‘Old city, new tricks’ - UNSW Landscape Architecture Graduating Project 2020

‘Old city, new tricks’ What are the needs and wants of low income seniors in regards to public park design in Sydney’s inner city?

Liam Maccan z5162034 Linework - Onsite footraffic study undertaken by Liam Maccan 23/09/20

“Senior friendly design, is everyone friendly design” Myself 2o2o....

Liam Patrick Maccan Landscape Architect / Syd Aus Nationality - Australian / Italian DOB - 03 / 09 / 98 - Age 22

MY PROJECT This passion project is an ode to my grandparents that have shaped my landscape career path. In particular my pop who ran with the Olympic torch in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

With the belief upon ‘Senior friendly design, is everyone friendly design” I have created what I believe to be a beautiful public landscape for all with the help of some inspiring seniors.

CONTENTS

Section 1 - 4/14

Section 2 - 15/36

Section 3 - 37/49

Section 4 - 50/53

This ones for pop

How did I get here.....

Hard work pays off

Cherry on top

- Question - Abstract - Why? - This ones for you Pop - Dementia? Vs New Approaches?

- Dense population? Vs Low Income?

- Enhancing Usability? Vs Elderly Satisfaction?

- Precedent studies - On site experiences - Spatial practices - Design language - Material hierarchy

- Principles/Objectives - Principles/Objectives - Senior friendly matrix - Senior friendly matrix - Regional Context - Local Context - Deligneated Site - On site sketching studies - On site sketching studies - Experiential Model - Experiential Model - Analysis - Analysis - Analysis - Design Strategy - Furniture Strategy - Dawn Fraser Strategy - Landscape Footprint - Landscape Footprint

- Site Breakdown - Site Masterplan - Site Masteplan - Spatial - Passive - Civic - Linear - Model - Model - Model - Model - Materials - Planting

- Secret to success. The future of Sydney Olympic Parks landscape - The proof is in the pudding

Q?

‘ O L D C I T Y N E W T R I C K S’ What are the needs and wants of low-income seniors in regard to public park design in Sydney’s inner city?

Despite the rapid predictions there is no evident concerning framework for the ageing population!!!

ABSTRACT

What are the needs and wants of low-income seniors in regard to public park design in Sydney’s inner city? This illustrative essay will uncover the key concepts of healthy ageing, and that despite the rapid predictions there is no evident concerning framework that explores a greater access to public parks for independent elderly individuals in Sydney. Through an in-depth analysis on the key design principles that make a successful park regarding healthy urban living and ageing in place positively impacting an ageing populations health and well-being.

‘Old city, new tricks’, healthy ageing, low income seniors, independence, rapid growth, vulnerability.......

WHY?

Senior friendly design, is everyone friendly design

Despite current research, and rapid predictions made by Schuler in 2015, stating that in Sydney alone; The number of residents over the age of sixty-five will increase by one hundred and eighty percent by 2050, (Schuler 2015) indicating not only is there a gap in current knowledge but also a loophole in a concerning framework for the ageing population. Thus, revealing a concurrent need for diverse collaboration state-wide on an updated design model for welcoming senior friendly public landscapes. These plans would emerge to support the voices and preferences posed by the customers themselves, independent elderly citizens. The pinnacle, the answer, the beauty in senior complimented public design can be found by eliminating any feelings of vulnerability in order to promote a sense of value and security for the seniors. This theoretical design principle will be explored within this report segmented into a series of chapters containing theoretical groundings such as design language, spatial practices and finally material hierarchy. Although there is a wide range of research currently being done, this illustrative research model places pressure on the focus of low-income seniors in Sydney’s inner city, any reinforcing supplementary data and research will be referred to as appropriate.

THIS ONES FOR POP

This passion project is an ode to my grandparents that have shaped my landscape career path. In particular my pop who ran with the Olympic torch in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With the belief upon ‘Senior friendly design, is everyone friendly design I have created what I believe to be a beautiful landscape for all.

