LEE TIMOTHY PART 1:
LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS AND MASTERPLAN
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SKETCHES STORYBOARD
LANDSCAPE APPRECIATION
Historical/cultural/political setting and influences: the place or identity or associations of the site in the broader fabric or context of the city and its inhabitants. 1. Social and cultural: the various cultural influences in the present or past that affect the site or current opportunities. Balls Head Reserve is referred to as ‘Yerroulbine’ by the local Aboriginal people, the Cammeraygals. The Cammeraygals lived along the foreshores and bushlands of Northern Sydney well before European settlement. It was thought that Balls Head Reserve was used a ceremonial site where men came to perform sacred corroborees to honour their ancestors of the Dream time. In this light Balls Head Reserve is rich in Aboriginal culture and history, with remnants of the local tribe’s occupations still visible today. In large caves and shelters, along water ways and trade routes, rock engravings axe grinding groves, middens, rock shelters, open camp sites and rocking paintings can be observed. In context, the history and remnants of the Cammeraygal people, sanctify Balls Head Reserve as sacred land, or more appropriately as cultural heritage, adding a rich layer to Balls Head Reserve’s dynamic history. Sites where we can observe the Cammeraygal peoples occupation have been preserved and declared a National heritage preventing the demolition of or refurbishment of such sites.
2. Historical: research the evolution of this area throughout its recent history. Understand the physical context as a consequence of its history. Balls Head Reserve, or rather in the larger context Waverton peninsula was considered as one of the first harbour front areas to be used for industry. The peninsula was used at various times for warehousing, coal storage, a submarine depot and oil storage. The BP site, the Caltex and the Coal loader site were the main points of industry production. But early community action against the deconstruction of the natural landscape provoked the design initiative and execution of a much greener Waverton peninsula. The Bp site The landscape of the Bp site has been largely modified from its once natural topography to accommodate oil and petrol storage tanks. Now, with the removal of the tanks and much of the other infrastructure, the landscape is now characterised by a series of wide stone benches, with various areas of concrete, bitumen and soil fill. The Caltex site The Caltex site is on a westerly slope and is characterised as a flat area once occupied by oil storage tanks. Between this area and Balls Head Road is an area of scarce bushland. Its lower slope is relatively steep, with two sandstone overhangs revealing evidence of Aboriginal dwellings. This slope also bears remnants of Angophora costata trees, commonly considered as indigenous vegetation. The Coal Loader site On the western side of the Waverton Peninsula between the Caltex site and Balls Head reserve, lye’s the Coal loader site. The site is a row of consecutive slopes and benches, heavily modified in the past to accommodate for ancillary buildings and storage tanks on the northern.
Experiential analysis: the non-material, more subjective responses to conditions of the site and surrounding area, including its mood, spirit, or ephemeral qualities. Involving the senses and/ or intuition.
Waverton Peninsula
Balls Head Reserve
The natural and manmade elements of Waverton Peninsula have been integrated quite naturally, revealing a soft touch to a previously hard industrial area. The surrounding landscape appears to have either grown with the manmade elements or the architect cleverly decided on a minimalist portrayal of the landscape. There is a nice integration of soft and hard materials in the peninsula, as the landscape looks and feels very much alive, with just a faint echo of the built environments past industrial age. The topography of trees is quite a definitive aspect of Waverton Park; they are abundant, large and plush, allowing one to feel a part of a more natural landscape. The urban plan of Waverton Park strategically made use of their many advantage points to exploit the great Sydney city scape. It literally became a part of how I viewed, experienced and interpreted the landscape as it was literally everywhere I looked.
Balls Head Reserve, as described on their sign is quite literally as a bushland oasis. Indentifying space for human interaction is quite intuitive, as inhabitable space and the landscape are very well one in the same, interchangeable entities. So how much you explore and discover of Balls Head is really quite up to your navigational skills and stamina. As observed, what seemed like a no-man’s land quickly became a cool observation point as students plumaged further into the reserve. Defined by rocky outcrops, plush treetops, rock plateaus and sandstone cliff faces, Ball Head reserve emulates the purist/s Australian landscape.
Environmental Parameters Topography and Landform Waverton Peninsula belongs in the Hawkesbury soil landscape grouping, characterised by massive Hawkesbury Sandstone bedrock, with local relief of approximately 40m, slopes greater than 25% and extensive rocky outcrops. This part of the peninsula is a narrow ridge, with steep side slopes and shallow soils. The landscape of the BP site has been extensively modified from the natural topography by excavation for the installation of oil and petrol storage tanks and associated facilities. The removal of the tanks and other infrastructure has left a landscape characterised by a series of wide sandstone benches and areas of soil fill. Parts of the site have been extended by filling with bricks, sandstone rubble and other debris. The upper level of the eastern part of the BP Site provides expansive and spectacular views over Berrys Bay with Waverton Park on the left, boat-building / repair operations and recent residential developments on the eastern shore of the bay and views of Blues Point, the Sydney Harbour Bridge arch and Sydney CBD beyond. The lower levels of the BP site provide more enclosed spaces, with views of the sandstone cliffs cuttings that housed the former tanks, together with filtered views of Berrys Bay. The south-facing upper levels of the BP site afford equally expansive and spectacular views over the harbour to the CBD, as well as views to Balls Head Reserve and the boat building and associated marinas in the bay on the eastern side of Balls Head. The Area showing the GREEN part would by natural environment.
The Area showing the YELLOW/BROWN part would by constructed area.
Dusk
Noon
Dawn
1ST JUN (Winter) Sun shine period - 7-17 30 degree
Noise
Vegetation
Coastal Banksia Noise created from the generators and motors from the HMAS Wateren.
