Damien Pericles

Curriculum Vitae + Selected Works

November 2011

Summary:

Over the last few years Damien has collaborated with numerous lead-ing German Landscape Architectural practices as a freelance landscape architect.

The last 6 months were spent as a full-time freelancer with Atelier Dreiseitl in Germany. Previously he was based in Perth and Sydney, where he was Associate Director of Design with AECOM.

Damien is an accomplished designer, project manager, team leader and business developer. He has worked on an a full spectrum of project types, sizes and phases and competitions in Australia and Europe over the last 12 years.

With a background in graphic design and fine arts, he completed his Mas-ters in Landscape Architecture at ETH in Zurich in 2006 and worked for several months in Germany, before returning to Australia.

In 2008 Damien relocated from Sydney to Perth where he successfully assisted in establishing a new EDAW AECOM (Design + Planning) studio in a difficult financial climate.

He is an experienced project manager, having followed many projects through to construction. His strengths in theoretical and conceptual de-sign development and commitment to creative problem solving match his experience and expertise in visual and verbal presentation

General:Damien Leonidas Pericles AILA Born: 18/11/1974, Perth, Western Australia Married with two children

Contact Details:An der Maisach 20 82291 Mammendorf GermanyEmail: dpericles@email.com Home phone: +49 8145 212115 Mobile: +49 (0)178 1682 372 Skype: damienpericles

Language:English and intermediate German

Academic:

2004-05 Completed Masters in Landscape Arhitecture at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH) under direction of Professor Christophe Girot

1996-99 - Completed Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Western Australia

1993-95 - Completed Bachelor of Arts (Design) with major in Graphic Design and minor in Photography and Computing - Curtin University of Technology WA

Landscape Architectural Practice:

2011 - Freelance Landscape Architect. Collaborations with Realgrün, Luska, Valentien + Valentien and Dreiseitl Landscape Architects

2010 - Senior project manager, Rainer Schmidt Landschaftsarchitekten, Munich

2008-2010 - Associate Director - Design, AECOM (Design + Planning),

2009- Assistant tutor in Landscape Architecture at The University of WA- Guest Lecturer in Urban Design at The Urban Deisign Centre of WA

2006-07 - Associate Director of Design with EDAW, Sydney

2006 - Senior Landscape Architect with PSB Landscape Architects, Sydney

2004 - Landscape Architect with Rainer Schmidt Landschaftsarchitekten, Munich

2000-2004 - PSB Landscape Architects as a design landscape architect and visual communicator, Sydney

2003 & 2007 - Assistant tutor in Landscape Architecture at The University of NSW

2003, 2007 & 2008 - Coordinator of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects NSW Group monthly Talk Series

2000 - Assistant lecturer for Jutta Kerher - International Conference in Landscape Architecture, Dessau (Germany)

1992-1996 - Design and construction of a number of private gardens in Perth

Graphic Design Practice:1995-99 - Self employed freelance Graphic Designer operating as ‘Pericles Design’ in Perth, Western Australia. Pericles Design closed to trading in March 2000

Exhibitions Grants and Involvements:

2011 - Attended symposium: Metropolis Non-formal - TUM, Munich

2009 - “What if?” projects for City of Perth

2008 - Attended EDAW Global Design Summit - Los Angeles

2006- Attended EDAW Global Design Summit - San Francisco- Attended TIME: IFLA eastern region international conference, Sydney

2005 - Masters graduate show, ETH

2003 & 2001 - Exhibition of photographic works titled ‘Com[muter]’. Two exhibitions at - Sydney Theatre Company & Government Architect’s Office

2003 - Member of committee organising ‘Greening Cities’ conference, hosted by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects NSW

2001 - Attended Mesh (Landscape as Infrastructure) Conference, Melbourne

1997-1999 - Student exhibitions in Landscape Architecture, University of Western Australia

1997 - Key member of committee set up to run a student-based conference in Landscape Architecture. Titled W.edge (the Western Edge). Specific role covered publicity and promotion

1995-1999 - Public exhibition (4 consecutive years) of floral sculptural installations in ‘Art in Bloom’. Western Australian Art Gallery1995 - Student exhibition in Graphic Design, Curtin University, Perth

Publications/Presentations:

2009 - Co-authored paper titled ‘Integration of a chain of ponds fluvial system into a future urban development’ for WSUD09 Conference, Perth

2007 - Landscape Architecture Issue 116 November 2007- Book review of Kerb Issue 15 on Landscape Urbanism

2005 - Presentation at AILA Sydney talk series titled ‘Movism, Mapping, Mobscape and More - Bits of Land and pieces of Scape’. Talk reflected on the Masters in Landscape Architecture at the ETH Zurich

2003 - ‘Greening Cities - landscaping the urban fabric’, written by Chris Johnson (Government Architect) and published by the NSW GovernmentArchitects Office.

