cis03 brett whiteley place concept plan

DECISION OF 3659th

HELD ON 15 DECEMBER 2014 COUNCIL MEETING

537. CIS03: Brett Whiteley Place - Concept Plan Report of Brad Stafford, Senior Strategic Planner - Urban Design The upgrade of Brett Whiteley Place is a vital component in Council’s efforts to revitalise the North Sydney Centre. Landscape design consultant Oculus was asked to develop a concept plan worthy of both the Brett Whiteley name and the space’s role as the North Sydney Centre’s principle public space. The concept plan is attached to this report and envisages an expanded pedestrian realm that includes the existing Brett Whiteley Place and Elizabeth Plaza, as well as portions of the Denison Street and Mount Street shared zones. The potential to expand the plaza presents opportunities for the space to contribute to the night time economy, provide respite, host formal events large and small, and be a centerpiece for public art within North Sydney. This report details the design brief, presents the concept plan, and acknowledges issues requiring consideration both during public exhibition and future detailed design stages. Funding for these projects was included in the adopted 2014/15 budget. Recommending: 1. THAT Council adopt the Brett Whiteley Place Concept Plan

for the purposes of public exhibition.

Ms Verco addressed the Meeting. The Motion was moved by Councillor Baker and seconded by Councillor Gibson.

RESOLVED: 1. THAT Council adopt the Brett Whiteley Place Concept Plan

for the purposes of public exhibition.

Voting was as follows: For/Against 11/0

Councillor Yes No Councillor Yes No Gibson Y Barbour Y Reymond Y Morris Y Clare Y Burke Y Baker Y Marchandeau Y Carr Y Bevan Y Beregi Y

Item CIS03 COUNCIL 15/12/14

N O R T H S Y D N E Y C O U N C I L R E P O R T S

Report to General Manager Attachments:

1. Brett Whiteley Place Concept Plan SUBJECT: Brett Whiteley Place - Concept Plan AUTHOR: Brad Stafford, Senior Strategic Planner - Urban Design ENDORSED BY: Joseph Hill, City Strategy Director EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The upgrade of Brett Whiteley Place is a vital component in Council’s efforts to revitalise the North Sydney Centre. Landscape design consultant Oculus was asked to develop a concept plan worthy of both the Brett Whiteley name and the space’s role as the North Sydney Centre’s principle public space. The concept plan is attached to this report and envisages an expanded pedestrian realm that includes the existing Brett Whiteley Place and Elizabeth Plaza, as well as portions of the Denison Street and Mount Street shared zones. The potential to expand the plaza presents opportunities for the space to contribute to the night time economy, provide respite, host formal events large and small, and be a centerpiece for public art within North Sydney. This report details the design brief, presents the concept plan, and acknowledges issues requiring consideration both during public exhibition and future detailed design stages. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Funding for these projects was included in the adopted 2014/15 budget.

RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT Council adopt the Brett Whiteley Place Concept Plan for the purposes of public exhibition.

Report of Brad Stafford, Senior Strategic Planner - Urban Design Re: Brett Whiteley Place - Concept Plan

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LINK TO DELIVERY PROGRAM The relationship with the Delivery Program is as follows: Direction: 2. Our Built Environment Outcome: 2.1 Infrastructure, assets and facilities that meet community needs 2.3 Vibrant, connected and well maintained streetscapes and villages that

build a sense of community Direction: 3. Our Economic Vitality Outcome: 3.3 North Sydney is a place that attracts events BACKGROUND Council is undertaking public domain works throughout the North Sydney Centre. Given the role that Brett Whiteley Place plays as the Centre’s principle public open space, an opportunity exists to re-imagine the space and create an iconic destination for workers, residents and visitors. Landscape Design consultant Oculus was asked to develop a concept plan worthy of both the Brett Whiteley name and the space’s role as the North Sydney Centre’s principle public space. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS Community engagement will be undertaken in accordance with Council’s Community Engagement Protocol. Council undertook a public survey on Brett Whiteley Place in April/May 2014, the results of which have been considered during the concept design process. SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT The sustainability implications were considered and reported on during the initiation phase of this project. DETAIL Landscape design consultants Oculus have worked with Council to produce a concept plan for the renewal of Brett Whiteley Place. The upgrade of Brett Whiteley Place is a vital element in Council’s efforts to revitalise the North Sydney Centre, with the renewal of this important space representing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a special and iconic destination within the Centre. Structure Plan


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Analysis undertaken of the existing plaza and its context led to the development of a broad structure plan to inform the development of a concept plan. The structure plan identifies the opportunity to create four distinct zones within an expanded public plaza. This four zone structure provides opportunities for the space to contribute to the night time economy, provide respite, host formal events large and small, and be a centerpiece for public art within North Sydney.

