Landscape Architects:
Peter
Walker and Partners, USA
Hassell
Bruce Mackenzie Design
Hargreaves Associates, USA
Martha Schwartz, USA
Clouston
Scahaffer and Barnsley
EDAW
Denton Corker Marshall (1996 - 2001)
Johson Pilton Walker (2001 - 2003)
Significance
The
design of Sydney Olympic Park for the 2000 Olympics, approximately
750 hectares, was a massive undertaking in Australia. It involved
the remediation of degraded and contaminated urban land, the incorporation
of sustainability principles and a multitude of Landscape Architecture
practices both Australian and American. Landscape Architects
were
involved
from 1995 with initial master planning. Although the need to
bring renowned Landscape Architects from overseas was questioned by
some,
Peter Walker and George Hargreaves made major contributions to
the design process. (Mackenzie 2000).
Not only did the site itself generate a significant amount of work for
landscape professionals but also for the landscape treatment of major
Sydney road arteries.
Landscape Architects
co-ordinated the development of the site in collaboration with architects
and other professionals. This was a positive move forward
for the profession, whereas in the mid 1980’s during the development
of the lauded Darling Harbour, architects led the design and management
process.
A survey of practicing Landscape Architects in 1999, prior to the opening
of the Olympics, rated the site as a highly significant project to the
profession and the community (Bull 2000).
The
Site
The
site is located at Homebush Bay on the Parramatta River, 15kms from
Sydney’s Central Business District. Homebush Bay had previously
been used as a landfill site, racecourse, brickworks, abbatoir
and arnaments depot and as a consequence both the land and waterways
were
compromised.
Water is reclaimed and managed across the entire site, whilst indigenous
plant material and recycled water reduces water demand and increases
efficiency.
The park consisted of the following spaces:
A
central core area (image)
The
Olympic Boulevarde designed by George Hargreaves is one of the largest
paved spaces in the world. It is a
grand gesture over 9 hectares in
area) linking together what have been described as unremarkable
architecture and disparate and competing urban elements. The plaza
is 170 metres
wide from the Showground boundary to the western edge. The scale
of this public space in keeping with the scale of the buildings and
the
crowds gather for public events.
Bold paving patterns were derived from the site grid and geometry of
the former abattoir. The pattern of red and ochre interlocking pavers
is repeated along the pedestrian precinct.
This boulevarde terminates in dramatic Northern Water feature which
celebrates the water cycle at Homebush Bay. Twelve large scale public
art projects to be developed at the Olympic venue, with five sited along
the Olympic Boulevarde.
Olympic
Village, Newington (image)
The
Olympic village a medium density development, was designed to house
athletes during the Olympics and is located to
the north west of the
olympic site. The project aimed to set a benchmark for residential
development in Sydney. Post-olympics the residences were sold
as housing.
Newington showcased a number of sustainability principles such as: solar
panels on roofs with power generated returned to the electricity grid,
solar orientation of buildings and appropriate summer shading with landscaping,
dual water system (recycled water supplied for toilet flushing and irrigation)
and the selection of Australian native plant species with low water needs.
Millenium
Parklands
The
central zone of Olympic park with its infrastructure of sporting venues
is surrounded to the north and east by the Millenium
Parklands.
This large park of 450 hectares incorporates Bicentennial Park
(1988) as well as the Brick Pit. This latter site has restricted
access and
provides habitat for the endangered green and golden bell frog.
The park includes areas of woodland, wetland, waterways and grasslands.
Over one third of the site was remediated land with large architectonic
mounds of capped waste material providing focal points and viewing
platforms within the landscape.
The concept for the parklands produce by local firms Hassell
and Bruce Mackenzie Design and the American practice of Peter
Walker and Partners
received a National Project Award in 2000. This scheme was recognised
for resolving complex issues in an innovative way and presenting
a new model of urban parkland. The design brief for the park
was to reflect
the essence of the Homebush landscape.
The result of the design process was the creation of a mature and distinctive
Australian parkland rather than bush regeneration.
Post Olympics, the site is used for the annual Royal Easter Show and
a range of sporting, cultural and entertainment events (www.sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au)
with the surrounding parklands providing recreational and educational
opportunities for users.