1999 - ‘A Borree Story’, UWA Press. Summarised work from a student studio conducted in the Blackwood River Catchment, SW Australia

1998 - ‘Kerb’ (National Student Journal of Landscape Architecture), published by RMIT. Graphic design and layout for the 6th issue

Competition Entries/Awards: Landscape Architecture:

2011- Mailander Platz, Stuttgart [WINNING ENTRY]- Fargo Downtown Urban Design Competition- Aspern Seepark Competition, Vienna. [SECOND PLACE]

2010- CityLife Park, Milan- UDIA Award for Excellence for Googong New Town Concept Design

2009- Marmion Ave Sculpture Competition with artist, Lorenna Grant, Perth [SECOND PLACE]- Situate (International artwork design comeptition, Perth)

2008- Parliament House Fountain and Forecourt Redevelopment Competition, Perth with Penal & Neille Architects [WINNING ENTRY]- Annual EDAW Excellence Prize for the CycleCity initiative [WINNING ENTRY] (refer selected work)

2007 - Canberra Parklands Competition [3rd PRIZE] (refer selected work)

2006- Western Sydney Parklands Ideas Competition (refer selected work)- Invited competition for entry to ´Highlands´a Stockland residential estate in Melbourne [WINNING ENTRY] - refer selected work)- AILA NSW Awards, Commendation in Design – Eden Gardens and Garden Centre, Ryde

2005- Lausitz Landmark, Germany [SHORTLISTED]

2004- Temple Site Shelter and Tourist Facility upgrade, Malta- Speilbudenplatz Design, Hamburg (refer selected work)- Reim Housing Design, Münich- 2010- Bad Neuheim Flower and Garden Show, Germany- Rheinpark Duisburg Competition, Germany- University of Fine Arts Campus Design Dalian, China [WINNING ENTRY] (refer selected work)

2001 - National Emergency Services Memorial Design, Canberra

2001 - Aboriginal Stolen Generation Sorry Day Memorial [WINNING ENTRY]

2000 - Sydney Town Hall square competition

2000 - “The Peoples Place” competition, Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra

1998 - The Katharine’s Place Student Design Competition

Computing:Vector Works, AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Cinema4D, Aldus Freehand, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Travel:

2010: Indonesia (Bali), Switzerland, Ireland, Italy 2009: Germany (Munich) 2008: USA (Los Angeles for 2nd EDAW Global Design Summit, Las Vegas). 2007:Germany (Munich), Switzerland (Zurich) 2006: Thailand (Bangkok and Krabi), USA (San Francisco for an EDAW Global Design Summit) 2005: United Kingdom (London), Ireland (Dublin and the north), Italy (Venice for the Architectural Bienalle) France (Paris research essay on Disneyland). 2004: Northern Germany (Berlin, Duisburg Nord, Essen, Köln), United Kingdom, 2003: South Germany, Austria, North Italy, Switzerland, 2002:China work trip with PSB, New Zealand, 2001: North Germany (Berlin, Hannover, Dessau and Bernberg) for an International Conference in Landscape Architecture (Dessau) held by the Bauhaus Institute. 1996: Garden history tour: United Kingdom, Spain, France, Holland and Italy, (featuring major gardens of the Western world), 1993: New Zealand (represented WA in Youth Match Racing Series - Sailing). 1990: Italy, United Kingdom and Scotland. 1986, Thailand and Singapore. General: All states and territories of Australia (Two Nullabor crossings)

Interests:Landscape and Ecological Urbanism, Urban Agriculture, Land Architecture, Ecology, Cycling advocacy for better infrastructure, Sustainability and renewable energy, Photography, Architecture, Sustainable Living, Graphic Design, Film production, Urban and cultural affairs, Sculpture, Painting, Installation art, Singularity, Aboriginal affairs & culture, Travel, Electronic music, and all things obscure and serene.

