Portfolio Archive - Page 4 of 4 - Studio GL

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Archive

March 6, 2016

Victoria Road Urban Design Review

In 2018, the City of Canada Bay commissioned Studio GL, supported by AEC (property economics), Sym Studio (landscape) and Henson Consulting (traffic/ transport), to lead an urban design review of the Victoria Road, Drummoyne commercial precinct. Effective community engagement was a key objective and it shaped development of the desired future character, design principles and recommendations. We organised a series of events including workshops, drop-in sessions, online mapping, intercept surveys and focus groups with seniors and primary school students, over two stages, to capture the community’s local knowledge and aspirations, and test the emerging strategies and ideas.

The local community value this precinct for its heritage character and convenient access to the city. Traffic congestion, the scale of recent developments, pedestrian safety and access, and parking were identified as the biggest challenges. Our recommendations included a catalogue of placemaking ‘activation initiatives’ to improve the local character, pedestrian access and amendments to Council’s planning and development controls to increase consideration of the sunlight, privacy and amenity of local residents.

Client: City of Canada Bay

Project date: 2018-2019

Services: Town Centre Studies, Masterplanning, Strategic Thinking & Planning, Community Engagement, Transport Urban Design

March 6, 2016

Urban Infill Redevelopment

Ku-ring-gai Council commissioned Studio GL to develop a concept that explored the potential for the redevelopment of a Council-owned former bowling club site in Gordon, on the North Shore of Sydney. The site is located in an area of well-established single detached homes with a strong existing character. A number of heritage-listed items and Heritage Conservation Areas are located in close proximity to the site and were considered in the design of the concept.

Traffic, heritage and flood risk management, and sensitive interfaces with existing low density housing, created design challenges. Studio GL led a project team of experts in traffic impacts (SMEC – Traffic), flood risk management (CCS – Flooding) and heritage (John Oultram H+D – Heritage) to address these concerns.

Existing local planning controls were applied to the scheme to test its feasibility. A low-density infill scheme, sympathetic with the surrounding R2 Low-Density Residential areas was designed and documented through plans, sketches and a 3D model.

The scheme and associated studies provided Council with information to support an informed decision as to the potential future development of the site.

Client: Ku-ring-gai Council

Project date: 2020-2021

Services: Development Controls, Feasibility Pre-Design

March 5, 2016

Meadowbank Education & Employment Precinct

The Meadowbank Education and Employment Precinct Master Plan provides the groundwork for a fully coordinated approach to ensure the Meadowbank Precinct is integrated, accessible and provides a high level of amenity for the whole community. The masterplan considers the precinct holistically, providing context for the new schools and TAFE NSW Meadowbank upgrade, and identifies future projects with the aim of enhancing employment opportunities, improving the quality of pedestrian space, improving access and transport services and supporting the existing residential community with increased open space and other facilities.

A key requirement of the project was a detailed site analysis that explained the physical and cultural qualities of the place, how people moved through the precinct and reflected and responded to the current and future strategic context.

We worked with the project’s tight timeframes, while incorporating detailed feedback from key stakeholders, Greater Sydney Commission and Department of Premier and Cabinet NSW and delivered the final Master Plan in mid 2020.

Client: Greater Sydney Commission

Project date: 2019-2020

Services: Masterplanning, Strategic Thinking & Planning, Transport Urban Design

March 5, 2016

Kiama Town Centre Study

Studio GL was engaged by Kiama Municipal Council to undertake a comprehensive town centre study with the aim of accommodating growth in the centre in a form that respected and supported the established character of Kiama. We took a multi-layered approach and outlined a strategic direction that would support the centre continuing to be an attractive, safe and thriving place.

We worked closely with Council and the community to develop a cohesive vision for the town that was built on Kiama’s unique qualities and strong identity, desired future character and design principles. The study presented a series of framework plans and associated initiatives, organised both thematically and spatially. The study also recommended changes to Council’s planning policies to help deliver the desired future character and an implementation plan which outlined the detailed steps to realise the vision.

