Research
An archive of research supported by Transforming Cities.
Research themes
Transforming Cities was underpinned by a broad research agenda with three main themes:
- Understanding and managing change in urban environments
- Transformations in space and place for sustainable futures
- Imagining and developing mechanisms/interventions for the creation of liveable cities
Transforming Cities led research into vital questions about urban change and future challenges for New Zealand cities and towns. By bringing together researchers, practitioners and policy makers from The University of Auckland and allied organisations across New Zealand and internationally, we combined different perspectives and expertise to create new knowledge and inform urban decision-making.
Housing Research Programme
Transforming Cities identified a specific priority in the area of housing research.
It is critical that we increase our understanding of housing both at the level of individual dwellings, including the lived experience of the occupants, and also the provision of housing to wider communities. We investigate the connections between houses, neighbourhoods and the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental systems operating within cities and towns.
Our housing research interests and expertise include:
- Housing demand and supply
- The physical and environmental performance of houses and urban developments
- Housing and community resilience
We connected researchers from across the University of Auckland who have an interest in this research theme and actively engage with other agencies working in this area. Dr Penny Lysnar coordinated this programme on behalf of Transforming Cities.
Researchers at University of Auckland have considerable expertise in housing research. Please contact Melanie Milicich, Research Liaison and Communications Coordinator, Urban Research Network, for further information.
Internal seed funding round centred on urban research
In 2013 a funding round resulted in the allocation of seed funding to develop twelve projects. This round was open to all University of Auckland staff working in the areas of urban social research, housing research, and urban research associated with the Worldwide Universities Network global challenges. The objective of the round was to seed fund research projects with the potential for connection and relevance to external agencies.
You can find details about the projects this funding round supported on our Seed Funded Research Projects page.
Associated Research Projects
Finding the Best Fit: Housing, Downsizing and Older People in a Changing Society
As a result of Transforming Cities' facilitative work, Professor Larry Murphy and Dr Michael Rehm of the University's Department of Property collaborated with the Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment (CRESA) in a successful bid to MBIE. Their project 'Finding the Best Fit: Housing, Downsizing and Older People in a Changing Society'. The total funding for the project is $1,625,156 over three years.
The future of timber: cross-laminated multi-storey timber buildings
Principal Investigator: John Chapman, School of Architecture and Planning is working on 'The future of timber: cross-laminated multi-storey timber buildings'. Transforming Cities funded John Chapman in 2013 to visit academic and industry partners in North America, which strongly supported the ongoing development of this work. John is passionate about the potential for this innovative way of working with timber framing in multi-story settings and is exploring funding options for further research.
Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) Scholarship
A BRANZ Building Research Postgraduate (PhD) Scholarship Award has been secured ($75,000 over three years), linked to a research project seed funded by Transforming Cities in 2013; 'EDFAB: Eco Digital Fabrication. Using new technology to design, build and retrofit high-quality affordable housing'.
Previously Funded Projects
To date, two rounds of internal funding have resulted in nine research projects, involving researchers from seven faculties. These researchers bring a diversity of disciplinary expertise, including: planning, architecture, geography, property, environmental health, public health, management and international business, leadership, economics, sociology, psychology, Asian studies, social history, transport economics, civil, electrical, computer and environmental engineering, biological science, dance, education and operations research.