DEMENTIA VS NEW APPROACH

Architect Harry Francis Mallgrave explains, due to the nature of the human body, ‘we always give space direction; the orientation of the body determines what is ahead’. This is exponentially evident in dementia sufferers, Nearly 1 out of 10 seniors suffer dementia (Dementia statistics, 2020). It is through the spatial constructs that are anticipated because of the circulatory nature that a successful design strategy can be explored. According to Schmarsow, by moving through a well thought out design, usually forward. Some designers have been able to exploit the clear and directional movement they urge of seniors, modifying the presumptions of their preferences and the ultimate nature of what you’re originally designing. Most early theories of senior friendly research were motivated with a concern about private landscapes for the elderly rather than publicly accessible spaces. With such rapid growth rates over the past decade it is now crucial that the re-development of past key research can be redirected for the benefit of senior friendly design. With the one key motivator and constraint being dementia, new approaches were employed with the support of a large study being undertaken between elderly patients and design teams. These studies developed key approaches quite similar to August Schmarsows theoretical position on spatial experiences, or Harry Francis Mallgraves 2014 Brovaktarparken site in Stockholm, Sweden. Due to the nature of the human body, ‘we always give space direction; the orientation of the body determines what is ahead’. It is these spatial constructs that can essentially be anticipated for senior friendly engagement. With an empathy towards hierarchical pathways, route lengths and textural indicators to stratify an educational framework for healthy ageing landscapes. Two very successful articles by Braidwood and Schuler pose the questions that need to be answered regarding the future of future ageing cities. Delving deep into (Braidwood 2017) the review, it is evident that the driving issue lies with the delay of responsibility from designers leading to a pandemic of under qualified architects regarding dementia supported landscapes. Simultaneously Schuler exaggerates the need to stop isolating seniors in suburban retirement communities, separating them from the public realm. As a result, designers are never fully understanding the challenges they present which is the key to the success of landscape design as most of the improvements that make a landscape more senior age friendly are improvements that benefit everybody.

DENSE POPULATION VS LOW INCOME

There has been no better time to revisit current urban development frameworks to bring in more social and people-centric approaches to designing and managing inner city parks for the elderly. Residents are facing increasing challenges of negotiating diversity in close proximity, and as healthy ageing grows as do the issues related such as social sustainability, accessibility and equity within public parks. The research journals identify three key principles when designing a beneficial public beneficiary for low income seniors in dense contexts; What are the needs, preferences, and aspirations of the seniors? What are the challenges and impediments that decrease a senior’s access to and use of public landscapes? And finally posing the key principles in creating a framework to develop a senior friendly park within an inner city? (Loukaitou et al 2016) Both articles aim to bolster the current and outdated design methods by conducting on site analysis to reveal the opportunities and constraints of a fortunate precedent. The research revealed two very successful inner-city parks that responded to preferences of elderly social cohesion by using and appropriating empty spaces to create formalized senior citizen corners for social capital and civic participation. (Loukaitou, et al 2016) . Both Chelsea Street Playground (East Redfern) and Frances Newton Reserve (Darlinghurst) conveyed great social sustainability, accessibility and equity within these small public parks (Chong, et al 2017). When visiting, one elderly lady commented that Chelsea Street playground worked because it extinguished all feelings of vulnerability which is frequent in various other public parks. By culminating both research journals and comparing results, quite exponentially prove that the key is in the absence of exaggerated activities (Chong, et al 2017). When working with urban pocket parks, one can typically observe the seniors congregating in small spaces of refuge to converse negotiating diversity. Ultimately revealing a clear view from both teams that more needs to be done, indicating that current policies are essentially concentrated on supporting the independence and autonomy of elderly within privately owned spaces and institutional environments such as retirement homes rather than on free outdoor experiences in public settings. Reminding us that it is not as easy as reworking the current private design concepts into a public setting to please a wider elderly public audience, the answer is in the correlation between the growth in Sydney cities dense population vs its high percentage of inhabitants being low Income seniors

ENHANCING USABILITY VS ELDERLY SATISFACTION

Studies have revealed new perspectives on how open space planning and public landscapes play an important role in ameliorating health and social issues associated with the increasing ageing population. Scientific studies have proven serious mental and physical benefits of public space which is essential when the projections reveal that seniors over the age of 65+ will make up 21.1% by 2050 (Esther, et al 2017) therefore the new generation of seniors who are more educated, active and empowered will be demanding more from the city of Sydney. It is these very concerns from the public that stitch my report with supporting supplementary literature regarding what makes a beneficial landscape environment according to independent active seniors. Despite faculty presumptions, studies revealed that the elderly demographic spend a considerable amount of time in public parks, particular in highly dense cities.

