Case Study: Jellicoe St.; Auckland, New Zealand

Location: Wynyard Quarter, North Wharf, Auckland, New Zealand
Population: 1.4 million
Metro: 1.5 million
Length: 400 m
Area: 14,000 m²
Right-of-way: 23 m
Context: Before: Industrial. After: Mixed-Use.
Cost: 24 million NZD (15 million USD)
Funding: Public
Project Sponsors: Auckland Waterfront Development Agency
Max. Speed: 30 km/h

Overview

The transformation of Jellicoe Street is part of the larger revitalization project of the Wynyard Quarter, from an industrial port area to an active and livable waterfront neighborhood. The area is located on the edge of the city, close to the harbor, on contaminated land.

Public space has been designed to catalyze development and foster the conversion of old hangars and warehouses into a cultural and recreational strip.

The street was transformed from an industrial service road to a lush pedestrian boulevard.

The innovative approach that integrated sustainability measures has become the new benchmark for citywide streetplanting strategies.

Key Elements

Rain garden network integrated into the street design.

Limited vehicle access.

Curbs removed (shared-space
approach).

Integration of light rail (tram).

Use of native and local plants.

Goals

• Create a unique destination and a civic space.
• Bring recreational activity to the site.
• Transform the area while preserving the industrial heritage.
• Achieve an environment that is well connected yet offers distinctly different experiences.

Lessons Learned

Although surface treatment reduced speeds, the driver behavior forced the Waterfront Development Agency to implement controls such as wheel stops adjacent to rain gardens and dotted yellow lines to restrict parking.

Usage of parking spaces was monitored and changes were made accordingly, including replacing parking with cycle parking or loading zones.

The following measures were used to create a more sustainable street environment:

• Water-sensitive design including capturing, treating, and reusing stormwater.
• Reuse of existing site materials such as concrete blocks from a nearby cement factory.
• Promotion of healthy activities, environmental education, and social interaction.

Evaluation