New South Wales Projects & Sites
Parramatta Small Spaces and Laneways Project: Urban Design Principles
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
Landscape Architect: AECOM
Location: Parramatta CBD, New South Wales
Overview
The city of Parramatta has reached a pinnacle stage in its development, having been identified by as an area for comprehensive revitalisation and growth..
If new development is not is not planned carefully, there is a danger that some of the most distinctive heritage characteristics of the city which map its evolution as an urban settlement could be lost.
In anticipating this issue and embracing the opportunities to combine the city’s historic grain with a new and contemporary development, AECOM were appointed by Council to produce guidelines that drive the delivery of a comprehensive network of ‘small spaces and laneways’.
SPECIAL FACTORS
Engaging Positive Framework
Council identified the need to establish a vision for its future structure plan. This allowed Council to engage positively and with developers by demonstrating the public and commercial benefits to be gained through the considered design of a cities small spaces and laneways.
Future Growth
Parramatta was identified as one of six cities within New South Wales to underpin the future economic growth of the state. The future land use will feature a dynamic mix, with the 25-year plan establishing targets to deliver 30,000 new jobs and 20,000 more residents in the city centre.
Historic Setting
The area was an important place for local Aboriginal communities and for the establishment and survival of the early British Colony. The study area contains 19 sites of State Heritage Significance.
Demonstration of a deep understanding of planning processes and methodologies.
An analysis of assets undertaken in the first stage of the project process ensured a comprehensive appreciation of the city was established and that the emerging strategies are strongly grounded in their local context and responsive to place. This analysis was followed by a series of global precedent studies of successful laneways, translating into design guidance and grounding the study in intellectual rigour.
The outcomes of the study provide a strong framework for the communication, engagement and delivery of sustainable urban form and high-quality, activated public realm in Parramatta’s city centre. The resulting reports have been conceived to assist and guide future development in the city through illustration which inspires and provides examples for delivery. The defined design principles focus specifically on the integral elements that make for successful laneways and small spaces, providing Council and developers with the building blocks to deliver a successful network of laneways and small spaces.
Innovative planning or demonstration of new directions in profession.
Informing the framework development were the findings from a series of precedent studies drawn from a global resource. They define best practice solutions for places for people to walk with leisure, physical comfort, qualities that engage the senses, maintenance and quality of construction and design.
Character palettes highlight opportunities to express the city’s cultural and social heritage and identity. Three precincts were proposed: the Culture, Arts and Civic precinct; the Bazaar precinct; and the River precinct
Catalyst projects identify opportunity sites within the centre and provide ideas and a demonstration of the translation of the guidelines. They provide examples to inspire developers and opportunities through which Council can lead by example and begin delivering the initiative.
The final study outcomes provide a flexible and innovative context-specific framework and ‘kit of parts’ to enable application by Council as the city evolves.
Effective and strategic use, presentation or programming of landscape architectural inputs.
Early engagement in the process included not only the planning framework but the development of tangible design possibilities.
Fitness for purpose.
The project provides Council with an engaging and inspirational framework document that could be used to not only guide their work but to also encourage a wider audience to think differently about the city context within which they are working.
The resulting two documents are deliberately structured. The first provides an engaging background piece that sets out clearly the process and issues that would be used to inform the proposed framework. The second sets out the strategy, which is presented and illustrated in such a way to provide Council with a strong and compelling narrative for the initiative that would communicate and engage developers and other stakeholders so they are able to realise the potential and their role in partnering with the Council to deliver a rich fabric of laneways and spaces as an underpinning structure of the future city.
Response to brief
Based on the initial project brief and ongoing discussions between Council officers and the EDAW AECOM design team, the following approach and objectives informed the development of this study:
Considering the development of a guidelines document in the context of the framework established by the Parramatta City Centre Plan Vision, The Local Environment Plan (LEP) Plan 2001 (Amendment No 13), The Development Control Plan (DCP) and The Civic Improvement Plan (CIP) – all completed by Parramatta City Council.
Understanding the key structuring elements of the city to help inform the future identity of the physical form and character of the Parramatta centre.
Considering precedents to understand the common elements that inform the success of other small space and laneway examples locally, nationally and internationally and considering how these are applicable in the Parramatta context.
Identifying and classifying Parramatta’s existing laneways based on service, function and use.
Developing and defining character areas within the Parramatta City area to inform the role and design direction for a network of small spaces and laneways in the city centre.
Providing a rational and identifying priority locations for action and focuses for key catalyst projects.
Providing a document that includes both a framework plan and a set of guidelines to enable the Council to influence individual Development Applications (DAs) on a case-by-case basis, while also considering the larger and longer-term implications of individual DAs.
Providing Council with a tool to influence the most appropriate design outcomes for the development of a distinctive network of small spaces and laneways in Parramatta’s city centre.
Addresses the separate Landscape Principles
VALUE THE EXISTING LANDSCAPE / PROTECT› ENHANCE› REGENERATE
The starting point for the study recognises the value and importance of its built form and cultural heritage as integral pieces of the city’s identity and distinctiveness.