Verbal References: Please contact;

Professor Chistophe Girot Chair of Landscape Architecture, ETH Zurich +41 (0)44 633 29 87 girot@nsl.ethz.ch

Associate Professor Grant Revell University of Western Australia +61 (0) 89380 1566 grant.revell@uwa.edu.au

Professor Richard Weller University of Western Australia and Director of Urban Design Centre of WA +61 (0) 89380 1567 richard.weller@uwa.edu.au

Jon ShinkfieldPrincipal of EDAW Melbourne +61 (0) 41 155 1512 jon.shinkfield@aecom.com

James Rosenwax Principal of AECOM Sydney +61 (0) 41 187 2415 james.rosenwax@aecom.com

“We must create alternative images of a better life to guide our actions, if we do not wish to perpetuate present conditions. I believe that any architectural project which does not attempt to propose new or better modes of existence is immoral. This task may stagger the imagination and paralyze hope but we cannot avoid it.”

Emilio Ambasz: Words and Projects L’Architecttura, November 1991

Selected Works (in chronological order)

Role: Community liason,

Concept design development, Detailed design development,

Construction drawings, Project management,

Some construction supervision. 3D presentation drawing

Wilson Brothers Site, Redfern

A politically and socially complex urban project working with the local Aboriginal and White community to develop a plan of management, master plan and construction specification for their recreational and community needs.

The masterplan considers adaptive reuse of existing buildings and areas for prescriptive and non-prescribed uses. A comprehensive consultation process involving a number of stages through the design process has seen community excitement and anticipation for the project build with strength.

The project involved the management of a large consultant team including architect, structural, hydraulic and electical engineer, artist, and community consultation analysts.Since construction in 2002 the park has become the focus of rich community engagement.

Client: South Sydney Council

McKell Park, Hawkesbury River A single vision uniting present and past

PSB’s heritage study of Brooklyn’s McKell Park led to a Centenary of Federation grant and a brief to prepare a display devoted to the region’s heritage significance. In response, an impressive network of way-finding and interpretive panels were designed to summon up the diverse characters and events of the past and bring them to life within the environment.

The main panels are a layered application of rusted steel sheeting cut to reveal plate-glass windows, sandwiched with images and text. By orienting the panels towards sites of special significance, viewers looking at and through these framed pages are drawn into the paradox of experiencing the physical and the historical reality simultaneously.

Secondary signage forms expand on different aspects of the story, so that the complex overlay of the region’s past and present is brought into vivid and compelling focus.

Client: Hornsby Council

Role: Site Analysis

Concept design, Detailed design development,

Construction drawings and specification, Project

management including subconsultants,

Full construction supervision

Ellery Park, Mosman, Sydney.

The Old Spit Bridge abutment design for Ellery Park builds upon the relationship between a number of natural and historical layers that pervade the site. Given the small scale, the consideration of these layers makes for a highly rich and somewhat complex site.

The expression of these layers then promotes a minimalist design response rather than furthering the complexity with unnecessary clutter, thus reducing confusion and producing an interpretive and meaningful form.

The design refers to history through the memory of past forms:

1.The sand spit and its past ecologies. 2.Ferry operation and turning circle. 3.The old timber bridge. 4.The urban park.

At a formal level the proposed design seeks to:

·Introduce marine habitat at approxi-mately mid tide ·Introduce dune planting above high tide. ·Resurface a portion of the abutment and thereby segregate a platform for pedes-trian accessibility. ·Provide a gathering zone with interpre-tive seating/signage revealing ‘the story of the site’. ·Play upon the trajectory of the old bridge with an interpretive series of elements that mimic its orientation and height. ·Allow for stair access to the narrow space between sea wall and abutment from the car park level. ·Retain and promote fishing and other recreational spaces.

Client: Mosman Council

Role: Site Analysis

Exploration of historic frameworks Concept and detailed design,

Construction drawings and spec, Project management including

subconsultants, Some construction supervision

Blankers Koen Park (P1 Park)Newington, Sydney

Memory of the urban/ industrial street grid informs the structure of the park and gives meaning to tree and mound formations which relate to the prior ecological context of the site (Turpentine and Ironbark communities). Meandering paths cross the grid and linear connector paths link the park to its surrounding community. A 'wedge' shape landform topped with Callistemons, rises to form an entry statement for both park and estate alike, fractured at specific points to provide access and visual relief.

Strategic tree placement directs residents views into and across the park to city skylines. Peripheral native grasses restrict access to the apartment edge.