Noise from the construction site.
Sydney Red Gum
Noise from the cruises and ships.
Noise from the ferries and the waves splashing the shore.
The original vegetation cover of the BP site can be estimated from remnants that have survived on nearby Berrys Island and Balls Head. Hawkesbury Sandstone flora have been exposed harbour side cliff faces, woodlands on the exposed slopes and open-forests in sheltered valleys and on shale lenses. This vegetation type is characterised by Sydney Red Gum. Associated tree species include Sydney peppermint, Red bloodwood and native grasses. Coastal Banksia is common on the headland of Berrys Island and Port Jackson Fig is found on the lower sandstone slopes. The lower eastern side of the site would have featured species associated with more sheltered aspects including Blueberry Ash, Cheese Tree, and Sweet Pittosporum. The vegetation of the BP site has been extensively modified due to the past industrial uses, with much of the site being cleared for the installation of storage tanks and associated infrastructure. The slopes between the benches support regenerating vegetation including both native and weed species.
Sweet Pittosporum
Blueberry Ash
Use and social behaviour
LAND USE Approximately 70% of the site is vegetation consisting of both forest and parkland. The majority of the peninsula is public space, promoting outdoor recreational activities such as picnics, bush walking, and observing views of the harbour. Special functions such as weddings have also been known to be held in the reserve. This shows that although the peninsula is mostly a public space, it can also be an intimate space. The land-use is partly dynamic, with the evolving nature of the industrial sites such as the BP site and the coal loader. However, the more densly vegetated areas of the site do not often change in functionality, bar the occassional function such as a wedding. In terms of circulation, there is a concentration of paths in Waverton Peninsula, and only one road which loops around the peninsula. There are also no ferry routes, which shows that the most convenient means of transportation into Balls Head is via train or road.
Approximately 50% of the site is vegetation, and around 40% is built form which lies predominately on the northern end of the peninsula.
More amenities may be beneficial for the northern side of the reserve as the BP site is a point of interest.
The two main categories of built form are industrial structures including the coal loader and HMAS Waterhern, and residential structures. The vegetation includes park lands, closed forest, and open forest.
Two drinking fountains are provided, located in close proximity of the picnic areas.
The remaining spaces are formed by paths, roads, and various open spaces such as carparks.
40%
50%
The park provides one public toilet located in a quite central spot in terms of circulation.
There are two picnic areas which consist of tables, seats, and a barbeque area.
1km
Public/Private Space Balls Head Reserve is largely public space, as are other harbour forefronts, including Pyrmont and Cockatoo Island. As shown in this diagram, the southern end of the peninsula is a public reserve, while some of the northern end is more private, residential space. It is important that the southern end of the peninsula is public as this will draw people to the site to appreciate the views of the harbour.
2km CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION Train line
Most peninsulas in Sydney Harbour have ferry access, however Balls Head Reserve does not. This could be considered in the master plan.
Ferry routes Roads
Train access is available, Waverton is on the Northern Line which provides easy access to the site from Chatswood, and the city. Balls Head is approximately a 15 minute walk from the station.
Paths
Road access is also a convenient means of transport, with the reserve providing two carparks. There are 8 jetties within the park, most of which are tucked into a cove on the eastern side. Some of the jetties are in disrepair and are unusable.
COMMUNITY ISSUES Key community concerns include safety and security, and the maintenance of the site, and various nuisances. Public safety is a continuous concern for the Waverton community, as well as for visitors to the site. Some areas of Balls Head reserve do not have sufficient lighting at night, and this could be an issue for people visitng the site at night time. Also within the deeper areas of forest it may be hard for one to orientate themselves, especially if they are unfamiliar with the harbour. Maps or signs could be a solution to this issue. The streets, picnic areas including the barbeques, and the public toilets need to be regularly maintained, causing concerns for the community. It is important for these areas to be regularly checked on for the comfort of visitors to the site. Some nuisances in the site include bats in the coal loader tunnel, and frogs. These species need to be considered in the designing of the master plan.
SECTION A 1:1000
A
B
SECTION B 1:1000
SECTION C 1:1000
C
D
SITE PLAN 1:2000
SECTION D 1:1000
SITE ANALYSIS Environmental Parameters
Historical/Cultural/Political Settings
Use and Social/Behavioral Settings Context and Site Elements
40%
50% Experimental Setting
Public/Private Space
WAVERTON MASTERPLAN
In my concept diagram, there are 5 triangles, the 5 triangles created different meanings such as the one in Balls Head Reserve can be act as a destination, and the middle part of the narrow triangle is the merge of the previous industrial site and a large public open space at both sides of the peninsula( which is the coal loader site and the waterfront site). Each vertex of the triangles are the locations selected. The triangles are drawn in different colours due to having different meanings.
The 2 yellow triangles are regarded as the signposts of the journey, and the junction of the two yellow triangles should have a building or landscape which is welcoming and warming. (VISITOR CENTRE AND GREEN PATHWAY) The light blue triangle in between the 2 yellow triangles is core of connectivity which around this area, the facilities developed is trying to develop a common connection or a passage throughout the differnt aspects in Waverton, such as the historical industrial site and open space public space. The dark blue triangle is the transitional triangle which the design is intended to utilise the nature scenes in the Balls Head Reserve and Berry’s Bay and design places where users can enjoy the scene and having activities which people are able to gather and enjoy the scenic view. The green triangle is the destination of people to experience the nature of Balls Head Reserve, therefore the design is usually based on the admiring the nature and the scenic view of sydney habour.
SECTION A 1:1000
SECTION B 1:1000
SECTION C 1:1000