Urban Design Concept Framework - Central Railway Station Precinct, Sydney

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15222 Urban Design
Student Name: Christopher Croucamp
Student Number: 11594759
Assessment 3 - Major Project
Developing an Urban Design Concept Framework for Sydney's Central Railway Station Precinct – with a focus on Railway Square:

Urban design involves place-making within the built environment and as such takes into account various elements of the urban form including factors such as the urban structure, density and mix, streetscape and landscape and the interface of an area (Ghosh, 2013). Contemporary urban designers seek to overcome the major issues of social equality, economic viability and environmental concerns by employing a host of principles that seek to create sustainable urban places. The purpose of this report is to develop an urban design concept framework and strategy for the redevelopment of Sydney's Central Railway Station Precinct, with a focus on the Railway Square Sub-Precinct. It is structured into the following sections:
Analysis of the entire precinct's location, context and connections.
Summary of the key findings of the S.W.O.T analysis conducted with respect to the overall urban design qualities applicable specifically to the Railway Square Sub-Precinct.
Outline of the design objectives adopted in the Concept Design Strategy for the specific redevelopment of Railway Square Sub-Precinct
Application of design principles included the Concept Design Strategy to the overall design layout of Railway Square Sub-Precinct:

Analysis of the entire precinct's location, context and connections:

Central Railway Station Precinct is located immediately to the south of the Sydney's CBD (see Figure 1.1 in appendices) and functions as a major transportation interchange mode, historic landmark and southern entry point to the city centre. Central Railway Station, as the focal point, is the largest railway station in Sydney, and services the majority of CityRail lines, as well as being the major terminus for intercity and country rail services (Sydney Architecture, 2007) (see Figure 1.2 in appendices). For historical reasons, the station is actually made up of two terminals (see Figure 1.3 in appendices). The original sandstone Sydney Terminal Building dominates the precinct and contains many heritage features that add to the precinct's overall aesthetics (NSW Department of Environment and Heritage, 2012). This includes the impressive sandstone arched shopfronts along Eddy Avenue as well as the imposing free-classical inspired clock tower (NSW Department of Environment and Heritage, 2012). Opened in 1906, the terminal is made up of 15 platforms. A second terminal, known as the Central Electric Terminal opened in the 1930s as part of the electrification of Sydney's rail system and consists of 12 through platforms. Together, the terminals form the focus point for activity in the precinct and are connected together by a central pedestrian link. Furthermore, the precinct is well connected to other modes of public transport, having both bus and light rail connections to surrounding areas of the city.

Further analysis of the precinct's location shows it can be further subdivided into sub-precincts, distinguishable by their clear edges and historical definable land use patterns. These sub-precincts include Central Station Railway Terminals, Belmore Park, the Western Rail Yard, St Alfred's Park and Railway Square and are identified in Figure 1.4 of the appendices. The focus of this report is on Railway Square sub-precinct, which is characterised by a mix of land- uses zones and activities, including various commercial, industrial, institutional and residential buildings (Sydney LEP 2005).

Railway Square is located at the convergence of several major roads and as such acts as a major transportation interchange mode in its own right, also being the site of a large bus station (Sydney LEP 2005) (See Figure 1.5 in appendices). Railway Square also marks the beginning of the CBD proper when travelling from the west and therefore plays a significant role in distributing car traffic, public transport and pedestrians in and out the city (Sydney LEP 2005). The grand Sydney Terminal Building creates a formal edge to Railway Square on the eastern side of the precinct whilst shopfronts and streets form the remainder of the sub-precinct's boundary (NSW Department of Environment and Heritage, 2012).





Summary of the key findings of the S.W.O.T analysis applicable to Railway Square Sub-Precinct:
A S.W.O.T analysis was conducted of the entire precinct's performance with regards to its overall urban design qualities. A summary of the key findings applicable to the Railway Square Sub-Precinct are provided below:
Strengths:
Numerous buildings of historical/heritage significance.
Proximity to major institutions including University of Technology & TAFE NSW.
Good public transport linkages.
High-profile location at the intersection of several significant roads.
Low building heights result in excellent natural lighting.
Modern street art included in the bus station design.
Diversity of land-use activities.
Several significant landmarks provides for easy orientation of the area.
Weaknesses:
Limited pedestrian focus - car/pedestrian conflict.
Poor quality and range of retail/eating offerings.
Lack of activity, identity and sense of place.
Lack of pedestrian amenities including public seating, signage's etc.
Lack of natural vegetation/open 'green spaces'.

