Auckland Council proposal to close its Design Office
News that Auckland Council proposes to disestablish its design office to meet budget targets has been greeted with frustration and concern by the Tāmaki Makaurau Design Alliance.
Chair Henry Crothers, who’s the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects representative on the alliance, says such a move undervalues the work of design professionals.
He’s requesting a meeting with the council to discuss a way forward which would ensure innovative, people-orientated design remains at the forefront of future city development.
The polka dots on Auckland’s Federal Street were one of the design office’s initiatives. Photo credit: Bike Auckland
In a letter to mayor Phil Goff, and senior council executives, Crothers says it’s important landscape architects, urban designers, architects and placemakers, continue to report to like-minded decision makers within council, who understand their design vision. Planners, engineers and project managers look at developments very differently, he said.
“The ADO (Auckland Design Office) – working in collaboration with the design community - has contributed immensely to the transformation of Auckland over the last 12 years,” Crothers wrote. “ADO provides leadership but only because it is its own department - that means it has an operational budget in the organisation and can be judged against performance and delivery.
“Without the ADO as an entity it is easier for the private sector/government to impose their will on council. The ADO strength is that provides the council with a centre of excellence not just individual advice on individual projects.”
Auckland’s design champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid, left the office six months ago.
Design champion Ludo Campbell-Reid led the ADO for 13 years before leaving last October. Under his stewardship it created a design manual as a reference for best practice. It initiated the city’s shared spaces, like Elliott St and Fort St, and introduced traffic calming measures like polka dots and planters on others.
Crothers says the ADO provides a valuable design client on public realm projects such as Lower Queen Street, Ferry Basin and Quay Street. And it established the Maori Design Unit which advocates for Te Ao Maori design principles within projects and guides effective consultation and co-design with mana whenua.
“After chaos erupted on Albert St because of the CRL build, ADO took over liaison with retailers to try and help them get through,” Crothers says.
ADO was behind the High St initiative, with wider footpaths making the street more welcoming for shoppers. Photo credit: Auckland Council
And importantly, it advises and consults with other council departments and agencies on the value of good design, design-led processes and effective consultation/stakeholder engagement.
The ADO’s City Centre Masterplan established an aspirational vision for the future.
“The dismemberment and/or restructure of the ADO will undermine this work. Design and design leadership is a vitally important part of Auckland Councils role and obligation to its ratepayers.
“Design and design thinking is not a cost but a process that can lead to outcomes that create efficiency, optimise value and generate return on investment.
“ADO is leading the world in a public sector driven design discourse. Other countries and cities now look to the ADO for its structure and leadership.
The Tāmaki Makaurau Design Alliance is asking the council to maintain an independent design office within its structure that collaborates with other council department but retains its autonomy and identity.
Auckland Council has “paused” the consultation process around closing the office because of COVID-19.