Late last year, to the alarm of many, a 12-storey apartment block in North Melbourne, built just five years prior, was approved for demolition. Just one example of the average 100,000 buildings that get approved for demolition in Australia each year, it demonstrates what can happen when a short-sighted approach to the urban planning of our cities takes hold — the proliferation of low-grade buildings with short lifespans.
As our population here in Brisbane grows and evolves, so too do the demands on our city. An approach which sees the built environment as disposable is concerning. Disrupting the established heritage and context of our cities, it’s also incredibly carbon-intensive, with far-reaching negative implications for our planet.
Whilst the construction industry continues to navigate the challenges presented by the ongoing turbulence of the broader economy, from rising material costs to labour shortages, cutting corners is not the answer. The cycle of disposable development must be stopped.
The value of buildings should not just be considered in the short-term saleability and useability for just the first owners or occupiers. Instead, their long-term life must be at the forefront of our minds. Developers, architects and councils must work together to ask, ‘how will this development continue to contribute and adapt to the city’s evolving needs for generations to come?’.
Now more than never, architects have an integral role in designing for longevity. Not just designing buildings in isolation, but putting forthright a commitment to placemaking and shaping civic precincts that will serve communities for decades.
Rather than simply creating a design that directly responds to a brief, it’s critical that architects take the whole project team on a journey to consult, develop and tailor the brief. Avoiding trends, the final design must be thoroughly considered and truly meet the needs of all stakeholders — developers, councils, sales agents and the local community.
Significant consideration at this early stage must be given to the cost implications across all aspects of the project — from materials to tendering process and scope for staging of the construction. This is critical to minimise the opportunities for latent value management processes, where it is so often the design and quality of the building that is sacrificed.
With a rapidly growing population and the 2032 Olympic Games on the horizon — development in the city is rightly ramping up. But as it does, it’s critical that the long-term legacy of the new developments and infrastructure is deeply considered. The city will retain these spaces years after the Olympics have passed; they represent Brisbane’s future, and it is critical that as the architects, developers and placemakers of the city that we take our role seriously.
The decisions we make now will leave an indelible mark on Brisbane for decades to come. We must work together with industry and regulatory bodies, including local councils and planning authorities —who must in turn work together themselves — to support the sustainable development of our built environment and infrastructure. Understanding the financial priorities of developers alongside the local government’s remit to deliver enduring liveable communities, architects are uniquely placed to take the whole project team on the journey.
If we look to London, the legacy of the Athletes Village is an excellent case study of what can be achieved. Housing 17,000 athletes during the 2013 Olympic Games, the development has latterly been transformed into East Village — with over 2,800 new homes, and 2000 more planned.
Now home to around 6,000 people, with extensive parklands, the community is served by a wealth of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. As the urban fabric of Brisbane evolves, when designed effectively, it can produce seamless context-driven environments that connect communities, creating a true sense of place and identity for a city.
At Portside Wharf, part of the Olympic Games precinct, sits The Cullen. Designed by Plus Architecture, its heritage inspired design combined with contemporary elements will be home to a hotel, apartments and hospitality spaces. Elsewhere in the city, Rotherham Hotel, another Plus Architecture project, celebrates its iconic Kangaroo Point location, while providing stunning state-of-the-art facilities for guests.
Together these developments will create an active, socially connected urban community in areas receiving increasing interest and demand for density. They demonstrate that when design and build quality is retained as a priority right from a project’s inception — high quality precincts that will serve our communities for many years to come are achievable.
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