Opportunities:
Integration into other major government-led urban design projects.
Including public participation in the design and planning processes.
Creating a more diverse and mature night time culture. (City of Sydney, 2008).
Predicted growth in pedestrian numbers as the area continues to develop.
Threats:
Budgeting restrictions.
Competition from other emerging precinct's within inner-city Sydney e.g. Darling Harbour, Circular Quay etc.

Design objectives adopted in the Concept Design Strategy for the specific redevelopment of Railway Square Sub-Precinct:

Whilst it is apparent that Railway Square performs generally well with respect to most aspects of urban design, the S.W.O.T analysis highlights the elements that require improvements, and therefore forms the basis for the objectives adopted in the Concept Design Strategy for the redevelopment of the sub-precinct.

Some of the major strengths of Railway Square that were identified included it's numerous attractive heritage buildings, proximity to major institutions, excellent public transport linkages, and potential to be integrated into future major public/private partnership urban design projects. A few key areas of weakness were also identified including it's limited pedestrian focus, low quality of retail/eating options, streetscapes which lack identity and atmosphere, a lack of pedestrian amenities, as well as a lack of the presence of open 'green spaces'.

The following design objectives have thus been formed in an attempt to rectify these weaknesses whilst also enhancing the identified strengths and opportunities of the sub-precinct. The six major urban design objectives are to:

Create a safer, more pedestrian-orientated environment within the sub-precinct.
Enhance the public amenities of the streetscape within the sub-precinct.
Maintain the heritage aspects of the sub-precinct.
Improve the range and quality of retail/eating options within the sub-precinct.
Establish more green 'open spaces' within the sub-precinct.
Improve pedestrian connections to neighbouring Central Railway Station Terminals Sub-Precinct.



Application of design principles included the Concept Design Strategy to the overall design layout of Railway Square Sub-Precinct:

A number of urban design principles have been incorporated into this strategy in order achieve the objectives set out in the above section. This section therefore outlines the physical application of these principles in addressing the objectives, in relation to the overall design layout of Railway Square Sub-Precinct.

Railway Square is characterised as an area of low pedestrian priority, with streetscapes congested by an overload of buses and cars, and having generally poor levels of public amenities. The footpaths within the sub-precinct have thus simply become narrow channels for rapid pedestrian movement between destinations or places to wait for the bus (City of Sydney, 2008). As such, to create a safer and more pedestrian-oriented environment, the strategy recommends:

Restricting traffic movements along main arterial roads in the area to buses only, thereby removing car congestion and noise from the streetscapes.
Improving public signage and widening footpaths, thereby improving pedestrian connections within the area.
Installing more street-level lighting, thereby improving the safety of pedestrians at night (City of Sydney, 2012).

These strategies capture the essence of the central urban design principles of creating places of people and designing walkable neighbourhoods, both of which are considered critical to achieving sustainable cities.

Despite Railway Square containing numerous public artworks and street furniture, most are out-dated and attract little attention from passing pedestrians. A positive contribution was made in 1999 when the bus transit area site located in the centre of the square, was fitted out with new public artwork, including illuminated wall panels and a modern sculpture made up of four towers, as well as a new shelter and seating for commuters (Merilyn Fairskye, 1999). However to further enhance the public amenity of the streetscape, the strategy recommends:

Incorporating more easily accessible street furniture in public spaces, thereby improving the comfort for pedestrians at street-level.
Updating the street artwork, thereby creating a greater sense of place and increasing the activity, identity and atmosphere of the streetscape. (City of Sydney, 2012).

Railway Square has many low to medium density buildings of historic note including the Old Parcels Post Centre as well as being bordered by the grand Sydney Terminal of Central Railway Station that includes a historic clock tower (Merilyn Fairskye, 1999). This civic heritage provides historic continuity and connection to the precinct's past, as well as acting as a landmark and contributing to the visual prominence of the sub-precinct (Sydney LEP 2005). The awareness of preserving the heritage form of the built environment is reflected in the urban design principle of enriching the existing. As such, it is critical to maintain the valued heritage aspects of the sub-precinct.