Land formations using existing fill and planted with Figs from site, provides a connection to the abstract markers of the Sydney Olympic site. Water movement across the park and carpark is collected and directed through macrophytic plantings to a mini wetland and feature copse of Melaleuca planting

Client: Mirvac Lendlease

Role: Site Analysis Exploration of

theoretical and historic frameworks Concept design development,

3D Model and montages Detailed design development,

Construction drawings

Stolen Generations Memorial Design Melbourne, [Competition Winner]

Jury comments: ‘The Act of Uprooting’ by Damien Pericles and Annabel Stanton proposes that the Carlton Garden lawns in Melbourne, are stenciled with text from the Archie Roach [Popular Aboriginal Musician] song ‘Took the children away.’

Song lyrics are cut out and displaced, flipped, (roots up) and stacked across the Museum forecourt entry plaza. The act of cutting, lifting and displacing the grass is a direct metaphor about the removal and dislocation of the Stolen Generation.

The designers chose the phrase ‘Acting white, feeling black’ for its powerful communication of the experience of the stolen child. These words encapsulate the feeling of desperately trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t understand or respect you. (Pericles and Stanton, 2001)

Visitors are then asked to participate in a gesture of apology by lifting the sod from any stack; placing it back on the exposed soil and laying it flush with the grass.

This proposition invades the Carlton Garden and brings the museum out of its architecture. It uses a powerful metaphor and simple gesture to engage the public.

The design also subverts the role of the sacred Australian lawn and asks the public to reconsider its importance in the everyday park landscape.

Project was intended to be installed, however for political reasons relating to the organising committee the project was unable to go ahead.

Role: Equal owner with Annabel Stanton:

Concept and Graphic production

Eden Gardens, Ryde, Sydney

Eden Gardens, a pleasure garden and retail garden centre of the highest standard.

A place where plants can be propagated, grown and sold; where species can be studied and an experimental program developed; where people can learn about horticulture, get gardening advice or a garden designed, buy or borrow gardening books, and experience many styles of garden from the traditional to the contemporary. Restaurant, café terrace, function spaces, outdoor theatre, underground car parking and service areas…all part of the mix.

The objective here – to maximise both the scale of the site and its experiential possibilities within a sustainable framework.

Client: Eden Gardens and Botanicals Project Value: $20 million

Role: Site Analysis Exploration of theoretical

and historic frameworks Concept design development,

Site Planning 3D Model, animation and montage

Detailed design development of selected features,

Construction drawings and specification of selected features,

Com[mute]rs - ‘get with the case’

Artist Statement As a ‘9 to 5 worker’ I have spent large amounts of time commuting between Bondi and Crows Nest for work. During this time, I have grown to appreciate the train environment as one of the increasingly rare, beautiful and tranquil spaces of contemplation in our modern city. The facial expressions, postures, actions, attitudes, etiquette, etcetera, expressed by commuters in transit is amazing and intriguing. I was inspired by a world of fantasy and dreams, reflection and depression, tension and release.

‘Train space’ offers a peculiar framework for modes of behaviour. A commuter is confidential detached and isolated whilst simultaneously forced into unification with their fellow commuters through the democracy of train space; harmonious in their mental escape from and frustrations with, the regularity and reality of working life. Rhythms of sound and movement massage and relax the captive body releasing the imagination beyond the physical.

And so my task was to somehow capture this, without detection………After some research I designed, developed and constructed my briefcase, with my old Pentax Spotmatic mounted securely inside. A sliding door reveals the lens and an extended shutter release allows me to take the photograph without opening the box, all in the name of disguised observation. The camera has become part of the box and box become the camera. It disconnects me from the camera allowing the photographs to be more informal and intuitive to the impetus of the environment and moment. The box has its own behaviour, hence camera angles and positions are unusually insightful, verging on discreetly invasive.

Given the entirely manual operation of the old camera and the inability to alter camera settings, the predominant number of shots are taken with exactly the same focal length, shutter speed and aperture readings, further separating my involvement with the camera, enhancing the spaces and subjects to record their own natural tracery.

My management of the exploration involves selection of timing and subject for each of the photographs. Mostly I have avoided capturing people talking, preferring the more reflective depressive subjects whom for me capture an expression peculiar to the train and city living. The photographs aim to capture beauty, but that side of beauty that is strained with unhappiness, boredom, desperation, frustration and stress. It is a critical look at modern living - an opportunity to closely examine your fellow commuter without risk of staring. It is also an opportunity to realise that that could be you, with a look of relaxation, or desperation.

Green Wall Concept and Experiment

A visionary and innovative project in urban greening and ecologically sustainable design.

With a significant demographic trend towards urban growth during the late 20 th century, for the first time in history over half the world’s population are urban dwellers. The quality of our lives in an urban environment is becoming increasingly important as this trend continues.

