100 Climate Conversations

Gallagher Studio Founder and Director Dr Libby Gallagher was interviewed as part of 100 Climate Conversations by journalist Pat Abboud live at the Powerhouse Museum.  Libby is number 58 of the series of 100 visionary Australians that are taking positive action to respond climate change.

Libby speaks about her PhD as well as the Cool Streets initiative that grew out of this research.  You can listen to the interview online here: https://100climateconversations.com/libby-gallagher/ or search for 100 climate conversations in your favourite podcast app.  We highly recommend checking out all the other amazing interviews as part of this series.

NSW Urban Tree Canopy - Targets and Controls receives National AILA award

We are proud to share that the NSW Urban Tree Canopy - Targets and Controls project has received a National Landscape Architecture Award from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) in the Landscape Planning category. With thanks to our client, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and our amazing collaborators and team on this project, Michael Zanardo from Studio Zanardo, Christina Silk, Scott van den Boogaard, Ari Stein, Anina Carl, Rasheen Lee, and Wendy Zhu.

From the jury:

“One size does not fit all.” This work on achieving the targets for tree canopy cover in cities clearly demonstrates that one policy does not address all land use situations.
This simple project showed that to increase urban tree canopy cover, a nuanced approach is required that respects some key factors, such as the nature of the place and space for soil. By going beyond an analysis of the problem and testing the design solutions, the landscape architects took on the statutory planning to show how the planting could be more effectively codified.
The jury considered this an accomplished example of landscape planning. With more investment, it could be translated into a digital platform and used to inform other local governments grappling with this issue.

We look forward to seeing how this work can be adopted by design professionals and governments at all levels to create positive outcomes and improve climate resilience in our cities. You can download a copy here: https://bit.ly/3TaMysB

Gallagher Studio receives NSW AILA Landscape Architecture Award!

We're very proud to receive a Landscape Architecture Award from the NSW Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA).

Our NSW Department of Education Landscape Review project won in the Research, Policy, and Communications category. 

Congratulations to all our peers and colleagues who also received awards on the night!.

Making trees an integral part of urban living

We always welcome opportunities to advocate for more trees in our cities. Libby, along with Dr Tony Matthews from Griffith University was interviewed on Radio National’s Life Matters program this week about the importance of trees in addressing urban heat and making our cities more liveable. Libby shared our experience, through the Cool Streets Initiative of grass roots implementation.  Thanks to Greener Spaces Better Places, for their ongoing leadership in promoting urban tree canopy.  

To listen, click on the link below

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/making-trees-an-integral-part-of-urban-living/11977288.

Why streets need trees: in conversation with Libby Gallagher

Libby Gallagher was recently interviewed by Foreground magazine. Read the article as Libby talks more about the Cool Streets project and the work of Gallagher Studio.

Mercury rising: Australia faces an even hotter future

Last night, the ABC's 7:30 Report featured a piece on climate change and climate adaptation, following the recent news from the Bureau of Meteorology that 2017 was the third hottest year on record.

Libby and one of our Cool Streets Pilot Project residents, Bala, were interviewed to talk about Cool Streets and the ways it is helping to tackle climate change at a local level. It is wonderful to see how the residents have embraced the new trees on their street, and that the trees are growing well with all the love and care from residents like Bala. 

To watch the segment, click through to the 7:30 Report's webpage here.

The Daily Drive

Libby recently joined Sam Stove and Brigitte Duclos on 'The Daily Drive' to chat about the benefits of trees and the Cool Streets initiative. It's great to get the message out there about the benefits of trees in our cities - especially whilst we're in the midst of a heatwave here in Sydney!

To take a listen to the segment, click here.

Or, to visit The Daily Drive's page, click here.

St Leonards Park Have Your Say

We are very excited that our draft Landscape Masterplan for St Leonards Park in North Sydney is now on public exhibition, and will be publically accessible until Friday, 2 February 2018.

To find out more or to give your feedback, please visit the North Sydney Council website.

NSW government plans for millions more trees to protect against climate change

It's great to see this recent announcement by the NSW State Government about their initiative to plant more trees to help combat climate change. The Domain reporter, Madeleine Wedesweiler, writes, 

On Tuesday, Planning Minister Anthony Roberts announced the government’s “Greener Places” draft policy which views green spaces and plants not just as individual objects but as an important piece of state infrastructure. 

Under the policy, the Office of Open Space and Parklands, led by Commissioner Fiona Morrison, will aim to increase the urban tree canopy of Sydney from approximately 16 per cent to 40 per cent.

To read the article, visit the link on The Domain.

Global problems, local actions: Cool Streets Pilot Project awarded with a National Award of Excellence

The 2017 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) National Landscape Awards were held last Friday night at The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney. Gallagher Studio is very proud to have received an Award of Excellence for our Cool Streets Pilot Project, in the Community Contribution category. It was a fantastic night of celebration and we warmly congratulate all the nominees and award winners. 

Foreground published a review of the National Landscape Awards, writing;

“It’s hard to sum up a year’s work in a single comment, but it’s really the work of the landscape architect to promote liveability and to get people out in the landscape interacting with one another,” says [Linda] Corkery. “When you look across the categories, across all 81 projects, the large majority of them spoke to public space, active community engagement, and getting people out into nature – especially in dense urban areas."

To read more and view the full list of award recipients, go here. 

Cronulla Public Domain Master Plan On Public Exhibition

We are very excited that our draft Cronulla Public Domain Master Plan for Sutherland Shire Council is now open on public exhibition until Saturday, 30 September 2017.

