The studio paper explored a design method called urban acupuncture and proposed to apply its principles to a neighbourhood in the southern side of Grey Lynn, Auckland. Urban acupuncture, as explained in Sola Morales' book "A Matter of Things," offered a perspective on how small-scale interventions could have significant impacts on the larger urban context. The paper introduced the concept of urban acupuncture, followed by a drawing exercise and a one-to-one scaled intervention to develop a conceptual driver that guided subsequent design decisions.
To facilitate the diagnosis of the site and inform the design process, this paper explored key principles of good and bad urbanism, focusing on urban planning theories of Jane Jacobs and Richard Sennett's text's 'Borders and Boundaries'. These principles acted as tools to evaluate and assess the existing conditions, enabling the identification of areas for improvement.
Using the acquired knowledge, tools, and processes, the paper culminated in the proposal of an urban intervention aimed at enhancing an existing condition of the site.
Location: AUT University/ Auckland
Season: second semester 2016
Head of Department: Andrew Douglas
Team: Raimana Jones
Lauren Gibbs, Urban Intervention: The Den Creative