Figure 1: Conceptual structure plan

The four zones are detailed as follows:

Brett Whiteley Place Formerly known as Mount Street Plaza, this area serves important functions in terms of pedestrian movement and the provision of informal seating and respite from the hustle of the Centre. These functions will be retained and enhanced via significant landscaping works. The design of the space will need to facilitate improved engagement with adjoining commercial and retail tenancies to increase activation opportunities at the interface with private land. The topography of the space also provides an opportunity for the innovative use of water.


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Events Space / Focal Point

The area to the east of Brett Whiteley Place could function as an events space/stage area and a key pedestrian circulation and meeting point. As the ‘crossroads’ within an expanded plaza, this area is also envisioned as the location of a significant piece of public art - expected to be a large scale reproduction of one of Brett Whiteley’s iconic birds’ nest and egg sculptures. The space could be relatively open and uncluttered to allow for pedestrian movement and expanded events, as well as informal gatherings in an area that receives good winter solar access.

Elizabeth Plaza The Plaza acts as a pedestrian link to Hill Street and across the Pacific Highway footbridge to Greenwood Plaza and North Sydney Station beyond. It is home to a number of small cafes/bars, some with outdoor seating, and has the potential to become a unique, enticing smaller-scale enclave within the wider plaza. This zone has been identified for its potential to accommodate an innovative lighting scheme to facilitate the space’s reputation as an after-hours destination.

Denison Street

An expanded plaza could extend north along Denison Street, linking with public domain upgrades proposed under existing development approvals for 1 Denison Street and 100 Mount Street, North Sydney. This zone enjoys significant lunchtime sunlight in winter months, which could be taken advantage of for outdoor dining and informal seating spaces.

The four zone structure plan could allow for the prioritisation of works to existing public spaces (Brett Whiteley Place and Elizabeth Plaza), with works requiring major interventions such as road closures and traffic re-routing, occurring once those issues are resolved. Consultant Brief The brief provided to the consultant asked that several key elements be considered in the concept plan. These included but were not limited to the following:

Public Art As referred to above, Council is working to commission a reproduction of a significant work by Brett Whiteley for the plaza bearing his name. The map below indicates that this iconic structure could form the centerpiece of the plaza, located at the most visible point to define the space and become a landmark meeting place. It is envisaged that the redeveloped plaza will itself form a component of an art trail in North Sydney. As such, a number of other installations/works will be considered for inclusion in the new plaza, both permanent and temporary.


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Figure 2 - Potential location for iconic art work

Events space Council’s recently adopted Marketing and Promotional Strategy is based largely on the staging of events and cultural activities to breathe new life into the North Sydney Centre. Existing performance or multi-use spaces within the Centre are inadequate, making it difficult to stage entertainment or other events important in fostering activity and a sense of place.

Seating and Outdoor Dining Revitalising the North Sydney Centre requires in part the creation of opportunities for people to stay outdoors. As such, seating, both formal and informal, will be an important part of the design of the space. Opportunities exist for formal outdoor dining and informal seating throughout the expanded plaza.

Lighting To reflect Council’s efforts to facilitate a stronger night time economy, the brief requested the visualisation of an innovative and striking lighting element within the area. This has been illustrated in the artists’ impression for Elizabeth Plaza attached. Lighting will, however, form an important element in the design of the whole of the plaza.

Greenwood Plaza Entrance

Oculus was asked to consider a screening or redesign solution for the Greenwood Plaza entrance canopy at the top of Brett Whiteley Place. This important functional element within the public domain is somewhat dated and should be incorporated into the design of Brett Whiteley Place.


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The Concept Plan

Figure 3: Concept Masterplan The concept plan depicted above is a result of the application of the brief within the proposed expanded structure plan. The attachment to this report provides a visual summary of the concept plan process and outcomes. In essence, the concept plan draws inspiration from the works of Brett Whiteley, using colour and design elements synonymous with his work to order the space. The four zones informed by the structure plan - Brett Whiteley Place, Elizabeth Plaza, the Events Space/Focal Point and Denison Street - are welded together by the sinuous flow of seating and stair elements depicted above. These elements deal with the challenging topography of the space and help to define the zones to allow a variety of more intimate uses within the larger space. The opportunity to provide moveable outdoor seating has also been identified. When managed appropriately, this can prove successful in activating public spaces and allowing a degree of flexibility and personalisation within it. Exclusions It is important to note that the concept plan is a representation of possibilities for an improved and expanded public realm in the North Sydney Centre. As such, a number of matters are excluded from consideration at this stage of the process. The need for public discussion and detailed design consideration of a number of issues is acknowledged.