To improve the range of retail /eating options, the strategy recommends:

Integrating mixed-use commercial zoning into new building sites, thereby heightening the retail experience and encouraging people to walk (City of Sydney, 2008).
Implementing new planning policies that encourage more 'eat in' and healthier eating options as opposed to franchised take-away stores, thereby ensuring a more diverse range of retail and eating options.

Developing new mixed-use forms with quality retailing not only adds to variety to retail options but also adds to the sub-precincts urban vitality and is thus a fundamental design principle in its own right (Daily Telegraph, 2012).

Establishing more green open spaces is another objective identified in the Concept Design Strategy for Railway Square. The strategy recommends:

Re-landscaping the open spaces around the pathway connecting the main terminal building to Railway Square, thereby improving the natural aesthetics and attractiveness of the area.
Relocating the taxi rank/drop off point from its current position alongside the terminal to Eddy Avenue and establishing a large public park in its place, thereby creating a green connection between the Railway Square and Central Station.
These strategies involve the design principle of working with the landscape and also address the final objective of improving pedestrian connections/links to Central Railway Station (Ghosh, 2013). Fostering better connections and linkages between the two sites creates a better sense of place whilst also improving the walkability of the area, both of which are considered important design principles required in order to achieve sustainable urban environments.

It is worth noting too, that a number of significant urban improvement projects are earmarked for the area, many as part of the City of Sydney's Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan, which will seek to improve the overall urban design attributes of both Central Railway Station Precinct, and the smaller Railway Square Sub-Precinct.






















Appendices:

Figure 1.1: Map showing location of Central Railway Station Precint in relation to Sydney CBD:
Central Railway StationSydney CBD
Central Railway Station
Sydney CBD






Figure 1.2: Map of CityRail network with the location of Centrail Railway Station highlighted:
Central Railway Station
Central Railway Station




Figure 1.3: Map showing location of two adajacent terminals that make up Central Railway Station:
Sydney Central Electrical Terminal Building Sydney Central Terminal Building
Sydney Central Electrical Terminal Building
Sydney Central Terminal Building











Figure 1.4: Map showing the clearly defined sub-precinct's that make up Central Railway Station Precicnt.
Belmore Park Sub - Precinct Central Railway Station Terminal Sub-Precinct Railway Square Sub-Precinct Western Railyards Sub-Precinct St Alfred's Park Sub-Precinct
Belmore Park Sub - Precinct
Central Railway Station Terminal Sub-Precinct
Railway Square Sub-Precinct
Western Railyards Sub-Precinct
St Alfred's Park Sub-Precinct

















Figure 1.5: Map showing the location and pedestrian flow of Railway Square within the wider Central Railway Station Precinct:
Railway Square
Railway Square

















List of Resources:

City of Sydney, 2012, 'George Street Concept Design', viewed on 23rd May, 2013 at:
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/126600/GeorgeStreetConceptDesign_Part01.pdf

City of Sydney, 2008, 'Sustainable Sydney 2030, City of Sydney Strategic Plan – Final Draft', viewed on 20th May, 2013 at:
https://online.uts.edu.au/courses/1/15222/content/_531842_1/05_CITY_CENTRE.pdf

Ghosh, Sumita, 2013, 'Lecture on design standard principles', UTS, Sydney.
Sydney Architecture, 2007, 'Central Railway Station', viewed on 20th May, 2013 at:
http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd7-003.htm

Haynes, Rhys, Daily Telegraph, 2012, 'Five grotty stations set for sale to the private sector', Daily Telegraph, Sydney, viewed on21st May, 2013 at:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/five-grotty-train-stations-set-for-sale-to-the-private-sector/story-fnb5f12x-1226294086724

Merilyn Fairskye, 1999, 'Railway Square', viewed on 25th May, 2013 at:
http://www.fairskye.com/railway.htm

NSW Architects Office, 2010, 'Urban Design Protocol for NSW', viewed on 23rd May, 2013 at:
http://www.urbandesign.gov.au/downloads/files/newsouthwales_urban_design_factsheet.pdf

NSW Department of Environment and Heritage, 2012, ' Central Station Heritage Listing', viewed on 22nd May, 2013 at:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/HeritageItemImage.aspx?ID=4801296#ad-image-11

NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure, 'Sydney LEP 2005 - Schedule 6 Character statements and objectives for Special Areas', viewed on 22nd May, 2013 at:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/slep2005312/