Slides from Making Cities Liveable presentation “An Urban World Towards Sustainability”

Beginning in the middle ages, society has been in balance with nature. In the changes that have occurred with the industrial revolution, this balance has been distorted where society has lost touch with nature and its benefits.

Slides from Making Cities Liveable presentation “An Urban World Towards Sustainability”

Sustainable cities incorporate both social and community benefits by bringing nature to the city. There is a need for an integrated design approach across our living environments.

Slides from Making Cities Liveable presentation “An Urban World Towards Sustainability”

Contemporary designs by TBLA have incorporated the warmth of nature and this design philosophy provides sustainable social and beneficial living environments.

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects’ competition entry named the ‘Illusory Forest’ was shortlisted as one of five competition entries for display within the prestigious International Event. As part of the company’s development of design and conceptualization skills within the practice, a collaborative competition entry was submitted in the Boutique Garden category for the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show design competition.

The “Illusory Forest” design concept by Camila Gamalho Pereira, a Brazilian architect and urban designer within Taylor Brammer was selected from within the company and developed collectively for the competition entry. The concept of an “Illusory Forest” came from Camila’s yoga and meditation sessions, where she seeks the image and tranquility of being in a forest. Achieving the perception of being in a forest in an often confined space, Camila sought to recreate her illusory forest within the relatively confined space of the 5mx5m garden, a common sized urban garden space.

Competition Entry – Concept Development Diagram

The illusion of the forest is created by the use of tall vertical elements and mirrored surfaces to reflect and multiply the depth of the forest and offer changing views as you move through the garden and extend the perception of the boundaries. The grid of structural bamboo poles at 1m intervals is interconnected with a framework of lighter poles to create a structure that is open and allows light to penetrate throughout the space.

Competition Entry – Concept Perspective

The structure creates a labyrinth of secret spaces and framed views that are refracted by a series of mirrors arranged in geometric formation. Planting of the forest is restrained to swathes of groundcover species, punctuated by specimen foliage plants so as not to compete with the verticality of the poles. The raised base is covered in Parlour Palm green walling, so that the garden sits gently in its surroundings.

Competition Entry – Concept Plan

The selection of bamboo for the core structure was a simple choice, as it is strong, durable, cost effective, fire resistant, and is bio degradable. Environmentally the bamboo typically has a higher carbon sequestration rate generating up to 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees and absorbs 30% more CO2 than trees of an equivalent size.

A series of modular elements are fixed to the bamboo structure within the space including feature epiphytic planting, fractured mirror planes, lighting and fix. As they move around visitors will catch glimpses of themselves reflected within the serene forest creating a sense of wonder and peace.

Design Realisation – Meandering path through forest

A sinuous path of crushed recycled concrete reinforces the theme of sustainable materials and construction and guides visitors through the space. The garden will be constructed on a raised plinth clad in bamboo ply to conceal the pots and footings. Misters are installed to create atmosphere and depth within the structure. At night the garden will be illuminated by uplights casting a web of shadows and creating new mysteries.

Design Realisation – Sustainable materials featured throughout

The garden and green wall was constructed by Coolth Inc. a Melbourne Based Landscape and Green Architecture specialist firm. Bamboo poles have been supplied by Cut Loose Nursey in Port Macquarie, and Live Bamboo by Red Cloud Nursery in Melbourne. Warners Nursery have generously supplied all other plant materials. Leto Bamboo Panels and Plyco have supplied the timber products, while Anston Architectural Paving have supplied the stone.

© 2017 Crown Group.

V by Crown is a focus of a new community hub featuring a sophisticated combination of residential, retail and commercial activity which heralds a new era in the Parramatta’s urban renaissance.

The urban scale of the development and the fine detailing of the resort style landscape designed by Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects and Crown Developments continue the award winning design themes that they are renowned for.

Extensive use of natural materials inspired by nature create a marquee development within the Parramatta CBD. The  pool area features an inspirational and soothing environment centred around curvilinear timber screens,  sky blue pool and bridges over water features linking library, gymnasium, spa and other community facilities.

