New South Wales Projects & Sites
Paddington Reservoir Gardens, Paddington, Sydney
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
Landscape Architect: James Mather Delaney Design Pty Ltd,
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects and City of Sydney
Location: Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney (east of the corner with Oatley Road)
Overview
Paddington Reservoir Gardens is located on Oxford Street, Paddington. The reserve forms part of the Paddington civic precinct bordered by the Paddington Town Hall, the Post Office and historic Juniper Hall to the north. Paddington Reservoir has a rich and diverse past. Formerly part of Sydney’s early water supply infrastructure, the grassed roof Reservoir provided a workshop from 1914 and green public park until the roof collapse in 1991 closed public access. The project’s objective was to reopen the park, reinstating much needed open space for the residents of Paddington and revitalise the civic precinct and Oxford retail strip.
Paddington Reservoir Gardens conserves the State significant former reservoir and opens it up to the public for the first time in over in over 140 years. Following decommissioning of the Reservoir in 1899 it was used for a variety of purposes eventually leading to disrepair and its forced closure in the 1990’s.
Paddington Reservoir Gardens provides much needed open space in the heart of Paddington’s urban landscape. A sunken garden and pond, surrounded by a raised precast concrete boardwalk, has been inserted within the conserved ruin of the western chamber of the former reservoir. The edges of the ruin are contained by concrete upstands. The eastern chamber has been conserved and a new waterproof concrete structure inserted over it complete to create an accessible public park on top and a new multipurpose space for community and cultural activities below. The history of the site is interpreted along the Oxford Street wall.
The site was opened in March 2009 by Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, who stated that the project “breathes life” into this once under utilised site “The park on the reservoir roof has been completely reconstructed and a stunning new sunken garden has been established in the reservoir’s western chamber...provides a new space for community and cultural activities. Special lighting highlights the beautiful new timber work and stunning stone of the reservoir. New stairs and viewing platforms now provide access to the chambers.”
BUDGET:
Total project cost = $10 million
Construction value = $8.6 million
The approximate per m2 cost = $1,870m2, Note due to the integrated nature of the project it is not possible to separate the landscape from the stabilization and conservation works and architectural insertions as they are all interdependent.
DESCRIPTION:
1/ Design excellence and functional quality
Innovative design or demonstration of new direction in profession
When TZG and JMD were commissioned, the Reservoir was in a state of collapse. A decision was made early in the project to try to retain a sense of the ruin whilst ensuring it was safe for the public to enjoy. The entire original structure was propped and then the garden removed from the top of the roof. A new concrete roof was poured over the existing brick vaults complete with drainage. The earth was then replaced to ensure the arches were loaded as intended and the top layer landscaped with elements that reflect the forms of the reservoir below. JMD Design Pty Ltd and TZG Architects arrived at the solution for Paddington Reservoir Gardens collaboratively, with the landscape architects and architects having equal conceptual weight during the project.
Clarity and legibility of expression of design concept.
The existing reservoir has a palette of three materials - brick, cast iron and timber. We deliberately chose a restricted palette of three contemporary materials - steel, aluminium and concrete, as modern day partners that meshed with , framed and articulated the historic materials.
The off-form concrete engages with the brick vaults in such away as to amplify their distinctive curved characteristics, the precast concrete boardwalk pavers echo the modular nature of the historic brickwork and the upper level precast seats echo the cast iron beams below. The natural grey cement concrete will age gracefully, just as the brick, timber and cast-iron have. A number of concrete techniques were used to bind the fragile historic brick and wrought iron fragments together for another generation to enjoy. Laser cut formwork was used to create this effect detailed in such a way as to amplify the existing brick vaults.
The planting design for the three zones that make up Paddington Reservoir Gardens reflect the particular requirements and micro climates of each zone. The rooftop garden over the Eastern portion of the Reservoir is simple and formal, comprising of a lawn bordered by evergreen shrubs to provide privacy to the adjacent residences. The sunken garden in the western portion of the Reservoir is further divided into two zones, separated by a colonnade and a level change.
The lower portion is a richly planted garden whose plantings are strongly suggestive of a typically Victorian palette, designed to evoke the Reservoir’s era of construction. The slightly raised portion is treated as an entry zone to the far richer sunken garden comprising of a lawn planted with Mallee Eucalypts and a single Angophora. The street-level is more urban in character containing a large abstract element evoking the service station that once occupied the site. Whilst the corner park is a simple plaza with the restored fountain used to hinge and define the circulation zone.
