Urban Design Public Realm Guidelines Lowres

Urban Design and
Infrastructure NSW
Public Realm Guidelines
SICEEP
Urban Design and Public
Realm Guidelines
WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 1

Prepared by: (April 2012)
Page 2 | Sydney International Convention, Entertainment and Exhibition Precinct | INSW | April 2012
Contents
Overview and Scope
i. Purpose 4
ii. How to Use the Guidelines 4
iii. The Site 5
iv. Project Vision 6
v. Context and Design Excellence 6
vi. Place Making 7
vii. Public Realm 7
viii. Urban Design Objectives 8
01 Urban Structure 10
02 Urban Grain 14
03 Density and Mix 18
04 Height and Massing 20
05 Public Realm 24
06 Streetscape and Landscape 28
07 Facade and Interface 30
08 Details and Materials 32
09 Energy and Resource Efficiency 34
10 Staging and Management 35
creating places for people: australias URBAN DESIGN PROTOCOL

Overview and Scope
i. Purpose
This document describes the design objectives for all urban design elements to be
incorporated into the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct
(SICEEP). The urban elements that are considered important to SICEEP include:
Urban Structure;
Urban Grain;
Density and Mix;
Height and Massing;
Public Realm;
Streetscape and Landscape;
Facade and Interface;
Details and Materials;
Energy and Resource Efficiency; and
Staging and Management.
These Urban Design Guidelines provide a framework for the realisation of the Project Vision.
The guidelines illustrate and describe the preferred character and nature of the new Precinct.
The Project Company must adopt and further develop the Design in accordance with these
guidelines.
The Australian Governments national policy for Creating Places for People informs this
document. This policy is a collective commitment to best practice urban design in Australia
and was developed collaboratively between community groups, industry organisations and
government. The national framework is designed to guide policy development and public and
private investment in cities. It articulates a set of goals, objectives and underlying principles to
guide decision making. The Project Company must take these guidelines into consideration
when developing the Design.
ii. How to Use the Guidelines
The facility functional requirement elements addressed by this document include the following:
(i) Urban Design and Public Realm Guidelines.
This document must be read in conjunction with the High Level Output Specification.
Overview and Scope
iii. The Site
An Asset for Sydney SICEEP is located at the southern end of the

Darling Harbour precinct, a 60Ha recreational,
tourist and business precinct on the western
edge of the Sydney CBD
Waterfront and parkside location with signature
city views
Significant business event infrastructure
Challenges of Integration and 20Ha site dissected by elevated freeway
Connectivity infrastructure
Buildings do not currently reinforce links,
activation or connections
View of the reconstruction of Darling
Limited green space, complicated levels, clutter Harbour from Millers Point showing
and lack of cohesive planning for the Precinct Dalgetys Wharf No.1 partly completed.
Dated: 1909 Digital ID: 9856_a017_A017000007
site plan
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Site Boundary and Project Area

Overview and Scope
iv. Project Vision

The urban design of the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition & Entertainment Precinct
(SICEEP) must achieve the project vision to:
Deliver world-class core functions of convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities that
exceed the expectations of domestic and international visitors; and
Reaffirm Darling Harbour as Australias premier gathering place by creating an exciting,
connected, active and vibrant precinct that brings delight to visitors and Sydney-siders alike.
The following principles support realisation of the Project Vision:

Place Making - integrate the built forms, landscaping and Public Realm to create the
perfectly functioning whole;
Permeability - invite tourists, business visitors and locals to explore everything that the
Precinct has to offer;
Identity - provide a distinct personality, and create a new 21st century signature for Sydney;
Flexibility - deliver facilities that can effectively change from day-to-night, from week-to-
week and from year-to-year;
Variety - provide a range of activities and experiences that provide something for everyone
and attract repeat visitation; and
Connectivity - deliver seamless linkages to each of the surrounding precincts, and create an
active dialogue with our neighbours.
v. Context and Design Excellence
Design Facilities and the Public Realm in a manner that integrates with, and enriches the local
urban context by:
using appropriate building height, alignment, form, grain and massing;
using materials suited to the local area palette;
responding to the adjacent items of heritage significance through the design of alignments,
proportions, and solid to void ratios;
preserving significant view corridors;
protecting and reinforcing views of significant heritage buildings and structures within the
Public Realm;
minimising loss of solar access to the Public Realm;
preventing loss of privacy by overlooking of adjacent properties;
providing a new landmark on Darling Harbour, increasing the visual presence of the Facilities
in the city and enriching the composition of the city skyline;
presenting a new face to the city, one that engages with people at street level and that
enhances the quality of street life;
providing a constant presence of events both day and night which will create a critical mass
and be responsive to the current and emerging city fabric;
creating new connections in the east-west and north-south direction and helping to knit the
city fabric together; and
providing signature spaces that are open to the parklands and Darling Harbour and in the
process showcasing the city and making it an integral part of the convention experience.
Overview and Scope
vi. Place Making

