North Sydney Council has developed a comprehensive plan for redevelopment of St Leonards and Crows Nest which pursued strategies for increased residential accommodation and evolution of an integrated and diverse community.
EP was commissioned to prepare a public domain masterplan to support the redevelopment vision and to guide reimagining of public spaces and streetscapes as part of an integrated identity and character promoting street life and activity. For more details visit St Leonards Public Domain Upgrade Masterplan
EP managed a multidisciplinary team including Taylor Thomson Whitting TTW, Lighting Art + Science LLAS , Trigger Design and WT Partnership to develop stage one of the project – the Mitchell Street square. The square was created through the transformation of the existing lane into a new shared movement zone. At the Pacific Highway end the square is anchored by a series of overlapping green wall blades. These provide a buffer to the traffic of the highway and a backdrop to the square while at the same time a highly visible gateway and identity to St Leonards. The green walls mark the first outdoor use of the Junglefy “breathing wall” technology and will be subject to ongoing monitoring by UTS Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group to provide data on air quality and particulate benefits.
The green walls are flanked by corten steel blades that define an elevated gathering and sitting space. Bespoke concrete and timber seating elements direct traffic movement through the shared zone and encourage diverse opportunities for sitting and for gathering.
Clusters of “light totems” punctuate the square from one end to the other creating a human scale against the adjoining built form and enabling choreographed light displays that enliven the space and draw you in from adjoining streets and spaces.