The project is an installation on the site of the Molasses and Rum Storage Tanks at Distillery Hill. The proposal seeks to evoke the physicality of the tanks themselves and the materiality of their contents. Rum, clear and sharp, is suggested by a rigid geometric arrangement of blade like vertical timber. The radially placed timbers are placed to demarcate the perimeter of the larger tank, hinting the volume that once stood there. The inner edge of the blades are painted black, suggesting both the dark inside of the tank and the charcoal filters used in the purification of rum. The outer edge of the blades is painted white, the colour of sugar. These edges add a graphic dimension to the work, presenting as thin lines in contrast to the bulk of the timber. The sense of enclosure provided by the timbers, spaced at 2 metre centres, will vary as the visitor moves around the park, further adding to the spatial richness of the space.

Molasses, viscous, luscious and dark brown, is suggested in the bulbous forms that trace part of the outline of one of the two smaller tanks. A dark brown precast concrete ring bench is proposed, inviting park users to sit or recline. The ring’s curved sensuous profile is reminiscent of poured molasses and stands in stark contrast to the sharpness of the rum timbers.
Where the two other sculptural forms celebrate the tanks through physical defiance, the third tank is reflected by a steel ring that is subtly absorbed into the ground plane to mimic the footprint of a past relic.

See more pictures at the Knoll Remnants project page.

The site is composed of two distinctive spaces separated by an existing building that includes a cafe.  The aim of the proposal is to work with this divide and create different spaces of contrasting character.  The existing car park is transformed into a park, the new park is used to enlarge and contain Henley Square. The edges of the park are defined, especially by an elevated mound to the west, creating a protected and contained space in juxtaposition to the surrounding area. The other space is overtly social, the proposal envisages an uncluttered space; shade is introduced in the form of trees planted on the northern edge and umbrella structures in playful colours.

Henley Square and Beachside Common offers a diverse recreational potential within a setting that engages with the scale and mood of its unique context and celebrates the coming together of culture and ocean. The result is a series of beautifully scaled and crafted spaces that welcome diverse use.

The project team comprised of JMD Design and Lacoste and Stevenson Architects.

http://lacoste-stevenson.com.au/

Blaxland Riverside Park Regional Playspace was recently awarded the Jury Award in the Architizer A+ Awards in the category of Landscapes and Gardens. The award recognises projects for excellence in the criteria of Form, Function, Innovation, Intent and Reality. This comes off the back of success in the recent AILA NSW 2012 Awards in December, where the project was awarded the NSW AILA Award for Excellence in Design.

Anton James from JMD design said “the project and the ensuing awards are a credit to the whole team, beginning with the SOPA team (Sydney Olympic Park Authority) our client, who had the vision and determination to insist on something special and support our design, to the numerous consultants and contractors required to build the project”.

The Architizer A+ Awards received entries from a 100 countries and represents the best of architecture and design worldwide. Winners were announced on March 19, 2013 and awards will be presented on May 16 at the Architizer A+ Awards Gala to be held in NYC.

See more details at: http://awards.architizer.com/winners/#cat-31-special

View the Blaxland Riverside Park Regional Playspace page at: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/projects/view/blaxland-common-regional-playspace/50009/#.UUpiVKV7lgM

In late 2012 JMD participated in a competition for the memorial of fallen lifesavers at Coogee Beach. The aim was to create a secluded space that encouraged passive leisure activity and reflection as an island within the hustle of a busy beach environment. The elements inserted aimed to define a space that responded  to the scale of the site and addressed the negative aspects of this coastal micro climate. Elevated roof panels cast the names of fallen heroes on the ground plane, an elevated sculptural stage presented two bronze cast figures which faced the summer ( the life saver) and winter ( the soldier) solstice.  The orientation of the naming panels in the roof plane allows undisturbed views to the horizon.

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JMD Design’s Blaxland Riverside Park Regional Playspace has been selected as a finalist in the Architizer A+ Awards. Public voting has started.

