Thinking.

Principal Nik Kneale has spent the last decade or so helping shape Ōtautahi’s future in the wake of the Canterbury Earthquakes. With life-long connections to the Ōtākaro Avon River and its disrupted communities, Nik reflects on the importance of acknowledging memory and connection to place in shaping a boldly aspirational future for the river, the land and the city.

Isthmus have come a long way since assembling a Women in Leadership group in 2016. Driven by a cross-section of Isthmus wāhine, the focus group and process gave rise to a ‘champion network’ model which has set in motion a number of other social and cultural initiatives, writes CEO Ralph Johns, for Landscape Architecture Aotearoa.

More homes are needed in all corners of Aotearoa. Isthmus Principal Haylea Muir argues that housing density is something that we need to embrace even in our smaller towns and cities and offers 10 tips on how to embrace this change.

We have been thinking about our different city experiences during lockdown. Isthmus designers; Oriane Merindol, Stefanie Graze, Brennan Baxley, and Frank Hoffmann have developed a tactical master plan that could help re-inhabit the city while maintaining some of the new things we liked. This initiative aims to provide a framework for innovative change by supporting the work of many different groups advocating for a more people friendly Wellington. In this Thinking article Nick Kapica describes how a systematic approach to tactical urbanism could be a catalyst for change.

Landscape architect Zach Barker trained and practiced in the US prior to moving to Aotearoa, where he now works as a Senior Landscape Architect for Isthmus. In this thought piece he examines integrated infrastructure solutions, explores the overlap between landscape and infrastructure and advocates for a holistic approach to ‘Shovel Ready’ projects.

Our social, political, and economic consciousness is shifting as a nation. As we begin to understand and embrace what being Maori can say about Aotearoa, our conversation as designers turns to the land and to the built environment. Damian Powley thinks these deep narratives have as much to say about what once was, as they do about our collective identity. Here he re-imagines a historic portage connection, in a modern city.

Design thinker Nick Kapica talks about how the current Covid crisis creates an opportunity to quickly adapt our urban public spaces to support physical distancing, and suggests that we also try something much bigger.

After a decade in Auckland Tim Watts, Principal Urban Designer at Isthmus, now lives in the UK. As well as continuing to work for Isthmus, Tim also maintains a role with Homes England’s Large Site team. Here he talks about the parallel worlds of housing need in NZ and the UK and reflects on what lessons there may be for New Zealand.

Isthmus CEO Ralph Johns suggests that complex design issues are best tackled by casting aside traditional disciplinary models. He talks about how Isthmus has structured the studio around the idea of ambiguity. (This story originally appeared in Idealog).

Isthmus creative director David Irwin outlines how using a human-centric approach in urban design can support the needs of a modern world. (Originally published in Idealog #70 Wellness Month).

Andre de Graaf on how small homes can help solve housing affordability (Originally published as part of Idealog’s ‘Can we Fix It? Poverty Week’).

Damian Powley explains why architects need to harness the creative energy of our tamariki (Originally published in Idealog #68).

Ralph Johns talks with Landscape Architecture Aotearoa about blurring the boundaries between disciplines.

Ralph Johns recently went on a 140km tiki tour of Auckland city via its cycleways and discovered that it is the best way to enjoy a city.

Helen Kerr is leading the Awataha Greenway project for HLC and Panuku Development in Northcote. This is a transcript of her presentation on the project at the 2018 Urbanism New Zealand Conference.

Images from a moving window
with David Irwin.

The benefits of a compact approach,
Helen Kerr talks with Construction News (March 2015).

Reflecting on Hobsonville Land Company’s
10th Birthday with Haylea Muir.

Assessing the New Zealand
landscape with Gavin Lister.

David Irwin explores ideas of
repetition with artist John Reynolds.

David Irwin talks Auckland’s future
with the NZ Herald (December 2015).