UNLOCKED

June 2010

Ashley Damien Nicholson

Today a group of about twenty AILA members toured the nearly completed Boggo Road Urban Village at Dutton Park with Project Designers Stephen White and Dominic Powell (Tract) with the intention being to gain an understanding of the design challenges arising from the conversion of a historical gaol precinct into a contempory transport–orientated research and commercial hub.

This development is being project-managed by the Department of Public Works, on behalf of the Queensland Government. The Boggo Road Urban Village will be a unique, mixed-use area including residential, retail, commercial, environmental research and recreational facilities. Its aim is to connect people to the future, the past, our city and each other.

The designers introduced the project and explained the urban design strategies that were deployed in order to ensure the needs of key stake holders were met and that the project connected well with existing surrounding infrastructure (Eleanor Schonell Bridge, Bus) and proposed future development.

Other important contextual issues included the legibility of the new Bus Station, the local school and thorough community engagement processes with a passionate local community.

New Site Park with extensive views over Brisbane.

For me, some highlights were:

• The retention of part of the gaol and its relationship to the new buildings
• The main spine through the site for public access and engagement
• The materiality- bricks referencing the old goal and dynamic bands of alternate panels of honed and exposed concrete
• The public parks
• Access to appreciate extensive views across Brisbane that was previously restricted.

From a place where historically people were physically confined and deprived of a range of personal freedoms to a place programmed for people to connect to the future, the past, our city and each other in a dynamic and new “Unlocked” environment….worth a look…

Ashley Nicholson
Student Landscape Architect
QUT