Plans, policies and reports
Hauraki Gulf Islands review
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Issues and options papers
Colour, Scale and Form of Buildings
Issue
In dealing with the exterior finish of buildings in certain land units the
current Hauraki Gulf Islands District Plan contains references to the document Colour
for Structures in the Landscape by T. Heath. Heath developed visual cues for
greyness, weight and hue. Using the cues Heath carried out a study on the rural
landscape of New Zealand in order to introduce a practical means of controlling
the impact of structures in the rural landscape. Heath states: "…the
single most important visual consideration in selecting colour for a structure
is the visual relationship between the structure and its landscape
background", and "…colour in itself cannot be considered in
isolation". These are important considerations when regulating
colour.
Various community interest groups have developed a sense of ownership of
current controls and strive to ensure that the Council rigorously upholds
recommended colour combinations. Community awareness and the value of colour
controls have been heightened as a consequence. Research suggests that the
current administration of the District Plan gives too much emphasis to
recommended colour combinations. This approach is not achieving the intent of
the Plan.
A research paper prepared for Massey University concludes that colour is an
effective tool to control the visual effects of buildings but colour cannot be
considered in isolation. If a regulatory approach is adopted it must be
formulated to reduce subjectivity and allow easy application by the
decision-maker.
Research suggests that the effectiveness of current regulations for colour
control in the Hauraki Gulf Islands could be improved, particularly in the areas
of interpretation and subjectivity of assessment.
Possible Approaches
You may have a better or alternative approach to those outlined below. If so,
we would like to hear from you.
- Retain the status quo.
- Consider a number of regulatory approaches used by various local bodies
throughout New Zealand.
- Develop permitted activity standards for development that comply with
planning unit standards/architectural design guidelines; or alternatively
- Develop permitted activity standards for development where exteriors and
roofs could be painted with external colours that have an acceptable
reflectance value.
- Allow a variation to the standard colour palette or reflectance value by
way of a discretionary activity.
- Remove reference to T. Heath.
- Remove controls and assessment criteria relating to colours.
- Introduce controls on reflectivity rather than colour.
Note:
While this issue paper can be read in isolation, it is best read in
association with the issue papers relating to:
