Parking buildings are ugly. There really is no other way to describe them.
Unfortunately, in our car-based cities, they serve a vital role. It would be nice if they could all be underground, but this is probably not financially realistic.
So, why not turn these eyesores into assets?
That's what the Adelaide City Council have done. Its called the Rundle Lantern.
Take a look at the picture below:
Rundle Lantern, Adelaide
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2009)
Believe it, or not, this is a parking building. It is situated on one of Adelaide city's most prominent corners. The Adelaide City Council covered it in 748 LED panels, and now displays a spectacular light show on it every night (ACC, 2011).
While covering up a hideous car park, the Rundle Lantern has also re-energised this part of the city. It is now a place where people 'hang out' to watch the light show.
We should do this to parking buildings in Auckland. Like Adelaide, we could breathe life back into some of the most undesirable parts of the city centre.
ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL [ACC]. 2011.Rundle Lantern [Online]. Available: http://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/attractions/rundle-lantern.html [Accessed 30/05/2011].
In the past week, Christchurch City Councillors have been visiting cities and towns in California that were badly damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. They've been looking for ideas on how to rebuild their city.
One News, on Saturday night (21/05/2011), showed the councillors visiting Santa Cruz, California.
Santa Cruz is a city of 56,925 people (Lonely Planet 2010). It is situated on the Californian coast, approximately 100 km south of San Francisco. It has been known as a bit of a hippy town in its past. It is, in fact, so liberal, that according to Lonely Planet, Republicans are shot on the street (Lonely Planet, 2010). I guess George Bush isn't a frequent visitor then.
Downtown Santa Cruz, California.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)
It was heavily damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, but subsequently rebuilt, not to be the same, but better. Take a look at the clip from the news below:
This offers great tips, not only for Christchurch, but also for Auckland. The people of Santa Cruz created a city they could be proud of. It was rebuilt properly, and the benefits have paid off.
Tree-lined streets, wide footpaths, and fantastic architecture are three features that make Santa Cruz the amazing town that it is. It is also extremely clean. The citizens seem to have a lot of pride in its appearance. It almost looks and feels like Sea Haven - the town in the 1998 film The Truman Show.
Today, Santa Cruz is a picturesque, charming city. It is impossible to tell that much of it was rebuilt during the 1990s; the new seamlessly fits in with the old.
Here are some snaps of the city of Santa Cruz:
Santa Cruz, California.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)
The building in the left of the picture is the one they show being constructed after the 1989 earthquake, in the news clip. Yet, it looks like it could have been in the town since its foundation. Instead of destroying the town with ugly, modernist architecture, Santa Cruz chose to celebrate its heritage.
Santa Cruz, California.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)
Santa Cruz, California.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)
The city still even has a traditional old post office:
United States Post Office, Santa Cruz, California.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)
Auckland Council should send some councillors to visit this city too (preferably the sane ones). This is how you build a solid, quality city.
The advertisement makes New York look exciting. It shows off different aspects of the city that can appeal to people of all ages. Auckland needs to have a dynamic TV ad too.
Auckland's current 'Big Little City' commercial shows our city, in the dark, with an old man on a bicycle riding through it. Not very appealing. Take a look:
Okay, so the city might have a few designer boutiques and fancy food houses. But does that really appeal to a wide range of people, other than Auckland's liberal elite population? Is it going to make children beg their parents to take them to Auckland?
Probably not.
We need to promote things that are distinctively Auckland. Most western cites probably do have fancy stores and eateries. Unless the potential tourist is from Hamilton, where McDonald's would be considered sophisticated, would it bother coming to Auckland to buy and eat what it could in its home city?
A commercial for Auckland should feature our harbour, our sails, our icons, and our natural beauty. These, after all, are what make Auckland unique.
What do you think? Do you like Auckland's 'Big Little City' Commercial? Feel free to comment below.
George W. Bush is not the sort of figure you would associate with town planning.
Former President George W. Bush. Reuters (2011)
But according to page 14 of his 2010 autobiography, Decision Points:
"Yale was a place where I felt free to discover and follow my passions. My wide range of course selections included Astronomy, City Planning.........." (Bush, 2010: 14).
So having studied it at Yale, Bush must know something about city planning.
He can't be doing much these days. After all, he's not the most popular guy in the U.S.
So bring him out to Auckland. Make him mayor. His cowboy style diplomacy might actually get things done here.
Picture: REUTERS. 2011. George W. Bush in Pictures [Online]. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/3274186/George-W-Bush-in-pictures.html?image=5 [Accessed 10/05/2011].
