Car park demolition reveals city to harbour view corridor. View in 2008 from south (cathedral) to north (Stockton)~ © NoH. Editor’s note ~ The car park demolition is ironic, considering a plan in 2007 to demolish it for a shopping mall, GPT Central, by The GPT Group. That mall would
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City of Newcastle has unveiled a new vision for Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park as part of the development of a draft masterplan. The vision for Gregson Park shows a larger inclusive playspace in its existing location, new community shelter on the former bowling club site, more shaded seating areas, potential for community gardens and kiosk, resurfaced
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Twenty of NSW’s youngest photographers have shared their impressions of life in the city as finalists in one of Australia’s top image competitions. The annual Little Sydney Lives photography competition has attracted dozens of images of people, animals, toys and nature, captured by children from the ages of 3 to
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Vision for Newcastle’s iconic Harbour Foreshore. City of Newcastle released an updated vision for Newcastle’s Harbour Foreshore, with an additional 4,000m2 of play space, more picnic areas, trees and gardens, cycleways, and plans for the Wharf Road Precinct. In detail, the plan involves increasing the size of the fenced accessible
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City of Newcastle Council has awarded a tender to demolish the 59-year-old Mall Car Park, with work set to commence in early August 2021. The contract is valued at $3.7 million and will be completed by mid-November 2021. As seen from Wharf Road, King Street parking station’s encroachment on Newcastle
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Blueprint for Central Sydney’s Future. The most detailed planning review of the city centre in more than four decades is set to play a critical role in Sydney’s recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City of Sydney’s Central Sydney Planning Strategy provides
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Weeds: the woes and wonders of the plant out of place. By Ben Knight Seen as noxious, there is an unappreciated side to weeds. “Weeds are the pioneer plants… the first to colonise new settings.” It’s hard to find something that matches the contempt we generally have for weeds.
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Public space will connect Harbour to Cathedral. Inspired by Rome’s Spanish Steps, council hopes to create a stunning corridor from Christ Church Cathedral to the harbour. This 2007 viewpoint from atop the former tower shows the King Street car park crowds the cathedral’s northerly aspect. The ‘Stairway to Heaven’ concept,
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New Piazza unveiled at former Newcastle railway station. The NSW Government’s $6 million landscaping project at the former Newcastle Railway Station is now The Station Piazza – a community space that acknowledges site’s heritage. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes was in Newcastle yesterday [2 December 2020] to
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Concrete architecture: beauty or beast? By Ben Knight If you can look beyond the harsh exterior of brutalist architecture, you may find there is a little bit of beauty in buildings made of concrete. Government offices in Bull Street Newcastle. Concrete not faring too well with stains, and not helped
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You can’t sit with us: the rise of privately-owned public spaces. By Ben Knight The emergence of these pseudo-public spaces raises fundamental questions about the value of a public domain that is by the public, for the public. At Sydney’s Barangaroo development, a cultural facility called “the Cutaway” is located
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Our experience of the built environment is more than what we see. By Ben Knight When it comes to architecture we often judge a book by its cover. And while the aesthetic of architecture is essential, it only tells part of the story. Dr Sing D’Arcy, UNSW Built Environment, believes
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Food for thought: edible public spaces. The time is ripe for bringing food production back into urban life through our use of public space. By Ben Knight Edible landscape designs in public spaces could help us reconnect with our food and more. Photo: Rosser1954 Food is a central part of
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A public square at Sydney’s Central station is City of Sydney’s vision for a high-tech, green, and people-friendly precinct. Concept design for Central Square at Central Station – Image: City of Sydney. Following Council endorsement of the initial design concepts, the City will now work with Transport for NSW as
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7,000 square metres of additional shade at Foreshore Park. Artist’s impression of indicative 2022 canopy results in one section of Foreshore Park. A four-year tree replacement program in Foreshore Park began in 2017 in preparation for the Newcastle 500 Supercars. Council has since planted 51 advanced trees, including 10 Kentia
