AILA projects

Queensland Sites

Ipswich River Heart Parklands

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OVERVIEW

Landscape Architect: EDAW

Location:Bremer Street, Ipswich, Queensland

BUDGET: $5.4 million

CLIENT: Ipswich City Council

Ipswich River Heart Parklands demonstrates how well-thought design, intelligent detail and well-constructed schemes can create powerful public spaces for the community. The Ipswich region is facing a trebling of its population over the next 20 years. The River Heart Parkland represents the first stage of the Ipswich River Heart Parklands project – a bold vision by Ipswich City Council to re-focus the city towards its historic riverfront and create a thriving city centre for the future. Sensitivity and understanding of the Bremer River’s historic significance to the community has enabled EDAW to transform a once neglected river edge into a new and vibrant heart of the city.

As lead design consultants for the $5.4 million project, EDAW recognised and harnessed the social and geographic importance of the river to transform the riverbanks from an underutilised and unsightly urban precinct into a vibrant, multi-use public space. The Parkland is significant for a number of reasons:

It acts as a catalyst for the transformation of the Ipswich Central Business District and supporting existing retailers in the City Centre;

It provides high quality open space for an increasing population, particularly for inner city residents;

Its sets a high standard for future public domain and open space developments within the city;

The parkland interprets the site history to create a powerful place that is distinctive and has significance to the local community;

It provides safe, permeable and usable urban connections along the riverfront to public spaces to the east and west; and

It helps reconnect the city to the Bremer River, the lifeblood of the area in the past.

The true test of public domain is the public’s enjoyment of a space, and since its opening in February 2007, the Parkland has been enthusiastically embraced by all sections of the community for its richness, quality and sense of place. The resurrection of this portion of the river has reinvigorated people’s use and expectations of their public domain as a place where they can feel safe and comfortable, and which is accessible to everyone, and therefore highly valued.

The majority of the River Heart Parklands site is on 1:2.5 (40%) slopes, subject to possible large slip failures during periods of saturation – following the 1974 floods large sections of the bank collapsed.

95% of the park has been inundated in previous floods, and minor floods also submerge large parts of the park. This required the Parkland elements to be designed in a manner that allowed for periodic inundation but which minimised damage by floodwaters.

Recent floods in February 2008 saw the parklands and its landscape elements tested by rising water. The flood level reached 5.0m, which meant balustrades and handrails were removed or lowered, as designed, to decrease debris build up and allow for increased flows as per the design.

Prior to redevelopment of the site, it was known to have access and safety issues. As a result, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles were a major contributing factor to the design.

The River Heart Parklands site was highly challenging due to its steep sides, inundation and physical dislocation from the life of the city. It is now well connected and accessible with facilities for all the community to enjoy.

The EDAW design team was responsible for all work, from the original master plan to the final product. EDAW’s landscape architects led the multi-disciplinary design team in resolving, through the community consultation process, major engineering challenges.

Artworks were fully integrated through in-house artists engaged by EDAW (Belinda Smith and Nick Drummond) who were part of the earliest design work. Further artworks included work by Craig Walsh.

The design elements are robust, reflecting the site’s industrial past, and set a new direction for the city fabric, in concert with earlier work in the Ipswich Mall and D’Arcy Doyle Place (also by EDAW).

The agreed master plan was the subject of extensive community input.

The water features use recycled water.

Clarity and legibility of expression of design concept

The design concept sought to fulfil a challenging functional brief, using the resolution of the constraints as a major driver for the design.

The walkways were developed to maximise accessibility and the opportunity to have a choice of routes to explore the challenging terrain.

Terraces were developed that minimised extensive land remodelling, yet focused on the river and future river activities.

The design program was kept simple and legible in order to read with the historic overhead bridge and the (at the time) under-construction shopping centre on the opposite riverbank.

Materials were urban in feel in order to connect with the city centre and reflect the sit’s industrial past.

The water feature, which is 180 square metres in area, has a concrete shell and was designed to abstract the natural basalt outcrops, which occur along the riverbanks.

