Australian Institute of Landscape Architects calls for government to rethink the use of public spaces

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) is calling on State and Local Governments to shift the focus on public spaces from short-term stimulus to long-term liveability, highlighting that the COVID-19 recovery in Australia will require outdoor spaces to work harder to meet the new economic and social needs of our communities.

AILA note that “our State and Local Governments are focused on investing in quick wins for communities that have been devastated by bushfires, droughts, floods and COVID-19, which certainly has its place in our current economic state.

“The rush to parks, cycle tracks and natural environments during lockdown has revealed the country’s great divide and highlighted the lack of accessible open space in our central hubs.”

AILA Chief Executive, Ben Stockwin said the global pandemic has highlighted the strength and vulnerabilities of our cities, stressing the need for our public spaces the deliver fundamental social, environmental and economic change.

Stockwin advises “social distancing is here to stay, and we can’t rely on our current planning and design to cater to the needs of a post-pandemic environment.

“Our hospitality, retail and entertainment sectors can’t continue with half-full venues, while it turns away patrons, in line with its COVIDSafe plan. This is completely detrimental to small and medium business, and ultimately, our economy.

“The COVID-19 recovery in Australia is going to require our outdoor spaces to work harder to meet the new economic and social needs of our communities.”

Stockwin said despite all the challenges the pandemic delivered, it presents a great opportunity for local governments to rethink how we use public spaces.

“The landscape architecture industry is passionate about human-centric, adaptable design. It’s time our governments start looking at injecting funding into this space as a path to recovery.

“There is a broad need to reimagine our public spaces and formulate socially distanced ways to make use of our urban landscapes over the long term. This will partially be a behavioural change, but mostly a design change.”

AILA has highlighted a need to consider long term adaptation in the planning of our cities and regional centres.

Stockwin adds “there is a need to establish who we’re prioritising in the complex planning and design process, which requires the involvement of local governments, planners, designers and the community.

“Are our streets just for moving cars, or should they serve a variety of purposes; moving pedestrians, cyclists, people and public transport, dining, entertainment, retail?

“In prioritising the space, we need to understand what the trade-off will be. If you plan for cars, you get traffic, but if you plan for people you get destinations.

“In planning for people, design elements such as widened footpaths, more trees and active transport considerations create safer, more hospitable environments that encourage people to linger longer.”

AILA recently hosted its first ever virtual awards program, highlighting landscape architects who had designed considered places.

Winners addressed the need to design spaces for people and social activation, setting the standard for people-oriented infrastructure, environmental enhancement and public realm improvements.

Winning projects that excel in this space include:

• Central Park Public Domain, NSW, by Turf Design Studio with Jeppe Aagaard Andersen

• Brunswick Civic and Cultural Precinct Upgrade, VIC, by Moreland City Council

• Aerodrome Road Intersection, QLD, by Hassell

• Oaklands Crossing Grade Separation, SA, by ASPECT Studios and Cox Architecture

• Darwin Civic and State Square Masterplan, NT, with TCL and Troppo

Stockwin concludes “if the space and infrastructure exists people are more likely to use it, and less like to jump in their cars.

“We are fortunate in Australia to have a lot of open space - we just need to make it more accessible and user friendly.”

Image top: Central Park Public Domain by Turf Design Studio with Jeppe Aagaard Andersen; image centre Brunswick Town Hall Precinct Streetscape Upgrade by Moreland City Council; and image above Darwin Civic and State Square Masterplan by TCL with Troppo