1

4
PA R T 1
CO N T E X T

5
PA R T 1
CO N T E X T

Definition New Zealand Urban Design Protocol

Good design is informed by context: a well-designed In order to understand the context of our cities and
development responds and contributes to its towns, one must understand the concept of urban
environment. For the purposes of this guide, context design. Urban design is concerned with the buildings,
is considered to be all nearby natural and built physical places, spaces and networks that make up our towns
features, as well as social, economic, transport and and cities, and the way that people use them. It ranges
environmental factors that impact on a site. in scale from a metropolitan region, city or town down
to a street, public space or even a single building.
Understanding context means understanding the Urban design is concerned not just with appearances
interrelationships between the above factors, and and built form, but also with the environmental,
between the site and the surrounding area. While the economic, social and cultural consequences of design.
urban environment usually changes relatively slowly, It is an approach that draws together many different
new developments should respond to the potential sectors and professions, and it includes both the
future context as well as to the existing situation. In process of decision making as well as the outcomes
order to do this, one must identify desirable aspects of design.
of current character that are important to the future
of the area. The New Zealand Urban Design Protocol is a voluntary
commitment to specific urban design initiatives by
Proposals for apartment developments should signatory organisations and it seeks to ensure that the
illustrate how design decisions are based on careful design of buildings, places, spaces and networks that
analysis of the context. A site plan, a plan of the make up our towns and cities work for all of us, both
surrounding area and a written statement that lists now and in the future.
site constraints and opportunities and explains how
the design relates to context analysis should The Urban Design Protocol identifies seven essential
accompany any drawings submitted for discussion or design qualities that create good urban design:
consent with the local council. The written statement
should list and explain the designer’s key influences.
seeing buildings, places and spaces as part
Context of whole towns and cities

reflecting and enhancing the distinctive

Character character, heritage and identity of our urban
environment

Choice ensuring diversity and choice for people

Connections ensuring that different networks link together

encouraging innovative and imaginative

Creativity solutions

Good Solutions Guide for Apartments: Part 1: Context 6

 Analysis of Surrounding Area
ensuring design is environmentally The extent of surrounding area that requires analysis
Custodianship sustainable, safe and healthy
varies from site to site and depends primarily on
the relative size and importance of the proposed
communicating and sharing knowledge across
Collaboration sectors, professions and with communities
development, and on the connections between the
site and the surrounding area. For example, the area of
analysis may change depending on whether the site will
For more information see ‘Urban Design Protocol’ be accessed primarily by road, rail, footpath, dedicated
at www.mfe.govt.nz cycle path, or some combination of them all. Items to
note and respond to include:
Context Analysis
Context analysis can be undertaken at a variety of
street layouts and circulation routes (vehicle,
levels. The minimum required is an analysis of the Connections pedestrian and cyclists)
surrounding area and an analysis of the site. Each level
of investigation is important and should include, but frequency of service and proximity to routes,
is not limited to, the items listed below. The existing Public transport stations and stops
condition of each element should be recorded and it
should be considered whether the element constitutes location of electricity connections,
an opportunity or a constraint for the proposed communications/data connections, water
development. Appropriate design responses to Infrastructure lines, sewer lines, stormwater drains, gas
connections, electrical lines and connection
each item should be noted. The investigation could & utilities points (underground and overhead),
be undertaken at the same scale on the same drawing, electricity poles, street lighting, traffic
or at various scales over several drawings. lights, natural drainage lines

Context analysis should identify the key natural proximity and location (including directions
and built features of the site and surrounding area. Facilities and distances) of shops, schools and
community facilities
However, Context Analysis is more than just a record
of existing conditions. By describing the physical
elements of the site and surrounding area and relationship between existing surrounding
Uses and
uses and activities and those proposed for
the conditions impacting on the site, it identifies activities the site
opportunities and constraints for future development,
and allows them to be addressed in the design. form, scale and character of surrounding
Streetscape urban environment

character, location, uses and heights

Adjacent
(including number of storeys and important
buildings parapet and/or datum heights)

character, location & uses of open spaces

Open spaces and natural resources

7
View shafts any prominent views that may be affected
Vegetation
significant vegetation offering shade, wind
protection, and visual amenity

Major trees location, type and condition

Views into and out of the site

Acoustic or motorways, railways, industrial sites,

visual intrusion sporting venues Site dimensions size, shape and proportions

Surrounding general grain of lots and the degree existing natural resources and features
Natural features such as watercourses
lot sizes of variability

development controls and rights of Existing built

Surrounding location, use and character
surrounding area: opportunities and features
controls constraints
Site boundary fences, walls, retaining walls, buildings or
Legal rights easements, rights of way, covenants, etc. conditions natural features

Nearby effects that this will have on site location of vehicle and pedestrian kerb
Crossings crossings
topography e.g. flood paths

Site access vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists

Analysis of the Site

Circulation site circulation and movement patterns
All of the site should be considered as part of the site
analysis. The opportunities and constraints on the site
itself, along with those of the immediate surrounding quality and suitability, geotechnical
Soil restraints and natural hazards
area that impact upon the site, should be noted and
responses considered. They include:
Overlooking overlooking and/or overshadowing

Orientation north point, sun path diagram archaeological, cultural, and heritage
Heritage considerations

Topography levels, contours and landforms

Wind prevailing directions

Rainfall &
rain pattern and rainwater runoff across
drainage the site
patterns

Good Solutions Guide for Apartments: Part 1: Context 8

Rules of Thumb
A pedshed analysis, which maps the walking distance
and time from a proposed building to nearby facilities,
can be a very useful tool for analysing a site’s
surrounding area. For example, an average person
walks 450m in 5 minutes. An older person (65+) walks
375m in 5 minutes. This can be shown on the context
plan by drawing a circle with a five-minute radius from
the site boundary to establish the facilities within easy
reach of the development. Such a diagram will show
how the crow flies and the most direct route on the
ground will probably take longer. Also, any physical
obstacle – such as a motorway, river or steep hill – will
reduce the ease of reaching facilities within the circle.

An example of a combined site and context analysis.