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Development of Robust Communities
do we need an architect or the ‘man with two brains’?
..more than just a place to get clean. They were a daily refuge, a pastime ‌ and included, libraries, shops, exercise rooms, barbers, beauticians, tennis courts, snack bars and brothels‌ Katherine Ashenberg, The Dirt on Clean
how did the Romans do it?
the journey started with leisure
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we are social animals
community lounge rooms
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pools
sports courts
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health and fitness
cafes
we linked leisure with other activities‌
allied health
libraries‌
child care centres‌
these thoughts have further clarified our work at the Noble Park Aquatic Centre‌
Noble Park Aquatic Centre ‘More that just a pool’ World Architecture Festival 2012 Finalist
Wyndham Leisure and Events Centre • • • •
aquatic centre events centre library plaza
• •
PROPOSED ON SITE CARPARKS: 596 (+189 MORE THAN EXISTING)
we are not alone in our thinking‌
commercial‌
convergence and the workplace… • technology • social media • new technology • collaborative spaces • mobility of staff …perhaps a social eco-system?
research undertaken by Place Associates tells us: • 55+ year olds see their desk as their workspace • 45-55 year olds see their office as their workspace • 35-45 year olds see their building or campus as their workspace
18-34 year olds see the precinct as their workspace including: • retail • cafes • libraries • public spaces and • between spaces 18-34 year olds will leave their workspaces three or more times a day
business is always being pushed to cut overheads with the cost of space being a key component… …CLOUD and Wi-Fi are transforming workspace models…
we are now seeing cafes and restaurants as extensions of the workplace‌ this change combined with work practices for a more gender balanced workplace means that community essentials have become workplace essentials‌
what does this mean?
it means that similar to community facilities, the workplace of the future has SOFT EDGES, it’s flexible and changing we will see more street edge activities, lobbies that engage a range of users and provide a mix of facilities at a variety of times
the street as the public domain is increasingly becoming part of the workplace removing space from our offices and delivering a more diverse, rewarding workplace in tune with our humanity the social animal again?
therefore either integrate communal and interactive spaces into the office, or establish connections between buildings and surrounding spaces sound like a precinct again?
health‌
Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital public/private health service joint partnership the community focus increases project value and extends social capital‌
Royal Childrens Hospital (RCH) Melbourne ppp delivery‌ allowed a broader commercial attitude to prevail
RCH Stage 2 Commercial Precinct • gymnasium • hotel • childcare • retail (supermarket)
education…
Yuille Park Community College
Sports Court/ Performance Learning Pods
Library Agora
Mens Shed
Early Childhood
Learning Pods
Yale considers its planning, facilities and investment decisions in light of their potential to benefit New Haven neighborhoods •
to rebuild neighborhood fabric
• to strengthen eroded or blocked connections •
to contribute to local community development goals
a premise of the Universities Framework Plan is that Yale should strive… ‘to mesh the borders and edges of the University campus with its surrounding neighborhoods by reducing those barriers, whether physical or psychological, that prevent the blending of Yale and New Haven’
university anchor science and technology precinct sport and recreation facilities art and culture Residential soft edges to precinct
retail‌
developing community capacity
research tells us that due to shoppers busy lives they want solutions to; • time • money • well being • self esteem • social experiences… sound familiar?
it’s all about social interaction… retail facilities need to revolve around a community, not just sell things… we all enjoy walking down a ‘high street’ and meeting neighbours…
the co-location and integration of community facilities with retail elements has the potential to improve the retail performance of a centre‌ it’s all about activation, increasing potential and providing a destination‌
connecting these sectors requires broad thinking‌
we need help…
as architects, we are toothless tigers, we can only respond to a specific project brief, by then the potential has been lost‌
where are the planners or landholders in all this?
research by the Grattan Institute states that as greenfield areas mature and stabilise, they need to be flexible the characteristics of older areas have made renewal easier due to their combination of residential and commercial premises the newer communities being established in greenfield areas lack these quantities‌
but could we ever turn the clock backwards‌ we are a far more educated community and as such, rotating back to commerce within a residential area might be difficult‌
if a suburb cannot change to meet the needs of its newer residents, development will push out again with increased travel and congestion
we are all thinking the same way and wanting to create community precincts‌
but we are stuck‌
we need the government brain‌
to talk with the developer brain‌
we need an independent development counselor or place manager to: • coordinate an entrepreneurial approach • build relationships • facilitate development • build partnerships
these positions are currently located at either the location, or the local council but are still seen to be government‌ for this to work we need to understand both sides, their drivers and establish the TRUST
community infrastructure; key design principles, agreed by all – ethos of co-location – complimentary mix of uses
– development of social spaces
– cross sell of activities
– showcase of activities
– build critical mass
– connection to transport
– wayfinding/wayshowing
– connection to recreational networks
– flexible and futureproofed
– passive and active opportunities – social and environmental sustainability
so what is the future • integrated community, workplace, leisure, retail, health, education • central location to maximise benefits of co-location • acting as activity generator • town centre and major retail anchor • co-location with hotel, leisure/recreation and education precincts • co-location with therapeutic environments / palliative care • funding models biased toward co-location to maximise public dividend • complimentary integration across whole strata of community needs
all coordinated by an independent and trustworthy
‘man with two brains’!!!
who is probably a roman!
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thank you