The final design and recommendations

This is the final presentation of the team's plan for the future of Newcastle. This was presented at the closing forum for the CitySwitch program. There was much discussion and interest in the proposal. A copy of the video will be provided to Newcastle City Council as a formal submission for consideration in their planing for the area.

Research Phase for Newcastle renewal

After the team explored some of the sites around the city, each individually worked up some concepts. On regrouping, each shared their ideas and preliminary designs for futher exploration.

The common themes related to the city centre, to be addressed by the team are city activity, connections and access.

The city is not currently the desination of choice for shopping, recreation and dining, as the suburban commercial centres have developed closer to the population. This has resulted in a high rate of vacant commercial spaces in the city.

The train line has been a divisive issue in the community with two polarised camps:

1. "Remove the train line to reactivate the city through improving the connection with the waterfront and the natural assets of the city." - where the train line is seen as a visual, padestrian and vehicle barrier to the Hunter River and the re-developed public, residential and commercial spaces.

2. "Public transport access is essential. Once the city is reactivated, there will be greater demand for rail access."

The underlying common issue is ACCESS: to the city (public transport) and within the city (connection/movement between the city spaces)

It became clear that the train debate and finding a way forward that considers these factors, is central to the life of the city centre and therefore required consideration in the teams design.

Team C 'Urban Performance' Concept

This team will develop future visions of downtown Newcastle that highlight an array of different possible modalities for activity, commerce and interaction in the street.

The media used will involve film, montage, animation, digital rendering and methods of editing these together.

The product will be a film-based media, the viewing experience of which will be designed throughout the workshop.

Team C leaders Takao, Satoru & Jin

Lecture on urban dynamics at the Lockup Newcastle.

Welcome to the 'Urban Performance' Blog