PLACEnews April 2010 Issue 6
Ludo Campbell-Reid
Auckland City Council, Auckland
Ludo is the first ever Urban Design Group Manager and Design Champion at Auckland City Council. He heads all aspects of urban design within Auckland City Council. His approach to urban design involves tackling the total urban design package with a particular emphasis on influencing international standards of design excellence through expert design review in both private and council led projects.
Ludo sees the improvement of internal skills and external public awareness as the critical success factor basis for successful city regeneration and civic renewal. “At the end of the day you need to take people with you”. By eradicating all outdated policies, plans and processes to enable and reward quality Ludo also envisages Auckland eventually becoming the world’s leading city for urban design.
Ludo says that “Auckland is already internationally renowned for its unique natural environment and constantly commands a top 5 position in the Annual mercer Quality of Life survey. However this rating is largely due to the inherited natural wealth not because of the quality of the man made city. The opportunity and potential lies in creating a built form that works in harmony with the natural. Forget world leading Auckland…how about world changing Auckland?”
What is your favourite place?
“Barcelona – the people, the place (slick and grit) and the food. For me also it was where my personal love affair with urban design began. It was the city where urban design was mainstreamed and where the links between civic renewal, tourism, sporting events and economic revitalisation came together. It was ultimately the city, the process and individuals like Oriol Bohigas (the Director of Public Works) and Josep Acibillo (Chief Architect) that put urban design on the world map.”
In your opinion what is the world’s best place and why?
“Barcelona to me is the world’s best place. The city underwent a huge urban repair in the late 80’s. This renewal was focussed around numerous insertion projects. New Public spaces were created where none existed before and existing spaces were revived by undergrounding freeways and parking lots and maintaining an approach that emphasised providing water, greenery, art and play places for children. With a specific focus on attracting people everything else was subservient. Barcelona epitomises the economic power of people and the power of place. It’s also a vibrant, modern and cosmopolitan place, but will never forget where it has come from.”
What is the worst and why?
“The worst place in the world is anywhere that has a large out of town shopping centre. I see them as the epitome of all that we have forgotten about the way that cities should work. They are anti urban and anti people. They often lead to the demise of city centres and take money out of the domestic economy. There are of course exceptions to the rule but generally out of town centre Big box retail developments are the worst part of modern day city development practices. If it was up to me I’d outlaw them from the fringe and incentivise or force them to adopt a more vertical mixed use model. Then they’d be more than welcome.”.
What place in the world has the most potential and why?
“I believe in making places out of spaces and as such all places have potential. That is the skill of urban design … to see the positive in any place and build on its strengths. But if I were to say a specific place it would have to be Auckland and New Zealand. I originally did not want the job here in Auckland but on further investigation I realised what a sleeping giant Auckland was. It was so off the radar but had so much potential; I truly believe it can be a world changer. There is so much inherited natural wealth and some of the most remarkable landscape in the world. The city itself does not reflect this but I believe it can and should. I have chosen Auckland above others because it really has the potential to be great at those things it is currently poor at. We have the brand now let’s build the product”.
What place gives you that real sense of place?
“Natural places, those intimidating but extraordinary types of environments. Places where you feel humbled. For instance the jungle, African plains, mountain ranges or the ocean. These kind of places are so intimidating but spectacular and despite feeling so insignificant I still feel a certain energy that makes me feel comfortable. Other places I feel a sense of place in would have to be anywhere where I am with my loved ones or my friends.”
What is your favourite building in the world?
That is a really unfair question really bearing in mind my role, but if I had to single out one it would be The Sydney Opera House. It takes my breath away every single time I see it, go inside it or even see a picture of it. It is an outrageous piece of architecture that put a nation on the map.
There is also something quite spiritual about it and I will always make a pilgrimage whenever I visit Sydney”.
The other far lesser known is the Danish Library in Copenhagen. Better known as the Black Diamond. See for yourselves!
At home, in your place, what is it you enjoy doing most?
“I love to read to my children. It is a very calming way to end the day. I also play the guitar and love to surf, run and swim with the dog. But most of all I love spending time with my wife and laughing with (and sometimes at!) her.”
