Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) comprises a large and unique area covering 640 hectares, twice the size of the Sydney central business district. Of this land area, 430 hectares are green space and parklands with areas inhabited by threatened species, protected marine vegetation and endangered ecological communities. SOP is Australia’s highest rated 6-star public precinct under the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) ‘GreenStar ‘Communities’ sustainability rating program.

Community consultation, undertaken during the early stages of the project was challenged by the lack of local residents living in close proximity to the park when planning and design commenced in 2017. However, in 2020, with many more residents now living there, SOPA undertook ‘HOMIFY’ as an innovative community led engagement program to deeply listen and set clear community expectations of finer-grained needs for a more accessible, inclusive, family and dog-friendly public domain. The design team responded to this community engagement by the inclusion of a Community Gathering Space with community notice board, outdoor banquet tables and socially flexible seating.

Other aspects of sustainable design are the use of ‘smart furniture’ and durable materials. The use of smart furniture enables emerging technologies to play a part in the functioning and usage of the park, increase and monitor visitation, so that refinements to park planning can be implemented to improve visitation and socialisation of local residents.

This neighbourhood open space project is part of the GBCA ‘GreenStar Communities’ strategy adopted by SOPA’s Board in 2019. The Park contributes to improved social connection, health and wellbeing, facilitates active lifestyles, access and inclusion for local residents and professional workers within the 400m pedestrian catchment to the SOP mixed use town centre.

Photography by SCAPE Design Pty Ltd, LARK Industries and Sydney Olympic Park Authority

Dissections
Furniture:‘Freemantle’ aluminium clad amenities by Landmark • Stainless steel ‘Aquafil’ drinking fountain/dog bowl by Civiq • off-form concrete walls • ‘Geostone’ concrete pavement by Holcim • Resin bonded permeable pavement by Stoneset • natural sandstone blocks • crushed sandstone • locally quarried pebbles • Fibre reinforced composite decking incorporating recycled plastic – suspended over the Fig Tree root protection zone. • Recycled rubber soft fall surface in the play space • Recycled topsoils and mulches.