MELBOURNE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Thomastown East Reserve, wetland retrofit

Aug 24, 2018

Thomastown East Reserve, wetland retrofit view on water and walking path

Thomastown East Reserve, wetland retrofit view of walking path

With the assistance of sub-consultants Ecological Engineering Pty Ltd and in consultation with Melbourne Water, Laycock and Jaquet devised a design that retrofitted a portion of the neighbouring Thomastown East estate with WSUD elements aimed at water conservation design and improvement of water quality. In order to do this, the site was graded to maximise the use of rainwater by directing available runoffs to grass and garden beds. All paths were flanked on the upper side by swales filled with gravel and agricultural drains to redirect the runoffs to adjacent revegetation areas.

All available stormwater from the estate’s hard surfaces was captured in a new wetland on an old quarry site. Careful consideration was given to the sizing of the wetland to reflect the relatively small water catchment and thus minimising algal bloom and mosquito breeding. The wetland provides both flood management and essential treatment of urban water contaminants before being discharged into Darebin Creek.

This project demonstrates that both retrofitting WSUD elements and treating small catchments are well worth tackling and, if sized correctly and designed well, modest wetlands can have a marked and positive impact on the environment and the community.

Thomastown East Reserve, wetland retrofit

Client
Whittlesea City Council

Location
Thomastown , VIC

Size
600m2

Consultancy Type Lead

Achievement
Largest greenfield cemetery project in NSW

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Northern Memorial Park Masterplan

Aug 24, 2018

We felt that a stormwater Management strategy was essential to the understanding of the site’s potential together with soil science and ecological assessments. The cutting-edge water sensitive urban design (The first Stormwater Management Plan of its kind in a cemetery) played a major part in the development of the masterplan for the Northern Memorial Park extension. The complete road layout was designed as a system for the collection and filtration of storm water. Major axial roads will have wide medians both to become way-finding landmarks and act as large water filtration devices; secondary roads will incorporate car parking and avenue trees planted which capitalise on road run-off.

A simple and easily understood circulation system, in contrast with the somewhat convoluted pattern in the existing southern section, was a major objective, as was the retention of all remnant and extremely old River Red Gums.

Northern Memorial Park Masterplan

Client
Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park Trust (now GMCT)

Location
Fawkner , VIC

Size
52 Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team

Achievement
First cemetery Stormwater Management Plan

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Townhouses and roof garden

Aug 23, 2018

Working in collaboration with Crone Architects, this high density development exudes good design principles and strong themes. The landscape treatment is reflective of the existing streetscape and character of the area, taking inspiration from its historically industrial landscapes as well as its hard- working and resilient people. The key feature of the development is its first floor courtyard where the landscape objective is to foster community spirit and promote interaction between residents with its “edible” theme.

The roof planting appears to grow out of openings through the timber deck, offering patches of green spaces in strategic location. At night, the perforated coreten strips within the deck will let light shine through, giving a poetic, non- glaring and subtle lighting effect, particularly visible from the upper levels.

Along the street frontage, and as art of the Urban Art Contribution, a number of coloured light boxes are positioned at each townhouse’s entrance, creating a unique urban night image.

Townhouses and roof garden

Client
Acer Capital P/L

Location
Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne, VIC

Size
17 multistorey townhouses

Consultancy Type
Sub-consultant- Large multi-disciplinary team

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Bonbeach “Boutique” Residential estate

Aug 23, 2018

Florence Jaquet Landscape Architect was engaged by VicUrban as part of the redevelopment of the old TAFE site into a 100 lot residential estate adjacent to Paterson River Country Club. Significant indigenous heath and large established Coastal Banksia trees adorn the site and were retained as part of the four local parks within the estate.

The main open space acts as a retarding basin and bio-retention pond mitigating and treating surrounding run-offs in storm events. Small WSUD (Water Sensitive Urban Design) swales in the nature strips treat the run-offs from the estate before they enter the main bio-retention basin which has been purposely designed using an angular and very contemporary layout showcasing that WSUD does not need to be naturalistic in appearance.

Bonbeach “Boutique” Residential estate

Client
Vic Urban

Location
Bonbeach, VIC

Size
7.5Ha

Consultancy Type
Part of a multi-disciplinary team

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Wantirna Lea “Boutique” Residential estate

Aug 23, 2018

walking path in Wantira Lea residential estate project

Trees landscape in Wantira Lea residential estate

A.V. Jennings has established a new housing estate at Knoxfield, an outer-eastern suburb of Melbourne. Laycock & Jaquet were commissioned to undertake the housing estate landscape design, construction documents and oversee contract administration for the project.

The residential estate landscape entrance includes two asymmetrical curved walls used as identity markers. The frontage treatment includes mass planting of shrubs and ground covers in a repeating pattern to create rhythm and harmony.
A consistent palette of materials has been selected to provide a cohesive character for the estate.

The central park has been designed to link in with the entrance treatment and draws visitors’ attention through the site with the use of seating walls and planting materiel in keeping with the entry area. The park includes a community space with a shelter.

Several years later, the team returned to assess how the project had performed. The park remains well used as a central community space. Planting has not only survived and grown extremely well, all paving and natural stone walls remain undamaged, attesting to the careful and wise plant selection and thorough, well informed specifications.

A good design and good execution should always outlast its makers. This will be the case here.

Wantirna Lea “Boutique” Residential estate

Client
A. V. Jennings

Location
Bonbeach, VIC

Size
7.5Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead

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