Design changes by Mirvac Design and Gehl Architects for the major project at Green Square Town Centre in Sydney have gone on exhibition.

The City is re-exhibiting Landcom, Mirvac and Leighton’s Planning Proposal to explain a number of changes and seek further community input.

The design involves collaboration between master architect Mirvac Design and master urban designer Gehl Architects; they are to direct the development process for both the public and private domain.

The planning provisions include that buildings greater than 15 storeys high are required to be designed through a competitive design process. Measures are also in place to provide for architectural variety, for example, no proximate buildings are to be designed by the same firm.

The main changes involve rearranging the floor space to improve sunlight access and amenity for neighbouring buildings and public spaces.

Key changes include:

the location, scale and massing of buildings;
a reduction in the total gross floor area; and
amendments to the public domain layout and plaza areas.

Jan Gehl commented:

“The Public Domain will be the subject of a more detailed design study with the City based on the Gehl principles and the 9 principles of the Macgregor scheme which has been the underlying ethos behind the design.”

Adding: “The colonnade which has been increased to a width of 6 meters will provide good climate protection from the weather as well as provide an inviting space at eye level. It will also be advisable in the detailed design to emphasize a high level of transparency, architectural details and high quality materials in the ground floor facades to further invite people to spend time in the area.

“My previous concerns about the impacts of higher buildings on microclimate and human perception of the built environment have been addressed by the 6 meter setback of tower elements above 9 story podium to buildings along the southern edge of the Public Plazas as well as the 3 meter setback above 2 levels along Dunning Avenue with additional 3 meter setback to upper levels. Setbacks are a general theme of the project to minimize the impacts of the GFA to the public realm and the existing terraces.

“Above ground parking has been dramatically reduced and many places entirely removed from the ground floor environment, but I still recommend screening or greening the parking areas and floors to reduce the visual impacts for the homes overlooking these areas. I understand that this is also an issue the designers are considering very seriously in their work.”

The revised Planning Proposal is on exhibition from Friday 16 September to Monday 3 October 2011.To view the revised Planning Proposal, visit the City of Sydney’s website.

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/OnExhibition/PlanningProposalGreenSquareTownCentre.asp

David Wheeldon

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