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.

Matthew Taylor, Director of Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects was recently invited to talk with the final year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture students at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) on the evolution of design philosophy in the profession of Landscape Architecture with particular reference to professional practice.

Topics in the presentation were arranged around the subjects of Heritage planning, Managing a landscape practice, Project evolution and the management of projects while in construction.

The students were asked what they as landscape architects were to “bring to the table” and how their role as landscape architects could bring value to a project as part of a professional design team.

Matthew pointed out the value of the tertiary education which they have gained from the University and the fact that it takes time and experience to learn how to apply their expertise and values to projects.

Of particular note was Matthew’s expertise in heritage planning. The building on campus where the lecture was given was used as an example of the methodology applied in heritage planning where the former land use included the former Kensington horse racing track.

The lecture was summarised with lessons learnt in the installation of landscape projects and the critical importance of coordination and material selection in providing memorable and outstanding outcomes.

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/

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

Image Source: inhabitat.com

Splitterwerk Architects, in collaboration with Strategic Science Consult of Germany, ARUP and Colt International have taken green walls to the next level by creating an algae façade which harnesses energy and provides power for the building within.

The algae is enclosed in bio-reactive louvers (panels) which allow the algae to survive and grow, and in turn provide shade for the exterior of the building. Heat energy is trapped by the louvers which is then harvested and used to power the structure.

Noain City Hall, Spain

Image Source: ArchDaily

This new town hall in Noain City, Spain has been designed with a surrounding green façade that has benefits for cooling and air filtration with an energy consumption saving of 60%.

It has been built to obtain the highest levels of sunlight in all areas. The center of the building is an empty space covered by a skylight and the wall divisions of each room do not meet ceiling allowing the sunlight to reach all spaces.The external facades are designed to represent a double skin; glass inwards and a grid of steel bars on the outside.

 Sources:

archdaily.com

inhabitat.com

Reaching for the stars, Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects has created a truly inspirational oasis in the sky.

Located at Top Ryde on the north shore of Sydney, the project features panoramic views across to the Sydney CBD and surrounding areas. This extensive green roof living space is an award winning project conferred by the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

The design redefines the concept of high density living five floors above the surrounding urban fabric. This urban living space features a series of recreational onsite facilities set in a lush tropical landscape and includes water features, wet edge swimming pool and spa, yoga decks, BBQ areas and dramatic sky pavilions that suspend viewers above the surrounding urban terrain.

Yoga decks and BBQ pavilion

The client, Crown International Holdings’ brief for a resort styled landscape was realised and surpassed through an engaging  landscape. This landscape was inspired by the warmth of nature and focused through the sky pavilions and the generous open spaces with water being a central component of the design.

Resort style planting

Sustainability is integrated into the design by transforming a concrete roof above a commercial complex into a green roof improving insulation properties and absorbing CO2 through abundant plantings across the site. The design also incorporates a series of community outdoor activity zones that accommodate both communal and group activities. Whether it is walking through the environment on the way to work or having an early morning workout in the gymnasium the design has utilised running water in a sustainable approach to enhance a feeling of wellbeing in a restorative landscape.

Tranquil enclave

The design assists in creating a calming sensory experience with strong textural stone banding, the use of still and moving water, scented and highly textural planting and the opportunity to experience edible plants in a sustainable landscape through a varied and exciting planting palette. Bird attracting plants provide valuable habitat and complement the sustainable strategies with energy efficient systems including low water use and low recurrent costs.