Client: Kiama Municipal Council

Project date: 2018-2019

Services: Town Centre Studies, Masterplanning, Strategic Thinking & Planning, Community Engagement, Transport Urban Design

March 5, 2016

Urban Design & Local Character Training

Studio GL has been a leading voice in broadening the understanding of urban design and local character across NSW. This has included facilitating multi-disciplinary training programs for a diverse range of clients including councils and universities. The workshops are structured to help participants learn how to ‘read’ context and neighbourhood character, and visualise the impact of their decisions and the processes involved in creating specific design outcomes.

In 2015, Studio GL was commissioned by Bankstown City Council to develop and run a multi-disciplinary urban design training program for Council staff. The program and its application received a Planning Excellence Award (NSW) Commendation for ‘Improving Planning Processes and Practices’ in 2016.

Since 2017, Studio GL has been running interactive training workshops for PIA NSW and various local councils, on how to assess context and neighbourhood character. Studio GL was invited by DPIE to present on Neighbourhood Character at a one day symposium (May 2018) which informed the development of DPIE’s Local Character and Place Guideline (2019).

Client: PIA (NSW), City of Canada Bay, Shoalhaven City Council, Bankstown City Council

Project date: 2015 onwards

Services: Urban Design Training

March 4, 2016

Canada Bay Development Control Plan

Following on from our work on the Five Dock Town Centre Urban Design Study, Studio GL were engaged to upgrade the development controls for the City of Canada Bay including an update of controls for the Mixed Use Areas and Neighbourhood Centres and preparation of revised development controls for the Five Dock Town Centre.

As part of this work we have undertaken site testing and detailed overshadowing modelling to identify the impact an increase in different FSRs would have on the character of the centre, and assessed different options for built form with regard to scale, number of storeys and street wall heights. We also prepared a fact sheet to help explain floor space ratio controls (FSR) to the community. Following exhibition of the DCP we have assisted Council in the review of community feedback generated by the public exhibition and created photomontage views to explain the impact of different height controls.

Client: Shoalhaven City Council

Project date: 2016

Services: Town Centre Studies, Development Controls, Strategic Thinking & Planning

Similar Projects: Nowra CBD Development Controls, Nowra Riverfront Precinct

March 2, 2016

Nowra CBD Urban Design Development Controls

Studio GL were appointed to create development controls for the Nowra CBD to deliver a built form that fits within the planning context and the desired future character of this important regional centre on the South Coast of NSW. Studio GL staff members, Diana Griffiths and Brigitte Buchholz, obtained detailed knowledge of the centre from their previous work on the Nowra CBD Urban Design Master Plan (while at Arup) which won a PIA award for Excellence in Planning in 2011.

Through a series of workshops with Council staff, stakeholders and the local community we created development controls designed to ensure future development would improve the visual appearance and amenity of the CBD, by minimising possible impacts on significant view corridors and identifying opportunities for civic space and fine grain pedestrian connectivity. Council endorsed the development controls in April 2016 and these are expected to be incorporated into the DCP during the first half of the year.

Client: Shoalhaven City Council

Project date: 2014 – 2016

Services: Town Centre Studies, Development Controls, Community Engagement, Strategic Thinking & Planning

Similar Projects: Canada Bay Development Control Plan, Nowra Riverfront Precinct

March 1, 2016

Five Dock Town Centre Urban Design Study

The Five Dock Town Centre provides a focus for the commercial, civic and community life of this part of Sydney’s Inner West. Studio GL staff, working with Arup and Hill PDA, provided the core urban design expertise on this comprehensive urban design study that aimed to improve the long term economic success of this centre.

We undertook a comprehensive review of exiting policy documents, created a detailed site analysis, facilitated engaging community and stakeholder consultation, developed options for public domain improvements and prepared the final strategic framework and detailed implementation plan. The project was awarded a NSW PIA Planning Excellence Award in 2014. The analysis and recommendations report can be viewed online at: www.canadabay.nsw.gov.au/five-dock-town-centre.html

Client: City of Canada Bay

Project date: 2013

Services: Town Centre Studies, Masterplanning, Strategic Thinking & Planning