However, through the measure of Charles Sturt university results (Knight, et al 2016), by examining several parks across regional Australia uncovering a common thread voiced by over three hundred and sixty senior citizens; The minimal use of public parks due to major feelings of vulnerability. Similarly, both reports deliver a concise development of how minimising feelings of vulnerability whilst maximising access leading to a greater social connection is considered the most important criteria for a beneficial park stimulant for the elderly community (Esther, et al 2017). Finally, it is clear, as our cities age as do our design concepts, so it is the responsibility of us designers to be vigilant to exercise emerging key design principles brought to light by voices of our audience in terms of designing for a world through their experiences. We are now more than ever relying on public parks to serve as our de-facto backyards for our inner-city seniors.

PRECEDENT STUDIES

Paley Park: “Paley Park is the calmest place in Manhattan” (Tate.A 2001)

Chelsea Street Playground: “Chelsea Street Playground is essentially a communal backyard” (Irwin.J 2016)

John street Reserve: “The green spaces you get when none other exists” (Brown.J 2015)

Jacaranda Square: “Of the place; even if that is a celebration of the ordinary” (Hanrahan, 2015 cited in Brown)

The precedent studies were strategically comparatively chosen to reveal both successful and unsuccessful feats in design not only in the elderly audience but in the concepts of landscape design as a whole: Respectfully regarded and locally awarded parks that extinguish feelings of vulnerability and revealing the true needs and wants of low income seniors. Diversely different in age and style, all three parks weren’t solely focussed on the elderly demographic, however have captured the key preferences of that subconsciously. Simple design gestures communicating local value through design to continue extinguishing all feelings of vulnerability for independent seniors. The precedents serve as the powerful motivators that landscape architects have to be able to gift the concepts of social sustainability and equity in the restricted urban scale opportunities presented. When visiting Chelsea Park with my grandmother, I saw complete and utter joy in her eyes watching the communal backyard accommodate each and every one of her ideals. It was through the anaylis of these great parks that the success of my design will flourish.

ON SITE EXPERIENCES - SPATIAL PRACTICES

“We speak a language of architecture” a gesture of movement. (Herrington, 2016, p153)

When the theoretical groundings of space; characteristics, measurements, and consequences were developed between these three parks (Herrington, 2016, p153), the designers were situated in very different circumstances. Paley Park’s timeless popularity for local seniors largely comes down to its intimate closeness and quiet escape away from the hustle and bustle of Midtown Manhattan. Chelsea St Playgrounds design didn’t originally focus on the sensory and ambient spatial cues as highly as Paley park does. However with large grand dense canopies accompanied by an extremely active children’s playground provides an exciting landscape and sensory overload for seniors to be an audience of the drama supplied from the little peoples adventures. Finally, John St Reserve situates itself as a direct neighbourhood backyard hidden behind screening foliage resulting in an evidently unique space for its overly private nature.

Maintaining a sense of value and security for the local residents of Redfern. Unlike the two previous precedents, people are not lured and drawn into the park however having to work to uncover it. However with a distinctly different role in spatial practice, the evidence reveals that there isn’t one answer to a concerning framework for the ageing population. These three designs can serve as a prototype for a new kind of public space, with the blueprints to succeed for senior friendly design in dense urban contexts. These celebrated pocket parks are warm hug, a homely welcome of respite away from the stress and artificiality of urban living. The two local Sydney parks developed a deep personal connection, signifying the specific needs and wants of my grandmother revealed on our site visit. Therefore reinforcing how the real life interaction with these parks answered the needs of “There is hope, my local park is now my backyard” Fay Brooker.

DESIGN LANGUAGE

Treib notes,“space (makes me feel), rather than style (representation of a feeling).” (Herrington, 2016, p61)

One major design language evident in all three precedents was that of a sensory aspect; running water, active engagement and native habitats. Representing an aspect that a senior close to me hopes for in a her ideal local park. “The sound of running water adds another level to the experience” Patricia Gorman-Brown. Every little detail of Paley park was crafted in order to mitigate grey noise, to discover a peaceful space in the centre of urban life. Even though Paley Park feels like a quiet, private oasis, it is heavily used due to its central location and design that makes it easily accessible and visible to on goers on the street. The recycled bench design have been plotted in exactly the right location forming a hub of activity adjacent to major program. The use of recycled bricks and sandstone found on site gave Chelsea St park that added sense of ‘local value’ that seniors are looking for. John St Reserve was based on creating flourishing habitat pockets and corridors to increase native species. Whilst creating an inclusive neighbourhood space. “An older person might sit next to a younger person and strike up a conversation,” (Hanrahan, 2015 cited in Brown) Despite creating an atmosphere of solitude, all three sites secret to success is that they sit in very much an urban space. Being that they are both very visible from the entrance, and the sidewalk. This dichotomy works in the park’s favour.

