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7/27/2019 Rudolph Jenny

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The New Rouse Hill

Page 1 of 8 The New Rouse Hill Paper for Town Centres Conference 2006

ROUSE HILL TOWN CENTRE:FROM CONCEPT TO DETAILED DESIGN

ByKeith Cottier and Jenny Rudolph

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Jenny Rudolph

Jenny Rudolph qualified in South Africa as a town planner in 1989. Jenny has lived in Australia for the past five years and worked inboth the public and private sector, joining Landcom two years ago.

Jenny has vast experience in strategic planning and policy, masterplanning and residential development. This includes managing largeprojects in the planning phase. Jenny is a Senior Development Manager at Landcom and responsible for ensuring the good qualitydesign, social, economic and environmental visions of the government are met through the development of the RHRC.

Keith Cottier

Keith Cottier is one of Australias most highly regarded and awarded architects. A director of Allen Jack+Cottier since 1965, he remainsa driving force behind the quality of the companys work today. In 2001, he was awarded the Gold Medal, the Royal Australian Instituteof Architects highest honour. In 2004, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. His work includes three major wineries, theredevelopment of Woollahra Council Chambers, and Wylies Baths. Keith is currently the principal architect for the Rouse Hill TownCentre design directorate.

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INTRODUCTION

Located in the growing north-west corridor, the Rouse Hill Regional Centre, now called the NewRouse Hill (NRH), has been identified by the New South Wales Government (Government) as amajor emerging centre for Sydneys expansion.

To realize its vision the Department of Planning, as landowner, called for Tenders to obtain adevelopment partner to create both the regional centre with significant residential, infrastructureand open space and a vibrant town centre focused on a Main Street model. The Tender outlined

specific design, planning and ESD benchmark criteria and objectives, which were required to beachieved for the regional centre. In 2003, the successful Tenderer chosen to partner theGovernment (represented by Landcom and the Department of Planning) in the development of theRHRC was the consortium of Lend Lease and The GPT Group (Developers).

In developing the principles for the New Rouse Hill masterplan, the Developers and Governmentconsidered how to integrate the best of what makes traditional town centres work as well aselements that make retail centres successful. This included the integration of significantcommunity, learning and residential components both within the Town Centre and within theRegional Centre. A masterplan, developed according to these benchmarks, was approved in 2004by Baulkham Hills Shire Council (Council). The Developers in consultation with Governmentembarked on a challenging journey to convert the masterplan principles and concept into thedetailed design of the new Rouse Hill Town Centre.

This paper focuses on the Rouse Hill Town Centre component of the New Rouse Hill. The NewRouse Hill, principally the residential, and open spaces is being jointly developed by theDevelopers and provides context to the detailed presentation. The Rouse Hill Town Centre isbeing developed and will be managed by The GPT Group.

This paper provides an overview of the project and the design vision for the town centre, followedby a discussion of the design elements that were refined or amended during the process of takingthe concept to detailed design. The paper concludes with a few challenges that have beenaddressed during this process.


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A consortium of architects Rouse Hill Town Centre Architects, namely Rice Daubney, Allen Jackand Cottier and Group SA, were retained by the Developers to convert the town centre masterplanconcept to a detailed design for a new benchmark town centre. The consortium provided the scaleto develop such a significant project as well as the ability to ensure diversity of architecture and

diversity of place across the town centre. Diversity of architecture was a key design elementparticularly as a substantial amount of stage 1 of the town centre would be developed upfront.There were many issues that informed the design, however the key objectives and urban designcriteria outlined in the masterplan were embraced by the architectural team in order to achieve anew town centre concept based on achieving an integrated model. The form of the town centre is acombination of a traditional outdoor Main Street experience overlaid with a contemporary mix ofuses usually found in an enclosed shopping mall. The Rouse Hill Town Centre would, in fact, be anew model.

The Architects, in association with the developers and the Government, used their experience; theoutcomes of community based research; key ESD requirements and the core principles andobjectives to undertake an assessment of the masterplan. Some refinements, minor changes andsubstantial improvements over a time period of about 10 months resulted in a detailed design of

the Rouse Hill town centre being created.