Create a place that:
Protects, conserves and interprets Sydneys natural and cultural heritage;
Provides a readily identifiable address and safe point of entry to each core function;
Creates a clear identity for the Facilities, entrance and Precinct which responds to the
context and sense of place of the locality;
Integrates and links the site with surrounding modes of public transport;
Creates new, or improved existing pedestrian connections with the surrounding pedestrian
network;
Enriches the existing Public Realm, recognising existing landscape, topography, open
space networks, movement patterns and heritage of the CBD, Chinatown, Pyrmont, Darling
Harbour and the Educational Precinct of UTS and Ultimo TAFE;
Provides a seamless fit of the Facilities within the dense urban environment through sensitive
integration of new buildings and spaces with the land use, built form and the social, cultural,
and environmental character of the local context;
Provides opportunities for the activation at ground level by the inclusion of complementary
uses such as retail, community or civic purposes
vii. Public Realm

The buildings should respond to the built form of the city to:
reinforce the consistent building line, height and proportion of their context;
integrate within existing or new building forms;
address and respond to significant heritage buildings and spaces;
obtain high standards of design quality; and
meet current planning objectives and controls.
The design of the Public Realm should:

be placed to define and activate the edges of public spaces;
minimise visual, acoustic and amenity impacts on adjacent public spaces;
ensure that important views (to public buildings, along major streets and to the harbour) are
not obscured;
include the judicious use of high-quality landscape, seating, lighting and other elements;
maintain lines of movement and sight;
provide summer shade and winter sunlight; and
provide an ambience and sense of place that has a distinctive identity.

Overview and Scope
viii. Urban Design Objectives
Regenerating a Piece of Sydney - Re-launch the Precinct and redefine its place
in the city of Sydney and in the international
Sydney International Convention convention, exhibition and entertainment
Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct markets.
Urban Design Objectives
Create a new place to be in Sydney defined
by its own unique character.
A Precinct outcome that delivers a balanced
solution for the city.
Multi-functionality of the Precinct amenities;
with a focus on flexibility and adaptability.
Bring a new vibe and spirit to this quarter of
the city.
Provide a seamless transition between the
facilities, the Precinct and the greater urban
fabric.
A quality design that provides a unique
experience for the global visitor and is
embraced and integrated into the lives of the
people in Sydney.
Provide the visitor with an opportunity to
experience a variety of places within the
Precinct with a richness in texture and
activities.
cockle bay and southern darling harbour
Overview and Scope
cockle bay, Darling Harbour, view to north
existing Convention centre, western distributor and exhibition centre, Darling Harbour, view to east

01 Urban Structure
The Design must create an identifiable, unified precinct with enhanced connections to
surrounding neighbourhoods and pedestrian and bicycle networks. An important objective
is to improve east-west and north-south through traffic by utilising the site topography
and tapping into surrounding road and pedestrian pathways. The urban structure must
lay the foundation for a safe and inclusive environment that supports a high level of
pedestrian activity and delivers a dynamic new place to be in Sydney.
Appreciating the Context
Place and Heritage Waterfront and parkside location with signature

CBD views
The traditional owners were the Cadigal, who are
part of the Darug Nation or language group
Water has always attracted people to the area
Natural Resources (Cockle Bay) formerly called Long Cove by early European
settlers, now named Cockle Bay after the shell
middens (waste mounds) that characterised the Cockle
Bay
area during the 1800s
Home to the historic Iron Wharf, steam engine,
Historic Connections
refrigeration industry and engineering works
The railway goods yard served as Australias wheat
and wool epicentre, packing the nations wealth
and dispatching the States goods overseas
The Darling Harbour Authority was established
to redevelop the area as part of the Bicentennial
program, with the reconfigured site opening in 1988
The waterfront destination was established as
Community and Culture a place for people; an entertainment, cultural,
educational and recreational precinct
Today, the 20Ha site is dissected by freeway
infrastructure
A variety of unique character areas neighbour the
Precinct
Darling Harbour functions in different ways, at
different times of the day
historic railways and docks; 1949
PYRMONT
Cockle
Bay
TOWN HALL
Darling & STATION
Quarter
Ian Thorpe Pool
Powerhouse
ULTIMO
Abc CHINATOWN
Ultimo UTS Business

