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Australia Award for Urban Design
Architecture Prize, 2009 : Winners + Commendations
21 Aug 2009
Australia Award for Urban Design 2009
Australia Award for Urban Design
JURY COMMENTS
This year saw a record number of entries, as well as a richness of creative projects from around the nation. Entries ranged from master plans for new neighbourhoods and town centres, to sustainable villages and high density housing projects, to urban squares, malls and foreshore parks.
Of note was the fact that one of the entries put out a challenge to major development processes and the sometimes reluctance of the planning and design professions to adequately listen to the communities they serve. This is a timely reminder to practitioners that good urban design should include open and honest community engagement.
Apart from award winners, the Jury wishes to recognise the commitment of the developers and designers of Rouse Hill Town Centre, in Sydney’s northwest. Since the project’s inception, they have sustained their efforts to deliver an integrated, vibrant and sustainable mixed use suburban town centre that has challenged the paradigm of the big box surrounded by car parking. As a result Rouse Hill Town Centre is now used as a model for progressive town centre development throughout the country.
COMMENDATION
SUSTAINABLE SYDNEY 2030 – THE VISION
The Vision provides an urban design framework for major projects in the city centre and in the villages of Sydney. While comprehensive in its scope, it is a focused and well-structured document that includes 10 strategic directions and 10 urban design ideas supported by over 180 actions.
The Vision is exciting and innovative, and incorporated widespread engagement with the community. It successfully resolved complex, strategic planning issues into detailed and well illustrated urban design solutions.
The challenge now is to devise a realistic implementation strategy that will bring to fruition the skilled and creative contributions made by a large and diverse urban design team which included landscape architects, planners, architects and transport planners.
WINNERS
This year the jury has given the Australia Award for Urban Design to two projects.
1. TRANSFORMING AUSTRALIAN CITIES
Cities around the world are in the process of redefining their form to deal with issues of climate change and sustainability, and to make them more liveable. Reinforcing public transport networks is a key part of this challenge.
This significant piece of research was commissioned by the Victorian Government and undertaken by a team led by the City of Melbourne and supported by a range of specialists.
While based on Melbourne case studies, the project provides a growth model for the future form of many cities – growth that can be incremented yet transformational.
Using spatial information systems the study presents a well researched argument for strategic residential and employment intensification along our public transport corridors. The study helps visualise these higher density corridors using high quality artist impressions, and shows that the required population growth in our cities can be achieved without changing the essential form and character of our existing attractive neighbourhoods.
Although these trends are emerging in many cities, this excellent study provides high quality evidence and graphic tools that will help promote this urban form model to all levels of government, to developers and to the wider community.
The judges see enormous potential for this work to include the development of an interactive DVD that can be used as an educational and promotional tool throughout the country.
2. PADDINGTON RESERVOIR GARDENS
The Paddington water storage reservoir was constructed on a prominent site in the historic heart of Oxford Street from 1866 to 1878. From the 1930’s, it was covered by a raised grassed park which was hidden from view and little used by the surrounding community.
Over the past two years, the City of Sydney, together with its collaborative design team of architects, landscape architects, engineers, planners and access consultants has created a unique, surprising, functional and totally engaging public park that has captured the imagination of all those fortunate enough to pass or live nearby.
Instead of capping the site and building a new park above, as originally expected, the design team incorporated many of the reinforced ruins of the heritage listed structure and created sunken and elevated gardens using a carefully selected and limited range of contemporary materials with exceptional detailing.
The contemporary architectural walkways and roof structures, combined with delightful chambers, pools and outdoor rooms, are brilliantly conceived and executed, and the extensive interpretative elements shed light on this part of Sydney’s early heritage.
The success of this small but beautiful project is demonstrated by the interest and excitement expressed on the faces of those visiting the park – the ultimate reward for any project developer and their urban design team.
Location:Australia
Australian Architectural Design
Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal
Australian Urban Design Awards Shortlist
Australia Award for Urban Design – Background
The Australia Award for Urban Design was established in 1996 as an initiative of the Prime Minister Keating’s Urban Design Task Force. It is now jointly sponsored by the Planning Institute of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects and Urban Design Forum, making it the prime national award for excellence in the built environment.
Australia Award for Urban Design 2008
Winner:
– Bendigo: Australia Award for Urban Design was bestowed on an entire city centre
Commendations:
– GHD Pty Ltd and the South Australian Department of Energy, Transport and Infrastructure for the ‘Glenelg Tramline Extension’
– Landcom for ‘The Landcom Guidelines’
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Australia Award for Urban Design
