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GREEN SQUARE
Quality of Landscape Study

Location: Green Square Urban Renewal Area
Client: City Of Sydney
Project dates: 2015 - 2016

2017 Award of Excellence - NSW Institute of Landscape Architects

The City of Sydney commissioned Gallagher Studio to explore methods to enhance landscape quality in two evolving neighbourhoods within the Green Square Urban Renewal Area. Green Square is the largest urban renewal site in the southern hemisphere. Incremental urban development alongside high land values have created a challenging context to deliver high quality landscape and public open space. This project tested possibilities for improved landscape quality in two neighbourhoods in the town centre, within the existing planning context.

The design team developed an integrated spatial method that tested landscape outcomes in public and private land, based on existing and future built form controls including height, density,  street setbacks and deep soil. This enabled the design team to develop specific and achievable landscape strategies through targeted design interventions. The study identified key landscape opportunities such as consolidated deep soil adjacent to streets, retention of landmark trees, and provision of new public open space and urban tree canopy through redesign of existing street reserves. This approach provided council with a realistic landscape vision for these rapidly evolving urban neighbourhoods that could leverage the optimum landscape benefits on public and private land.