College School
Sydney
UTS Tafe
CENTRAL STATION waterfront space with western
Character Areas neighbouring and influencing the Precinct distributor overhead
01 Urban Structure
Reference Documents
Creating Places for People: An urban design protocol for
Australian Cities
City of Sydney Sustainable Sydney 2030
Darling Harbour South Master Plan, Johnson Pilton Walker
The Movement Framework 10

Cockle mi
The Design Must: Bay n
TUMBALONG
Movement Assessment Take account of a movement assessment that 5m
Design for Ease of Walking has been undertaken in
PARK
PARK
Design for ease of walking
WENTWORTH
Street Network Y ST
ARR LIVE
HYDE
Connect with the existing networks QU RPO
OL S
PARK
Integrate upper levels as well as the valley floor T
Make or Break Boundaries
Ulttim
ne
Types of Grid Stitch the East, West and the South together
wor
oP
Make or break boundaries
QUA
k
ede
Provide choice through a grid network with a
str
Y ST
clear hierarchy
ian
Character Areas
Connect the grids
Market Street
george Street
sussex Stre
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Str
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Legend
Ultimo Urban Grid
N New Connecting Urban Grid
0 100 200 500
CBD Urban Grid

01 Urban Structure
Walking
The Design Must:
The Pedestrian Environment Maintain the pedestrian dominance of Darling
Harbour
Provide pedestrian and cycle friendly streets
Create attractive and character-rich routes
Ensure Accessible routes along all pathways
and desire lines
Separate Front of House areas from Back of
House areas
Pedestrian Friendly areas and routes
Cycling
The Design Must:
The Cyclist Environment Provide a Design for convenient cycling
Allow for passing of parked cars
Cycle Lanes Provide streets that are safe for cyclists
Cycle lanes should be provided outside the
public realm (i.e. commuter cycling)
Recreational cycling should be provided within
the public realm
Cycle Security and Storage Provide public cycle parking from the outset
Include secure community / public bike storage
along cycle routes and nodes
attractive cycle environments
Public Transport
The Design Must:
Public Transport Catchments Make connections for people on the bus, train
and light rail
Bus, Train and Light Rail Provision Make it convenient to catch the bus, train and
light rail
connect existing and new public

transport systems
01 Urban Structure
public transportation Network pedestrian & Cycle Network
george Street
george Street
sussex Street
sussex Street
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Convention
Light Rail Stop Bathurst St Bathurst St
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N N
0 100 200 500 0 100 200 500
Legend Legend
Train station Cycle route on road, heavy traffic
Bus route Cycle route on road, low - medium traffic
Monorail stop Future cycle route, low - recreational traffic
Tram stop Separated cycle route - existing
Separated cycle route - future
Pedestrian pathway
Major pedestrian route
Future major pedestrian route

02 Urban Grain
Urban grain refers to the street pattern, block sizes and building pattern within a city and
describes the interrelationship between these elements. A fine urban grain is highly desired
to create a precinct which is as inviting and approachable as possible to visitors. The
Design must balance high quality permanent landscape with flexible, well-designed urban
spaces that can continually change and support a variety of activities and events and draw
an increased number of visitors to the site. The Design will provide a new meeting point for
this part of the city and a vibrant waterfront that enhances the social and economic fabric of
Sydney, and strengthens the role of Darling Harbour as a connector and key public space.
Key connections must be established as part of the Design. These include Quay Street
extension to the water at Cockle Bay, Quarry Street through Tumbalong Park to Liverpool
Street, the extension of Little Hay Street and the integration of the forthcoming Ultimo
Pedestrian Network.
Streets and Traffic

The Design Must:
Street types Define street types by capacity and character
Ensure street hierarchy is clear: Lane; Residential;
Commercial; Boulevard - refer adjacent page
Ensure no vehicular traffic within pedestrianised
areas
Support the key pedestrian connections with
Arrival Points
vehicular access that includes VIP arrival and
drop-off zones for red carpet and similar events

Make the street an address
Main Routes
Make the routes go through
Connect to finer grain laneways; that are open
to the sky

Provide streets for everyone
Streets as Social Places
Provide places not roads
Put the urban space first
Tracking
Keep junctions tight
Junctions
Allow for an appropriate amount of vehicular
Traffic Calming and Pedestrian
traffic
Crossings
Provide wide crossings on busy or main roads
Slow traffic down
La Rambla, barcelona
Blocks Defined by Street Network

