Forest Road Hurstville

A precinct renewal that creates an “outdoor living room” for the community

Challenge

With an objective to create a dynamic cultural hub that was to engage Hurstville’s diverse communities, Scott Carver was engaged at the competition level by Coombes Property Group and Hurstville City Council to develop a master plan proposal for a mixed-use development and civic square at 282 Forest Road, Hurstville. Imperative to resolving this challenge was creating a more direct path of travel from Forest Road to the Westfield complex, across the corner of the site and partially under the commercial building. Strengthening this link will result in a more seamless thoroughfare for the existing concourse while creating a more active connection and increased exposure for commercial tenants and plaza occupants.

Insight

Our proposal looks to reinforce the adjacent historical lane with a series of simple retail offers or “pods” that would seek to identify the edges of the Plaza; defining a variegated ground plane and allowing the public to travel into, over and around the space. These pods would cater to small food and beverage offers with leasing opportunities fronting the lane and to the proposed open green space and park.

Solution

Through positive renewal of the precinct and sensitive integration of the architecture and landscape through effective site planning; the design will realise a series of high quality spaces which accommodate a range of active and passive recreational and social activities. Working in harmony with the cultural demands of the population, our design proposal would transform the public domain into a series of spaces of “outdoor living rooms”, providing the community with a space for contemplation, public engagement, and connection.

10,540
Metres Squared GBA
2015
Concept Completed

Design inspiration

Through initial investigation, it was identified that there was a lack of quality public domain spaces with adequate visual and physical connectivity.