Appropriateness to function.
Flexibility and longevity were key criteria for the success of the project. JMD and TZG’s design utilised concrete, a material both economical and practical for the site’s public use, ensuring the State Heritage Listed site will be enjoyed by future generations.
Response to brief.
When JMD Design and TZG were commissioned by City of Sydney to convert the Paddington Reservoir into an urban park, the general expectation was that the site would be capped off and a brand new arrangement built on top. However, we were captivated by the possibilities of revealing the 19th century structures as a ruin through which members of the public could wander, taking in the dramatic spaces and play of light across the remnants of historic walls and vaults.
The purpose of the upgrade was achieved upon completion of the Paddington Reservoir Gardens. These objectives include:
- Removal of the old Service Station and remediate the site.
- Stabilise and reconstruct sections of the collapsed roof to re-establish the park.
- Where possible, reinstate heritage elements, such as ventilation shafts.
- Provide access from Oxford Street and Oatley Road along the western edge.
- Create one ensemble form the two parts, Walter Read Reserve ( the reservoir) and John Thompson Reserve (on the corner).
- Improve and upgrade park circulation, lighting and furniture.
- Provide disabled access ramp and integrate John Thompson Reserve with the Reservoir.
- Introduce a Sunken Garden and Boardwalk in the Western Reservoir ruins.
- Allow for potential re-use to occur in the future.
- Provide a sustainable and robust open space.
Sensitivity to social, cultural, historical, physical and natural context.
The Paddington Reservoir Gardens project is an essay in sensitivity to cultural heritage showcasing the unique heritage structure and materials while giving the structure a new life thus providing social benefit to the area.
Quality of implementation of built work.
The project has been implemented with great patience, precision and attention to detailing and rigor both in conservation of heritage elements and insertion of new elements.
Addressing the Australian Landscape Principles:
Value our Landscape: The project incorporates and reveals the existing “Landscape” built structure in this instance and reveals its essence for the education and delight of visitors.
Protect/Enhance/Regenerate: Again the project achieves these principles through conservation and adaptive re-use. The nature of the projects context and its heritage significance does not lend itself to extensive inclusion of biodiversity initiatives or ecosystems. However this project does include modest incorporation of microclimate, modifying planting and native plant materials.
Design with Respect: The project has taken a disused and degenerating structure and stabilised its fundamental structure and adapted the structure of use by the public of the present, providing desperately needed open space in a highly urbanised environment.
Design for the Future: The project recalls the past but is a legacy for the future, by adapting the past into the new the project reinforces the importance of history to the future, highlights the potential of recycling and providing the opportunity for other uses within the space at a later date.
Embrace Responsive Design: The project illustrates an extremely innovative, flexible and responsive design solution to a complex site.
Promoting environmental best practice through the Landscape Principles
Enivornmental best practice and sustainability were an integral concern from the beginning of the project. Adaptation and re-use of an existing structure being a key facet of the project’s sustainability and also harvesting and reuse of water. The gardens are irrigated by runoff from the upper level park and lower garden. The water is then stored in tanks below the boardwalk, allowing a unique microclimate to flourish. Flexibility and longevity were key criteria for the success of the project. JMD Design and TZG’s design utilised concrete, a material both robust and practical for the site’s public use, ensuring the State Heritage Listed site will be enjoyed by future generations.
Exhibiting effective and programmed applied research.
The project continues JMDdesign’s work with industrial heritage sites (Cockatoo Island Cliff top walk, Glebe Foreshore Walk) in which layers of intervention have resulted in eccentricities of space and material use. JMDdesign’s focus has been to develop a design methodology that heightens the eccentricities of space and site rather than smooth them out. Coupled to this ongoing concern is the development of a refined approach to the simple materiality of pre cast concrete.
The project is the result of productive and creative collaborative design between professions.
Demonstrates the fusion of practice and theory
The project is an excellent example of adaptive reuse of a heritage item that retains the essential significance of the site while making it relevant and useable by current and future generations.
For multi-discipline/collaborative projects: The role and influence of the landscape architect should be clearly stated.
As stated previously this project was a true collaboration with both the Landscape Architects and Architects having equal input to the creative process.
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
2010