With 2012 nearing an end and the fresh year in front of us, JMDdesign welcome’s James Grant to our team as Principal Urban Designer, further broadening our urban design skills. James offers a wide range of master planning and urban design skills, having lead large multi-disciplinary teams on a number of projects. Some past projects include:

Jordan Springs Village Centre
St Marys Western and Central Precinct Plans and DCP
Harrington Grove Country Club and Landscape Master Plan
Strategy for Sydney’s Trails with the Department of Planning
Penrith Lakes Master Plan

This experience includes strategic master planning at rezoning stage and developing DCP’s and concept plans for large scale urban development, including new communities, town centres and mixed use precincts. Other master planning expertise includes major open space, recreation and urban parkland projects, as well as strategic planning for regional open space networks and recreation facilities.

James has also recently taken up the position of the President of the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

We look forward to a busy and eventful year in 2013.

On the 14th December the Centres and Urban Renewal Team of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure released their report for comment. In mid 2011 JMD Design were commissioned by NSW Planning to work closely with them to deliver urban design concepts for select sections of Hunter Street that form part of the Hunter Street Public Improvement Project in Newcastle. The project areas were carefully chosen to provide the greatest impact on the city’s image and become catalysts for high quality public domain improvement as well as assisting in the urban renewal of the Newcastle town centre. JMD design assembled a set of creative concepts that suggested solutions aimed at promoting business activity, multi modal approach to transport , place making, improved connectivity and permeability and delivering environmental benefits.

JMD came away with two awards at last week’s 2012 NSW AILA Awards. Blaxland Riverside Park Regional Play space was selected for the NSW AILA Award for Excellence in Design. Greenhill’s beach development at Kurnell won the NSW AILA Award for Excellence in Land Managment. JMD would like to congratulate all of those involved in the various projects.

For more information follow the links;

Blaxland Riverside Park
Greenhills Beach

SYDNEY is being asked to vote for the most inventive additions to its landscape. The winners of the inaugural Premier’s People’s Choice Awards for landscape architecture will be announced on Thursday at Luna Park after being decided by a vote on smh.com.au.

The JMD designed new park for Stockland at Brooks Reach, Dapto features a range of recreational and play facilities terraced amongst the undulating landform at the base of the Illawarra Escarpment. Play opportunities present themselves in the form of tricycle paths, customised play items, run around areas and a basketball court. Amenities encourage extended stay, while plant selection and a shade structure contribute to a comfortable microclimate. The design is integrated into the urban plan by providing pedestrian links through and around the site which will become a transitional destination between the proposed town centre and the school precinct to the northeast. The design responded to the brief prepared by the children of Dapto during Stockland’s extensive consultation process and engagement with the local school. The placemaking undertaken was a key principle used to ensure that a child friendly environment and play experience was delivered.

As part of his invitational Phd, Anton James presented his latest research at the RMIT Practice Research Symposium 17th-21 Oct 2012, Melbourne.

JMD Design would like to welcome our newest member of staff Neil Moncrieff. Neil has been a Project Landscape Architect on a wide range of projects from public works in remote National Parks through to high profile parks in the centres of London and Sydney. For more information check out his profile page.

Since our last post a number of stages have been completed including a forecourt and an elevated pathway resulting in improved circulation and amenity for students. The school’s steep topography, established trees and the constrained construction opportunities caused by the school term and various exam timetables combined to create significant design and programmatic challenges.

The new forecourt has been redesigned to maximise space for gathering while securing views to the oval below and resolving conflicts between play areas and pedestrian thoroughfares. The use of concrete and granite on the ground plane Hordern Forecourt links it with the previously completed Camellia Forecourt and begins the process of unifying the ground plane in campus of disparate building materials and finishes.

