New South Wales Projects & Sites
Parramatta Small Spaces and Laneways Project: Urban Design Principles
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Landscape Architect: AECOM
Location: Parramatta CBD, New South Wales
Introduction
The City of Parramatta is currently at a pivotal stage of evolution and growth. In February 2006, Parramatta was identified as one of six cities within the New South Wales region to underpin the future economic growth of the state.
As the demand for development responds to this new regional role, there will be a subsequent requirement for new and greater volumes of commercial and residential floor space, particularly in Parramatta’s city centre, to accommodate new jobs and housing, more recreational and lifestyle opportunities and to attract and accommodate fresh business investment.
With this expected degree of development there comes the danger that some of the most distinctive characteristics of the city – those that reflect its heritage and map its evolution as an urban settlement - could be lost if new development is not planned carefully.
In anticipating this issue and in embracing the positive opportunities that are presented by sensitively combining the city’s historic grain and built form with new and contemporary development, Parramatta City Council has identified as valuable assets the established ad-hoc network of routes and small spaces that run between the larger urban blocks of the city centre. These routes and spaces reflect an important aspect of the city’s physical evolution, and have also become an increasingly favoured means of access and movement for pedestrians around the city centre.
To ensure this element of the city’s grain is not lost, Parramatta City Council appointed AECOM to develop urban design guidelines to inform the establishment of a framework to deliver a comprehensive network of ‘small spaces and laneways’, which will provide not only an attractive asset to the life of the modern city, but bear witness to its past.
Working collaboratively with Council’s Urban Design Unit, and coordinating with other relevant departments, AECOM developed guidelines and principles based on precedent studies and analysis of the city context and its existing small spaces and laneways. Each of the spaces was assessed in the context of its existing and potential role in both character and function. Catalyst project sites were identified and specific guidelines and design opportunities for each were provided to assist the Council in commencing with the initiative.
introduction / overview / images / location / Projects
2010
