What does it take to transform public spaces into destinations and drawcards that unite communities and help cities prosper? According to visionary urban designer and landscape architect TCL Director Scott Adams, good design is key to a successful outcome.

Whilst Scott praises the engineering required to bring large-scale infrastructure projects to life, he’s adamant the impact of landscape architecture cannot be underestimated. “Compared to the cost of tunnelling and road construction, landscape architecture is one of the smallest costs but it creates the biggest legacy,” Scott says.

Think of those feelings evoked by walking across a well-designed pedestrian bridge or through parklands or wetlands. Scott believes transformative projects — those that completely turn the dial on nondescript, neglected or even derelict sites — begin by creating strong connections with landscapes.

He’s speaking from experience. Rewind several years and Scott and TCL totally revamped what was once an unloved beachside strip in Western Australia (WA). Known as the Scarborough Foreshore, the location was dominated by a carpark and largely frequented by local skaters. Now that location is a ‘must-see’ destination for beach lovers, shoppers and foodies who visit or live in Scarborough.

Scott and his team worked as Principal Consultants, collaborating with local landscape architects from UDLA, to design the masterplan and landscape architecture for the foreshore’s redevelopment. At the time of its inception, this project was an initiative of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and the City of Stirling.

Hon. John Carey, WA’s Minister for Planning, Lands, Housing and Homelessness, described the project as a “… major success story, with thousands of locals and visitors descending on Scarborough to enjoy the world-class beach and thriving activity, entertainment precinct”.

Key to TCL’s design was reconfiguring the carpark to prioritise pedestrians and give them better access to the beach and the nearby esplanade’s shopping and dining strip. This was achieved via the introduction of two well-shaded, wide promenades. Situated between them are an open-air swimming pool, surf club, restaurant, playground and vertical skate course.

“The new design celebrates the region’s surf and skate culture,” Scott says. But it goes a step further, equipping the site with amenities and ample spectator sites to host international skate and surf festivals of the future. “We understand that surf culture and skate culture go hand-in-hand,” Scott explains. “Now, the site could comfortably host international competitions for surfing, surf lifesaving or skating events.”

In addition to being ‘future-focussed’, TCL’s design strategy also provided a boost to the local economy during its construction phase. TCL worked closely with local Whadjuk Nyoongar artist Sharyn Egan and architect Fred Chaney from TRCB, as well as local sailmakers. Together, they drew inspiration from the stitching used in Sharyn’s basket weaving to create large sail-like shade structures robust enough to withstand Scarborough’s coastal conditions.

It’s not the first time TCL designers have drawn upon First Nations’ artistry and insights. They did likewise for their internationally awarded contribution to Victoria’s North East Link project — which rounds out Melbourne’s entire freeway system. Responsible for the project’s urban design and landscape architecture, TCL worked in close collaboration with BKK Architects, Warren and Mahoney Architects and Jefa Greenaway.

Here, Scott and his team embedded the Wurundjeri philosophy of Connection to Country, Caring for Country and Connecting People. “Our design choices were heavily influenced by this notion of a reciprocal relationship with the land,” Scott says.

A case in point is the large ventilation tower located at the southern-end of the North East Link (used to extract gas from inside the tunnel). Typically, a tower like this would be clad in a fairly nondescript architectural finish. Instead, the design team incorporated solar panelling. “Essentially, we’re generating power that’s immediately fed back into the tunnel’s own lighting grid,” Scott explains. “This is the most efficient way to create sustainable energy.”

Part of the project also involves the design for a series of pedestrian bridges. Beyond being structurally efficient, Scott believes these bridges should also provide Connection to Country. “Each bridge’s design should be specific to its context,” he says. Priorities will include the retention and/or reinstatement of original plant communities and ecology.

That contextual connection is also evident in another of TCL’s Victorian projects. TCL was recently engaged by the City of Melbourne to lead the development and delivery of the masterplan for Southbank Boulevard. Comprising a series of new public spaces alongside the sites of some of Melbourne’s best known cultural institutions including the Melbourne Recital Centre, the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Victorian College of the Arts, TCL’s remit included overseeing the functional and technical issues associated with relocating tram routes, as well as designing distinct identities for each new public space in front of these public institutes.

“Each new park space has been designed to create a distinct experience as you move along the boulevard,” Scott says. Here, materiality was key. Bluestone, beloved and abundant in Victoria, is a predominant feature along the footpaths. However, each new pocket of land features alternative stones, and treatments, to give those park spaces their own identities. Planting too has been varied to add character and bolster biodiversity.

Notably, this part of Melbourne is one of the most densely populated parts of Australia. “Per square metre, the people living and working here had access to the least amount of public space,” Scott says. “This design gives those people a large area of high-quality public space to enjoy.”

Scott’s summation of the transformative power of design is as eloquent as his work: “The design process unlocks opportunities and those opportunities lead to better outcomes for people from all walks of life.”

This article was written by TCL and republished by Architecture & Design.

Architecture & Design Team

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