Are outdoor spaces important? An investigation into the provision of outdoor space for medium density housing developments

Albany;Auckland;housing;medium density housing;outdoor space;backyard;garden;new zealand

Gray, Katrina Jane Rhiannon ; Freeman, Claire

University of Otago

关键词: Albany;    Auckland;    housing;    medium density housing;    outdoor space;    backyard;    garden;    new zealand;   

Others  :  https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/10523/4644/1/GrayKatrinaJR2014MPlan.pdf

美国|英语

来源: Otago University Research Archive

【 摘 要 】

The provision of a large backyard, the ;;quarter acre dream’, has historically been a key feature of housing development throughout New Zealand. However, in Auckland, due to a rapidly increasing population, rising housing prices and housing policies aimed at intensification, housing density is increasing. Medium density housing has emerged as a key housing form which provides an affordable option compared with stand-alone housing and provides a wide variety of housing and outdoor space types. Medium density housing is generally associated with decreasing private outdoor space. A related change is the increasing number of communal outdoor spaces. As private and communal outdoor spaces change, so too does the use and value of public outdoor space. Given the importance of outdoor space, this study seeks to examine the changing provision of outdoor space in medium density housing developments. Albany is a rapidly developing area of Auckland which already has a significant number of medium density housing options and is predicted to have many more as it develops. Therefore, the focus for this research is on medium density housing developments in Albany.This research found that, generally, the current provision of outdoor spaces is working well. There was increasing demand for medium density housing due to issues of affordability and schooling, as well as an ethnic relationship. Private, communal and public outdoor spaces were considered to be important for residents and are used for a range of recreational and social activities. Interestingly, each type of outdoor space provides for different uses and needs. Nonetheless, the most important form for residents was private outdoor space. This research also found that the size of residents’ private outdoor space is already, or is likely to be compensated for by communal or public outdoor spaces. Complete compensation of private outdoor space is not likely as communal and public outdoor spaces are not able to offer the privacy which private outdoor spaces afford. Overall, resident satisfaction with their outdoor spaces was high, however, there was a diversity of responses. The diversity of responses shows the importance of providing a wide range of housing and outdoor space types, so that the housing needs of a variety of residents are achieved.