Through observation of facades on many inner city buildings the idea for a creative ecological intervention was born: to productively use these ‘vertical terrain vagues’ as large scale growing surfaces.

A living ecological surface is envisaged as having many potential benefits such as improving visual aesthetics, providing a system to manage stormwater run-off and grey water from buildings, and to provide natural internal climate control, to name just a few.

A preliminary experiment, growing local native Sydney plants on a constructed wall system, has been the first step towards realisation of this greater vision for the Green Wall Project.

To fully realise the aim of this work, to develop a viable and environmentally sustainable green wall system for new or existing buildings, further theoretical and practical development of the idea is now being undertaken.

13mm poly pipe with drippers

Drainage unit behind plantings

Variety of species endemic to the Sydney basin planted into drainage unit

Role: Vision mastermind

Research of theoretical and historic precedence

Concept development paper Detailed experiment design

Experiment construction Project Manager and

Creative Director

Spielbudenplatz, Hamburg

Function-form One simple gesture reclaims clarity for the Spielbudenplatz. Through lifting each end of the site to form a cover over the existing carpark entrance and exit, a consistent plaza surface is established. The surface becomes the place. The lifted ends frame the site and ensure the large scale is readible at the human scale.

Function-surface The surface of the site is a piece of paper. With cuts and folds in this surface the site becomes alive with origami forms. Huts take form for market stalls, theatre shows, sculpture and other community based events. They then retreat into the surface calm quiet and unobtrusive, leaving an intriguing surface pattern, ready for massive crowds in large concert events or to make way for even larger tent structures as needed. This built-in market infrastructure does away with the transportation and elaborate construction of other market systems. It becomes an animated sculptural element offering interest and a unique identity.

Image-form From the Reeperbahn a distinct image is presented to the city. At night a strong red light running the perimeter of the surface unifies the site in elevation. Its warm glow is symbolic of the drama of the former red light district. Reaching skyward a linear series of 12 meter high lighting elements build further the image of the site as spectacle and dynamic urban plaza. They provide a strong axis from which a soft warm orange glow bathes the surface of the site at night.

Image-surface The Reeperbahn, named after the long ropes that were made from hemp and tar is referred to with the subtle elongated stiping of the site surface. This pavement pattern emphasises the sites directionality and gives a dynamic sense of movement to the space.

Role: Site Analysis Concept creation and design development 3D renderings Graphic Layout

Dalian University Campus [Competition Winner]

A university campus design in Dalian, China was formed using a strict grid structure to create clear; site lines, circulation, built form and open space structure.

The grid overlaid an undulating site topography to form intriguing terraced open spaces, edge conditions and ramping streetscapes.

The compact urban form allowed for the bulk of the site to be retained as ecological or passive open space for recreation and sport.Water management features capture, retention and treatment of site storm water prior to discharge.

Role: Landscape Architect working in

collaboration with Auer+Weber Architects Munich

Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower Competition:

“The worlds tallest TV tower”

The international competition was held in 2004 for the design of the tower, a 17.9ha park at its base and the master-plan for the surrounding 56.6ha which includes an elevated Plaza, pagoda-park, retail facilities, offices, television centre and hotel.

In collaboration with Obermeyer Planen + Beraten and Schmidt Landscape Architects

Role: Concept design

ETH Masters - Design Thesis

Conduit Aviopolis, merges two theses:1) The landscape of the Zurich airport basin operates like onion rings - the airport located centrally. Infrastructures and broad landuse zone spatially configure themselves concentrically out from the airport to include: industry/commerce, residential, farming culminating in forested hilltops. A concentric road and rail network typically divides these land uses.

2) ‘The fence is not the fence’. In a perimeter walk around the airport it was observed that spatial distinctions between inside and outside the airport did not necessarily correlate with the location of the actual security fence line. Indefinite zones can be located in which one feels more involved with the internal functioning of the airport that with the surrounding landscape.

These observations formed the basis for the investigation that seeked to integrate the airport with a Swiss landscape in denial of the airport. The proposal involved aesthetic reconsideration of the technocratic zone of the airport and full integration with a nostalgic rural landscape.

One year full time Masters in Landscape Architecture at the

ETH in Zurich, Switzerland:

Canberra Parklands Competion [3rd place winner]

Concept text from boards:

Drawing on the Australian plain as an analogy to captivate the spirit of the meandering journey across the vast landscape.