The design allows for future enhancement through further phases, without major impact on the use of phase 1.

Appropriateness to function

The site has already hosted the River Heart Parklands major opening function and other local events and is well used by the local community both day and night.

Improved safety has been achieved through open and legible landscape design, thoughtful design lighting and the inclusion of video surveillance.

Response to brief

The design responds to all aspects of the brief and subsequent community consultation. Key objectives of the master plan include the following:

To improve access arrangements from the city and from surrounding pedestrian access points;

To improve supervision and opportunities for the community to enjoy the park and river together with provision for increased safety and crime prevention;

To create a central space, where performances could be enjoyed and informal grassed seating for viewing events within the river itself;

To craft a water feature, which would create a sense of place and improve the environment on hot summer days;

To promote the opportunity for play;

To establish a smaller-scale wetland feature at the foot of the slope, where close contact with water could be enjoyed;

To incorporate jetties and boardwalks through a rejuvenated and replanted river edge, to reflect the city’s past close association with the site;

To give the community the opportunity to appreciate the river and historic views of the city and bridges;

To introduce other walkways to explore the site, including the steep riverbanks and formerly planted areas;

To establish new rainforest planting;

To introduce shelters and picnic facilities, toilets and seating;

To incorporate artworks and historic interpretation;

To realign parking and drop off; and

To provide for future stages, including footbridges.

Sensitivity to social, cultural, historical, physical and natural context

The Cultural Heritage Report commissioned by Ipswich City Council and supplied during the concept and design development phases informed the form and functions of the parklands ultimate design.

Historic aspects of the River Heart Parklands site, such as its wharfing past, were fully integrated into the design. Simple, robust and cost effective historical interpretative panels were developed and integrated into the overall theme of the parklands. The design team included Richard Brecknock, who provided detailed guidance and research for the content of these historical references.

An archaeological spotter was employed to watch for articles of historical significance during the demolition and construction stages. Once found, these items were included in ‘Artefact Boxes’ as visual references to the sites past.

The Jaggera Ipswich indigenous community was consulted and gave feedback regarding development to the parklands site.

The environmental conditions of the river contributed to the flexibility in the design as a changing urban and landscape interface.

Quality of implementation of built work

The quality of the work achieved is such that it reflects the proximity of the urban core of the city centre and its ongoing improvements. As this is a public space, great attention was given to the usual issues of robustness and minimisation of maintenance obligations, together with the specific challenges of the site itself, which include inundation and vandalism.

The River Heart Parklands site is known to experience floods. Therefore, all elements were designed to reduce the impact of rising flood waters. Collapsible and removable handrails were designed for the sections of boardwalk in the river to reduce damage to structures caused by the collection of debris or log strike.

Recent February 2008 floods tested the design by reaching a level of around five metres. The parklands were closed for public access, and the balustrading was successfully lowered.

To reduce the impact of possible vandalism, all concrete surfaces were sealed and anti-graffiti painted to reduce ongoing maintenance and to enhance the concrete colours.

Shelter battens use powder-coated aluminium battens for ease of cleaning following inundation. All the control gear associated with the lighting and irrigation has been located above the 100-year flood line in a secure location to prevent damage. All furniture, signage and public art was selected to provide vandal-resistance wherever possible.

Environmental responsibility and sustainability

Employs or promotes sustainable policies or practices

Much of the construction work was undertaken by Council employees, thereby increasing the opportunity for skills development in the local community and supporting local employment.

Recycled water was used wherever possible, while working within health requirements.

An existing set of sculptures (by Rhyl Hinwood) was relocated from the city centre to a more intimate waterside location within the parklands and are now more prominent in the community’s experience of their public realm.

Existing heritage structures were integrated into the design.

Recycled timber was used for the signage.

Preservation of existing site trees was important not only for habitat but for bank stabilisation and all boardwalks and landscape items were designed to avoid disturbance.

A local indigenous species palette was used and the sites original riparian flora zones were replicated on the banks.