VISION

The Rouse Hill Town Centre Architects constitute three separate entities with differing cultures.The Architects found that there was much common ground in their attitude and philosophy withregard to the challenges in Rouse Hill.

The Rouse Hill Architects were united on a number of key principles, which were essential in thedesign of the town centre

Architecture as Place Maker; in terms of creating the three dimensional background orstage, and never in terms of untruths-- no theming, no imported or plastic heritage;

Finding the appropriate forms and the scale that fits comfortably with the social

demographic of the Rouse Hill community, architecture should both reflect and inspirecommunity aspiration;

Responding to the market brief in terms of mix of business users, and refining theseneeds within a town centre context.

Sitting the Town Centre into its landscape and making it belong. Environmental responsibility from the outset, and not as a series of later add-ons. The no-mans land between planning and architecture that critical area of urban

design plus a little extra. Rouse Hill provided the rare opportunity to finesse the spacesbetween the buildings, the spaces first, buildings second, with the buildings reinforcingthe spatial qualities.

Continuity within its culture allowing the Rouse Hill past to enrich its future, but gently,softly and with subtlety.

A vision for the new Rouse Hill town centre was developed by the architectural team to provide adream for the design, place and space making for the creation of mixed-use town centre. Thevision for the new Town Centre can be summarised as the following: -

In towns and cities, public space has always served as meeting place,market place and traffic way. The enjoyable towns and cities have beenthose that found a comfortable balance between these three demands,without forfeiting their links with the natural world.


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In the town centre at Rouse Hill, we wil l achieve this balance, we willcreate this harmony. Life will return to the streets and lanes. The comingsand goings of the pedestrians wil l dominate that life, yet they will alwaysfeel connected to the unique Australian landscape. Interest in the town

centre as meeting place will be renewed, the centre will become anattraction, people will stop and stay a while, participate, take pride in itslook, its st ructure and its innovations. It will become their second home.

The vision resulted in the detailed plan for the stage 1 town centre, which is depicted below.

Town Centre design four quadrants (A,B,C and D), divided by two main streets, each with a major retailerand other speciality stores linked by a pedestrian laneway.

CONCEPT TO DETAILED DESIGN

The concept masterplan of the NRH was the culmination of many years of strategic planning. Theconcept plan has stood the test of time and remains virtually unchanged. Hence when theArchitects were appointed by the Developers to undertake the detailed design of the town centrethere were many principles and aspects that were already set for the Rouse Hill Town Centre.

The Developers with the Architectural design team realised that the process of moving from aconcept to the detailed design of the 11ha town centre site would provide many challenges. Themasterplan concept remained the benchmark design, however in moving to a detailed design theDeveloper and Architects were able to further enhance the town centre through minor adjustments.A summary of the key enhancements that resulted through the detailed design are the following: -

Leisure square

Belvedere

Court A

food terrace

civic spine

Town square

Court B

Backyard

Market Square

extendedlandscape

spine

Court D

Expandedlaneway

streetside cafesgreen parts

Expandedlaneway

Court D

Library/Community Centre

Transit Interchange

Main Street

Schofields

Road

CaddiesCreek


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1 Linkage from the town to its surroundings

It was critical to provide physical linkages from the town centre and to the town centre forpedestrians, motorist and cycles. However it was also critical to obtain and retain visual linkages

whether through landscaping, open space corridors or architectural form. Through the detaileddesign the Architects were able to enhance its integration and linkages with the surroundingprecincts.

2 Appropriate Spaces for the different users

It was recognised that there needed to be different types of places and spaces for shoppers,children, residents, and workers in the town centre. The detailed design enabled each of thequadrant loops to provide various opportunities for the creating different spaces, as well as createbetter connections between buildings and places. The shape, use and feel of the spaces also tookinto consideration the retail offers being made, and how the indoor and outdoors spaces couldsupport each other. Hence the detailed design process resulted in additional spaces and placesbeing created in the town centre.

3 Weather Protection

The design of the town centre buildings and spaces had to take cogniscance of the sun, wind, rain,and the comfort of the community and shoppers using the streets and pedestrian walkways. Theclimatic extremes of Western Sydney added to the challenge. The detailed plan carefullyconsidered different weather protection devices for different use of spaces and linkage pathways,and the surrounding use of the buildings. Different types and height of weather protection deviceswere designed to assist in creating diversity in the town centre design.