Fine grained timber and stone is featured throughout harmonising with lush tropical specimen planting further evolved with Crown since the success of Top Ryde City Living. The project celebrates the genus loci of Parramatta through extensive heritage interpretation and links to Parramatta Park, a world heritage listed item. The integrated design of contemporary outcomes in public and private spaces sets a benchmark for Parramatta and greater Western Sydney region.

FInd out more.

Embracing the rich culture of the inner west and paring it with modern playground design, the new neighbourhood park in Leichhardt has become the new favourite spot for families, friends and locals.

The historically titled ‘Nestor’ site, deep within the Leichhardt neighbourhood, has managed to highlight significant parts of its colourful history, through a range of design elements.

The park features a memory frame of the house called Nestor that once stood on the site. The entry to the house has been re created in a outline steel portal and the traditional tiles of the Victorian era that once lined the entry porch now welcome the community.  The portal of the house allows stainless steel wires to facilitate flowering and scented vines that in time will form a shaded arbor.

In the early 19^th Century the land which the park now currently sits on, was owned by Captain John Piper who was renowned for his large real estate portfolio through the early colonial period. Captain Piper also owned a number of significant sites in Sydney including Henrietta Villa (also called the Naval Pavilion),  the property now known as Vaucluse House and land in George Street. He went broke in the 1830’s.

Colourful community murals celebrate the sites history with the theme of the sites history of local uses (including the piggery which was one of the former land uses).  These themes are integrated into the playful memory walls supporting a range of play opportunities from toddlers to teenage activities. Swings, a basketball hoop, climbing elements flow through the park with bespoke timber pigs, timber seating pods and a sound tube complement the brightly coloured banded soft fall throughout the park.

Find out more about this project at: http://www.taylorbrammer.com.au/urban/hearn-street-park/

WINNER:

Excellence in Retirement Living – Lober Square Redevelopment by Anglican retirement Villages

WINNER:

Excellence in Aged Care – Mark Moran Vaucluse by Mark Moran Group

Mora about this project at http://www.taylorbrammer.com.au/seniors-living/mark-moran,-vaucluse-/

FINALISTS in:

Excellence in Affordable and Not for Profit Housing – ARV Derby Street by Anglican retirement Villages

Excellence in Affordable and Not for Profit Housing – Petalurna, Katoomba by Uniting

Excellence in Master Planned Communities – Cove Boulevarde, Shell Cove, NSW for Frasers property Australia and Shellharbour City Council.

Excellence in Retirement Living – Lober Square redevelopment

Excellence in Retirement Living – Mark Moran Vaucluse

Excellence in Retirement Living – The Brighton Croydon

Excellence in Retirement Living – Uniting Petalurna, Katoomba

Excellence in Aged-Care – Mark Moran Vaucluse

The depth of experience in a wide range of project types is exemplified in the developments above. Clients recognise the value, design philosophy and forward thinking that Taylor Brammer Landscape architects bring to every project.

More information about the UDIA awards may be found at: http://www.udiansw.com.au/awards-for-excellence-winners

Top Ryde Sun Pavillion and Water Features. Image by Author

Once again, ‘Top Ryde City Living’, a Crown Group project with Taylor Brammer Landscape
Architects designing the resort-style landscape, has won yet another award for design excellence.

The development has been awarded the ‘Best Australian Outdoor Project’ at the 2015 HIA-CSR
Australian Housing Awards Ceremony.

Renowned for its First-class alfresco areas, water features and lush landscaping, the resort-style
amenities allow residents to escape in the hustle and bustle of city life, right in their backyard.
With a 25m infinity pool, sun-drenched viewing platforms of the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the
dense gardens to relax and entertain, Top Ryde City Living has something for everyone.

Images by Andrew Turner – Copyright 2015

The aluminium binary code screen is patterned with 1’s and 0’s that underpins computer programming language
Image: © James Heron

Designed by Denton Corker Marshall with Taylor Brammer providing landscape design systems, this $229 million, 12-storey building seamlessly integrates state-of-the-art teaching spaces to achieve a 5 star green star rating with a real time building performance data display.

The buildings “giant and crooked crevasse” cuts through the middle of the building to allow natural light to flood down on to the internal atrium spaces below. The atrium allows for the natural ventilation to flow through the project, improving air quality.