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Post-pandemic vision for a 24-hour city. Barrack Street Sydney NSW – Photo:City of Sydney AU. Sydney City Council envisages a 24-hour alfresco city for social life to continue in a new pandemic era. A recovery plan focusses on reactivating the city centre and local precincts with outdoor dining and bars,
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Empire State Building Ninth Annual Photo Contest. Paul Seibert’s winning photo in 2019. The Empire State Building (ESB) Observatory launched its 9th photo competition on 11 September. Entries are open, but only to amateur photographers from across the United States. The beauty of the classic Art Deco building rises above
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Shaping the future of Gregson Park. Gregson Park eastern gate circa 1970. Council wants people to share memories, stories, and ideas about Gregson Park to guide the renewal of the historic park in Hamilton. City of Newcastle has begun community engagement on the Gregson Park Masterplan, focusing on values and
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New roof changing Central Station’s skyline. Concept for Sydney Central Station by John McAslan + Partners. A “feature roof” is being erected over Central Station as part of the Sydney Metro construction works. The roof over the Northern Concourse is nearly two thirds complete after workers installed hockey stick-shaped steel
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Architecture: the fine line between inspired and copied. Court House 2016, Hunter Street Newcastle, NSW, Australia. By Ben Knight When it comes to architecture, imitation could be the sincerest – and most sensible – form of flattery. Architects draw inspiration from many sources – other architects included. Some could even
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Increasingly hostile designs are emerging to keep members of the public out of public space. By Ben Knight Spikes added to fountain perimeter to detract homeless population from loitering around bus stop in city center. Image credit. Spikes, bars and barricades are not typically things you would associate with a
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South Newcastle Beach transformation begins. Construction of a $12.6 million extension of Bathers Way Coastal Pathway has begun. The project will take around two years to complete and aims to re-activate South Newcastle Beach with a kiosk, new public amenities, accessible skate bowl, landscaping, shade and seating, exercise equipment and
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What ruin photography reveals about urban decay and renewal. By Ben Knight Myola Street near Litchfield Park Mayfield East 2014 There’s something intriguing about an abandoned building. If you scroll through Instagram, you’ll come across photos that celebrate this very aesthetic. Known as ‘ruin photography’, the genre captures the decline
Read more...Situated in the heart of Hamilton, the 131-year-old Gregson Park is getting a masterplan process that includes community-wide engagement. Gregson Park view of Steel Street circa 1970. From Monday council will undertake a site analysis of the former Hamilton Bowling Club, with options for it to be converted into a
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Wider footpaths for outdoor dining, landscaping, and a traffic closure aim to revive two long-dormant laneways in Newcastle’s CBD. Concept for Market Street lawn. Additions to the East End Stage One Streetscape plan were approved by Council this week. Work includes landscaping at the old Mall bus stop at the
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How streets could become more liveable and inclusive post-coronavirus. Surveys are showing that the majority of people think things are better with fewer cars, less pollution, quieter and safer streets. By Ben Knight . Wider footpaths, separated cycleways and pedestrian-friendly streets could become the norm, says a UNSW Built Environment
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Councillor Dunn joins city Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes tree planting in Tyrell Street, Wallsend. City of Newcastle is capitalising on autumn rains by planting hundreds of street trees across Newcastle as part of the Living Streets Program to expand the City’s urban forest. Crews have been busy digging holes on
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Art meets technology in new street installations. Immersive artist Huw Jones at Charletown’s Peason Street wall. Lake Macquarie City Council has commissioned five artworks as part of the Charlestown CREATE project. The high-tech artworks will turn streetscapes into a musical instrument and transform building facades into blank canvases for projections.
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What started as a form of gardening activism, planted the seeds for a blossoming community movement, centred on inclusivity, sustainability and participation. Look closely in any suburb, and you will find nature strips like this one on Myrtle Street in inner-city Chippendale. Lined with native shrubs and grasses, including mint,
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Work is underway on residential and retail development in Hunter Street Mall as part of Iris Capital’s $700 million East End project. Former Scotts & David Jones – corner of Hunter and Perkins streets. Bounded by Hunter, Wolfe, King and Thorn streets, the multi-storey stage two development will feature 116
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