June 2012
100,000 new
apartments and
100,000 new jobs
can transform
Parramatta Road
into a Liveability
Corridor
New approach to
mixed use zoning
Ideas from Sydneyʼs
top architects and
urban designers
// AJ+C
// COX
// FKM
// GSA
// HASSELL
1
// LAVA
// OLSSON
// TRIBE
// TURF
Parramatta Road–from eyesore
to vibrant new urban precinct
Most Sydneysiders see Parramatta Road as an eyesore with a
hotchpotch of car yards, run-down buildings and decaying
infrastructure defining its character. Yet this is Australia’s first major
road connecting the fledgling settlement at Sydney Cove with the
developing new centre at Parramatta.
This was the first toll road where travellers on their horse and cart had to pay a toll
at a handsome tollgate designed in 1819 by colonial architect Francis Greenway.
The umbilical cord that connected Sydney to Parramatta symbolised the hopes and
the vision of our forebears in settling in a new land. That vision needs some urgent
attention to turn an eyesore into a vibrant new urban precinct.
This issue of Urban Ideas sets out to present a new concept for this historic corridor
by helping solve Sydney’s population growth. Over the next 25 years 770,000 new
houses are required for Sydney and many of these will be located on infill sites
near to transport and services. The first issue of Urban Ideas called for 500,000
new apartments to be located in Sydney over the 25 year period. This issue
demonstrates how this can be done by focussing on corridors and transport nodes.
We have proposed that 100,000 new homes, in the form of apartments, be built
along the Parramatta Road corridor.
Our proposal is to match the 100,000 new apartments with 100,000 new jobs so
that people can walk or cycle to work. We see the precinct as a new mixed use
liveability corridor where the vitality of urban living generates an exciting
environment. This requires density at a reasonably high level to create the
atmosphere and the economic viability for change.
The Urban Taskforce has a number of members who own land along
the Parramatta Road corridor and we have collated some of the
concepts for their sites through the work of their architects in this
magazine. So many of the ideas are grounded on real sites and on
real opportunities for change.
There are however difficulties in implementing projects particularly as there are 9
different councils along Parramatta Road. A unified approach is required where a
single body sees the corridor as an opportunity to create something new. We are
calling for a special Urban Renewal Authority to champion the Parramatta Road
corridor and to be responsible for planning and for development approvals. This
should facilitate opportunities for the private sector.
The brief to our team of architects was to have a 25 year vision. New infrastructure
has also been proposed to align with the development. We believe that major
infrastructure projects should be aligned with major increases in densities to help
with Sydney’s housing and jobs supply. While the concepts in this publication are
bold they are not unrealistic and build on past work.
An important ingredient we are bringing to the table is the reality of the market
place. Urban Taskforce members are keen to build but they need financial viability
and they need planning approvals. But more importantly we need a strong vision
and leadership to make the projects happen.
2
The Urban Taskforce is keen to
get responses and feedback on the
proposals suggested in this issue of
URBAN IDEAS. Please send comments to
[email protected]
This is the second issue of URBAN
IDEAS. We intend to produce further
issues on important planning and
development issues to generate debate
in the public interest.
Chris Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Urban Taskforce Australia
“Our proposal is to
match the 100,000
new apartments with
100,000 new jobs so that
people can walk or cycle
to work.”
It was with great vision that the early
settlers connected Sydney Cove
with Parramatta
Pre-European settlement
The Wangal Clan of the Ku-ring-gai people lived in the area.
1788
European settlement, the Parramatta River is named and Parramatta settled
from the water.
1788-1792
1791
A track was established which Parramatta Road still follows closely today.
1792
Longbottom Stockade and Government Farm were established at Concord.
1810
Governor Macquarie moved to Government House at Parramatta.
1810
1811
Toll road to Parramatta opened.
1819
Francis Greenway’s tollgate and lodge were built at what is now Railway
Square.
1820
First public transport with stage coaches. Bath Arms Inn built at Burwood.
Tollgate 1819
1831
Regular ferry services established between Sydney and Parramatta.
1855
The railway from Sydney to Parramatta Junction (Granville) was built.
1882
A steam tram service began between Sydney and Norton Street Leichhardt.
1820-1840
1920
Parramatta Road was paved and upgraded due to an influx of motor vehicles.
1993
Sydney won the right to host the 2000 Olympic Games.