Lush green walls juxtaposing the external materials of steel, glass and concrete
Images: © James Heron

Integral to the air quality strategy, the Dean’s winter garden located on the 12th floor was designed to capitalise on its northerly aspect with half the garden atrium, open to the sky above, acting as a visual offset to the internal views of the binary facade. The planting selection accentuated the textural variation between the geometric order and nature of the binary facade, with lush leafy plantings to create a unique microclimate tucked within the northern end of the crevasse.

Internal staircase cross through the narrow atrium void and can be viewed looking down from the eleventh floor
Images: © James Heron

The vegetated green wall in the Dean’s winter garden provides visual contrast to the internal views of the highly articulated facade and an integration leading edge architectural and Environmentally Sustainable Design principles.

The building is targeting a 5-star Green Star Rating from the Green Building Council of Australia with Environmentally Sustainable Design landscape features including vegetated wall systems for air quality, water filtration, and visual amenity and endemic planting species.

The pedestrian laneway linking Wattle and Jones streets is located between two 12 storey buildings, spanning across service areas and car parking for the building. The inherent low light, enclosed nature of the lane way and on slab planting required innovative design to the planter beds to allow the best cultural conditions for plants, in what is a challenging environment.

Top Ryde City Living, Top Ryde. Image: Alexander Mayes Photography

World Architecture Festival (WAF), Singapore

Already recognised by the UDIA as a National Award Winner for Excellence in high density housing, Top Ryde City Living has recently been shortlisted in the landscape category for this year’s prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards to be held in Singapore  at the Marina Bay Sands  this coming October. The festival has had more than 600 entries worldwide and Matthew Taylor and James Heron will present to a panel of globally recognised judges, competing against 11 other shortlisted nominees in the Landscape category.  Read more about the project here.

The Boiler House, UWS Parramatta. Image: Michael Nicholson

AIA State Architecture Awards

The Boilerhouse Precinct at the University of Western Sydney Parramatta Campus has received the NSW Premier’s Prize for this year’s Australian Institute of Architects; (AIA) NSW Architecture Awards awarded to Tanner Kibble Denton Architects.

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects with their landscape design and heritage expertise collaborated with the design team on the award winning project in creating a new core on this important heritage listed campus, located adjacent to the fast growing Parramatta CBD.  The project incorporated both the heritage values and the contemporary needs of a modern university campus in facilitating a living and learning environment. Read more about the project here.

Nareen Terrace Independent Living Village. Image: Aaron Lakeman

The Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW (UDIA) – Awards for Excellence

Taylor Brammer have been involved in BaptistCare’s Gracewood, Kellyville which has won the 2014 State UDIA Award for Excellence in Senior’s Living. The first stage of the project has been constructed amongst a remnant section of Cumberland Plain Woodland. A pathway meanders amongst the trees to provide residents with a connection to nature and the history of the site. A pond has been designed as a key visual feature while capturing and retaining roof water and site runoff for use on gardens across the project.

Taylor Brammer were involved in other nominated projects including:

V by Crown, 45 Macquarie Street Parramatta

Client–Crown Group

Award for Excellence in:

•  Innovation and Design
•  Concept Design

 Sea Crest Flinders, Shellharbour

Client- Peet Tri State Syndicate Limited

Award for Excellence in:

• Innovation and Design
• Concept Design
• NSW Regions and ACT

Nareen Terrace Independent Living Village

Client- Uniting Care Ageing

Award for Excellence in:

• Affordable Development
• Seniors Living
• NSW Regions and ACT

Worrigee Project, Nowra

Client– BluCHP Limited

Award for Excellence in:

• Affordable Development
• NSW Regions and ACT

 AE2 Ermington, Defense Housing

Client– Defence Housing Australia

Award for Excellence in:

• Concept Design
• Sustainable Development
• Urban Renewal

How do you combine a lemon tree, crushed terracotta tiles, fish pond, bush tucker and sustainability all in one? The team at the University of Wollongong has achieved this in world winning entry at the Solar Decathlon held in Datong China last year.

Nestled alongside the SBRC, the Illawarra Flame House plays an integral part at the Innovation Campus

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects as design partners provided the links between ecology and architecture in this winning project. The zero footprint and self-sustaining house has now returned to its permanent home at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, a world class award winning research and commercial precinct. After being constructed, de-constructed and packed up, re constructed in China, then deconstructed and re-packed, the house has been finally re constructed (for the final time!) at the Innovation Campus in Wollongong.