Our Australian condition is rooted in traces of the past, in its indigenous peoples and its ecologies, in the passage of time, in development strokes, and more recently, in the limited resources of our land and planet.

Our position embraces a contemporary position of harvest and reuse, of generating an energy storehouse as the basis for development timelines, of water capture and reuse, of zero waste.

We reconnect city with park through physical and ecological connection and dialogue. We celebrate the Griffin legacy through Exhibition Place and moderate the position of past and future through a new program of 21st Century park, working positively within a bank of finite resources.

We are ‘Crossing the Plain’.

Role: Project Manager/Coordinator Designer

(together with multi-disciplinary team) Concept development

Western Sydney Parklands Competition

The Western Harbour: ‘a journey through envelopment from a history of loss to vitality and sustainable growth’

The assemblage of land comprising the Western Sydney Parklands is the last line of defence for open space in Western Sydney. Urban growth and encroachment cannot continue in these lands if they are to be formative and meaningful in our thinking for Western Sydney.

The brief builds on the flawed notion of requisite encroachment as a mechanism for development and growth...selling the family jewels. We propose an alternate view; to begin a purposeful rolling back of development, to focus on redevelopment and un-development; or “Envelopment” as we like to call it; the advancedment of open space assets and sustainable community.

We have defined our idea in Catchment terms, as a regenerative energy district; where energy can be produced, where community is structured to celebrate cultural diversity, where regional water management can take place i.e. all storm water harvested and processed within it, where a new regional autonomy makes sense: We propose a new urban process of envelopment as the means of establishing a Harbour for Western Sydney, heralding an era that values, rewards and builds on local responsibility with global consequences.

Role: Project Manager/Coordinator Designer

(together with multi-disciplinary team: namely Professor Peter Droege)

Concept development

Highlands Residential Estate Entry, Melbourne, Victoria [Competition Winner]

This winning proposal from a mini-competition for the entry marker and main road responded to the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic with a series of animated forms that spun through twisting picture planes.

Large empty geometic forms the size of billboards frame the landscape and distort perspective through scaling and twisting. The landscape is re-pictured and contextualised from agrarian to residential land sale.

Volumptuous earth forms ripple and sway to give structure to the dominating red forms that guide the eye into the development -framing water and housing product.

At night they glow with neon to form red rectangles hovering in space.

Role: Project Manager

Concept Design - 3D Model & Animation Construction Documentation

Construction Supervision

‘No excuse Zone’ and CycleCity, Sydney, New South Wales

A theoretical and experimental imagineering project funded as an internal EDAW initiative.Based on a series of test rides, a zone around Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) has been mapped to measure the distance a healthy person can cycle within half an hour. Called the No Excuse Zone, it provocatively suggests if a person lives within this zone and works in the CBD, they should cycle to work at least a few days a week.

CycleCity proposes a new level of infrastructure for cyclists that maximise the bicycle’s effectiveness as a means of mass transit: a series of strategically-located, fully-separated bicycle paths that are safe, efficient, and direct. Like the No Excuse Zone mapping, they operate on a radial model centred on major employment centres. Informed by established commuter patterns, these paths weave through existing urban conditions, utilising existing disused infrastructure, open space, drainage corridors, and back streets.

They are informed by key destinations, such as employment centres, universities, hospitals, stations, schools, and the like. CycleCity aims to positively change the impact and strangle-hold motor vehicles have on Sydney and is proposed as an urban activator.

Visit: www.noexcusezone.com for more information.

Role: Project Creator and Director

Sydney

MelbourneBrisbane

Inner Sydney Regional Bike Plan Report Cover

- A resulting commission for the City of Sydney

Penrith Lakes Parklands, Penrith, New South Wales

This project invovled the establishment of a Master plan and Development Control Plan for the proposed water-based park environment of the Penrith Lakes project - a former large scale quarry soon to complete operations.

Critical to the plan has been the development of the core ideas of ‘wilds and fields’, where ‘fields’ of recreation are set within the ‘wilds’ of an ecologically-based landscape, all contributing to an overarching agenda of yield - in terms of economy, ecology, energy and food production.

As part of the process, land uses have been identified and economic feasibility has been tested to facilitate a vibrant and stimulating urban parkland environment.

Client: NSW Department of Planning

Role: Master Plan Designer and

Project Manager

Googong New Town, Googong, New South Wales

Located on the outskirts of Canberra, the new town of Googong will become home to an estimated 6000 people as it evolves over the next 25 years. The town features 5 neighbourhoods and will become one of Australia’s largest regional new towns

Working with a denuded landscape in an ever-worsening drought-stricken climate, the design responds with a landscape and open space strategy that re-establishes lost ecologies and incorporates water sensitive urban design across the 790-hectare site, while simultaneously providing detailed Part 3A documentation for Googong’s Neighbourhood one precinct.