Quote: BUSH, G. W. 2010. Decision Points, New York, Crown Publishers.
In Auckland, we like to talk. In fact we talk so much about being a "world class" city, that nothing sensible actually ever gets done.
Fortunately, some cities in our nation choose to just get on with it.
That's what Dunedin is so good at doing.
Dunedin by night.
Mitchell, S. C (Author) (2011)
The Auckland Council should look at Dunedin for inspiration, not Calcutta, or Liverpool, as they currently seem to be doing.
Dunedin makes the most of its fine architecture. Look at all of these well preserved Edwardian and Victorian buildings. Even his majesty, Prince Charles would approve.
Looking down Stuart Street, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Dunedin Railway Station.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Dunedin Town Hall.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
The newest mall in the city, the Wall Street Centre, has been designed tastefully. The facade has been created in a way that blends in with Dunedin's historical architecture.
Wall Street Centre, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Wall Street Centre, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
The city has kept much of its heritage, unlike Queen Street, in Auckland, which is like monument to bad 1980's architecture.
Dunedin has a true heart for its city - the Octagon. The Octagon is a fantastic patch of terraced, open space, surrounded by magnificent old buildings.
The Octagon, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
The Octagon, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
The Octagon, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Dunedin's central city is graced by huge leafy trees. Auckland, in its desperate attempt to mimic Downtown Apia, has decorated its CBD in palm trees. In my opinion, palm trees are best suited to a beach, not a downtown area. Dunedin seems comfortable with its Scottish heritage. In Auckland, we are trying a create a Pacific heritage that doesn't really connect with our colonial settler past.
Trees in the Dunedin CBD.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Instead of squabbling over whether a giant, toilet seat shaped stadium should be built on stilts over the waterfront, Dunedin went ahead and built itself a brand new indoor stadium. They've even managed to get Elton John to perform at it when its finished.
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Dunedin may only have a population of 116,600 (Statistics NZ, 2011), but it sure could offer Auckland a few lessons. Those cities that choose to quietly get on with it are the most "world class" of them all.
Population data: STATISTICS NEW ZEALAND. 2011. New Zealand in Profile 2011, Wellington, Statistics New Zealand.
The Auckland central city seems to be a tangle of streets, none of which have a special identity. There are nice pockets, such as the Chancery, but they are largely ignored, lost under shadows of towering office blocks.
What if we divided our central city up into a collection of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own special identity?
That's what the smart people in San Diego have done.
San Diego, California.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
San Diego is a city in Southern California. The city has a population of 1,256,951, while the entire metropolitan area has a population of 3,053,793 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009).
The downtown area has been divided up into 14 distinct neighbourhoods. Each has its own name and identity. It is marketed this way for tourists. Take a look at this map below:
Map of Downtown San Diego showing its different neighbourhoods.
Home Reach Real Estate (2009)
Dividing the CBD up into separate neighbourhoods makes the CBD more user friendly and interesting. A tourist could shop in the Horton Plaza, and then walk up to Little Italy for dinner.
The Gaslamp quarter is marketed as San Diego's historical heart. It hosts the more 'alternative,' 'creative' scene. The council has cleverly decorated each neighbourhood to make it obvious to pedestrians what part of the city that they are in.
Street lamp marketing for the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Gaslamp Quarter welcoming sign, San Diego.
The New San Diego (2009)
The Little Italy neighbourhood even has a giant illuminated gate welcoming diners. This has created a gateway to an exciting little precinct of Italian restaurants.
Little Italy sign, San Diego
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2011)
Auckland could do the same with its central city. The University could be marketed as the "academic quarter," while High Street could be marked as our "creative quarter." Maybe upper Queen Street could make a good China Town?
Of course, some areas would have to be cleaned up first. Myers Park, in its current state would make a good "Druggie Town," while K Rd would suit the name "Hookersville."
The title of this post was taken from a quote in the 2004 film "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," which was set in San Diego.
San Diego population data: UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU. 2009. San Diego County Quick Facts [Online]. Available: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06073.html [Accessed 14/04/2011].
San Diego map: HOME REACH REAL ESTATE. 2009. Downtown San Diego Map [Online]. Available: http://homereach.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/downtownmap.jpg [Accessed 14/04/2011].
Gaslamp Quarter sign: THE NEW SAN DIEGO. 2011. San Diego Condos for Sale [Online]. Available: http://www.thenewsandiego.com/tag/san-diego-condos-for-sale/ [Accessed 14/04/2011].