The Design Must:
Perimeter Blocks Ensure blocks face and front the street
Respect peoples privacy by the arrangement of
buildings
Build to the street alignment and line the

perimeter

Encourage continuity of street frontage and
Block Size
rhythm
Block Shape
Keep blocks small
Block Interiors
Provide a block that allows for change and the
Parcel Size future
Unit Size Provide for internal flexibility
Keep the grain fine
Keep commercial units narrow on ground floors
Ueno St, Tokyo
02 Urban Grain
Reference Documents
Australian Cities
City of Sydney Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007-2017
potential Road Network and Hierarchy of routes into & through the site
Legend
sussex Street New / Improved Square / Public Open Space
Market Street Existing Upper Level Bridge Connections
george Street
New / Upgraded bridge link access to site
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Druitt Street
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PEDESTRIAN
NETWORK
N
0 100 200 300 400

02 Urban Grain
Landmarks, Vistas and Focal Points

The Design Must:
Landmarks Ensure a sense of arrival
Provide a southern gateway to Darling Harbour
Make it easy to find your way around
Emphasise the hierarchy of the place
Show the way for visitors
Create an interesting and identifiable skyline
Vistas Provide a point and line approach to vistas
Focal Points Ensure focal points are appropriately located
and scaled
Provide an entrance that welcomes people
Provide ceremonial entrance/s for the Core
Functions
View of st Pauls from MILLENIUM bridge
Utilities Infrastructure
The Design Must:
Servicing Plan for sustainable infrastructure provision
Design a discreet and co-located network
Services Routing Make services subservient to the Design
Coordinate design development with service
providers
Put services underground in shared strips
Hide the services boxes and plant facilities from
Equipment / Plant Boxes Front of House areas
utiliity corridors
Parking and Servicing
Parking Standards The Design Must:

Ensure sustainable parking levels
Minimise the need for service vehicles to park,
Positioning Parking stop or queue on the public road network,
including Darling Drive
Car Parks Design the commercial car park following
secure-by-design principles
Soften and screen basements and multi-storeys
Make car parks discreet or if they are prominent
make them beautiful
loading bay, sydney opera house
02 Urban Grain
Key Views
george Street
sussex Street
pyr
Market Street
mo
nt S
tre
har
et
ris
Str
Druitt Street
eet
Bathurst St
re et
eet
ry Str
Quar
goulbu
rn Stre
re et et
y St
henr
iam
will
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tre hay Str
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Legend
tre
et
Key views of access in/out of Tumbalong Park

N
0 100 200 500
Key views of external landmarks
Key views into Tumbalong Park

03 Density and Mix
Successful public places require a full mix of local services and facilities to serve commercial,
educational and civic uses. A rich layering of facilities and services will promote social
diversity and usage beyond daytime and business hours and create a lively and commercially
viable precinct.
Density refers to how comfortable an area feels and its social consequences. The Design
must invite people into the public realm and make them feel welcome. A positive relationship
between the public and private domain is established when faades are of a human scale,
distances between key spaces are walkable, buildings are of a moderate mass, pathways
connect different spaces and neighbourhoods and the quality of landscape softens
perceptions. Through the thoughtful design and positioning of buildings, the Precinct will
provide a framework for future development and deliver a legacy for the people of Sydney.
Mixing Uses
The Design Must:

The City Unit Build a walkable Precinct convention
Character Areas Create a patchwork of different activities
throughout the Precinct
hotel
Compatible Uses Include uses such as: tourist; educational;
recreational; entertainment; cultural and
commercial facilities
Collocate Primary Uses Maximise synergy and minimise conflict of uses
Mixed forms, uses and users Include Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment
Entertainment uses
Combine commercial and civic uses with hotel
Destination
and other uses such as residential to provide a
sustainable and viable mix of uses
Emphasise the civic values of the Precinct
Complement the existing retail of Darling
exhibition
Harbour
Wrap and cap big box facilities with other uses
Edges
Bring dead edges to life through active uses
Provide a rich mix in the transition of uses community / Cultural
Transition Zones Focus on links to public transport nodes

Residential
retail
Density, Facilities and Form

The Design Must:
Density and form Integrate with the city context
Focus on activity centres and use clusters
Vary the density profile of different Facilities
Cater for a range of users and lifestyles
Blend the best parts of town
Density and Interior Space Enable people to trade space for place
Density and Time Take a long term view
existing city context
neighbouring hotel and residential accommodation
03 Density and Mix
Reference Documents
Darling Harbour Development Plan No 1, 29 March 1996
Australian Cities
3 sectors for redevelopment: North, Central and South, with building zones
sussex Street
pyr
mo
nt S
tre
et
NORTHern
SECTOR
Bathurst St
re et
har
ris
Str
eet
CENTRAL Liverpo
ol Stre
SECTOR et
eet
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Q uar
PIER Street
t
ree
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SOUTHern
SECTOR
Legend
t HAY Str
Stree eet Project boundary
r
thu
car North sector
quay S
ma
Central sector
treet
N
0 100 200 300
South sector
Building zones