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The following matters are some of the issues requiring consideration during the public exhibition or detailed future design stages:

Partial Closure of Mount and Denison Streets The expansion of the plaza space to include some of the existing one-way Mount Street and Denison Street shared zones requires detailed consideration, particularly in terms of potential changes to access, loading and parking.

Woodward Fountains and GPO/Tramways Monument The concept plan assumes that the existing water features and GPO/tramways monument would be removed and relocated elsewhere within the North Sydney Centre or the wider municipality. The best location for the existing water features will be determined during the ongoing North Sydney Public Art Trail project, of which the works are expected to become a key component. Key stakeholders, including the Woodward family, will be advised of the concept plan during the exhibition process.

Building Code and Australian Standards Matters relating to accessibility, hand rails, stair heights, drainage, emergency access and other important functional issues will be considered further during the exhibition and detailed design stages. The concept plan and visualisations seek to aid understanding of the broader elements proposed by the concept masterplan, and therefore do not attempt to resolve these matters at this stage.

Other matters requiring resolution at later stages of the redevelopment process include:

Timing and staging of construction works; Detailed lighting design; Landscape elements/tree species selection; and Cost of works.

Conclusion The concept plan provides a vision for the re-imagining of Brett Whiteley Place into an iconic public centerpiece within the North Sydney Centre. Public exhibition of the concept plan will allow for important issues to be raised and discussed regarding the future of the space.

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ART WORKS OF BRETT WHITELEYATTACHMENT TO CIS03 - 15/12/14 Page 11

nostalgia, curiosity, pleasure and turmoil undulating curve, subtle shudder, visceral twists

broad sweeps of colour being split between good and evil Zen-like use of negative space

a turbulent ocean and gusty sky ripple through paper soaked with undulating inky lines

not focused on the figure but rather the vibrant area that enveloped it landscape as a sanctuary

tension between the active and the passive tranquillity and violenceduality balancing out vast swathes of empty space with points of vigorous activity


MOVE 01 a blank canvas... calm+ textured...a gently undulating landscape


MOVE 02 a moment of turmoil + turbulence...twisting + turning


MOVE 03 interrupting the calm and arranging urban interventions


creating plinths for art...and life to unfold.......

event space

plinths for temporaryinstallations

entry pavilion

vertical canopy installation

permanentartwork

MOVE 04 creating plinths for art, installation + city life to unfold

EVENTSPACE

SCULPTURAL INTERVENTION TO EXISTINGPAVILION

PLINTHS FOR TEMPORARYINSTALLATIONS

CANOPY INSTALLATION

PERMANENTARTWORK


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FIXED FURNITURE

MOVEABLE FURNITURE


NORTHART + INSTALLATION

PLINTHS FOR TEMPORARY

INSTALLATION

MISTFEATUREIN GROVE

‘GREEN CUBE’INTERVENTIONTO EXISTING UNDERGROUND ENTRANCE PAVILION

VERTICAL SCULPTURE TO ACT AS WIND BREAK,VISUAL SCREEN + BICYCLE PARKING

EVENT SPACEFOR PERFORMANCE

VERTICALCANOPYLIGHTING

INSTALLATION

BRETT WHITELEY‘NEST’ SCULPTURE


EVENT SPACE


EVENT SPACE with concert


VIEW 01 LOOKING EAST FROM BRETT WHITELEY PLACE TOWARDS EVENT SPACEATTACHMENT TO CIS03 - 15/12/14 Page 22

VIEW 03 LOOKING SOUTH FROM DENISON STREET TOWARDS THE EVENT SPACEATTACHMENT TO CIS03 - 15/12/14 Page 24

BRETT WHITELEY PLACE with temporary planting exhibition


VIEW 03 LOOKING WEST FROM BRETT WHITELEY PLACE TOWARDS THE PACIFIC HIGHWAYATTACHMENT TO CIS03 - 15/12/14 Page 28

ELIZABETH PLAZA


VIEW 04 LOOKING NORTH FROM ELIZABETH PLAZA TOWARDS EVENT SPACEATTACHMENT TO CIS03 - 15/12/14 Page 31

cis03 brett whiteley place concept plan

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