2000
Olympic Games held and significant new development was completed.
1855-1930
2002
Inner Metropolitan Regional Organisation of Councils Parramatta Road
competition won by Choi Ropiha.
2006
Parramatta Road Taskforce established to co-ordinate 9 councils and state
government and a new plan.
2012
Urban Taskforce develops a vision for Parramatta Road with key architects.
1992-2006
3
Parramatta Road has become
rundown and an eyesore
Parramatta Road has become
an eyesore with little
development of distinction.
While there are some reasonably good
heritage buildings at the eastern end
even these have become uncared for
and the businesses in them are
struggling. The extent of peak hour
traffic means that there is little parking
and that impacts on the viability of the
strip shopping.
Further west, the character of Parramatta
Road changes but it is dominated by car
yards and large industrial buildings.
Sites are available NOW
to begin the renewal
Many Urban Taskforce
members have sites along the
Parramatta Road corridor that
are ready for development if
planning approval for feasible
solutions can be achieved.
Strong support from an urban renewal
authority for those sites could begin the
change of this degraded part of Sydney
into a new liveability corridor.
To create the dynamics for real change
the government must encourage the
private sector to present ideas for
individual sites within a broad planning
structure.
It is the owners of the sites who are
best able to assess the potential
for realistic development and to
understand the market dynamics that
lead to real built results.
4
Development Sites
We need a vision for
Parramatta Road to be the best
place in Sydney by 2036
A bustling mixed use urban
neighbourhood
The Parramatta Road corridor will
be the place to live and work. With
100,000 new apartments a whole
new series of neighbourhoods will
develop. This will be the Gen X and
Gen Y activity strip where everything
is at your doorstep. But the liveability
corridor will also be a place for older
people with more time on their hands
and who want to be near amenities and
activities.
Walk or cycle to work
By having 100,000 jobs along the
corridor many residents will be able
to walk or cycle to work. We need a
diverse approach to work that includes
light industrial, technology industries,
traditional offices and flexi offices
where residents can plug into a shared
work node.
Catch the light rail or the metro
With car traffic reduced once the M4
East is complete the current light rail
that is planned to come to Summer Hill
can be extended along Parramatta Road
right up to the Parramatta CBD. The
light rail will only work with sufficient
density of development along its
length. Previous studies looked at
the width of the road and suggested
locating the trams at the sides of
Parramatta Road leaving 3 lanes in the
middle for cars. The 3 lanes work well
for tidal flow at peak times where 2
lanes are used. The other option is the
Melbourne approach of having the
trams in the middle of the road.
The green network will be
extended
With sufficient density a number of
metro stations can be justified adding
to the viability of the proposed metro
line from Parramatta to Sydney’s CBD.
There are already some extensive green
networks along the corridor including
Duck Creek, Centennial Parklands,
Rookwood Cemetery and a series of
parks and ovals. By planning for some
tall towers along the corridor more
open space can be opened up for
landscaped areas. A major street tree
planting program, particularly along
Parramatta Road, can add a vast number
of trees to the area, all maintained by
the new council network.
A new council network to help
residents
Cafes, restaurants,
supermarkets, theatres, cinemas
To really make the corridor, with its
extra 200,000 residents from 100,000
apartments, function in a co-ordinated
manner a new council network could
service the residents and workers along
the renewal corridor. The new council
network would manage the public
realm, provide community facilities
and manage ongoing planning issues.
Some services may be subcontracted
to neighbouring councils. The council
network is an opportunity to develop
a new form of governance that evolves
with the new population.
With densities that come with 100,000
new apartments and 100,000 new jobs
comes the need for retail, recreation
and cultural facilities. The new council
network will ensure the provision of
cultural and community facilities and
the market will deliver the shops, retail
and recreational facilities.
5
There are many infrastructure
proposals that reinforce the potential
for urban renewal
There are many proposals for
continuing the importance of the
connection between Parramatta
and Sydney that began with the
early toll road of 1811.
Very Fast Train (VFT) – Green
A number of studies have been made into
the potential for a fast train (350km/h)
along the eastern seaboard. The current
proposal is for the Sydney stop to be located
at Parramatta and if this occurs it would
reinforce the importance of Parramatta as a
major urban centre and generate the need
for excellent connections to the Sydney CBD.
