Open Space and Public Realm

Our Appreciation

‘The measure of any great civilisation is in its cities, and a measure of a city’s greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks and its squares.’

John Ruskin c1850
Victorian and Edwardian Social Thinker and Founder of the National Parks Movement

Open space provides the fabric and backbone for many things and also a valuable asset for communities by way of passive recreation, aesthetics, environmental significance, and economic value.

With approximately 85% of all Australians living on just 3% of its land mass, Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, and with a population expecting to double by the year 2050, open space needs to be carefully planned, managed, and preserved to maintain the quality of life we have become accustomed to and envied by many.

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Our Approach

When undertaking open space strategies, our approach is objective and quantitative and includes:

  • Auditing and mapping open space within a given area

  • Determining a benchmark based on either a proportion (%) or area (ha) based approach.

  • Benchmarking the above against local, state and national avergaes

  • Assessing current and future shortfalls of open space or areas of oversupply

  • Determining a hierarchy of open space

  • Assessing if there are shortfalls in hierarchy provision and design

  • Determining types and ‘permissible’ forms of use within the hierarchy (active v passive)

  • Assessing gap areas and strategies for acquisition or potential divestment

  • Understanding the community’s concerns

  • Providing a framework for developer contribution.

Our Experience

  • Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve; Planning by commission of the Saudi Arabian Royal Family (Riyadh Saudi Arabia)

  • Alexandrina Open Space and Recreation Strategy

  • Barossa, Light, Lower North Open Space and Public Realm Strategy

  • Prospect Parks Strategy

  • Salisbury Open Space Strategy

  • Unley Open Space Review

  • Unley Open Space Recreation Strategy

  • Kingston District Council Gall Park Activation Project

  • West Torrens Open Space Strategy

  • Clare Open Space and Recreation Strategy

  • Mawson Lakes Open Space Strategy; Space and Places

  • Mount Barker Sports Facilities Needs Analysis

  • Naracoorte Lucindale Council Open Space Strategy

  • Penrith Sport, Play, Recreation and Open Space Strategy

  • Port Augusta City Council Open Space Strategy

  • Roseworthy Open Space Structure Plan

  • Roseworthy Open Space and Recreation Needs Analysis

  • Lepington Public Domain Strategy NSW

  • Ryde Open Space Strategy NSW

  • Hurstville Open Space Strategy NSW

  • Hawkesbury Open Space Strategy NSW

  • Delfin Lend Lease St Marys Open Space Options NSW

Let’s Work Together

Please feel free to contact us for a no obligation chat about how we can assist in turning around your challenges with our innovative solutions. No job is too big or small and we work nationally and internationally so please get in touch so we can work together to create great communities, businesses, and organisations.