Give us Space

Summary

An ongoing project to improve residents’ well-being by ensuring better understanding, access to and usage of key semi-public spaces. Through collaborative work and action-based research between the Universities and local communities, the project created a pilot digital toolset that provides access to information on the use and perception of this kind of space, fosters social interaction, improves management and generates new knowledge. It explored semi-public space territorialisations regarding association narratives, claims and conflicts, and tactics of reappropriation.

This is a contribution from a member of GAP (General Assembly of Partners) reporting on progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda.

The project started in 2016 when a city centre activist approached me at the University where I then worked to help with a project to provide users of the city centre of Auckland with information about the spaces they could use. Auckland Council had developed a policy of bonus floor spaces during the previous 20 years and one of the outcomes of this was a series of very useful walkways and through routes which help people navigate the hilly city. Over the years, some property ownes had failed to renew the notices and so city centre users were becoming increasingly frustrated that they were losing access to these useful spaces.

Promotion of map at 2 of Auckland Council's events at the Myers Park
Apply successfully for research funding to consolidate the work and undertake validation exercises
Regularly promote the map and its content at Local Board events, the City Centre Network and the newsletter Vertical Voice

In Auckland, the challenge has been to profile the SDGs and the NUA. My approach had been to say that the NUA provides a really useful checklist for a modern and progressive city. It can be used by non planners and grass roots advocates to challenge the city to do better.

Helped develop very practical partnerships between researchers and grass roots city centre activists.
The key researcher has since moved on from her university position and is a freelance researcher and this has facilitated a more practical approach.

23,565 views of the map up to March 13 2022
Raising awareness of access issues through Auckland Council -Universal Design Forum
Further collaborations with Women in Urbanism

Mik Smellie, City Centre Activist and facilitator of the City Centre Network and compiler of the Vertical Voice.
Vivian Naylor, access adviser
Emma McInnes and Women in Urbanism, Auckland