An invitation to participate in the 2015 City Centre WHAT: Public Life Survey and Capacity Building Workshops The Design Office, Waterfront Auckland, WHO:& Gehl Architects - Urban Quality Consultants WHEN: May 12th-18th, 2015

ver the last decade, Auckland has taken Continuing this relationship, a follow up survey has considerable steps towards its goal of becoming been set for May 12th - 18th, 2015. To successfully Othe world’s most liveable city. Rated number deliver the survey volunteers are invited to participate in 3 in the 2015 Annual Mercer Quality of Living Survey, observational analysis across the city centre; counting, Auckland’s built environment is beginning to catch up mapping, tracking and recording the behaviour, movement to its inherited natural and cultural wealth. A renewed and activities of people in public spaces (in collaboration commitment to high quality strategies - that with representatives of Gehl Architects, the Auckland prioritise people focused environments - is beginning to Design Office & Waterfront Auckland). Survey volunteers strenthen Auckland’s city centre as a more civic minded, will also be invited to Capacity Building Workshops - pedestrian friendly city. facilitated by representatives of Gehl Architects - where they will share their methodologies for understanding the One such strategy has been the establishment of a relationships between the design of public spaces and the cooperative working relationship between Auckland resulting public life (a process refined through more than Councils Auckland Design Office and based 50+ years of research, observing public life in cities such Urban Quality Consultants Gehl Architects*. as , , Melbourne, Sydney, New York and Moscow, among others). In April 2010 Gehl Architects were commissioned to conduct a Public Life Survey in Auckland’s Central This is a fantastic opportunity for fellow ‘urbanists’ Business District. Public Life Surveys are a tool for gaining involved and/or interested in the field of urban design a detailed overview of the level and type of public life and public life to get involved and be part of Auckland’s visible in our urban spaces. The data sets collected offer story. Any persons interested in participating in the survey important insight into how public spaces are working and should contact Den Aitken before May 8th, 5pm for empower designers to make informed decisions regarding further details. the improvement of the public realm to better suit the needs of the people of the city.

Den Aitken Specialist Landscape Architect_BLA (Hons) City Centre Design Unit_Auckland Design Office Auckland Council

DDI +64 9 484 6422 M + 64 21 925 861 [email protected]

*Gehl Architects was established in 2000, building on the 40+ years of extensive research by Founding Partner, Jan Gehl. Jan is an Architect and former Professor and Researcher at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture. He has published several books, including, “Life Between Buildings”, “Cities for People”, “New City Spaces”, “Public Spaces – Public Life”, “New City Life” and most recently “How to Study Public Life”. He is an honorary fellow of RIBA, AIA, RAIC, and PIA. For more information on Gehl Architects and the Public Life Surveys visit: http://gehlarchitects.com/