People are lured and drawn into the park off the busy footpath, coaxed away from their busy routines, even if only for a few moments, the solitude to sit with the hushing background waterfall. (Herrington, 2016, p153)

MATERIAL HEIRARCHY

“Material becomes the medium which influences the figurative and symbolic message of the work.”(Herrington, 2016, p112)

When designing for seniors, the comfort of its visitors was the top priority. However all three had different ideas of what that meant. William Paley, and his landscape colleagues opted for light, moveable mesh chairs and tables that gave people options and flexibility to decide and modify the feeling of the space.

Jane Irwin however chose to recycle on site sandstone to create fixed bench designs forming a hub of activity adjacent to the major playground. Plotted in just the right locations, J.Irwin was able to dictate how the user is to experience the site. The use of recycled bricks and sandstone found on site gave Chelsea St park that added sense of ‘local value’ that seniors are looking for. If you spend enough time strolling throughout John St reserve you will notice glimpses of sandstone and terracotta piping through the native grasses and bushes salvaged from the original 1900’s reserve. Minimal seating and programming places an emphasis on private use of couples or a singular family. Creating a nice impression of loyalty to visitors, something quite unique separating itself as a common answer to the prayers of seniors however still working as successful as any other. Quite distinctly different to the high dense ivy covered walls and the low honey locust tree canopy work together as a sound barrier and the waterfall feature on the back wall produces ambient white noise that drowns out the harsh sounds of the city. Placing movement and circulatory paths at the top of the material hierarchy list, Paley, Chelsea and John st landscapes provide a clear and unprecedented from of circulatory paths for easy access. With wide paths and a major thoroughfare helps guide and promote ease of movement throughout the park directly off the street. Another aspect that responds to a questionnaire statement from Johnny Gorman; “Well kept pathways for my wife and I to stroll”. Wide entrance and exit points located on a singular continuous path network helping to calibrate users and minimise stresses of vulnerability.

Section 2 How did I get here....

- Principles/Objectives - Principles/Objectives - Senior friendly matrix - Senior friendly matrix - Regional Context - Local Context - Deligneated Site - Analysis - Analysis - Analysis - Design Strategy - Big moves - Big moves - Big moves

Objectives

Principle 1

PRINCIPLES & OBJECTIVES

To extinguish all feelings of vulnerability within the public domain, to therefore serve as the social backbone for seniors. (Personal - Intimate)

Flat planes and ramps

Visual clarity

Experience vs ease

Objective 1 - Provide step-free public domain to eliminate trip hazards. A series of ramps and 1/100 subtle grades for ease of experience.

Objective 2 - Provide visual and experiential clarity through unique and contrasting tree palettes relating to street types to facilitate locational awareness.

Objective 3 - The conversion of High st to serve as a new linear park. By converting it into a car-free public domain and promenade. Whilst still allowing service vehicles if necessary.

Objectives

Principle 1

PRINCIPLES & OBJECTIVES

To encourage neighborhood engagement for greater social interactions within public parks (People - Broader community)

Freedom of choice

Regular refuge

Corner conversations

Objective 1 - Promote conversation with users through the ownership and flexibility of an open space (light, move-able furniture giving people options on where and how they want to organise themselves) in order for greater social cohesion.

Objective 2 - Maintaining seniors visibility within the public domain with ample refuge stations every 20 metres (Aus guidelines) for the greatest supportive environment regarding healthy ageing.

Objective 3 - Well designed small urban corner blocks serve as a defacto backyard and community gathering spot where one can sit, meet and people watch.

Old folks love that stuff, and lack that in this environment.

SENIOR FOCUSED MATRIX

Planting

Programming

Design language

Purification Bolstering steps, kerbs and gutters encourages equity in design.

Steps limit ease of movement throughout a site and can uncomfortably resist an experience, especially evident in the senior demographic. By removing all kerbs within the site creates a common comfortability and purified ground-plane

Circulation

Giving

Spiritual Guide

Visual clarity gives order amongst chaos, essential in an urban grey site when improving way-finding in an environment. The current climate limits locational awareness and can enhance subconscious confusion for the user.