This enabled us to better understand how the city works in terms of land use, movement and areas of distinctive character. The study mapped the historic evolution of the city pattern and then overlayed this appreciation with the modern city context in respect of areas of new development, urban form, parks and open space and the Parramatta River in order to understand urban hierarchies and points of focus.
An analysis of city form revealed three distinct types of laneway in the city centre, distinguished by physical characteristics and use – shared laneways, pedestrian only streets and arcades. This ensures that as development moves forward to deliver a well balanced sustainable urban form, it will respond equally to the needs of people as well as development pressures.
INTERVENE WITH RESPECT FOR THE PRESENT
In preparing for the city’s comprehensive revitilisation and growth, the reports provide Council with an active tool they can use immediately to attract and inspire developers and future residents, as well as a framework to ensure new development is planned carefully to preserve and enhance the distinctive characteristics of the city.
INTERVENE WITH RESPECT FOR THE FUTURE
The future land use of the city will feature a dynamic mix, with the 25-year plan establishing targets to deliver 30,000 new jobs and 20,000 more residents in the city centre. The thorough mapping and analysis of existing and future uses has been an essential element informing the development of urban design guidance for the network of laneways and small spaces.
The ‘laneways framework’ proposes a network to connect important destinations, nodes of activity and points of social and cultural significance. The subsequent character layer proposes strategic precincts to express the city’s cultural and social heritage and identity, while providing opportunities for businesses, stimulating economic growth.
The Culture, Arts and Civic Precinct is as a place of cultural consumption where the creative arts, cultural activity, civic functions and businesses are encouraged to thrive.
The Bazzar Precinct is an area to be nurtured as a focus for niche shopping and ‘market stalls’ as well as offering dining opportunities and a social focus for the city.
The River Precinct is a focus for ‘leisure and pleasure’ with an active arts and cultural program, boutique stores, brasserie style dining and recreational amenities making full use of the river frontage.
The illustrative catalyst projects are also important in inspiring the desired growth and development, through their demonstration of the translation of the guidelines.
EMBRACE RESPONSIVE DESIGN
The third component of the issued report contained more specific illustrated design principles, which establish a set of performance criteria to be adopted within the design of the laneways. They provide direction and instruction, enabling the delivery of laneways as part of contemporary development opportunities and the refurbishment of existing streets.
Establishment or promotion of sustainable policies and environmental best practice.
Sustainability strategies particularly focussed on the enhancement and preservation of the socio-cultural environment. The urban context for the project meant that opportunities for significant planting and revegetation were limited. However, a focus for the project – to reinforce and introduce a revitalised network of connected small spaces – provided the opportunity to deliver a meaningful increase in the number of ‘green oases’ available within the city grain. The proposed strategy encourages the use of appropriate species to deliver attractive and useable urban spaces that provide climate comfort and increased biodiversity for both existing and new residents.
Exhibition of effective and programmed research
The outcomes of the study equip Council with a clear framework to guide future decision making and shape the future identity of the physical form and character of Parramatta. The guidelines ensure the city’s historic grain is not lost in new development,
The guidelines also centre on delivering a well-balanced, sustainable urban form that responds to the needs of people, creating a safe, connected and pedestrian-focussed environment. The activation of culturally-rich precincts will further enhance the attractiveness of Parramatta as a place to live, work and play.
Relevance to profession of landscape architecture, the public and the education of future practitioners and the wider community
Recognises and incorporates community values.
As Parramatta plans for its growth into an important metropolitan hub, Council is conscious of the change that will occur in the city dynamics. An increase in the number of businesses, and as a result employees, and a significant rise in the number of people calling the centre home means that the fabric of the city needs to provide a safe, diverse and attractive backdrop across which this expanding population can live, work and play.
The Parramatta Small Spaces and Laneways initiative is an important piece of the council’s wider strategic focus on delivering a coordinated and cohesive public realm for the city. The application of the laneways strategy will deliver a safe, connected and pedestrian focused environment for residents, which seeks to deliver an activated network of culturally rich spaces across this compact centre.
Incorporates effective community engagement and fosters broad support and understanding of landscape architecture
The strategy is developed with a broad audience in mind – from Council, to developers, retailers and the broader community. The illustrative document provides Council and the community with a highly accessible document to engage, guide and inspire.
Demonstrates adoption and/or implementation of recommendations.
Council have adopted the document and have followed up with study tours based on the precedence work presented in the report.
The final study outcomes provide Council and developers with a context specific framework and ‘kit of parts’ to enable application and interpretation in response to site specific context as the city evolves and takes its position as a regionally significant economic and cultural hub:
The Framework locks in place the key routes and nodes to be developed and protected as the city grows to ensure a legible and pedestrian focused city structure is created.
The character palettes set in place a backdrop to inform and inspire design responses to reinforce geographically specific focuses of land use and urban character that respond to the city’s cultural diversity and heritage assets.
The characteristics of successful laneways and design guidelines provide the key building blocks to inform the physical integrating and delivery of small spaces and laneways within the centre, providing the core ingredients for anyone wanting to take a project forward and outlining strategies for delivery.
The Catalyst projects identify opportunity sites within the centre and provide ideas and a demonstration of the translation of the guidelines; seeking to provide examples to inspire developers and provide implementable opportunities through which the council can lead by example and begin delivering the initiative.
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
2010
