‘Eco-Village’ in Sydney's Green Square
The Town Centre public domain design, led by Sydney Landscape Architecture firm mcgregor+partners, for one of Australia's largest urban renewal projects was recently on public exhibition in Sydney. The Council of the City of Sydney and Landcom invited the public to inspect progress on the 10 year $1.7 billion project that will eventually house 5,500 residents and 7,000 workers.
Managing Director of mcgregor+partners, Adrian McGregor, said "Green Square responds to the need for modern cities to deliver environmental innovation to meet the challenges of urban growth". Lord Mayor, Clover Moore MP, said that public workshops last October expressed a desire for a "sustainable and green oasis, offering a versatile, sustainable urban landscape".
A main component of the design is the green spine of Sheas Stream, which purifies stormwater travelling across the site.
Cr Moore stated "once cleaned, water in Sheas Stream and its associated wetlands is used as a water source for irrigation, street washing, and toilet and cooling systems in the community buildings".
The public domain is of comparable size to Martin Place in the Sydney CBD, but is divided into various areas including Civic Plaza (a place for public events and activities), a more intimately scaled Neighbourhood Plaza with cafe and interactive water features and Sheas Park with a pond, sun filled lawn and boardwalks. The public domain design will support the new community and compliment the new community facilities, library, residential, commercial and retail uses.
Also in UDFQ 82: June 2008:
- Street Life and the Strip - the design dynamics of the Surfers Paradise Strip
- City of Salisbury Landscape Plan
- The certainty of rapid major change
- Urban design in regional cities
- Main Street versus Shopping Mall
- Housing affordability through the roof
- Sustainable design and transport
- New book release: Urban Energy Transition