Heavy Rail – Pink
The existing heavy rail line between
Parramatta and Sydney has a series of
stations that serve the precinct. There have
been proposals to develop the Western
Express (WEX) as a duplication of the
western line from Penrith to the city. The
intent of this duplication would be to collect
passengers west of Parramatta and then
bypass the stations between Parramatta and
the city. This would increase dramatically
the capacity at the local stations. The
Parramatta Road corridor connects to 16
stations that serve the surrounding precincts.
These include road, heavy rail, light rail
and metro rail proposals. Some of these
options are focussed on taking traffic
congestion off the Parramatta to Sydney
route by carrying people from west of
Parramatta directly to the city centre.
Metro – Red
There have been a number of proposals for
a high frequency metro service to connect
Parramatta and Sydney’s CBD. One proposal
has been named the CBD Metro which
would have a number of stops at emerging
urban centres along the route between the
two major centres.
Light Rail – Yellow
Sydney once had an extensive tram
network that spread across the city. In
more recent years a light rail network has
been established and this is planned to
extend from Central Station to Lilyfield
and then onto Dulwich Hill. This network
can be extended along the entire length
of Parramatta Road once the M4 East is
completed. This network would have stops
every 400 to 500 metres. Over time the
network could extend through branches
from Parramatta Road along the ridges
down to the harbour and to the south
towards the Cooks River.
6
Other proposals are planned to serve
people along the corridor and these
proposals will allow greater development
along Parramatta Road and across to
the heavy rail stations to the south and
to the waterways in the north.
Ferry – Blue
As the densities increase in the zone
between Parramatta and the city the
existing Parramatta ferry service can be
increased in frequency as the commuter
population increases over time.
Major Roads – Purple
The current arterial road bringing traffic
from the west is the M4, but it stops well
short of the CBD which creates significant
congestion on Parramatta Road. The recent
federal budget allocated planning money
for the M4 East extension. This is likely to be
an underground link to the City West Link
at Haberfield. This infrastructure is critical
to the renewal of the Parramatta Road
corridor.
Above: The illustration for transport
infrastructure and the analysis of the various
options has been prepared by HASSELL.
Australia’s first mixed use
liveability corridor
What is a liveability corridor?
What will the buildings be like?
We propose using the current mixed use
zone to genuinely mix up uses in the
corridor. The mixed use zone needs to be
used more often in urban areas and it
needs to be flexibly controlled to ensure
that the various waves of development
driven by market place desires are
encouraged.
The architects who have contributed
to this issue of Urban Ideas have
developed concepts for the corridor
that give some idea of the built form.
Our proposed liveability corridor zoning
is all about mixing uses up so that for
every new apartment there is a new job
close by. The character of these precincts
would be urban and bustling with lots
of diversity.
Residents would feel part of their
walkable neighbourhood that includes
their favourite coffee shop, gym,
supermarket and a range of work
options. The character would be a bit
like King Street Newtown but with much
more density and higher buildings.
necessary infrastructure project to
allow the full vision for Parramatta
Road to be realised.
Will we need a new approach to
planning rules?
Buildings nearest to Parramatta Road,
where it is noisiest may be kept to 6
storeys with higher buildings, up to 9
storeys behind. We also expect to have
taller buildings up to 20 storeys located
at key locations. The built form should
reflect the diversity of the mixed uses.
Yes. The Parramatta Road liveability
corridor is a great opportunity to
rethink our zoning rules to encourage a
more interactive mixed use market
based approach. It is also an opportunity
to rethink the rules that define height
and floor space ratios.
What about vehicular traffic?
New planning rules that are based on
merit based arguments for defining
the bulk of buildings and the spaces
between them should be explored.
With jobs closer to home there would
be less need to drive to work. There
would also be the light rail and a future
metro as well as the existing heavy rail
which is quite close to Parramatta Road.
Detailed studies have been done on
vehicular traffic and the M4 East is a
Parramatta Road Before
Apartments above commercial and retail space
Parramatta Road After
7
CI
TY
LE
RI
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AR
SY
DN
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IL
CK
V
DT
AR
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IC
HH
Already there are some exciting creative
industries operating on Parramatta
Road. David Leach (left) runs a business
called LOOKPRINT on Parramatta Road
at Leichhardt that employs 70 people.
David Leach at LOOKPRINT
The Parramatta Road Taskforce of 2006
did involve all the councils along with
government departments, but no final
report was presented.
