion can be encouraged in Auckland medium density housing through good design.