4 The Car Park

A key principle of the town centre is to accommodate predominantly underground car parking so

that there is minimal impact on the public realm and the creation of more pedestrian friendly areas.The provision of underground parking was obviously a large commercial investment by theDeveloper, but benefited the design and practical functioning of town centre. Being a relativelylarge basement car park, accommodating around 2 800 cars, the design of the car park needed toensure a sense of arrival and orientation for visitors. The detailed design accommodated easyway finding for visitors within the basement and assisted way finding and connections up to theground level. The design of the car parking basement also accommodated the design and locationof services as well as ensure overland flow. The detailed design therefore modified the masterplanbasement design and created an improved layout.

5 Diversity of Experience

The town centre needed to accommodate a balance of order and diversity, to ensure a pleasant

experience when moving through the town centre. The Architects created diversity in thearchitecture by designing different horizontal and vertical elements in the buildings or different roofforms. Creating diversity in architecture was essential so the centre looked like a town that haddeveloped organically over time; primarily as a substantial part would be developed at day one andwould be managed and owned by The GPT Group.

A single robust paving material running throughout the pedestrian areas was also designed tocreate a strong town identity. Whilst the sense of order this achieved is a prerequisite of all goodtowns, it was also important to achieve a level of diversity. The necessary balance between the two


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attributes was achieved in form, material and colour, with each quadrant having its own strongidentity, and the journey around the pedestrian loop involving a great variety of spatial experiences.

6 Civic Quality

The design of the town centre needed to ensure a civic quality and presence particularly as thecivic library and community building are to be built at the heart of the town centre. The design oflibrary/community building will reflect the civic character and use of the building, but also respondto the adjacent civic town square space. The learning space will be accommodated in a building,with a spectacular roof form, across from Town Square, so to enhance the civic quality of the towncentre.

7 Pedestrian Amenity

The design considered that pedestrians needed cover and shade, but also needed to feel theopenness and see the sky so to feel the weather. Pedestrians will distinguish the different placeand the spaces through the variety of weather protection devices, floor finishes, building materials

or vegetation provided to create a good pedestrian amenity.

8 Permeability

As the retail and detailed design evolved, greater permeability in the block plan design resulted.The Architects considered the following to increase the permeability: -

alternate pedestrian routes and links on the ground level and the first floor of thebuildings, and;

retail control to understand the type, size and location of shops.

9 A Fine Grain

A finer grain from the original block plan resulted in the finesse in the public realm. The design of

the ground floor retail faade on Main Street will also contribute to the fine grain. Although thetown centre is based on four major quadrants, the sense of township was derived through thefiner grain of public places, and building forms that broke the larger quadrants into more intimatespaces.

10 Design with ESD in mind

ESD is a key input to the design of the town centre. The detailed design allowed the Architects toachieve a balance between ESD outputs (central plant and chilled water), design of buildings (howthe sun related to shop front), spaces (consider wind tunneling) and landscaping (types of treesand softening of spaces). The interconnected nature of many of these inputs to the design processresulted in multiple iterations of the design for certain parts of the town centre before a finalresolution was achieved.

The result was that the ESD principles were not a series of add-ons or overlays to thebuildings, but were embedded in the design of the building forms from the outset. Thebuilding forms, whilst assisting to maximize a feeling of openness within the public realm,were also used to control solar penetration and reduce the shop front heat loads. The designmeant that energy loadings have been minimized thought the process. At the same time, thebuilding form and ESD principles were used to ensure pedestrian amenity that responds tothe Rouse Hill climate.


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11. Staging

It was acknowledged that the town centre would be developed in stages due to the marketconditions, regional population and extent of the centre. The architects therefore developed

a series of design and landscape treatments for those sites perimeter sites that would bebuild out in the future, but will provide amenity at day 1. The design treatment provides amore aesthetic outcome as well as flexibility for the town to grow naturally enhancingauthenticity.

CHALLENGES

The architectural design team, Developers and Government have worked hard to ensure thatRouse Hill Town Centre is a success; and we are confident that in time the success of this venturewill set a benchmark for new town centres.