IE
LD
Creative industries
The boundary of some of
Sydney’s inner councils has
been drawn along Parramatta
Road. This means that each of
the 9 councils is unlikely to see
Parramatta Road as the most
important part of their area.
The diversity of different councils
has led to the lack of a co-ordinated
approach to planning. There are
different FSRs and different height limits
on either side of the road and from one
end to the other.
AS
HF
BU
RW
OO
D
CA
N
AD
A
BA
Y
IE
LD
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TH
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AU
BU
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PA
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AT
TA
Being shared by 9 different
councils does not help
Parramatta Road’s identity
Involvement of communities
The previous Parramatta Road Taskforce
held a number of community meetings
and more recently Leichhardt Council
has held meetings with residents and
shop owners along Parramatta Road.
Interestingly, many of those people
want change. They want anything that
can improve the current situation and
they understand that more density and
height is required to change the area
and they are happy with that.
8
It is a state of the art digital printing
company with the very latest equipment.
They seem to be able to print anything
onto any material including very large
sizes. Most of the staff now live nearby
and walk or ride to work. On the top
floor are artists’ studios for 16 local
artists and around the corner is an
Italian coffee shop.
LOOKPRINT, which is doing work around
Australia, can easily operate in a mixed
use environment with residential
buildings. Similar businesses can occur
along Parramatta Road as part of the
Liveability Corridor.
A single Urban Renewal Authority
must drive the vision for the
Parramatta Road Liveability Corridor
A number of Urban Taskforce
members are land owners and
developers who own large
sites in the Parramatta Road
corridor. Some of these sites
are illustrated in this edition
of Urban Ideas but most
are having difficulty getting
approvals for viable projects.
Sydney residents have developed a very
negative attitude to change and to
increased densities according to a
recent Productivity Commission survey.
The survey found that 64% of Sydney
residents were against change while
in Melbourne the figure was 52% and
in Hobart it was 36%. But Sydney’s
population will increase dramatically
with at least 770,000 new homes
needed by 2036.
To minimise change for most people we
must protect the vast majority of
Sydney’s low density suburban dwellings.
We must locate the new population in
denser living areas around transport
nodes and along corridors. 100,000 new
housing units or apartments in the
Parramatta Road Corridor, means they
do not need to be spread across the
surrounding suburban areas.
Urban renewal authority
Acquisition powers
To achieve the targets of 100,000
apartments and 100,000 jobs a
focussed urban renewal authority, that
works with the community and with the
9 councils will be needed. The authority
should be able to amalgamate sites,
develop the overall plan and have
approval authority delegation. The
overall plan must be grounded in
economic reality and needs to recognise
where the larger sites that are most
likely to proceed are located.
The new authority should be able to
acquire land where it is in the public
interest to amalgamate sites for the
renewal project. Appropriate levels of
financial compensation must be made.
New approach to zoning
A new approach to zoning, to floor
space ratios and to height controls
should be explored so that built form
outcomes that are more economically
viable, as well as creating good urban
spaces, can occur.
Planning approval
The new authority should be the approval
authority to ensure that the vision is
implemented. Another planning approval
option would be to establish a
Parramatta Road Joint Regional Planning
Panel (JRPP) with representation from
the relevant councils and the authority.
9
Community consultation
The new authority must develop
excellent skills in communication with
the broader community along the
corridor. New techniques need to be
explored to ensure that it is not only
the minority action groups that are
involved but the whole community.
A good example of involving
communities is the work of the Urban
Renewal Team at Brisbane City Council.
Can do attitude
If the targets of 100,000 apartments
and 100,000 jobs is going to be
achieved over 25 years it is essential
that the new authority has a “can do”
attitude to drive the project. While
communities must be involved it must
be with the reality of the targets to be
achieved. Communication skills will be
very important.
Urban Ideas has harnessed
the design ideas of Sydney’s top
architects and urban designers
The Urban Taskforce is keen
to demonstrate ways forward
in developing quality design
solutions for Sydney’s growth.
This requires thinking at the
scale of the city as well as at the
scale of individual sites.
We therefore assembled a team of
creative designers, many of whom are
Taskforce members and many of whom
are working directly with Taskforce
members on real sites in the corridor.
Our challenge was to come up with
ideas for the Parramatta Road Corridor
that could accommodate 100,000 new
apartments and 100,000 new jobs.