Linear program and locational paving help to guide users. Matched with the subtle grades, the stress of the landscape on the body is purely spiritual.

Healing yourself

Visit a friend

Ample seating stations helps to heal. Mitigating exhaustion of seniors. Seating is sparse on site limiting the greatest experience of the elderly community. New seating requirements every 20 metres enhances equity and usability of the landscape.

Reinvigorating corner blocks help to visit a friend. Current intersections are far too narrow, which obstructs the movement of the user. Current corner blocks span from between 2 - 2.5 metres which creates for restricted access.

Claiming Freedom of controlling the public space, gives the chance to claim a landscape, therefore promoting conversation amongst inhabitants.

Open space

Successes of the park Objectives Incorporated Limitations

SENIOR FOCUSED MATRIX

Chelsea St Playground

John St Reserve

Cathy Freeman Reserve

Spiritual Guide

Purification

Claiming

Design Language

Programming

Planting

Paley Park , NYC

Giving

Visit a friend

Precedent Matrix

Circulation

Open Space

Healing yourself

The precedent studies above reveal successful feats, Objective examples as well as negatives investigated when redesigning Sydney Olympic Park.

The Matrix helps to bolster assumptions of ticking the boxes.

Successes of each park Objectives Incorporated Limitations

REGIONAL CONTEXT Sydney Olympic Park is 14km west of the Sydney CBD, and is a major sporting, recreation and enternatinment hub for the entire metropolitan region.

Castle Hill

Parramatta River and Homebush Bay are the major natural systems which surround the precinct, providing unique landscape qualities inclusive of saltmarsh and extensive river flats.

Chatswood

Manly St Leonards

Parramatta River Parramatta

SITE

5

10 Drummoyne

Fairfield

Centennial Park

Liverpool

Sydney Airport

N

LOCAL CONTEXT The precinct is located within the City of Parramatta LGA, which has a population of approximately 230,000 people.

The site is well serviced by an extensive infrastructure network of road and rail, with the M4 Western Motorway forming the primary transport network for the region. Parramatta River and the various inlets and bays are major recreation and amenity hotspots.

N

Xx% Elderly % Makeup of surrounding suburbs demographic

Senior Living Retirement Homes

DELINEATED SITE The Site is located within the Parklands Precinct of the Sydney Olympic Park.

The site is well connected with several main roads including Australia Avenue, Parramatta Road and arterial roads that link directly into the Sydney Olympic Park Town Centre.

Transit connections include the main Train line with the station directly opposite the site and with the future Parramatta light rail extension.

The parklands behind provide a range of green open spaces and nature reserves with a focus on water ; wetlands, mangroves and creeks.

N

ON SITE SKETCHING STUDIES

Scope - Site Context 200604

Landform and topography 200604

Iteration 1 Views + Vistas 200611

ON SITE SKETCHING STUDIES

Surface Water Movement 200611

Iteration 1 Levels + Grading 200618

Iteration 2 Foot traff ic 200618

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL - STATION FACADE TESTING

How the current train station footprint is hindering the landscape experience

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL - STATION FACADE TESTING

How the current train station footprint is hindering the landscape experience

LOCALITY MAPPING

1) Zoning - Residential, Commercial, Visitors (Events) +Open Space

VS

2) Movement - Residenys,Workers,Visitors

3

6

JACARANDA SQ

3 DAWN FRASER

7

AVE

2

8

5 2

3

PARK

2

2

ST

SHOWGROUND

4

RD

6

1

1 3 1

1

1

Locality Mapping 1/500 @A1

1

1

Legend

Symbols

1

Residential

5

High residential flow

Commercial foot traffic

2

Commercial

6

High commercial flow

Residential foot traffic

3

Senior open space

7

Hot spot - open space

Event foot traffic

4

High event flow

8

Hot spot - civic space

Design language - High event flow - Minimal consistency - Low commercial flow - Consistent - Regular residential flow - Consistent to open space - Highlights hot spots of designated space for public use

OPPORTUNITIES VS CONSTRAINTS

1) Cars (Road widths, One way, Crossing, Parking, Bike lanes 4

7

VS

2) Grades (Contours and surface water movement) 7

8

5

6

6

2

6

4

7

3

6 4

Locality Mapping 1/500 @A1

1

4

Legend

Symbols

1

Surface water drainage

5

Proposed parking (Disabled)

Contours

2

No car proposal

6

Removable bollards for service vehicles

Proposed bike lanes

3

Crossing

7

Bus stop

Open space

4

Traffic conditions

8

Station Access

Design language - Limited cars (Narro streets slowing pace) - Ample on site parking - Bicycle heirarchy + Bike lane safety.