A wetland system was designed into the base of the steep bank to pick up storm water runoff and to encourage localised opportunities, such as fauna access to freshwater and educational opportunities.

Promotes biodiversity and supports local ecosystems

Existing natural vegetation was retained and enhanced.

Over 100 species of the plants used were native to the site and there was diligent removal of noxious weeds.

All timber used for signage was recycled and at all times heritage issues were top of mind with every decision made.

The site contains a historic railway along with an abutment from a former road bridge crossing. Wharf piers, sandstone blocks and artefacts from previous maritime use of the site were also uncovered and preserved.

Addresses the separate AILA Environment Principles

Urban Stormwater Management

Due to the steepness of the site, stormwater considerations were taken into account very early in the design process. The engineers and urban designers incorporated stormwater catchments at the base of the bank, in the form of a wetland, as it was picked up by several points down the bank. This system also provides accessible freshwater for indigenous insect populations and, as a result, attracts a number of bird species to the area.

Urban Waterways Conservation and Management

The Bremer River is a valuable resource with ecological and recreational implications. Ipswich River Heart connects people back to the river, providing invaluable real connections to natural ecosystems that deliberately encourage ownership and responsibility for those systems.

Wetlands

The incorporation of a wetland at the base of the bank was intended to reflect and reinstate the past existing site conditions and vegetation zones of the bank.

Conservation of Significant Historic Landscapes

Ipswich City Council provided extensive historical survey and research, which has informed the design of the natural and cultural histories of the site.

Public Open Space

Ipswich City Council consulted with EDAW from the early master planning phase, which considered the Bremer riverfront in the context of the developing city heart. During this planning phase of the River Heart project, the riverbank site was identified as public open space that will be used for generations, while preserving the natural features of the site.

Outdoor Signs

Recognisable robust entry and locational signage was designed by EDAW interpreting historical references and site conditions, as well as incorporating educational and interpretive signage for natural systems.

Relevance to profession of landscape architecture, the public and the education of future practitioners

Expands the scope of the profession in formative, forward-thinking and thought-provoking ways

Ipswich is a dynamic community with strong recent and future growth and a proud and significant heritage.

The new South-East Queensland Regional Plan puts Ipswich firmly in the centre of the growth for the region, and the natural assets of the City are being rediscovered by a new inwardly migrating population. The public realm is a key factor in both the cultural expression of the city and the community’s vision of its future. It was agreed that while there are demands on the public purse, responsible investment in the public realm needed to be carried out to fulfil long term socially sustainable outcomes for both current and future generations.

The project demonstrates the resolution of a number of difficult physical constraints (such as slope stability, flooding, heritage and archaeological sensitivities) through a collaborative and consultative process into a successful public realm outcome.

The project maximised the investment of scarce public funds through being designed to use the skills and resources of the local community in its construction.

The project has been designed to catalyse the rediscovery of the waterfront and to accommodate future linkages and further phases without compromising the integrity of the first stage.

EDAW contributed directly to the uniqueness of the site by gifting one of the first Wollemi pines released in the world. The Mayoral planting ceremony provided a further opportunity for publicity and promotion of the site. The project demonstrates the profession’s ability to lead complex assignments, collaborate with peers and the Council’s ability to deliver an exceptional outcome for the community.

The project manifests the following core principles of practice:

The project provides a community benefit, through responsible engagement and allocation of scarce resources;

The project fulfils the clients brief;

The project collaborates with experts and other professions to achieve the optimum outcomes;

The project incorporates sustainable principles wherever possible and provides a resource which can be managed successfully by the client in the future; and

The project respects the past and provides for flexible future development.

The role and influence of the landscape architect

The development has been driven by a multi-disciplinary team led by landscape architects. EDAW’s landscape architecture team, working closely with landscape architects in Council (Larissa Rogers and previously David Metcalfe) have been involved in the master planning process, consultation, documentation and implementation onsite, a clear demonstration of the capability of the profession from concept through to construction.

introduction / overview / images  /  location /  Qld-Projects

2008