We had a number of workshops at the
offices of LAVA where individual projects
were presented as well as concepts for
the whole corridor. As the project
progressed we found more Taskforce
members and their architects with large
sites who wanted to be involved.
Urban Ideas also wanted to explore
some special sites that could be critical
to achieving our targets. GSA looked
at the 43 hectare Flemington Markets
site. While the markets have no plans
to move we thought such a large site,
with its own railway station could well
change in 25 years time. Hannah Tribe
took a different approach by examining
the narrow sites to see how they could
be developed to reasonable densities.
Our workshop discussions ranged over
new ways to define planning rules and
new approaches to zoning.
The architects and urban
designers involved in the
Parramatta Road Liveability
Corridor include the following:
AJ+C
Mark Louw
Allen Jack and Cottier (AJ+C) are a very
respected architectural firm with great
experience in apartment design. They
are designing a new project for Crown
International alongside Parramatta Road.
COX
Philip Graus
Cox Architecture are leading Sydney
architects and Philip Graus is very
experienced in planning and urban design.
He is developing design solutions for Ford
Land at the western end of Parramatta Road.
FKM
Rob Mirams
Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects (FKM)
is an innovative firm based in Sydney and
partnered with FKA in Melbourne. Rob
Mirams runs the Sydney office and was
previously an associate with Norman
Foster in London. FKM is working on a site
for EG Funds Management in Auburn.
GROUP GSA
Lisa-Maree Carrigan
Group GSA are an award-winning
multi-disciplinary design practice.
Lisa-Maree is a Director who has keen
experience in urban design and mixed
use projects. They have explored the
Flemington Market’s site with a view to
a long-term future vision.
Disclaimer
The views expressed on the following pages
are those of the architects and urban designers
not of Urban Taskforce Australia.
10
HASSELL
Matthew Pullinger
Hassell is an international design practice.
Matthew Pullinger is a Principal of the
practice working on the Summer Hill Flour
Mill project for EG Funds Management.
Matthew is also the NSW President of the
Australian Institute of Architects.
LAVA
Chris Bosse
LAVA is the Laboratory for Visionary
Architecture with offices in Sydney and
Stuttgart. The office has won a number
of international competitions and is well
known for its creative ideas. Sydney
Director, Chris Bosse, was a key designer
(whilst at PTW) of the Watercube for the
Beijing Olympics.
OLSSON ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS
Russell Olsson
Russell Olsson is an architect and urban
designer trained in Paris. Russell was the
lead consultant for the Parramatta Road
Taskforce and has researched the area in
detail and designed a number of buildings
in the area.
TRIBE STUDIO
Hannah Tribe
Hannah is an emerging talent in Sydney
architecture who recently won a Byera
Hadley Travelling Scholarship to study in
London. Hannah has explored the narrow
lots along Parramatta Road.
TURF DESIGN STUDIO
Mike Horne
Mike is a landscape architect and urban
designer who has worked on some large
projects in Sydney including the CUB site
on Broadway and Sydney University.
155–159
Parramatta Road
Five Dock
www.architectsajc.com
Mark Louw
ALLEN JACK + COTTIER
A quality development and
the creation of a town centre
for Canada Bay.
The site illustrated below is
proposed for development by
Crown International Holdings
and Drivas Property Group.
AJ+C, FKM and other leading
architectural firms such as BatesSmart
have carried out feasibility studies to
the 155-159 Parramatta Road 4.3ha site
owned by the following two entities;
Crown International and the Drivas
Group. All sites have involved rezoning
from light industrial to mixed use to
ensure that the desired character of
and frontage to Parramatta Road was
maintained allowing for commercial/
retail/car showroom facilities. Strong
urban design solutions were required
to support site specific design and
development intent and there was an
opportunity to use the site as a marker
in such a location to rejuvenate the area.
Given the sites geographical excellence
and its proximity to the transport
corridor, public amenities and water it
was considered that the development
be considered a neighbourhood/
town centre and that ideally a light
rail/bus interchange be provided as
a community benefit to the site. The
tower buildings serve as a visual focus
for the ‘town centre’ and a series of
connections/through site links are
proposed to connect Parramatta Road
to the harbour. In addition to the
major through site links are a series
of pedestrian and vehicular routes
providing a finer grain and greater
permeability to the overall site and its
wider context.
