Stitches of a watery influence

Auckland is uniquely bordered by two bodies of water – the Hauraki Gulf and Waitemata Harbour to the North and the Manukau Harbour to the South. We sought to investigate the extent to which the coast line acts beyond being solely a marker of Auckland’s boundary to dictating the value we place on residential properties based on their proximity to it. This map consists of eighteen stitches of interrogation along roads throughout Auckland which lead to the harbor. Each three kilometer long stitch is threaded with properties that were for rent, for sale or sold within the past two years. The marketing emphasis of water on each property is scrutinized via photos and descriptions realtors have provided. Aligned comparatively next to land value and age of buildings, we are therefore able to establish the extent of influence water has on Auckland.

By Shelley Lin and Joanna Wong

Another detail

In making our final map we found that it would also be useful for comparisons to include properties proceeding further inland than just those that reference the water in their property profiles. This allows for comparison between land value/square area and also the age of the property.

Examples of mapping

Books:

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information - Edward R. Tufte

Hyper Adriatica - Pepe Barbieri

 Highlighting sections of area of a map for further analysis

Selecting portions of land by the sea. We liked how the satellite map stops leaving continuing only with the main roads.

We liked the clarity and simplicity of this. 

It compares types of cars, year and trouble spots.

Mapping out data to find distances

One of the most important factors that we wanted to find in this mapping project was how far the influence of water was. After collecting our data we mapped out the properties and found out how far each property was from the water. This was a crucial part of our mapping process. In our final presentation we wanted to display our data comparatively according distance from the water.

Stitches

Collecting Final Data

The final data consists of 18 stitches taken from roads leading to the coast along Auckland. Properties were chosen along or near these roads. 

Twelve stitches along the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf and six along the Manukau Harbour.

1. Brighton Tce – Beach Road – Sunrise Ave – Eastcoast Road – Rose Dale Rd

2. Hinemoa Street – Rugby Road – Le Roy Tce – Birkenhead Ave – Glenfield Road

3. Attwood Road – Chatham Ave – Ridge Road 

4. Pt Chevalier Road

5. Garnet Road - Old Mill Road - Surrey Cres

6. Hamilton Road

7. Orakei Road

8. Tamaki Drive - Kohimarama Road

9. Waitara Road - Riddel Road - Maskell Street

10. West Tamaki Road

11. Point England Road - Swainston Road

12. Hattaway Avenue - Bucklands Beach Road

13. South Titirangi Road - Titirangi Road

14. Blockhouse Bay Road

15. Cape Horn Road - Dominion Road Extension

16. Frederick Street - Carlton Street - Hillsborough Road

17. Shortt Ave

18. Burundi Ave

We decided to collect more data on properties than in the first trial to give a greater overview of the value of property. 

1. Image. The selling image. We flicked through the advertising images available to find the one that placed value on water.

2. Property Address

3. Age of property

4. Land Value

5. Land Area

6. The land value per square meter

7. Floor Area

8. Property Description 

We thought it was just as important to see how a property was marketed through its description as well as it's image. Whether it was a real selling point that was elaborated on or if it was a mere mention. It was in these descriptions you could really find out if a property was near a popular beach that was worth mentioning or not. We highlighted the parts that mentioned sea views/ accessibility to beach via walking or a short drive etc. 

Decisions

From the previous trial we decided we wanted to compare "stitches" of properties along the two harbours. 
We chose roads leading towards the sea. 
We obtain data from houses around the chosen roads.
We would only select properties that had was marketed with some association to water. eg. the image advertising the property had a view of the harbour or it mentions water in the property description.
We neglected the CBD because we soley only wanted private residential properties.
We chose properties that have an advertising image.
     Due to the above requirement this limits our data to properties sold, rented or for sale in the last 2 years.

Trial One

Here is our first attempt at mapping the data we collected on residential properties in relation to their proximity to water. 

From this trial we realised that we wanted to compare how far inland water influences property value rather than only comparing data from properties in close proximity around the coast. Also, this test made us aware of how  particular  symbols and methods of representation are read and that we need to be careful.  For example the line coming out of the each property represents the land value per square meter but may indicate to a reader of the map the view that property may have.