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.

Find out more.

More information about this award winning project can be found here.

© 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.

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

Five Dock Memorial re-opens for ANZAC Centenary

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects have assisted the City of Canada Bay Council with the restoration and design of important focal elements for the Five Dock War Memorial set in the heritage listed Five Dock park, which reopened on ANZAC Sunday the 19th April. This community commemoration highlighted the importance to Australia of the original ANZACs, many who came from the immediate neighbourhood.

The refurbishment of the memorial re-established the heritage values and involved the removal of unsuitable fencing, returning the brickwork to its original form, replacing and renewing structural elements and a new pressed metal ceiling complementing this 1920s structure. Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects using their conservation heritage expertise to guide the refurbishment, creating a new ‘heart’ to the memorial. This feature consists of an ‘eternal flame’ framed in a brass and glass etched names of ANZACs set on a stone plinth.

Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Concord, Sydney – 20 years on

Unveiled in 1995, this living memorial was the focus of a Dawn Service on ANZAC Sunday, 19th of April. A choir supported by a spectacular light show emulating the dawn, highlighted the time and place for the original ANZAC landing of 1915. Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects assisted in the layout of the service and general advice.

ANZAC Commemorative site, Gallipoli, Turkey – Preparations

At Gallipoli in Turkey the ANZAC Commemorative Site is being readied for the ANZAC day centenary commemoration. Designed in 1998 and unveiled in 2000  the site is the focus of the Dawn Service at North Beach, a kilometre to the north of  ANZAC Cove. Gallipoli has  long been a place of pilgrimage with the centenary having having a special significance to all. The site has been subject to new lettering and supplementary infrastructure for this centenary commemoration.

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