The form making of the buildings
ensures a consistent 3-4 storey
podium with frontage to Parramatta
Road allowing towers to be setback
and a variation of slab and courtyard
perimeter blocks. Height has been
kept predominantly to the southern
edge ensuring a relationship with the
medium density development context
along the harbour perimeter.
11
290–292
Parramatta Road
Auburn
www.coxarchitecture.com.au
Philip Graus
COX ARCHITECTURE
Our studies look at a
consolidated site in Auburn that
demonstrates a development
model that could occur along
this section of Parramatta Road.
This 3.2 hectare site on Parramatta
Road is owned by Ford Land and Cottle
and it could accommodate 1,000
apartments and 800 jobs in 25,600m2
of commercial, employment and retail
space. The frontage to Parramatta
Road would be lined by showrooms,
galleries, restaurants, commercial and
office buildings. The streetscape would
be kept in scale with the width of
Parramatta Road and be supported by
higher density urban living behind.
With a floor space ratio of 4:1 and a
mixed use zoning, a quality urban
development could be achieved on this
site. The higher density housing would
be built around parks and squares and
residents would be within walking
distance of two railway stations.
The precinct map indicates how
development can occur along both sides
of Parramatta Road with a combination
of commercial and residential uses. The
stations of Clyde and Auburn would
provide public transport and with a
decrease of traffic once the M4 East
is completed, Parramatta Road could
become a pleasant boulevard.
Site Context
PARRAMATTA
3km
Harris Park
Granville
M4
Clyde
Auburn
Parr
am
atta
CLYDE
M4
Mo
torw
ay
Ro
ad
W
es
te
r
Site Plan
n
Lin
e
AUBURN
0
The above site is proposed
for development by Ford
Land Company and Cottle.
12
10m
10
0
25m
50m
0m
m
Parramatta Rd
8–24
Queen Street
Auburn
www.fkmarchitects.com
Rob Mirams
FENDER KATSALIDIS MIRAMS
Partnered with FKA in Melbourne
our practice has designed
numerous tall residential buildings
in Australia and Internationally.
Together we delivered a 16 storey
apartment building on the old
Children’s hospital site close to
Parramatta Rd in Sydney.
FKM is now working on a large site in
Auburn for EG Funds Management
which is close to Parramatta Road. The
site is at the junction of two street grids
with one at 45 degrees to the other.
We have carried the angle of Louisa
Street through the site as a pedestrian
connection and emphasised the
connection by an avenue of trees.
The buildings are designed as street
edge blocks that use the 45 degree
geometry to open a number of the
corners. Heights range from 4 storeys
to 9 storeys on the base scheme.
A high-rise solution has also be
developed with one tower up to 20
storeys and another up to 16 storeys.
Both towers are set back from the
street and are screened by the lower
rise street edge buildings. The tower
solution enables the reduction in height
of some buildings to get a more open
feeling to the precinct.
Overall the site of 2.7 hectares can
accommodate 840 apartments and a
number of retail outlets and shops at
ground level. The street edge buildings
adjacent to lower rise residential
buildings have been kept to 4 floors with
another level stepped back behind that.
Another apartment project by FKA,
together with FKM in Sydney, are the
new buildings at the Trio Project in
Camperdown for Frasers. This project
demonstrates how the form of a large
building can be broken down to give an
interesting appearance. The building
incorporates a green wall with plants
growing up the full height of the
northern elevation.
Children’s Hospital Site
The above site is proposed
for development by EG
Funds Management.
13
Flemington Markets
www.groupgsa.com
Lisa–Maree Carrigan
Group GSA
Urban Ideas asked us to look
at the 43 hectare markets
site at Flemington to explore
long term development
opportunities with or without
the markets.
The scheme we have developed has
evolved from an analysis of the sites
around the Flemington Markets. It
seemed important to get a green
connection across Parramatta Road to
link with Bicentennial Park and Sydney
Olympic Park to the north and to the
golf course to the south. The market
facilities have been rationalised and
consolidated on the Parramatta Road
side of the site over a number of levels
with some forming a land bridge over
Parramatta Road. Building heights range
from 30 storeys along the landscaped
Parramatta Road stepping down to 6
storey buildings along the railway knitting
into the existing residential community.
The proposal utilises some of the
market facilities to activate the precinct
along with strong retail uses. An
educational hub is proposed in the
centre of the site possibly a TAFE
related to the market activities. With
Flemington station adjacent to the site
there is a great opportunity to create a
truly mixed use centre.