04 Height and Massing
The Design must provide a sense of openness that increases the amenity of the street,
spaces and other buildings and does not cut off the area from surrounding neighbourhoods.
A good balance of developed and open space areas must be achieved.
The Design must not develop in isolation but must be considered from a range of viewing
points. Angles must take into consideration view sharing of neighbouring buildings and most
importantly reinforce the identity of the Precinct within its larger city context. The valley
floor of Darling Harbour provides a pivotal datum that relates to the sea level of Cockle Bay.
Tower forms surrounding the valley should appear simple yet elegant and add a recognisable
sculptural form to the skyline. An opportunity exists to complete the ring of identifiable
harbour side buildings and create a landmark that will enhance the skyline of Sydney for
future generations.
Building Size and Scale

The Design Must:
Building Height Define The Big Picture
Develop a building height strategy
Relate building height to context
Wrap up and Step down to provide a human
scale to the facilities
Adapt with topography
Respect overshadowing principles
Consider view sharing for residential neighbours
Building Depth Plan shallow building depths
Orientate for flexibility and suitable access
Corners Ensure the building form turns the corner where
streets meet
Building Width Provide trim and slim (narrow) building types or
frontages to Big Box facilities
Corner treatment, Roslyn St, Sydney
Building for Change

The Design Must:
Multi-Use Buildings Provide a mix of uses where most uses are
compatible side-by-side
Ensure a mix of uses at close quarters
Provide a vertical mix of uses: Make uses stack
up through the building
Provide access for all and meet Disability
Discrimination Act requirements
Flexibility, Adaptability and Re-Use Reveal the history of the place
Vertical neighbourhood, axis mundi, ny
Positive Outdoor Space

The Design Must:
Positive and Negative Space Define the space, its function and character
Provide and ensure the right to light between
buildings
Form and shape outdoor rooms using built form
Use light and shadow to add dynamism within
spaces
Avoid creating microclimate issues for example
negative wind conditions caused by tall building
location and design
looking through colonnades, rome
Reference Documents
Australian Cities
Darling Harbour Building Height Study, Tony Caro
Architecture & City Plan Urban Design, 2006
Building Lines and Setbacks

The Design Must:
Building Lines and Setbacks Provide buildings that are built to an appropriate
building line
Form appropriate heights of street walls with
taller sections of building setback from the
street 5m Min.

Proportion buildings with a base, middle and top
Enclosure Max. Base
Create an interface for humans at the public 40m
realm
Create enclosure and definition to the space Min. Base
8m
around and between buildings
Building set back from base min. of 5m
Top Top Top
Middle Middle Middle
Base Base Base
Base Treatment middle Treatment TOP Treatment

Ground Floor - active frontage & contribute to Mid-section can create useable outdoor spaces Consider roof-top green space and views from
public realm and transition to human scale within public adjacent tall buildings
realm
First & Second floors - contribute to activity in Top levels - potential to be occupied by public
public realm & provide overlooking Balconies should be recessed within the or shared communal spaces
bulding structural frame

taller building locations and building heights in the city (in metres)
Legend
Site Boundary
230-250m Existing Buildings
230-250m Proposed Buildings
N
0 100 200 500 1000
100-130 Existing Buildings
an example of taller building locations and opportuntiies at cockle bay and south darling harbour
to respect view corridors and the height datums around valley floor
Legend
6m-122m
29m
37m-117m
Existing Towers
Potential Towers

05 Public Realm
The quality of the Public Realm is vital to creating an environment where people want to
visit, work and live. The Design must keep people in mind, connect people and places and
facilitate commerce and recreation. It will be flexible enough to bring diverse characters and
populations together in the Precinct. Movement through the Public Realm should be easy,
pleasurable, innovative, and intuitive and create more accessible and enjoyable routes for all.
Pedestrian streets will make the most of opportunities to refocus the street as space, create
visual interest and amenity and most of all encourage social interaction and lift peoples
spirits.
A Thriving Public Realm

The Design Must:
Social Spaces Provide focus activity areas within the Public
Realm
Ensure there are appropriate uses in and
around the space
Build in versatility and flexibility
Provide adequate routes through space: enable
people to pass directly from A to B
Distinctive Places Stimulate the human senses through touch;
sound; smell
Create a distinctly local Sydney identity
Plant local species
Enhance natural ecology and ecosystems
Embrace the Sydney climate
Ensure the place is of high quality and is built to last
Integrate art within built and landscape forms
Chicago Millenium Park
Federation Square, A New Public Space The High Line, New York City. Intimate Seattle Waterfront, Creation of
for Melbourne Space as part of Linear Public Park New Public Domain
Safety and Security