- Subtle grades

OPEN SPACE INTERVENTION 1) Open space existing + Proposed with simple intervention. Percentage of open space gained 140% VS 2)Proposed train station footprint opportunities and how that maximizes spatial qualities....

4 RD

8

SHOWGROUND

3

1

2 5

7

8 4

DAWN FRASER

8

JACARANDA SQ

8

AVE

7

ST

4

Open space Mapping 1/500 @A1

Legend

PARK

6

Symbols

1

Proposed station footprint (Example)

5

Potential plaza

Existing Large Street Trees

2

Proposed Open Space

6

Previous iteration (Stockroute Park)

Existing Small Trees

3

Current train station conditions

7

Visual clarity through site

Existing Open Space

4

No car proposal

8

No kerbs and gutters

Proposed Open Space

Design language - All accessible; Ramps no greater than 1/24 Maximum equity - 100% of all existing trees remain untouched - Ample lighting helping with 24/7 safety - New civic transport mall acting as SOPA heart

DESIGN STRATEGY Sydney Olympic Park is 14km west of the Sydney CBD, and is a major sporting, recreation and enternatinment hub for the entire metropolitan region.

DESIGN STRATEGY

MANOEUVRE

BREAK

Design strategies broken down into big moves....

CONNECT

DESIGN STRATEGY

MANOEUVRE

BREAK

CONNECT

Culmination of the three design moves overlayed to communicate a wholesome design strategy....

FURNITURE STRATEGY

CONNECT Existing conditions encourages social exclusion.....

BREAK Maintaing 2.5 metre regulation gaps between furniture aids ease of movement....

MANOEUVRE Maintaining visual clarity and through site links whilst encouraging community engagement through public furniture conditions......

DAWN FRASER ALIGNMENT STRATEGY

CONNECT Breaking down the status quo of a distinct seperation of private and public use....

BREAK Breaking down the assumptions of distinct edge breaks between private and public use, merging the two for added community engagement....

MANOEUVRE Maintaining the positive visual and through site links whilst incorporating interesting user experience....

LANDSCAPE FOOTPRINT

Proposed landscape model

Existing landscape model

How the current train station footprint is hindering the landscape experience

LANDSCAPE FOOTPRINT

Existing landscape footprint 1/500@A1

Existing landscape footprint 1/500@A1

The proposal of a smaller footprint allows for 140% more landscape!!!

Section 3 Hard work pays off - Site Breakdown - Site Masterplan - Site Masteplan - Spatial - Passive - Civic - Linear - Materials - Planting

LANDSCAPE BREAKDOWN

Spatial Mapping 1/500 @A1

How the spatial qualities explored apply to on site conditions.

MASTERPLAN

Masterplan 1/500 @A1

Designing at human scake. The vision has finally come to fruition.

MASTERPLAN

How the spatial qualities explored apply to on site conditions.

CIVIC

PASSIVE TRANSITION

EXPERIENCE

PASSIVE - SOFTSCAPE

Seasonal - Spring

Subtle Grade Freedom of movement and ease of access with no kerbs and gutters.

Colourful and sensory created for an ephemeral defacto backyard.

Jacaranda Square

Visit a friend Passive park stands as an essential communal backyard for local independent seniors. The similarity of all the parks is their scale.

Seasonal - Autumn

Def-facto backyard environments

Autumn is the time when deciduous trees shed their leaves.

Each park stands as an essential communal backyard for local independent seniors.

Healing yourself Chelsea St Playground

Averaging about the size of many suburban backyards, successfully accommodating the same functions however for the wider community.

Night time / Event setting

Comfortable and cool climate, nestled in the shade of mature tree planting and quiet foot and vehicular traffic.

Creating an atmosphere of safety at night

Urban setting

Creating an atmosphere of solitude, whilst nestled in an urban space. The secret to their success.