While this scheme keeps the markets
in a reconfigured form there may be
another option in the next 25 years
that relocates the bulk market activities
at a new site on the M7 and to retain
the fresh food markets for Sydney
restaurants and Paddy’s Markets at
the centre of the site. Many of the
principles of the revitalisation shown
here would still be applicable with
more density possible. Up to 10,000
apartments could ultimately be
accommodated along with significant
market functions, retail, commercial
and educational activities that could
yield 10,000 jobs.
14
Summer Hill
Flour Mill
www.hassellstudio.com.au
Matthew Pullinger
HASSELL
Hassell has designed a proposal
for the Summer Hill Flour Mill
and master plan for the
adjacent McGill Street precinct.
Together the work on these
two adjacent sites defines a
strategically transport oriented
urban village.
The Summer Hill Flour Mill is an iconic
set of silos adjacent to a disused freight
line that will soon form an extension
to the light rail system in Sydney’s
inner west. The 2.5 hectare site is also
located close to the railway stations
of Summer Hill and Lewisham. The
planning was complicated by the fact
that the site crossed two local council
areas, Ashfield and Marrickville. Adding
to the planning complexity was the
heritage significance of the existing
silos and some of the mill buildings, the
need to integrate into a sensitive local
community and to provide access to
the new light rail stop.
Hassell was engaged by EG Funds
Management to develop a scheme for
the site, and later engaged by Marrickville
Council to develop a master plan for
an area of 3.5 hectares of land between
Old Canterbury Road and the
Hawthorne Canal. The combination of
these sites, either side of the new light
rail route, creates an urban village
close to the Parramatta Road corridor.
The Flour Mill scheme proposes
approximately 300 apartments and
townhouses, including some within the
silos. This is complemented by around
7,000 sqm of commercial and retail
space providing local jobs. New
buildings up to 10 storeys are planned
to relate to the silos, which themselves
are up to 13 storeys in height. The
adjoining McGill Street precinct
includes for buildings up to 8 and 9
storeys with new public open space and
active uses on the street edges.
The above site is proposed to be developed by EG Funds Management.
15
Parametric Parramatta
http://l-a-v-a.net
Chris Bosse
LAVA
We have taken a visionary
approach to renewing the
Parramatta - Sydney corridor
and used our parametric
modelling skills to envisage a
new future.
Parramatta Road is a congested channel
surrounded by opportunity. For the last
several years we at LAVA have been
using parametric models to challenge
the conventional design approach to
architecture. For us, nature holds all the
answers. The physics that rule nature go
way beyond the quadrangular grid. Our
aim is to emulate the intelligence and
adaptability of natural systems. Think of
a coral reef that hosts thousands of species
that thrive in coexistence of each other
and the elements - air, water and sun.
LAVA’s proposal therefore interprets
Parramatta Road as a neural system
that connects Sydney and Parramatta in
a fluid manner while instigating change
in the surrounding suburbs.
Our vision for Parramatta Road is a highly
active, sustainable, decentralised city
network. Our plan is to generate a fluid
ribbon of mixed use that dilutes the
transportation density and favours local
connectivity. By identifying attractor
poles that are either an eco-zone or
an infrastructural node, the concept
creates a network of value/energy
zones for a merit-based scale of density.
Sustainability is the critical word –
social, environmental of course and
also, importantly, commercial. This
flexible approach brings Parramatta
Road into the 21st century by transforming
a major highway into an experience.
16
www.olssonassociates.com.au
Russell Olsson
OLSSON ASSOCIATES
ARCHITECTS
8 Parramatta Road
and 39 Cooper Street
Strathfield
Olsson Associates have designed new residential buildings on
Parramatta Road following our preparation of the Parramatta to
City of Sydney Corridor Plan for DIPNR.
Designing for Residential
Amenity:
1. Northern sun - for sites on the
northern side of the road,
orientate living areas/balconies
to the north, away from the road.
2. Environmental screens - for
sites on the southern side of
the road, screens of operable
louvers permitting solar access
and cross ventilation whilst
controlling noise and pollution.
3. Dual balconies - for sites on
the southern side of the road,
dual orientation of living areas
and balconies provides choice
at different times of the day and
year, in relation to solar access
and cross ventilation, noise and
pollution.
