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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Local artist Helen Hopcroft has been busy making herself at home in Central Maitland, setting up shop as part of a successful Create Maitland partnership with a local property owner, in conjunction with Maitland City Council. The Create Maitland project
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Opportunity to design furniture for Charlestown’s soon to be revitalised mall. An artist will have the opportunity to have their work feature in the heart of Charlestown as Lake Macquarie City Council seeks expressions of interest for creative furniture designs
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Ninety years ago this week a new City Hall and the Civic Theatre dubbed “Civic Block” were opened. Newcastle City Hall under construction in 1929 Council had outgrown its Watt Street premises – a former military offices during the days
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A proposal to rezone a section of Newcastle’s former rail corridor for community space will be open for public feedback early next year. Pictured ~ Rail corridor land under rezoning, on western border of Market Street Lawn. Planning Proposal for
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City of Newcastle has “brought forward” planned engagement on the Newcastle and Merewether ocean baths’ pavilions, citing “community interest in the sites’ futures.” Newcastle Ocean Baths awaiting renovation in 2019. When Newcastle City Council (“City of Newcastle”) sought expressions of
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