The Striking Line: How Play Can Animate Urban Parks

Abstract

This research inquiry proposes an urban park design for 16 Fencible Drive, Howick, that encourages community engagement through physical activity, aligning with the goals of the Howick Village Centre Plan, which aims to become a community hub for locals and visitors. The methods of drawing and three-dimensional modelling are used to investigate the techniques of an animated line and how they might fabricate a public space for playful interactions, involving physical movements. The documentation process consists of site analyses of urban parks across Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand, revealing any constraints and spatial qualities that might influence the design proposition. This practice-led spatial design reimagines urban parks as playful, physical activity environments that inform a sense of enjoyment when interacting with the space.