Environmental screens to
residential balconies, Parramatta
Road / Cooper Street Strathfield,
Olsson Associates Architects
(with Fyfe Design), for Omaya
Holdings.
4. Set backs - on larger sites on
the northern and southern sides
of the road, setbacks for
residential buildings enhance the
potential for residential amenity.
Dual orientation of residential
balconies, Parramatta Road/ Leicester
Avenue, Strathfield, Olsson Associates
Architects (with Integrated Design
Group), for Omaya Holdings.
Sites developed by
Omaya Holdings
17
Narrow blocks along
Parramatta Road
www.tribestudio.com.au
Hannah Tribe
TRIBE STUDIO
Tribe Studio has looked at
solutions for the narrow
blocks along Parramatta Road
so that skinny buildings could
be built without the need for
amalgamation of sites.
Tribe took on the challenge of how
to take an under-utilized ribbon of
well-serviced and well-located, but
essentially unpleasant real estate
and transform it into a vital, urban
experience that is a key provider of
housing and jobs. How can one deal
with the existing subdivisions and
complex patterns of ownership still
achieve a great outcome for the city,
new workers and new residents?
onto Parramatta Road, respecting
their character. The height limit is
determined to preserve solar access to
the south side of Parramatta Road and
to the residential bungalows to the rear
of the Parramatta Road sites.
The new building envelopes will contain
a mixture of retail, commercial and
residential creating a vibrant livework community along this stretch of
Parramatta Road. The apartments will
look down on a lushly landscaped urban
cycleway/pedestrian park. Offices,
apartments and shops will be serviced
by vehicle, tram, bike and pedestrian
links and all will enjoy a new, vibrant,
urban street experience.
The first key move is to take the two
centre lanes of traffic and give them
over to a tram system. Elevated above
this tram is a pedestrian and cycle
way, 6m wide and lushly landscaped.
This intervention creates three
alternative, more pleasant means of
transportation along Parramatta Road.
It reduces vehicle traffic and separates
the road visually and acoustically into
two so that the sense of speed, noise
and frenzy is removed, thus creating
a pleasant pedestrian experience
at street level and on the elevated
walkway. It also gives future residential
development a lovely, active, green
outlook from above.
The second move is to create a 6
storey height limit to the sides of the
road. This creates a dramatic and
urban character to the section. It also
provides a buffer wall for the single
storey residential areas that back
18
www.turfdesign.com
Green Corridor along
Parramatta Road
Mike Horne
TURF DESIGN STUDIO
As landscape architects we
have looked at the network of
parks, waterways, streets and
squares that can be woven into
a new ‘green corridor’ along
Parramatta Road.
We began with the existing green
assets - the local parks, waterways
such as the Duck River that connect
into Sydney Harbour, Sydney Olympic
Park (including Bicentennial Park the
Millennium Parklands) and the green
lung provided by Rookwood Cemetery.
Turf has added to this a new overlay
of tree lined avenues connected to a
network of new urban parks. Our office
along with Jeppe Aagaard Andersen of
Denmark designed the public domain
of Frasers Central Park project at the
Broadway end of Parramatta Road.
The centrepiece of this development is
Chippendale Green, a one hectare park
- an ideal size that could be replicated
many times along the Parramatta Road
corridor as part of similar new
development sites. The significant
greening of rooftops and facades at
Broadway is again an idea worthy of
repetition within the corridor.
There is a fantastic opportunity to
unlock the potential of Parramatta
Road itself. It can become one of the
great streets of Sydney, just add broad
shade trees, wide sidewalks, great
public transport, apartments for living
and local enterprise. Let’s make it a
place for people as well as cars! Build it
and they will come.
19
GPO Box 5396, Sydney NSW 2001
Level 12, 32 Martin Place,
Sydney NSW
Level 6, London Circuit,
Canberra ACT
T: (02) 9238 3955
F: (02) 9222 9122
E: [email protected]
W: www.urbantaskforce.com.au
Future issues of URBAN IDEAS
will investigate the public
domain related to changing
retail trends, the new
workplace that requires more
flexible, mixed use zoning,
and other issues that relate
to the changing nature of our
urban environment.
20
Photography/Image Credits
Cover: HASSELL
Pg 5: TURF DESIGN STUDIO
Pg 6: HASSELL
Pg 7: Haycraft Duloy; Turner + Associates;
LAVA
Pg 9: HASSELL
Pg 15: Portrait by Neil Fenelon