Barangaroo is the jewel in
Sydney’s crown. I want to explore this large-scale project in greater detail to
see how urban regeneration and renewal has been utilised and how it can create
a more sustainable built environment.
What was Barangaroo?
Barangaroo, which is on the
waters of Sydney Harbour, was a former shipping yard/wharf area for Sydney's sea trade. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, shipping technology and
the inability to put in a freight rail to the wharf made it unsustainable and
unfeasible as a modern port facility.
Thus, in 2003 the NSW State
Govt announced that the wharves at Barangaroo would become a new urban precinct.
The Process
In 2005 the State Govt announced
a Design competition, which gained international recognition. Lend Lease was
appointed as the Developer in 2009. Construction began around 2011, with the
entire precinct to be finished by 2023.
What will it be?
Barangaroo will be a 22
hectare financial, residential and retail precinct. The site is divided up into
3 different areas;
1. Headland
Park
2. Barangaroo
Central
3. Barangaroo
South
Headland Park
The park will be a large
promenade on the waterfront. It will cover around 6 hectares of the site and
provide another green area within the Sydney CBD which lacks open space and
parks.
Central Barangaroo
Will involve a mixed-use site
with public spaces, cultural and civic components in conjunction with
commercial development.
The designer for Central Barangaroo
is prominent Chicago architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Barangaroo South
The South precinct will be
primarily consist of 3 iconic office towers, that will be built along with
residential units. There are a number of major firms that are moving into the
these office towers, including KPMG, PWC and Westpac.
Discussion
Barangaroo is still currently being constructed and finalised, so the final impact will not be known for another 10-15 years.
Personally, I think it is a great project. It has turned a underutilised piece of land and reshaped it into not just a purely commercial precinct but a multi-use one for an entire community and populace.
Further, the new infrastructure will be cutting edge and will be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly (which is further enhanced by the 6 Star NABERS rating the Office buildings have been given).
Are there any real negatives? There has been a small amount of community backlash about Sydney's heritage, yet it is hard to argue that the new use will not be more beneficial than leaving an historical, unused wharf.
There has been greater backlash in regards to the privatisation of public land, with Lend Lease capitalising on the development. However, it ensures that the State Govt. does not have to use tax payer dollars.
Urban renewal is an initiative that is divisive, yet is obviously beneficial when put in place correctly and with the proper planning.
I want to continue to explore Sydney's urban renewal projects, with Darling Harbour Live next.
More info on the backlash generated by the Barangaroo development can be found here:
http://theconversation.com/barangaroo-development-interests-counter-the-public-interest-10837
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/03/17/criticism-mounts-over-barangaroo-development
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/barangaroo-will-resposition-sydney-as-a-global-city-20150524-gh7m0u.html
Discussion
Barangaroo is still currently being constructed and finalised, so the final impact will not be known for another 10-15 years.
Personally, I think it is a great project. It has turned a underutilised piece of land and reshaped it into not just a purely commercial precinct but a multi-use one for an entire community and populace.
Further, the new infrastructure will be cutting edge and will be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly (which is further enhanced by the 6 Star NABERS rating the Office buildings have been given).
Are there any real negatives? There has been a small amount of community backlash about Sydney's heritage, yet it is hard to argue that the new use will not be more beneficial than leaving an historical, unused wharf.
There has been greater backlash in regards to the privatisation of public land, with Lend Lease capitalising on the development. However, it ensures that the State Govt. does not have to use tax payer dollars.
Urban renewal is an initiative that is divisive, yet is obviously beneficial when put in place correctly and with the proper planning.
I want to continue to explore Sydney's urban renewal projects, with Darling Harbour Live next.
More info on the backlash generated by the Barangaroo development can be found here:
http://theconversation.com/barangaroo-development-interests-counter-the-public-interest-10837
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/03/17/criticism-mounts-over-barangaroo-development
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/barangaroo-will-resposition-sydney-as-a-global-city-20150524-gh7m0u.html
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