The Design Must:
Safety Build in Safety
Security Focus on natural surveillance
Follow secure-by-design principles
Watch the main entrance closely
If there has to be a security fence or grill, design
it as a sculpture
Level Changes - Promote Surveillance
while Retaining Privacy
05 Public Realm
Reference Documents
Australian Cities
Minimum 3 Open Spaces for the Precinct - each with their own character and scale;
(1) Waterfront, (2) Tumbalong Park, (3) Community
The Public Realm is space for people.
There should be no reduction in the available
open space from what is available on the site
today, ideally it should be increased.
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Legend
Site boundary
Waterfront Park (1.)
N
0 100 200 300 400 Tumbalong Park (2.)
Community Square (3.)

05 Public Realm
Temporary Uses
The Design Must:
Flexible Open Spaces Ensure there are rich day and night experiences
Provide appropriate amenity for an 18 hour / 7
days a week site
Allow for a diverse range of events and overlays
Provide large gathering spaces and intimate
areas for diversity
Balance the event spaces with recreational
spaces and circulation spaces
Flexibility to allow features to be incorporated in
major events
Chicago Millenium Park - Digital Water Park
Cockle Bay, Darling Harour Fireworks Darling Harbour Festivities Sydney Aroma Festival - Parades
Sydney Festival 2012 Smart Light Festival, Sydney Sydney Festival, The Domain, Sydney
05 Public Realm
Accessibility
An accessible Darling Harbour The Design Must follow the principles to be Comfortable walking routes are to
adopted for walking routes and follow the five incorporate measures to increase enjoyment
Cs approach as follows: including high quality surfacing and
Connected walking routes are to link to landscaping and either safe integration with,
key attractors such as public transport or segregation from, traffic.
interchanges. Convenient walking routes are to be as
Convivial walking routes are to be direct as possible so walking can compete
implemented and maintained in good favourably with other modes. Walking times
condition ensuring a pleasant experience. of between 5 and 10 minutes will encourage
people to travel by foot.
Conspicuous walking routes are to be
safe and inviting routes with good lighting, All areas shall be designed to provide equality of
visibility, surveillance and signage. access for people with disabilities in accordance
with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
The High Line, New York City: creative seating space with DDA compliant accessible access to the viewing window

06 Streetscape and Landscape
Streetscape and landscape refers to the design of public spaces such as streets, open
spaces and pathways and includes landscaping, microclimate, shading and planting. The
Design must balance high quality permanent landscape with flexible well-designed urban
spaces that can continually change and support a variety of activities that can adapt to use
over time, time of day and time of year.
The streetscape and landscape needs to communicate the Precinct as a whole and help
visitors feel a sense of arrival and departure in the space. The elements must create a
distinctive place that retains its character when activity is absent and accommodates all
people in their diversity. The Design must be robust, durable and maintainable while making a
positive contribution to the sense of place. The key to the Design is to grow old gracefully so
that it becomes more attractive, more interesting and comfortable as trees, shrubs and other
plants mature.
Landscape
The Design Must:
Open Space and Landscape Design Provide a variety of open space types
Public Access to Open Space Create park life
Open Space Networks Ensure that parks are within walking distance
Topography Connect open spaces as a network
Work with the earth and the historic landform
cuts of the valley
The High Line, New York; Superb Park Life
Rest Seats; New York Cheonggyecheoon, Seoul, South Korea Darling Quarter, Sydney
Wildlife and Ecology

The Design Must:
Wildlife and Ecology Balance human access and wildlife shelter
Ensure that all sites are created as habitats
Aid biodiversity
Red-Browed Finch; One of Sydneys

Local Native Species Requiring Greater
Habitat Provision in the City
Microclimate
The Design Must:
Microclimate Consider the influence of the elements
Plant with the sun in mind
Harness cool breezes
Protect from winter winds
Make the place comfortable
Provide summer shade and maximise winter
sun Paley Park, New York; Respite in the City
06 Streetscape and
Landscape
Reference Documents
Australian Cities
City of Sydney Public Art Strategy and Policy
City of Sydney Eora Journey
City of Sydney Barani Barrabugu; Yesterday Tomorrow
City of Sydney Draft Interim Sydney Streets Design Code
Wayfinding
The Design Must:
Signage Make the place legible
Use urban markers through both built form and
landscape elements
Achieve a macro-precinct to micro-pedestrian
scale wayfinding strategy Luna Park Sydney; Gateway Entry and
Regulatory signage Precinct Identification
Street Furniture, Art and Lighting