Blaxland Riverside Park was officially opened on the 1st of June 2012. The new playground makes extensive use of landform to house a variety of play experiences and elements that caters for the entire family. The landform extends some 300 metres from the Giant swing to the Tonkin Zulaikha Greer designed kiosk. Nestled into dramatic cuts in the landform are tunnel slides, embankment slides, a climbing net, flying fox, sand pit, and a waterplay disc that houses 170 jets. These are programmed to create tunnels, enclosures, lines and spots of water that are at times gentle, at times boisterous. A 12 metres high treehouse overlooks the entire playground and gives long views along the Parramatta River. The highly popular playground is serviced by a new JMD designed extension to the carpark and a Tonkin Zulaikha Greer designed amenities block.

The project involved the stabilisation of the eroded creeklines using soft engineering details and rehabilitation of a 10.0 hectare riparian corridor featuring Cumberland Plain Woodland that runs through the centre of Stockland’s Glenmore Ridge development south of Penrith. The corridor includes the provision of a shared path network, a pedestrian bridge crossing, fitness stations, seating areas and playground. The interventions occur at key moments of the urban layout and utilise the material language developed for Jacaranda Park to the east, giving a colourful visual identity to the new suburb.

We are very excited to announce that Blaxland Regional Playspace will be opening early June and the project team is busy finalising the finishing touches. This photo was taken from the top of the tree house looking down to the Water Play, Sand Pit…a little something to excite the kids.

In this adaptive reuse project, the former Lidcombe Hospital site has been converted to residential dwellings by Australand Holdings. JMDdesign have been involved over a number of stages of the redevelopment with Architects Allan Jack and Cottier and heritage consultants Godden Mackay Logan. The geometry of the building pairs constructed in the early 1900s is a unique example of Australian Institutional Architecture commenced in the Barnet Period and completed in the Vernon Period. The landscaping has been described as being of exceptional significance and is state heritage listed. The landscape design was guided by two key conservation principles firstly to acknowledge the many remnant layers of landscape works and plantations and secondly to reinstate the rich structure of planting which would have been present for the building period. The first stage of the project has been opened to the public.

Each year AILA Queensland celebrates the life of Karl Langer by awarding the Karl Langer Student Award. This year, Anton James will be special guest speaker at the award ceremony which takes place this Thursday 29th March at the Brisbane Exhibition & Convention Centre.

The Waterplay plaza is nearing completion with only the finishing coats of coloured concrete and softfall to be applied. For more info.

The framework for a 12 metre high treehouse is being constructed at Blaxland Regional Playspace. The treehouse design consists of two towers that are linked by a rope bridge high in the treetops. For more info.

Jacaranda Park was opened in July 2011 as part of Stockland’s residential development at Glenmore Ridge. The park, sitting on the brow of a hill, takes advantage of the elevated views over the residential development, Mulgoa Reserve and the Blue Mountains. The Park contains a toddler to 12 year old playground, lawn terrace, and passive recreation facilities, providing a neighbourhood park for surrounding residents. JMDdesign continues our involvement in the Glenmore Ridge Precinct with construction recently commencing on a major riparian corridor with pedestrian bridge, cycleways, a small toddler playground and exercise nodes.

Greenhills Beach is a newly listed suburb in the beachside area of Cronulla, located on the Kurnell peninsula in Sydney’s southern suburbs. JMD design (Mather & Associates Pty Ltd) has been working closely with Australand on the project since 1999.  In 2008 an agreement between Sutherland Shire Council, the landholders (one of two being Australand) and the NSW State Government was reached on 128hectares of privately owned land to enable the Greenhills Beach development to take place.

The development involves the zoning approval for 33hectares of low density residential land which was achieved by handing over land that contained the Kurnell peninsulas heritage dunes to Sutherland Council. Over $700,000 of rehabilitation works are being done to the heritage dune and rehabilitation works for the whole project totals more than 68 hectares and will restore natural plant communities including Coastal Dune Heath, Sydney Freshwater Wetlands, and the endangered Kurnell Dune Forest. Other works involve the construction of 10 sports fields, amenities buildings, carparking and a skate park.