The documentation package addressed the layout, character and technical feasibility for landscape and public open space across the entire development.

A key feature of this site is a large public ‘common’ that reflects and preserves the natural and cultural heritage of the Monaro tablelands and ‘Chain of Ponds’ fluvial system, which will serve as a major regional recreation destination

Client: Canberra Investment Corporation

Role: Project Manager, Lead Designer

Landscape Master Planner

New Macquarie Bank HeadquartersSydney, New South Wales

The design of this urban forecourt, public domain and roofgarden provides a high profile address to Macquarie Bank’s new headquarters, an iconic, six green star rated building by architects Fitzpatrick+Partners, in the exciting new precinct known as King Street Wharf

The main forecourt features a sculptural installation, cross site pedestrian link, outdoor café, planter beds and bicycle parking, all to meet the specifications of the City of Sydney’s Public Domain Strategy.

The design uses sophisticated white terrazo and dark blue stone materials to create a dynamic chromatic contrast. The planter beds (with terrazo finish) control level changes across the site and form establish a dialogue linking the geometric diagrid facade of the building with the plastic or free form of the sculptural installation by Anton James.

Client: Brookfield Multiplex

Role: Project Manager, Lead Designer,

Construction Documentation and Supervision

Rainbow Beach Master Plan, Port Macquarie, NSW

This project involved development of a comprehensive landscape master plan for the central open space corridor of a coastal site undergoing planning approval under Part 3A of the New South Wales Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The resulting concept landscape master plan report contained detailed site analysis and concept development, fully exploring and communicating the opportunities and constraints of the site and resulting in a resolved master plan that provides a meaningful and sustainable framework for its development.

The report breaks the master plan down into eight precincts and describes the character materiality, planting approach, ecological principles and guidelines for all site elements.

Client: St vincents Foundation, C/o Tierney Property Services

Role: Project Manager,

Lead Designer Landscape Planner

Bonnyrigg living Community Project, Sydney

This project involved integral partnership with a large multidisciplinary team, to develop a streetscape and open space strategy as part of the redevelopment of the Bonnyrigg social housing community in western Sydney.

This Public-Private partnership between private industry and the New South Wales Government was led by Becton Property Group.

Our role on this important project has been to strategically develop a series of open spaces that connect Bonnyrigg’s public and private elements to create a safe, efficient, adaptive and environmentally friendly community.

Throughout the development of the project’s concept master plan, Development Application and Construction Certificate, the design team have been involved in creek realignment and establishment, open space hierarchy, residential development, display homes, on site nurseries, earlyworks/ marketing strategies, and street tree and fencing master plans.

Client: Becton Property Group

Role: Project Manager

Lead Design

202 Pier Street Perth, Western Australia

This landscape proposal for the design of the public domain of a commercial development located on the northern edge of Perth’s CBD, consisted of two six-storey office towers designed by architects Fitzpatrick + Partners.

An integrated landscape concept for the site’s four intersecting public spaces was developed,

The cross-site pedestrian link to the north of the site provides a strategic link between the McIver train station and pedestrian destinations located north of the site.

The design promotes pedestrian usage of this cross site link through the creation of an attractive, safe and direct open space link.

The simple design promotes clear view lines to effectively manage surveillance and safety issues. The cross-site link and central courtyard space is retained as a broad paved area with planting and seating to the northern boundary.

The long, architecturally-framed central courtyard creates a ‘Cathedral’. Planter boxes and trees located on either side of the space allow for a direct and open visual connection to the sky. This creates a bright central area with views to the sky.

Client: Charter Hall

Role: Concept Design Project Manager

Eczacibasi Zekeriyaköy Housing Project “Hanging Gardens of Istanbul”

This proposal for a weathly and gated residential community is situated facing the Black sea on previously agricultural land north from Istanbul.

The design responded to steep and shifting site topography through a layered and coloured planting system.

The contoured street layout mimiced land form and allowed the landscape design to further embellish with significant retaining walls (terracing) and horizontal planting to suit.

Green (evergreen) bands were offset by white and red (flowering) bands of tree and shrub plantings.

A series of parks provided a variety of green centres of respite. Each provided either play space or water feature as their focus. They also facilitated cross site pedestrian access where possible.

