Opening up the river - connection & attraction : rediscovering the river in Hamilton

RESEARCH QUESTIONS: What fundamental urban design and architectural techniques can be applied to best provide a link between the Waikato River and Victoria Street in Hamilton? And how can they be applied? SCOPE & LIMITATIONS: The scope of this project is to successfully bring the Waikato River into the city. The process in which this project intends to do so is through the strengthening of connection between river and city. These connections will be strengthened through an initial iteration of a central site in Hamilton’s city centre. Through the process of connection, an existing element of the city is highlighted and therefore becomes a newfound focal point from the heart of the city. As this new focus point is formed, the activation of the city then relies on the ability to make the river area the main attraction and entertainment in the city. The project is to serve as an example and basis for the remaining developments along the river, encouraging projects to respond to the strengthening of attraction for the city architecturally. The approach does not seek to provide an overall masterplan design in regards to how the river connection should be designed. The scope is to show how one site can be designed successfully to achieve the connection and attraction through architectural and planning techniques