The Design Must:
Clean up the existing clutter and provide a
Street Furniture
collection that is integrated and harmonious
with the Design

Provide a consistent palette of quality street
furniture
Fit art to the place
Art
Integrate art within built and landscape forms
Make art a spectacle and worth repeat visits
Appreciation of the origins and history of the
Lighting precinct
Illuminate each unique scene and harness an
identifiable night time experience
Consider plug and play facilities to facilitate Interactive Public Art / Water Feature;
event overlays Darling Harbour
Streetscape; Integrated Lighting and Streetscape; Integrated Lighting and

Furniture Furniture urban Play Space
Plug and Play Light Poles in the Public Aspire Public Art and Lighting
Domain Installation, Ultimo, Sydney Event Overlay - Sydney Festival 2012
07 Faade and Interface
Faade and interface refers to the relationship of buildings to the site, street and neighbouring
buildings and architectural expression of their facades. The Design must merge the private
and public realms inviting people in and welcoming people out onto the street and into the
public space. It will create an active ground level environment and enhance access and
engagement with Tumbalong Park and surrounding areas. The faade will deliver Australias
best architecture to the Precinct and enrich the skyline of Sydney from near and afar while
taking into consideration the scale and identity of surrounding buildings.
Animating the Edge

The Design Must:
Active frontage Provide a varied and active frontage
Reach out to the street
Make buildings provide a setting to the spaces RETAIL
Richness and Beauty
between them and in front
Strengthen local identity
Keep the Design rich from both near and afar
Express the use and the purpose of the Facilities
Relate to the human scale
Embrace the identity of the Precinct
Make entrances a feature in the facade
RETAIL
Utilise detailed massing and facade treatments
to welcome, guide and orientate users 6-8M
RETAIL
Relate the facade and ground level portions of
buildings to the Public Realm
Combine event strategies and elements such as
3-5M
banners, light poles and other event structures
for the site with permanent ground level uses Spill Out space adds vitality to the
public realm
LANEWAY, MELBOURNE OSLO OPERA HOUSE QUINCY MARKET, BOSTON
main entry
main entry
Entry - Provide clear and visible
identity for bulding entrances located
at mid block and corner
07 Faade and Interface
Reference Documents
Australian Cities
Continuous Weather Protection

The Design Must:
Shade and Shelter Provide a weather protected route along all
primary routes, including Quay Street (and
its northern extension) and the Quarry Street
extension
Use colonnades or awnings along building
frontages to allow a consistent datum to be
read along a street edge
Provide diversity in the elevations through
articulation of the facade
rome: a classical approach to colonnades
continuous canopy - continuous shelter -

use of awnings use of colonnades
8M
4-8M
Colonnade Column Columns extend higher Columns do not have to Column could be
spacing - to suit scale of and could be combined be regularly spaced incorporated in facade
building and associated with verticals in building treatment
spaces facade vegetation and
green walls

08 Details and Materials
Details and materials refer to the close up appearance of objects and surfaces and selection
of materials in terms of detail, craftsmanship, texture, colour, durability, sustainability and
treatment. It contributes to human comfort, safety and enjoyment of the public and private
realm. The Design must reflect best practise and ensure minimal maintenance, durability,
longevity of materials and finishes and a sustained appearance which is critical for a positive
visitor interaction.
Precinct Scale
The Design Must:
Details and Materials Demonstrate a precinct approach to materials
and their built assembly
Recognise that the grain, texture and scale of
the skyline is of great importance
Materials should be used to define and
reinforce different character areas within the
Precinct
Be built of the same fundamental elements
that make Darling Harbour the place it is. A
place for celebration, for transaction and for
entertainment with quality venues, shops,
hotel, homes and Public Realm
Respond to surrounding existing and historic
character
Add a distinctive townscape element within
the wider Darling Harbour area
Add another layer of character into Darling
Harbour, the new materiality will be symbolic
of the change and transformation of the area Quality Finish across a Precinct;
Federation Square, Melbourne
Pedestrian Scale
The Design Must:
Details and Materials Ensure that detail resolution matters
Ensure that materials are easily maintainable
Ensure that the buildings are sustainable,
durable and visually interesting
All materials in the Public Realm areas of
the Precinct, and especially the lower base
elements of all buildings are to be highly durable
Create a hierarchy of materials
Propose a primary material to dominate the
frontage, other materials should be used to
demarcate different elements of the building
Primarily use glazing where there is a key public
use and where there are retail frontages
Identify with the climatic conditions of Sydney
and provide appropriate shade and shelter
Use colour to add vibrancy and distinctivenss.
Colour may be added through coloured light,
retail signage, coloured glass or glazed brick
as well as coloured fabrics of awnings and
parasols.
Garden City Pedestrian Bridge, Singapore
08 Details and Materials
Reference Documents
Australian Cities
Materials
The Design Must:
Details and Materials Consider Sydney as a blue and green
connected city
Celebrate the temperate climate
Use landscape and plant materials
Reference Sky
Use materials that elevate built form into the sky
Provide generous feeling of light and air
throughout the buildings
Material selections may include Concrete /
Steel / Glass / Timber
steel and glass timber
Reference Canopy
Use materials that distinguish the roofline and
any elevated decks
Material selections may include Timber / Steel
/ Landscape Foliage / Native Species to work
with the temperate climate
tree canopies integrated with structure elevated timber deck through the canopy
Reference Water City