We have learnt through the process of converting the concept to a detailed design for a mixed-usetown centre, and a summary of some key challenges is provided below.

1 Management Arrangements

Due to the scale and complexity of the project, it was essential that all parties involved in the NRHwork together cohesively. The Developer held weekly meetings with all consultants, including theArchitects, for coordination to occur across the entire project. The Developers then reported thedetailed design to a Joint Management Committee, comprising of representatives from LendLease, GPT Group, Landcom, Department of Planning and an Independent Chairperson.

In particular the organisation of the architectural team was discussed in the early stages,particularly in light of the three office composition, as they were central to the detailed design. Toachieve diversity in design mixed teams were created comprising of people from each of the threearchitectural offices. Each sub-team focused on a particular quadrant or area of the Town Centre.

A few additional people had particular management responsibilities, and a three-person designdirectorate sat above the architectural team. This later group maintained a big picture focusthroughout, to ensure cohesiveness in the public realm. With a tight programme and technicalresolution challenges, the architectural management structure had to adapt and be much morefluid in the early stages. The quadrant team structure did not establish itself until the later stages ofdesign development. The one constant was the design directorate, who took ownership offormulating all critical design proposals for the Developers approval. This proved an importantmanagement arrangement for the project.

The high degree of cooperation that has characterised the projects management process is atestament to the stakeholders original aim for NRH to be a simple and transparent partnership.

2 Paradigm shift

The Developer proposed an integrated mixed-use town centre at stage 1 with significant scale.The town centre will combine both the attributes of successful retail centres and of a main street,major anchors, proximity to car parking, access for vehicles, diversity of uses and a variety ofplaces and spaces. The concept will lead the market in the evolution of retail centres that beganwith the inclusion of cinemas and restaurants and are increasingly adding community andcommercial uses.

Rouse Hill Town Centre will also lead the way with the integration of residential with retail of thescale proposed. This provided significant challenges including solving various servicing


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requirements around loading docks, creating amenity and aspect for residential and the overallcomplexity of vertical integration

The Architects and project team challenged many of the preconceptions and fixed notions, but it

was realised that the proven concept and principles from both successful town centres andshopping malls should not be summarily dismissed.

With a common vision in mind, and through good dialogue and mutual respect the detailed designwas developed to the advantages of all users (retail, commercial and residential groups).

3 ESD

Environmental engineers were part of the development team from the outset. The computergenerated programmes that quantified solar penetration, wind patterns, thermal conditions andenergy loadings were an invaluable tool in assisting to quickly understand the interplay betweenissues and help make informed decisions. The model allowed the Architects to test alternativesand arrive at energy efficient solutions. This is how it should be; no retro-fits!

4 Tolerance on boundary rather than a fixed boundary

The boundary area for the new town centre was confined due to commitments for services, theexisting location of a road and watercourses. This resulted in a challenge for the Architects whooften had to undertake the detailed design within the informal boundary area. Loading dockscame under pressure; any new regulatory standard had the Architects struggling to find thenecessary additional space. However through good co-ordination and design all requirements havebeen met. For any future projects or designs it would be useful to plan for an additional 1 metretolerance zone that could be built into the widths of new roads.

CONCLUSION

From the outset, the new Rouse Hill has been much more than a bold, exciting concept for a newregional centre in Sydneys north-west. The focus has been on having a commercially viable TownCentre at the heart of the project with new benchmark design, ESD and social sustainableoutcomes. The New Rouse Hill has set some significant precedents for the level of cooperationbetween the public and private partners, and ground breaking achievements in design.

The Rouse Hill town centre concept of turning the modern shopping centre inside out and buildingon the traditional main street town centre model had risks and challenges. In undertaking thedetailed design of the new town centre, the Developer, government and the Architects looked atthe practical use of the land, the commercial realities of the project, as well as designing thebuildings, spaces, places and achieving ESD outcomes all at once form the outset.

Converting a town centre concept into detailed design required an appropriate balance betweenbeing dedicated to implementing the vision, embracing elements of practical design and goodarchitecture. It also required consideration of the comfort of users in all public environmentsbalanced with environmental efficiency. However it was acknowledged that the detailed designwould only succeed when designers think like the communities who will use and feel the towncentre.

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