Ever taken a walk around the Uptown precinct, stopped and thought “I wonder what this place will be like in five, 10 or 20 years?” If you have, you’re not alone. Since the start of the first 2023 semester, more than 550 urban design-oriented brains have been applying their studies to the Uptown area.

The Uptown Business Association, working with Upper Queen Street-located firm The Urban Advisory (TUA) has partnered with AUT, Auckland University and Unitec architecture schools to integrate Uptown into this year’s student course work.

“Over the last few years we've engaged with residents and business people to form an Uptown community vision. Partnering with the universities provides an opportunity to build on that thinking in a dynamic and innovative way,” says Uptown’s Brent Kennedy.

Dr Natalie Allen, from The Urban Advisory, adds “It’s brilliant that students from all three schools of architecture and across all year levels are contributing to this festival and challenging us all to reimagine what’s possible in our inner-city neighbourhoods. We’ll get to see and absorb such a range of different ideas, from urban furniture and mixed-use developments and housing to neighbourhood-wide strategies about how to make sure Uptown maintains its unique character as it evolves. These will be presented in all sorts of mediums, from digital installations and large-format posters to models and interactive displays.”

“What’s really exciting is that students are building on the thinking shared by community members and helping to bring the unique history and future of Uptown together in their work for us all to reflect on, learn from, and make happen!” says Natalie.

Selected student work will be showcased at the Uptown Futures Festival from July 5-12. This festival will invite people from all walks of life across Tāmaki Makaurau to imagine and visualise the future of the neighbourhood. The week will be anchored by two community meetings, with keynote speakers and attendee participation. Student work will be showcased at these events and at “pop-up” spaces around the neighbourhood and provide an interactive, multidisciplinary experience for people who live, work, play or otherwise move through Uptown.

“As a new architecture and future environments programme grounded in place-based understanding of architecture, it is wonderful to have the whole of AUT working together, alongside Uptown and other Tāmaki-based schools on a real-world project. 

The range of project approaches is truly exciting, with place-based activation expressing the unique potential of Uptown,” says Sibyl Bloomfield from AUT.

Julie Stout from Auckland University says students realise “key design moves could transform Uptown”, providing “a real community heart”.

"Exhibiting their work in the Uptown Futures Festival allows students to share their designs with the community and inspire them towards a future urban life that reflects their needs and aspirations," adds Sameh Shamout from Unitec.

The initiative has been supported by Uptown businesses, Pacific Environments, Paul Brown & Associates, ECC, and Frequency. Impromptu discussions with residents and business owners are being held all around the neighbourhood as students research for their work.

So come along to the Uptown Futures Festival in July. In addition to seeing what the students have developed and absorbing some new ideas, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute your thinking. The team from the Uptown Business Association and The Urban Advisory will be excited to see you and hear from you as they build on a community vision for Uptown.



To keep up to date visit www.uptown.co.nz/future or email info@uptown.co.nz