SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE
1:100 SECTION
This community garden and meeting space aims to create a space that educates and facilitates a multi-faceted dialogue about sustainable principles to Birchgrove residents and visitors to Ballast Point Park. Originally a Caltex oil refinery in the 19th century, McGregor Coxall Architects worked alongside the local community to create a sustainable parkland and return this privately-owned industrial space to the people. Features such as public art, recycled materials, wind energy and natural water filtration were included in this design. The garden also explicitly communicates the importance for renewal, regrowth and hope for a positive future. The use of only native flora not only provides the opportunity for habitat regeneration, but expresses the importance of being able to live off the land and grow only what you need, much like the First Nations people of Australia. The space is laid out to create a multitude of meeting points to view and rest in the garden, but also for organised events such as classes, gardening and talks to allow the general public to learn and participate in sustainable thinking. This intervention aims to enhance an existing piece of public art, creating a deeper sense of meaning and connection to the site.
The circular footprint directly beneath "Tank 101" was chosen as the location. This sculpture already communicates the importance for renewal, regrowth and a positive future as it is created from the skeleton of the largest industrial storage tank on the site. The space underneath the work is underused, due to its sparseness, sun exposure, and circulation around the perimeter. Tank 101, however, provides perfect opportunity to enclose the garden and create a lush micro-climate beneath. The industrial site is once again renewed as insects, animals and passer-bys are drawn to spend their time in the space.
PERSPECTIVE VIEW, 1:200 PLAN AND ROOF PLAN
- A twist on the traditional vegetable garden
- Native plants chosen have practical uses, often with Indigenous origins
- 30+ plants chosen including native honeysuckle, swordgrass, bulrush, mat-rush, coastal morning glory etc
- Plaques placed around site educating visitors on how to grow and use these species, as well as their cultural significance
- Signange on the structure itself depicting sustainable principles
- Recycled materials sourced from local businesses to minimise embodied energy
- Businesses include; Recycled Building Centre (Croydon), Ironwood (Lilyfield), Sydney Brick Recyclers (Smithfield)
- Rough-sawn blackbutt hardwood treated with Ecopoxy; a high biocontent, ecofriendly alternative to epoxy resin coating
- All light sources are solar powered
- UV purification system also powered by solar panels; providing a drinkable water source and demonstrating an effective domestic purification method
- Bulk and reflective insulation used; cellulose fibre, reflective foil laminate (RFL)
- Runoff maintained due to vicinity to Sydney Harbour
- Banning of fertilisers and soaps containing phosphates, nitrates and sulfates
- Porous paving system naturally allows water to infiltrate back into the subsoil
- Garden positioned so additional runoff can be filtered in existing bioswales
- 55m square metres of roof space collects roof in 4000L tank
- Provides water for a sprinkler system (calculated with regard to rainfall needed for selected native plants) Also supplies taps
- Reed bed filtration used to filter runoff
- Ponds to provide aquatic habitats for native species of frogs, insects etc