Urb sub urb: the urbanisation of the suburbs

Abstract

The Urbanisation of the Suburbs is a process which has succeeded that of the suburbanisation of the population - whereby the residential areas around cities and towns experienced rapid and steady growth. The suburbs are now witnessing a burgeoning commercial and industrial component in their centres. In essence, the process of urbanisation entails the suburbs' taking on of urban characteristics in their economies, populations, social structure, and ultimately, their architecture and planning. This report sets out to explore some current developments in the architecture and planning of these new suburban centres - both in theory and in built form. The report comprises three parts ; Part One - The Evolution of the Suburb. This part explores - very briefly -history of the suburb, in the UK, USA, Israel, Europe, and in Wellington. It then goes on to examine the current state of suburbia, also including Wellington's suburbs. Part Two - The Future of the Suburbs. This part looks first at theoretical projects, and then at projects which are, or are about to be, built. Following this, I have drawn a personal conclusion as to the 'best form' of new suburban development. Part Three - An Urban Suburb. This then applies this 'best form' to the northern Wellington suburb of Johnsonville and at the same time, briefly examines what the Wellington City Council has in mind for the suburb. The topic at hand is an important one but also one of vast scope. Within the confines of this report, I have tried to provide a balanced range of current developments along with the 'background' I have felt necessary. The constraints of the report also led me to confine the New Zealand aspects to Wellington.