Located adjacent to the recently completed Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC); the Illawarra Flame House demonstrates the principles embodied in the philosophy of the SBRC. Now an integral part of the Innovation Campus, the Flame house will be at home in the Illawarra and linked to the world. The landscape design approach by Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects was an integral part of Team UOW’s core philosophy of inspiring the Australian community to embrace sustainable and retrofitting technology to produce a stylish and contemporary design outcome.

The Illawarra Flame House design embraces sustainability and retrofitting technology.

Core Australian values of love of nature, open spaces and outdoor entertaining were incorporated in the landscape design that embodies a sense of place, employing native plants of the adjacent natural area of Puckeys Estate.

The house will be occupied so that the energy usage can be monitored and the data utilised by the SBRC .In future years the University of Wollongong intends to develop more advanced houses and compete in future Solar Decathlons. A small ‘street’ of world beating technology will emerge to reinforce the reputation of the campus as a world leader in sustainability.

Landscape design incorporates native plants of the adjacent Puckeys Estate harnessing Australian core values of love of nature.

Embracing the living environment in a sustainable manner, this unassuming house and surrounds will provide the opportunity for visiting overseas professionals and academics to experience first-hand the contribution that the Illawarra Flame House can make to our environment and our future.

Commemorative garden scrolls. Image source: ABC News

Earlier this month, New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell and federal Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews attended the opening of the newly built Quakers Hill Nursing Home; the site of the tragic fire on 18th November 2011 which claimed 11 lives.

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects has played a pivotal role in achieving Domain Principal Group’s vision of creating an all-inclusive memorial garden conveying hope, remembrance and reflection at the heart of the 127 BED Residential Aged Care Home in Quakers Hill.

Gary Barnier, the managing director of Domain Principal Group told those gathered for the opening that  he was always determined to rebuild. He promised himself that we would not be defeated and that “Today I get to say two words that I’ve been waiting to say for two years. We’re home.”

Commemorative service.Image by author

The design of the Quakers Hill RACF is centred around a memorial garden for the community which embraces nature for its value as a place of refuge. It provides a destination of both public and private moments, a place to remember and to gain strength through the healing power of nature that is represented by flowers, plants, running water, sky and sun.

It is in this memorial garden, the heart of the RACF, where all these elements come together to be appreciated as one. There are areas to sit and appreciate the natural elements, paths to wander, an arbor to sit under and watch the seasons change; all centred around a bubbling water feature that transfigures the sky into the garden.

The garden has created a living entity set within the community of Quakers hill. Several trees have been planted centrally in the garden with plaques to remind us of the resilience of the community, residents, the emergency services, families and staff.

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects’ design development sketches

Reflective water feature.Image supplied by Zadro Constructions

The Landscape design is fundamental to the success of seniors living environments as the integration of the garden design with dementia care best practice is vital in the ongoing care and sustainability of the residents. It is well documented that up to 80% of residents living in aged care homes experience some level of dementia , therefore providing a garden with a variety of sensory stimuli based on the principles of sensitive design is fundamental to the successful care of all residents staff.

The systematic approach to the design of the landscape at Quakers Hill engages residents and staff in a holistic environment offering clear sight lines to the healing garden elements, an easy and welcoming relationship between the light and bright interiors and the green and carefully textured gardens. The gardens employ an array of texture in the foliage, providing a contrast to the carefully selected brickwork of the nursing home and adding to the clarity of the garden spaces. Pathways lead from living areas to clearly described circuits that are easy to comprehend even inside the community areas of the home. Seats, pergola, a water feature and dragonfly sculptures add to a sense of a connection with nature; the materiality of which complement the seasonal contrast of the planting throughout.

Dragonfly sculptural garden elements.Image by author

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects actively work with our aged care clients in creating appropriately designed external spaces that go to improving social interaction and inclusion in residential aged care. Based on their experiences at Quakers Hill Nursing home among many others, James Heron and Matthew Taylor have presented papers and lectures at universities in relation to the power of landscape architecture in developing the principles of dementia care design. Read more here.