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Wellington PSPL

Facilitating sustainable growth in Wellington

Sector

Civic & Public

Region

Asia Pacific

Timespan

2021

Credit: Wellington City Council

Population growth is a pressing concern for cities worldwide, and Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is no exception. In 2021, the Wellington City Council invited Gehl to conduct a Public Space Public Life study to identify the city center’s strengths and growing pains, proposing a number of strategic moves to facilitate the city’s sustainable growth.

Credit: Wellington City Council
Credit: Wellington City Council

Mindful growth

Over the next 30 years, Wellington’s population is projected to increase by 37%. With the number of residents estimated to grow faster than the supply of homes, the City of Wellington is under immense pressure to drive sustainable growth and maintain its livability.

Gehl served as a trusted advisor to the city, and promoted the sustainable growth agenda and the integration of a people-first approach to urban planning. Building on the 2004 Public Space Public Life report, Gehl conducted a new study to assess changes over the previous 16 years. The data and insights collected informed a Public Space Framework, providing holistic recommendations for ongoing and future city planning with a focus on sustainable growth.

The City has already initiated several significant programs that will shape its growth, identity, and character. The 2021 Public Space Public Life study has provided valuable survey data and information to support these programs, helping to validate strategies and projects as they move forward.

Credit: Wellington City Council
Henriette Vamberg, Managing Director Europe, Gulf & Asia Pacific, Partner
The river lies right on the city’s doorstep and offers a relaxing respite from the urban hustle and bustle, yet it is often difficult for all users to access. Credit: Gehl

Revitalizing and connecting Melbourne’s city centre to its riverfront

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: LHM/MOR, DobnerAngermann

Modernizing Munich’s old town as a place for all

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Broadway at Times Square in 2009, after Gehl worked with the City of New York and the Department of Transport on a major urban realm and bicycle strategy. Credit: Department of Transport (DOT)

Redefining New York City’s relationship with its streets

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: Van Leer Foundation

Advocating for child-friendly cities globally

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit Gehl

Expanding people-first transportation options in a booming city

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
In 2022, the Gehl team reimagined a parking lot into a space fostering vibrant public life. The project’s success led to its permanent transformation, highlighting the potential for underutilized urban areas to be repurposed into thriving community spaces. Credit: Patrick Waldschmitt

Bringing more greenery, healthy mobility, and public life into Karlsruhe’s inner city

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy

‘People-first’ includes you

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