Residents of Victoria Park refer to buildings, impressive in natural timber,
glass, and aluminium, by name: the Centric, Eco, Nova, Nest, Airia. Peter’s
apartment is in a building called Arc. His wide lounge-room window looks out upon
neat parklands, neighbouring apartments, a coffee shop, and, in the distance,
the city skyline.
The 25-hectare site has an interesting history. It was a naval supply depot,
a car manufacturing plant (street names include Morris, Wolsley, Austin) and a
racecourse at various times. According to the Landcom website it will become “a
model for successfully transforming overused and decaying inner city precincts”
and act as a catalyst for the further development of a Green Square Town
Centre.
“What first attracted me was attention to detail,” Peter explains.
“It’s a big site, and a design standard has been applied to all residential and
commercial elements. The colours of the buildings relate without being uniform.
It’s coherent. Good and interesting architecture. At night, the lights look
beautiful.”
The move to Victoria Park has meant a change of life-style. Says Peter,
“Each building has a bike room. I never would’ve thought about it before, but
now I ride a bike to work every day. A good example of the way that thoughtful planning
facilitates action.”
Nearing completion, the site will house up to 2,500 dwellings and a mixed-use
development consisting of 150,000 sqm of residential uses, 25,000 sqm of
commercial uses, 10,000 sqm of retail uses, and 8,000 sqm of commercial
community uses. “My hope,” says Peter, “is that, as governments change, as the
economy changes, the same high standard is maintained. It’s atypical I think,
but the site is underdeveloped. There is open space. People can walk their dogs
in Joynton
Park, they can take their kids to Tote Park,
play basketball in Nuffield
Park.”
Another attraction for Peter is commitment to ecological sustainability.
“There are no air conditioners in the buildings.
Aspect, choice of materials and louvres maximize air flow and regulate
temperature,” he says.
“It’s quite sophisticated. All the storm-water is collected, filtered, stored.
The native grasses help with that. And the water feature outside the building
is part of the process. We then have water for use on the lawns and gardens.”
Each building has an internal garden, and a courtyard with barbecue
facilities, pool and gymnasium, all of which provide opportunities for community
engagement.
Peter’s neighbour, Murray, has also lived at Victoria Park for about four
years. He appreciates the close proximity to the city, to the beaches, to the
airport. “It’s ten minutes to wherever you need to go,” he says.
Murray also
appreciates the sense of community. “I feel safe here.”
Peter and Murray do insist, in face of fears and criticisms, that Victoria Park
is not a gated community.
“No, people are welcome to make use of the parks and facilities.
There are people who come here to walk their dogs – from Zetland and from
Kensington,” Peter says.
“There is a need for retail shops. A big shopping centre is on the way. This
can be a sanctuary close to the city for many people.”
Source: South Sydney Herald October 2007