Suning Plaza River West, Nanjing

A previously prepared concept plan by Rainer Schmidt was the basis for this phase of design development work. At commencement, the concept design was ill-defined in terms of functionality, materiality and detail.

Working with Murphy Jahn architects from Chicago the design evolved to accomodate practical necessities such as vehicular and cycle movements and parking whilst maintaining the overall design intent of the original concept.

The Schematic Design report principally explored options for each material and construction solutions for various elements. For example; water features, glass bridging elements, site furniture including standard curve and straight planter edge units, pavement details and lighting and drainage strategies.

Costings and design criteria were also prepared.

Role: Project Manager

(Schematic Design Phase only)

Zeppelin Hangar, Munich

This speculative project explored potentials to establish a modern zeppelin hangar in the Munich area. In the spirit of innovation, assocated with the history of the Zeppelin, the overall concept was for a hangar and visitors centre focused on exploring the relationship between man and nature.

Working with Auer + Weber and Associates the design involved meeting technical requirements and creation of a landscape experience for visitors.

Central to the long pedestrian arrival experience was the concept of WissenPFAD- a pathway to experience alternative perspectives on nature, but to also learn about human relationships with nature through plant material.

The design utilised three vegetation types in a cosmic radiating array of feature gardens set within agrarian fields:

1. Endangered plant species 2.Useful (medicinal) plant species 3. Edible plant species

Role: Project Manager

Graphic presentation

Parco CityLife Competition, Milan

This international two-stage competition was for the design of open space in conjunction with a new city quarter on the former Expo site in central Milan. The new centre features 3 central towers and residential quarters each under direction of Libeskind, Zahid and Isosaki respectively.

The central concept driving this proposal was for 88 geometric mounds set into a fractured and chaotic network of pathways. The mounds took on uses from ecological to various social and architectural uses such as the Butterfly House and Kindergarten that were located within larger mounds.

Whilst graphically sophisticated the proposal was correctly deemed inappropriate for the site conditions and consequently it received no prize.

The competition entry was prepared in collaboration with Professor Stefan Tischer and Elizabeth Bianchessi

Role: Project Manager

Design Development

Aspern Seepark Competition, Vienna [2rd place winner]

Working on contract for Realgrün Landscape Architects in Munich this competition is sited on the former Vienna airport where a completely new city is proposed.

The competition was limited to the main open space network running east west through the centre.

The strategy utilised a simple tree grid from which also grew the formal structural language of the main elements:

1. landscape park 2. city lake edge, 3. boulevard edge and 4. western linear park.

An artificial lake provides the central recreational and aesthetic focus for the project.

Role: Contract Landscape Architect to Realgrün Landscape Architects, Munich Member of

the 4 person competition team

Canisiusplatz, Munich

A primary school courtyard in which two design options were prepared for presentation as part of the concept design phase.

Visualisation prepared for Luska Freiraum, Dachau

Role: Design Development

3D Modelling and Rendering in C4D

Mailander Platz Competition, Stuttgart [1st place winner]

The challenge here lies in a statial interplay between the new library and three-building commercial complex to the north, whilst forming a strong open space identity and destination.

Two-elements: An oak grove and a basalt plateau / water feature define the spatial structure and create contrasting zoning.

Basalt plateau and water play

The dark basalt wedge forms a very fine ground sculpture, which unfolds its power through subtle articluation of level changes.Only in the presence of water, is the confusion of gradient and counter gradient clarified The shallow water table becomes a public foyer for the library, as well as an attraction for people of all ages. The water is thus an extremely communicative and unifying element.

Oak grove

The oak trees (Quercus cerris) forms a core or central massing focus to the square. It is a destination with character and intensity. The entire tree arrangement acts freely and randomly, it forms an alternative world order to the library.

Role: Contract Landscape Architect to Atelier

Dreiseitl, Überlingen. Member of the 4 person competition team

Downtown Fargo - Urban Design Competition

An exciting downtown destination offering a sophisticated integration of; activities, experiences, shopping and living opportunities. A place for both visitors and locals, young and old, to rejoice and express pride in the rich community values of Fargo.

In collaboration with SKW Planungs-gesellschaft in Munich a clever, responsive built form and open space structure was proposed for a core downtown city block in the northern US town of Fargo.

Due to varied climatic conditions a clever internalised winter pedestrian network intertwines with a summer or external network allowing the existing city structure to flow into the site reminiscent of oxbows on the Red River upon which Fargo is located.

Role: Concept Design & Graphic production