'Slice of Heaven'

This site analysis was based upon the idea of Cafes around Wellington being ‘Slices of Heaven’ amidst the busy city life. I analysed and observed the flow of foot traffic around the selected Cafes allocated in the popular city zones, highlighted on the vector map and worked along the axis of Cuba St. and the Wellington Waterfront. While analysing the flow of foot traffic, I also took note of the different people contributing to the flow traffic, creating a typology. The analysis was taken at approximately 4.30pm, a time when people finish work. Business people wearing suits were commonly found around the analysed sites and time.

Most of the selected Cafes that I was collecting data around were filled with professional looking occupants. What I derived from this observation was that people who have worked during the day like to retreat to their preferred Cafes after work. Therefore the Cafes act as a retreat; a place to recuperate from the stresses of the day and conclude their day. The Café acts as their slice of heaven which provides a relaxed, carefree atmosphere were they can forget the troubles of the world and take into delight the goodness of Coffee before returning to their busy lives.

- Ruwarashe Saunyama

Klauzura - Coffee house Program

Open publication - Free publishing - More architecture

Interation with city and people

Open publication - Free publishing - More architecture

The area that we are studying is actually a very interesting site. There are greatly varied atmospheres within the site. Speaking from the top of Cuba, it's a pretty arty area where lots of artist contributed to. Meanwhile, there are also a lot of boutiques, op-shops, art spaces and so on. Sometimes it's not so official, and gets a bit vague and myterious.
Down to Cuba mall, it feels a lot more in the sun, everythings is alive and breathing here, full of energy and vitality, where the most people involve in public life and the greatest occupants flows occurs.
When the journey continues to waterfront, since the public space surrounded by City Library, Wellington Town Hall, Micheal Fowler Centre, etc. is planned and constructed by city council, coperating with architects and artists. It is the official image of the whole city, linking the beautiful shore line at the waterfront.

Here is my understanding of Wellington as a Coffee Space in terms of distribution of certain types of people, age groups and in what locations/surroundings the cafés are embedded. My reasoning for subsequently focusing on Cuba Mall is that it is the main axis through the space and also has the highest interface of coffee houses to people due to the fact that it is a pedestrian zone.

Additionally while my mind was spinning around thoughts about layout, coffee program and how much I would actually need a good coffee right now the following idea popped into my head.

Latte Macciato is my favourite coffee and has quite a skill requiring technique to it for achieving those layers. Really advanced pros in coffee making manage up to four different layers ... its all about how slowly and precisely you let the foamed milk flow into the coffee....

Anyway... We'll see where all this goes later.

Peope on a cuba axis

This data collection and graph took me way to long to produce, but I think it's a key piece of information in my project. I basically counted people at various locations (1, 2, 3, ... 8) from Able Smith St. down to the wharf/ water's edge, at four times, morning (raining) lunchtime (clearing) afternoon (sunny) and night-time. I did near simultaneous measurements at sites A and B for each reference point (so, 1A and 1B) to compare the flows of people at the two sites at the same time.

I found that the A axis is much busier than the B, especially around the cuba pedestrian mall, acting as a very public space, while the A and B converged at the waterfront (as did the physical paths).

I also found that during lunch time was a peak flow time, with the difference between A and B at maximum. At night, the A flow was lower but the B flow did not change as significantly, remaining at a 'low hum' day and night.

(on the graph, colours represent different times, fill or cross points the sites A or B)

And of course, this post couldn't have been possible without:

 

Here's my first week's analysis of Cafes in this rad city we call home.

So far I've only been to cafes around the pedestrian parts of Cuba St, but over the next few days I'd like to check out a few around Civic Square. Cuba St cafes can seem like hipster mating-grounds, whereas  with its proximity to the Library, Town Hall, Michael Fowler Centre and Art Gallery, I think there will be quite a different cross-section of people there.

(click the map below for a full-size version)


James Schollum

Did somebody mention tea?

At Martha's Pantry (276 Cuba Street  Te Aro, Wellington 6011), High Tea is available. This is an experience to be enjoyed, mostly by women, and is a social under-taking. The soft tones of the single main room set the tone for the occasion. The staff are super friendly and will do their best to find a space for you even on a packed sunday afternoon. Everything is (sickeningly) cute and feminine. It'd take a brave man to face this womens safe haven but it isn't an experience to be missed if you like tiny sandwiches and tiny cupcakes. High Tea at Martha's is $25pp. Bookings in advance are suggested.

For the assignment: This is a great place to observe how the specific program of a place can draw customers in. Keywords for me from this place were: decor, inter-action, connection, intimacy, femininity, delight and family.

 There is a heart in my hot chocolate and two chocolate hearts beside it. D'aww!

 Tiny cupcakes!! (Terrible photo of someone elses table taken on the sly)

This keeps your tea warm while you chit-chat the afternoon away.