Sensitive development of public spaces helps people enjoy the city and adds to our civic pride and our 'sense of place'.
The central city's public spaces bring people together and are venues for a wide range of events and recreational opportunities at the regional and city level. The impact of the central city's public spaces on visitors' perception and on the attractiveness of the area for businesses and residents highlights the importance of high-quality design.
At the local level, physical improvements in suburban centres contribute to the quality of life of communities and the vitality of local businesses.
Design objectives
Wellington urban design upgrades address a number of key objectives, such as:
- Walkability - making Wellington's streets and spaces as people-friendly as possible. Well-designed streets are critical to creating attractive and lively public spaces.
- Sense of identity and place - identifying and enhancing the qualities and characteristics that make Wellington special, including conserving the city's built heritage.
- Connectivity - making sure there are good connections and it's easy to move to and through the central city, town centres and suburbs.
- Accessibility - easily accessible places and spaces so everyone can get around.
- Sustainability - recognising the natural environment and using sustainable design solutions where appropriate.
- Safety - making sure public places and spaces are as safe and pleasant for people as possible.
Current initiatives
Urban design initiatives in Wellington include developing more parks and open spaces, enhancing city streets, and requiring ground floors of building to be publicly accessible.