John St Reserve

Thumbail

CIVIC - HARDSCAPE

Moveable Furniture Freedom of choice, with the help of moveable furniture and plenty of breathing space.

Market Setting Flexible, Evergreen, subtle grade

Visual clarity gives order amongst chaos, essential in an urban grey site when improving way-finding in an environment. The current climate limits locational awareness and can enhance subconscious confusion for the user.

Paley Park

Giving

Winter Setting

Civic Plaza

Freedom of choice, clear vistas with safe runoff

Trees serve as sculptural elements in between the hard grey open surfaces

Claiming Campbells Cove

Freedom of controlling the public space, gives the chance to claim a landscape, therefore promoting conversation amongst inhabitants.

Night time / Event setting

Fine Graine

The civic zone is situated in a transitional position for foot traffic

Creating an atmosphere of safety at night

Putting ease of experience at the forefront with clear walkways and respite areas Hudson St Park/Playground

Thumbnail

LINEAR PROGRAM Purification

Bolstering steps, kerbs and gutters encourages equity in design. Steps limit ease of movement throughout a site and can uncomfortably resist an experience, especially evident in the senior demographic. By removing all kerbs within the site creates a common comfortability and purified ground-plane

Monash University

Docklands Park

Creating an atmosphere to move. Fast pace paving and visual clarity.

Linear program and locational paving help to guide users. Matched with the subtle grades, the stress of the landscape on the body is purely spiritual.

Sporting facilities

Vibrant and energetic

Each sporting facility has a senior friendly seating plan to be in the action and not excluded.

Energised civic spine encrouraging play and view for all ages.

The goods line

Linear Movement

Spiritual Guide

MODEL - PASSIVE

MODEL - PASSIVE

MODEL - PASSIVE

MODEL - PASSIVE

LANDSCAPE MATERIALITY STUDY Existing and proposed design investigation of materiality and furniture elements

LANDSCAPE PLANTING STUDY Existing and proposed planting investigation of grasses, ground covers, shrubs and tree planting

Section 4 Cherry on top - Secret to success. The future of Sydney Olympic Parks landscape - The proof is in the pudding - References

SECRET TO SUCCESS - THE FUTURE OF SOPA

When embarking on this extensive research journey, I evidently knew I would develop an emotional connection to finding the ultimate senior friendly landscape for not only my nan but everyone in her realm. Through on site research uncovering the key concepts of healthy ageing and a lack of concerning frameworks that explores a greater access to public parks for independent elderly individuals in Sydney. I have revealed the key design principles that make a successful senior friendly park regarding healthy urban living and how it positively impacts an ageing populations health and well-being.

The train station precinct, which sits right in the middle of the precedents explored earlier held the ultimate potential to fulfuill my design dreams. By creating a series of intricate spaces revealing various atmospheres of solitude, program and action. The secret to the future success of this pocket park lies within a few simple concepts; Spatial configuration, Design language and material matters explored within my early research. Not to mention its direct urban setting, being that the private centre is extremely visible from the entrance, and the sidewalk. This dichotomy works in the future of the parks favor, people will be lured and drawn into the park off the busy footpath, coaxed away from their busy routines.

With a focus on providing a sensory aspect and quiet escape crafting planting strategies to mitigate grey noise. To encourage a private oasis, in a subconsciously easy accessible and visible site. Finally finishing the overall design off with subtle material moves such as light, moveable furniture to give people options and flexibility over the space. As well as wide entrance and exit points located on a singular continuous path network helping to calibrate users and minimize stresses of vulnerability. All in the hopes of creating a new kind of space to share the blueprints of success for senior friendly design in dense urban contexts. This celebrated landscape precinct will form the warm hug, and welcome of respite away from the from the feelings of vulnerability associated with current public parks.

PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

Through in-depth research, on site analysis of successful and unsuccessful precedents, recorded questionnares with the target deomgrpahic (Seniros) themselves, on site investigations and over a year of design testing it has revealed a major gap in the current knowledge of both government and built environment faculty initiatives. Bolstering presumptions of elderly participation in public parks and communities, the exponential growth in healthy ageing has proven that a framework needs to be designed now more than ever. The marvels of the literature explored has encouraged and proved that a healthy dialogue between the designer and audience needs to be of a higher importance, resulting in an extremely fruitful conversation that offers hierarchy to the assumptions of preferences. The proof is in the pudding.

REFERENCES

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