As part of a multidisciplinary team including our client Australand Holdings, planners McKenzie Planning, engineers Insites and ARUP, JMD design have worked through complex approvals process.

Construction of stage 1 of the high quality residential development is well under way and includes streetscapes, wetland areas, water quality control and habitat ponds,  bushland rehabilitation works, public open space areas with boardwalks and pavilions,  access paths leading up to the dune embankment at Wanda beach and estate entry  and signage treatment.

Rehabilitation of the bushland areas has been a major task with approximately 70% of the area having been colonised with weed species – mostly bitou bush.  Jamberoo Native Nursery have been appointed to undertake the rehabilitation contract. Works to date include collection and propagation of locally indigenous plant material and selective spraying of the bitou over the flowering months last spring/summer with a good kill rate. The dead material has been carefully mulched in-situ retaining all endemic vegetation. They are now strategically placing erosion control measures and mulches to planting areas. Further mulching and planting of locally sourced plant material will take place in the coming months. These have been grown specifically in Jamberoo’s nursery since the inception of the project.

Documentation of Stage 1A of the Greenhill’s Parklands Sporting complex is well underway.

JMDdesign’s ongoing involvement at Oran Park Town has seen the opening of the Sales Office and Display Village in March 2010. The first Oran Park Town residents moved in early 2011. Projects that have been recently completed are Kolombo Creek Reserve, Kolombo Creek Shareway and Wayne Gardner Reserve. Wayne Gardner Reserve is the first of three major sports facilities to be constructed over the next five years. Streetscape treatments to three stages of residential development are also in hand. In July JMDdesign completed the Oran Park Town Public Domain Strategy which will be a valuable design and planning tool throughout the development of the Town Centre.

Glenmore Ridge Riparian Corridor is a 1.0km long, 100m wide section of creekline located in Western Sydney LGA of Penrith. JMD design has been involved in the design, documentation and administration of the creekline restoration and parkland works since 2011. The creekline construction works include stabilisation of the creekline, bush regeneration, replanting and parkland construction. The recent wet weather has made working in the creekline more challenging for rehabilitation contractor Toolijooa but they have managed to continue with the majority of works. Interestingly the wet weather has also bought out the native wildlife with a few sightings of brown and red belly black snakes. The Parklands to the Eastern side of the creekline are being completed by Perfection Landscapes and should open in Spring this year.

In 2010 work was completed on the upgrade of Camellia Court. Through simple level changes and the careful treatment of the ground plane, separation was created for canteen queuing, siting, handball, circulation and access. Granite pavement in different formats acts both to delineate use areas and allows for water infiltration around the existing Brachychiton tree.

In 2012 we are carrying out a number of small projects around the school greatly improving useability and circulation within the complex of open space that makes up the school site. Construction is due to commence shortly on a new access ramp and stair and a gymnasium bypass. These small insertions into the steep site are designed to improve student circulation between poorly connected spaces. The ramp and stair works require the construction of a walkway alternately suspended from an existing building and an existing sandstone ledge. Whilst the gymnasium bypass requires integration into a steep slope and the modification of existing stairs and walls.

A dramatic new landform that repeats the geometry and scale of the existing parkland terraces was built as the armature for the new playspace. The landform with its conical voids houses a variety of custom and proprietary play structures including crawl tunnels, tunnel slides, embankment slides, a “worm hole” climbing net, climbing walls, a mega swing, a spinning dish, wind socks, all as part of Stage 1. Stage 2 includes a 12 m high tree house, a sand pit and water plaza, a new carpark, and an amenities block and kiosk , both designed by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.

Despite the soft opening in 2011 of the first stage, the playground has been immensely popular with children and parents alike. The completion of stage 2 in mid 2012 is awaited with great anticipation.