Part2

Read the text and answer the questions below.

The reconstruction of community in talbot park, Auckland

A

The buildings in Talbot Park are eye-catching now and quite different from other state-built ones. “There is no reason why public housing should look cheap in view,” says Design Group architect Neil. The bricks and wood-built houses and apartments are tidy.

B

Talbot Park is a triangle of government-owned land bounded by Apirana Ave, Pilkington Rd and Point England Rd. In the early 1960s it was developed for state housing built around a linear park that ran through the middle. Initially, there was a strong sense of a family-friendly community. Former residents recall how the Talbot Park reserve played a big part in their childhoods – a place where the kids in the block came together to play softball, cricket, leapfrog and bulrush. “It was all just good fun”, says George Thompson. “We had respect for our neighbors and addressed them by the title Mr. and Mrs. and so so,” she recalls.

C

Quite what went wrong with Talbot Park is not clear. The community began to change in the late 1970s as more immigrants such as Pacific Islanders and Europeans moved in. The new arrivals didn’t integrate with the community, a “them and us” mentality developed, and residents interacted with their neighbors less. What was clear was that the buildings were deteriorating and shabbier. The rate of crime was on the rise and the reserve-focus of fond childhood memories had become a wasteland and was considered unsafe. But it wasn’t until 2002 that Housing New Zealand decided the properties needed upgrading.

D

Some controversial views arose when the program started and actually, the program made the density of the people greater. As the building in the park included free-standing houses, semi-detached or low-level apartments, the state took the mix and match strategy which involved different architects and prevented the buildings from being the same. And the interiors such as the kitchen and bathroom were made comfortable and not over the budget. The walls in the community were cancelled and showed the people with see-through openness.

E

The community is comprised of different races: Pacific Islanders, Maoris, New Zealand Europeans. The tenants also include other races from Asia, Ukraine and Iran. The design of buildings should be accommodated to the ethnic cultures.

F

People who lived in the park are in low socio-economic level. Of the 5000 households there, 55 percent are state houses, 28 percent privately owned (compared to about 65 percent nationally) and 17 percent are private rental. The area has a high concentration of an income in the $5000 to $15000 and very few with an income over $70000. That’s in sharp contrast to the more affluent suburbs like Kohimarama and St. John’s that surround the area.

G

There’s no doubt that good urban design and good architecture play a significant part in the scheme. But probably more important is a new standard of social control. Housing New Zealand calls it “intensive tenancy management.” Others view it as social engineering. “It is a model that we are looking at going forward,” according to Housing New Zealand’s central Auckland regional manager Graham Bodman. “The focus is on frequent inspections, helping tenants to get to know each other. That includes some strict rules: no loud parties after 10 pm, no dogs, no cats in the apartment, no washing hung over balcony rails and a requirement to mow lawns and keep the property tidy. Housing New Zealand has also been active in organizing morning teas and street barbecues for resident to meet their neighbors.” “It’s all based in the intensification,” says Community Renewal project manager Stuart Bracey. “We acknowledge if you are going to put more people living closer together you have to actually help them to live together because it creates tension especially for people that aren’t used to it.”

Questions 14-20

Reading Passage has seven paragraphs, A-G. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the correct number in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.

List of headings some problems arose about the community where the residents have lived when the buildings were under makeover financial hardship of the residents in the park unexpected high standards of the design of the buildings a makeup of various ethnic origins should be considered experiences of a family living in the park nowadays how to coordinate and assist the tenants who lived in the community the need to raise money to fund the makeover close relationship among neighbors in the original site the details of the style of the buildings in the park

Questions 21-23

Match each statement with the correct researcher. Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 21-23 on your answer sheet.

21 James Lundy

22 Graham Bodman

23 Stuart Bracey

A A tenant management involves supervision and regulation

B building the houses should be within minimal budget

C social activities are organized to help people close to each other

D buildings should be adaptive and responsive to racial cultures

E complains about the high standards of the building design

F opponents hold that regulation may cause resentment of the tenants

Questions 24-26

Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet.

The Mix and Match Strategy

24 Some critics hold that the ______ of the population may cause the area to return its old situation.

25 To prevent this, a variety of ______ are gathered to avoid the case that the buildings are uniform.

26 In addition, the interiors make the houses comfortable within the ______. And the absence of the wall makes the residents characterized by openness.