Ever wondered why next door’s window is looking directly into your living space? Why the neighbours home casts your deck in shadow for most of the day? Is your house supported by an impressively high retaining wall? Did you find that the driveway ended up paving over much of the precious green space around your […]
Archive | March, 2015
Fixing Auckland’s Transport: the 10-year budget debate
March 10, 2015

Aucklanders live in the fastest growing region in the country. If we are to avoid crippling congestion in the future, Auckland’s transport system requires serious consideration and some hefty investment over the next ten years. This Auckland Conversation: ‘Fixing Auckland’s Transport – The 10-Year Budget’ presents the choices currently being presented by Auckland Council to […]
The beauty of small gestures: an urban design context
March 6, 2015

On bustling streets and next to pocket parks, little free libraries are popping up all over Grey Lynn. These joyfully decorated and weatherproofed bookshelves facilitate book swaps, building literacy and community goodwill. The pop up libraries are the efforts of local couple John and Yvonne Pakenham, who were inspired by a Little Free Library they […]
NZPI Conference: Back to the Future … “where we’re going we don’t need roads”
March 5, 2015

Here at the Auckland Design Office, we’re very excited about going to the New Zealand Planning Institute 2015 Conference this April. This year’s conference, titled Back to the Future, is expected to be the largest yet and is over-flowing with inspirational speakers from the US, Australia and beyond. We’re particularly excited to hear from Charles Montgomery, […]
March 11, 2015
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