Ballast Point Park by McGregor+Coxall Landscape Architecture
Landscape Architecture: McGregor+Coxall
Location: Sydney, Australia
Area: 2.50ha
Cost: $8,500,000
Construction: 2009
Text&images: McGregor+Coxall
Located on the former Caltex lubricant production facility site, the 2.5ha park occupies the Birchgrove Peninsula in Sydney’s inner western harbour suburb of Balmain. The site, owned by Caltex from the 1920’s until 2002, has a rich history, from the privately owned residence ’Menevia’ of the 1860’s, to a quarry for ship ballast. The design concept responds to the broad cultural shift in understanding post industrial waterfronts as rich assets for public life. The design reconciles historical layers inside a framework of contemporary sustainability where recycled materials are used in innovative ways to create a low carbon park of unique quality. This environmental approach was further underpinned by a site-wide decontamination program and stormwater filtration though bioswales, rain gardens and wind turbines for on-site energy production. The park has won numerous awards including the prestigious world waterfront prize.
Why the vanity portraits of the authors?
[...] they lead to an instant timeless quality. And the choice of materials are inspiring. Seen here on Landezine. January 2, 2011 | admin | No Comments [...]
I think the site makes this space special – although Ballast Point Park provides nice platforms to view surrounding areas, I find that the park itself doesn’t add much to the landscape – particularly from the west side – but moreso relies on great prospect & orchestrated materials for effect.