To find out more or participate, please visit the following link.

On The Street Where You Live - Money Does Grow On Trees

Libby was recently interviewed by ABC's Richard Aedy to contribute to Radio National's 'The Money' program. 'On the street where you live - money does grow on trees' airs tonight at 5:30pm, or you can download and listen to the audio via the ABC website here.

Gallagher Studio projects receive Awards of Excellence!

We're very proud to receive two Awards of Excellence from the NSW Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA).

Our Cool Streets Pilot project won in the Community Contribution category, whilst our Quality of Landscape Study received an award for Landscape Planning. 

Congratulations to all our peers and colleagues also received awards on the night!.

Cool It: Getting Green Into Both Our Suburbs And Our Cities

Our Cool Streets initiative was recently profiled in Foreground, an online journal focusing on city design, and highlights how greening does not need to be the preserve of the wealthy. Urban tree canopy can be critical for lower income, often socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods and communities who are highly vulnerable to increased urban heat.

Thanks to writer Alan Weedon for a great conversation.

To read the full article, please click here. 

Gallagher Studio is hiring!

Are you a graduate Landscape Architect that's passionate about the public domain and interested in joining Gallagher Studio?

If so - we're hiring! 

We are looking for a Graduate Landscape Architect with:

• A degree in Landscape Architecture
• 1 - 2 years’ experience in a design office
• Strong graphics skills with proficiency in Adobe Suite, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office and Sketch Up
• Positive attitude and willingness to collaborate
• Attention to detail and commitment to excellence
• Self-motivated and passionate about the public domain
• Australian resident (no visa restrictions)

If this sounds like you, head on over to the AILA Jobs Board for the full details, or email your cover letter, CV and portfolio (10mb max all attachments please) to libby@gallahgerstudio.com.au by Friday 30th June 2017.

Urban island heat effect: Rising temperatures in Aussie cities could create death traps

Did you know that our cities are 5C hotter compared to surrounding areas because of the ‘Urban Heat Island'?

Megan Palin shared an article on News.com.au today about the Urban Heat Island and the effect that is having on our cities. The article quotes some alarming statistics, including that "the annual air temperature of a city with one million people can be 1—3C warmer than its surroundings". However the article isn't all doom and gloom - it also details several Australian initiatives that are helping to tackle this significant problem, including our own Cool Streets™ initiative. We're very proud of our Cool Streets™ project, and believe that we all need to play a part in tackling climate change. You can find more information on the Cool Streets™ initative over at www.coolstreets.com.au .

We've Moved!

Gallagher Studio has moved offices! We're still in the same building, but have moved just around the corner to Suite 4. 

As of Tuesday 18th April 2017, Gallagher Studio's new address is: 
Suite 4, 151 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010

Our phone number remains unchanged. 

Cool Streets is featured on ABC Radio Sydney!

Yesterday, ABC Radio Sydney published an article "Sydney squeeze: Lower your electricity bills and reduce the heat island effect by planting more trees" as part of their week-long investigation into Sydney's future. The coverage includes everything from the cost of living to the impact on the environment, and our own Dr Libby Gallagher was contacted to provide insight as to how trees can help cool our cities, reduce CO2 emissions and reduce resident's power bills. 

Amanda Hoh wrote: 

Last year Blacktown City Council received State Government funding to trial a pilot program that saw more trees planted in Boonderoo Avenue in Glenwood.

The council partnered with the Cool Streets initiative that was developed by landscape architect Dr Libby Gallagher, whose PhD found changes to street design could reduce CO2 emissions, cool neighbourhoods and reduce power bills for residents.

"I found that you could basically achieve much higher levels of reduced energy consumption by planting effective trees on their street," Dr Gallagher said.

"As the trees grow, the projected outcome for these streets was that when [the trees] were at maturity they could achieve really significant benefits ... provide shading, shaving electricity bills by up to $400 per annum."

To read the full article, click here: 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-23/tackling-heat-with-trees-one-street-at-a-time/8380306

To visit the Cool Streets website click here: 
www.coolstreets.com.au

The first press coverage of Cool Streets!

Today, the Rouse Hill Courier published an article entitled 'Glenwood goes green' on their website. Meg Francis wrote:

A Glenwood street has brought down the temperature but turned up the heat on tackling climate change.

The Cool Streets project, hosted by Boonderoo Avenue, was recognised in the 2016 Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards when it won the climate change action award.

Gallagher Studio director Libby Gallagher, who led the project, said the organisation were blown away by the success of the Australia-first initiative. “The pilot project grew from my PHD at the University of Sydney into the potential of streets and street trees to tackle urban heat and mitigate climate change,” Dr Gallagher said.

To read the full article, click here:
www.rousehillcourier.com.au/story/4394787/glenwood-goes-green/?cs=1502

To go to the Cool Streets website, click here:
www.coolstreets.com.au

Cool Streets Pilot Project wins Climate Action Award

We are very pleased to share that Cool Streets won the Climate Action Award at the Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards this week.  Cool Streets Pilot Project is a community – led implementation project supported by Blacktown Council and developed by Gallagher Studio in collaboration with CRED Consulting. This pilot is part of a wider initiative called Cool Streets, developed by the project team to empower communities to cool their neighbourhoods through interactive participatory decision making. Have a look at the short video below, which explains the project.

Check out the Cool Streets website, here

View on Vimeo  |  View on YouTube