Use materials that reinforce Sydney as a
harbour city
References to water courses / estuaries / rivers
may be used
the city is connected to the harbour
Reference Base
Use materials that connect the building to the
ground
References to the weathered landscape
Material selections may include solid masonry
elements such as stone, brick and concrete
Naturally Weathered Sydney Sandstone Granite Pavers, City of Sydney FootpathS

09 Energy and Resource Efficiency
Energy and resource use efficiency is crucial and the Design must demonstrate a Worlds Reference Documents
Best Practice approach. Creating Places for People: An urban
design protocol for Australian Cities
The principal of long life, loose fit and low energy will drive all aspects of the Design. The City of Sydney Sustainable Sydney
Design must maximise daylight and reduce the need for artificial lighting and heating by 2030
orientating the building towards the north. The Sustainability Guide defines principles and Darling Harbour South Master Plan,
performance levels to achieve Worlds Best Practice sustainability within the Precinct. Johnson Pilton Walker
Resource Efficiency
The Design Must:
Solar Design Orientate buildings towards the sun
Let the light in and keep the heat out in summer
Water Recycle rainwater where possible
Earth Use the potential of the ground
Wind Work with the wind
Waste Do more with less
Waste not, want not
Energy Prioritise Precinct wide solutions
CH2 building melbourne; expresses its

energy and resource consumption
10 Staging and Management
How the Precinct is managed and adapts over time is crucial to ensure that it remains a Reference Documents
vibrant and dynamic place in Sydney. A management plan with a clear focus is essential and Creating Places for People: An urban
will ensure a continuous mix of cultural programming and civic activity. The Plan will deliver design protocol for Australian Cities
a contemporary and stimulating program that supports the local economy, environment and City of Sydney Sustainable Sydney
community. 2030
Darling Harbour South Master Plan,
Johnson Pilton Walker
Precinct Management
The Design Must:
Establish future event overlays and Provide a platform for a range of events
Change over time Provide a place for locals, visitors and
international guests
Allow the Precinct to change over time and
evolve with contemporary culture
A new Tumbalong Park will provide the
opportunity for event staging.
sydney opera house hosts a range of
events for local and international visitors
Events at federation Square, Melbourne darling harbour; city scale events


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Urban Design and

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 1

creating places for people: australias URBAN DESIGN PROTOCOL

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 3

ii. How to Use the Guidelines

iii. The Site

An Asset for Sydney SICEEP is located at the southern end of the

site area = 20Ha

0 100 200 500

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 5

iv. Project Vision

The following principles support realisation of the Project Vision:

v. Context and Design Excellence

vi. Place Making

vii. Public Realm

The design of the Public Realm should:

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 7

viii. Urban Design Objectives

cockle bay and southern darling harbour

cockle bay, Darling Harbour, view to north

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 9

Appreciating the Context

Place and Heritage Waterfront and parkside location with signature

Ian Thorpe Pool

Ultimo UTS Business

The Movement Framework 10

Connect the grids

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 11

Pedestrian Friendly areas and routes

connect existing and new public

public transportation Network pedestrian & Cycle Network

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 13

Streets and Traffic

Blocks Defined by Street Network

sussex Street New / Improved Square / Public Open Space

Market Street Existing Upper Level Bridge Connections

eet hay Str

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 15

Landmarks, Vistas and Focal Points

Parking and Servicing

Parking Standards The Design Must:

loading bay, sydney opera house

Key views of access in/out of Tumbalong Park

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 17

The Design Must:

Transition Zones Focus on links to public transport nodes

Density, Facilities and Form

neighbouring hotel and residential accommodation

WOODSBAGOT.COM | April 2012 | Page 19

Building Size and Scale

Corner treatment, Roslyn St, Sydney

Building for Change

Vertical neighbourhood, axis mundi, ny

Positive Outdoor Space

looking through colonnades, rome

Building Lines and Setbacks

Top Top Top

Middle Middle Middle