PROJECTS   >   uRBAN DESIGN

South Creek Urban Cooling Typologies

In collaboration with Studio Zanardo, Team Catalyst

Location: Western Sydney
Client: Infrastructure NSW
Project Dates: 2019 - 2020

The project, a collaboration between Gallagher Studio and Studio Zanardo was to identify regulatory reform to mitigate urban heat island for South Creek catchment, an area of 600 square kilometres with a projected population of over 1.25 million people by 2056. South Creek / Wianamatta forms one of the major tributaries of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and the catchment is one of the driest, and hottest areas of Sydney.

The process included a detailed review of local conditions including the specific geological, water and landscape conditions of the South Creek catchment. Our team reviewed relevant local and wider scientific research literature which informed specific urban cooling development types integrating blue - green infrastructure. These types include residential (low, medium, high), strata industrial, large format industrial, business park/ commercial and mixed use. Our team developed and tested various landscape, built form and materials principles and controls against current development models to assess their viability. We also undertook extensive review of similar development types from locally drawn case studies in Sydney to demonstrate application.

The outcome was a series of key design parameters that could be translated into controls related to lot coverage, setbacks, site coverage, deep soil landscape, built form and materials specifications that could be used as the basis for modified planning controls to deliver urban cooling in the Western Parkland City.