Tactical Master Planning - Wellington — LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA

By Nick Kapica

This visionary tactical master plan is an initiative by Isthmus to provide a framework for innovative change. It supports the work of many different groups advocating for a more people friendly Wellington.

During lockdown many of us discovered new ways of moving around the city; less cars, more cycling and walking. During this time at Isthmus we asked ourselves what we could retain from these new experiences to lead us towards an even more people friendly city centre. We also recognised the need to re-inhabit the city, connect with each other and support local shops, bars, restaurants and venues. People have enjoyed having more space to move about in the city, and more space on city transportation.

We are now out of lockdown, but if we need to return to level 2 or 3 we will once again need more space. Finding this space provides a great opportunity to explore what city spaces designed for people—not traffic—would look like. Temporary, low cost interventions—tactical urbanism—allow design changes to be tested, and adapted in real time, rapidly exposing what works and what doesn’t. Small interventions using simple tools—such as cones, planters, and paint—challenge users to rethink how they see and use space, contributing to the larger goal of creating safe, liveable streets for people. Ideas can be tried in a way that is simply not possible if undertaking a permanent public works project.

City improvements typically take a long time; problems need to be identified, ideas developed, public consulted, negotiations undertaken—before any detailed design, procurement, and implementation can take place. Often when all this has happened the idea has shifted and the solution is no longer fit for purpose. The mindset required for radical transformation can be found in Agile—an approach to product development in which needs and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organising, cross-functional teams. Agile promotes adaptive planning, evolutionary development, early delivery, continuous improvement, and encourages rapid and flexible response to change. While it is primarily used for software development it is increasingly finding favor with other types of projects. This approach provides an open and continuous communications strategy, that shares ideas quickly and uses feedback effectively. By bringing the Agile mindset to the Tactical Master Plan we are ensuring fast delivery of useful improvements to the city that will also help us learn where the next interventions need to happen.

While individual improvements and modifications are good—a systemic city-wide approach to finding more space for people is the most effective. Central Wellington is an ideal laboratory to prototype ideas for the future city through ongoing tactical urbanism interventions. We have drawn on our city shaping urban design expertise and developed a ‘tactical’ master plan that supports the integration of many tactical interventions. The founding principles of the tactical urbanism movement to reclaim, re-design and re-programme city spaces can be applied city-wide to discover what a people friendly city would look like for Wellington.

The best master plans provide the right balance of certainty and flexibility to realise a clear vision. Through interrogating existing and potential amenity this tactical master plan will provide more space for people, create better connections, and improve the central city experience.

This tactical master plan is focused around four key moves that provide the framework for smaller detailed ideas to take place as tactical explorations.

This tactical master plan defines a ‘tactical urbanism zone’ within which tactical interventions can be continuously tested. This zone is a planning tool—embedded within the District Plan—that enables many ideas to be tested, and adapted in real time without the need to apply for individual consents. Extending from the Railway Station to Oriental Parade to Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, all roads, existing systems and priorities, kerb-lines and property boundaries have been ignored. Buildings are the hardest thing to move—so we are re-imagining all space beyond the building. Using tactical urbanism within this zone we can test ideas on the ground with real users rather than focusing on desktop studies, opinion and speculation. The tactical zone makes it easier to organise projects around motivated individuals. The tactical zone provides the environment and support needed to try ‘safe to fail’ ideas. We can verify what works and what doesn’t through continuous feedback loops with real users and city authorities.

2. Redefine priorities

Improving the city experience for people requires redefining priorities. The tactical master plan focuses on experiences of people walking, cycling, and using other micro-mobility devices. But not all modes need to be equally represented in every street. Within the tactical zone, priorities will be redefined—and tested—for each street to ensure efficient, safe and enjoyable movements through the city. Some streets may focus on a specific use, e.g. pedestrian zones, express bike lanes, bus lanes, or reimagined parking. These improved experiences will also attract more users: Easier cycling, more space in front of cafes, more comfortable walking connections encourage people to use streets for other modes of transport than driving, but also to simply enjoy where they are right now in the city. If the priority shifts from cars to people and vehicle speeds are reduced, those in a hurry will avoid driving through the city and use routes on the edge.

In order to turn the redefined priorities into reality, we need to find and make space—and develop a design that can be trialled through tactical urbanism. This is about re-organising streets and re-allocating space. Relocating vehicle movements and parking for instance will contribute to this—we need bold moves to make a change. More space means additional public transportation vehicles can freely flow, offering a better service and encouraging people to leave the car at home. Some businesses and local residents will switch to alternative and efficient delivery systems. Some of this new space will help avoid crowding on footpaths at critical points. More space also means businesses can expand their activity in the public realm to safely accommodate physical distancing, but also enhance their offering. This will encourage people to spend time in the city with events and activities and help the local economy recover and grow. We also need drivers heading north or south and not intending to visit the city centre to actually avoid travelling through it. For those visiting the city we suggest providing easy parking at the city edge with optimised walking, cycling, scooter, or micro-mobility routes.

4. Continuous participation

Tactical urbanism enables the testing of ideas in public space in real time. It is a way to involve communities through idea generation, implementation, and continuous feedback. We can discover what works and what doesn’t before investing significant time, energy, resource and capital in long-term changes to a community. Tactical urbanism empowers communities—because it is temporary—people do not need to decide if future planned works will work—they can experience what works, and become invested in the solutions. Continuous participation through digital platforms and pop-up sites will gather knowledge to evolve and adapt interventions in a sustainable manner, helping create unique spaces and projects for Wellington. Social media will communicate change, and foster interest in new ways to use and experience the city. Through continuous participation we can incorporate rich local knowledge, skills and aspirations, and express local stories and narratives.

Isthmus team: Nick Kapica, Oriane Merindol, Stefanie Graze, Brennan Baxley, Frank Hoffmann