Urban Renewal in Barangaroo24/03/2020
ANALYSE THE RESULTS OF ONE URBAN DYNAMIC OF CHANGE OPERATING IN A COUNTRY TOWN OR SUBURB
Caitlin DarcyYear 12 Geography Task 2
IntroductionBarangaroo is a, “dynamic retail, cultural and financial hub” (NSW government, n.d.) and is
located to the north-west of Wynyard and boarders Sydney CBD covering an area of 22
hectares. Its coordinates are 33o52lS 151o12lE. The precinct focuses on being sustainable and
having a small ecological footprint on the environment.
Urban renewal is defined as the redevelopment of an area that has undergone urban decay.
Barangaroo was previously an industrial container port and had many factories and was
officially closed down in 2003, leading to urban decay. The Government began the renewal
of Barangaroo in 2011/12.
Key
Barangaroo Boarder
Highways/Motorways
Roads
Parks Water
Buildings
Map of Barangaroo
N
EvidenceBarangaroo South and Barangaroo Reserve have undergone urban renewal. Barangaroo
North is still undergoing urban renewal with the construction of the Crown Resort, metro
line and area for public recreation, events and entertainment. Evidence of adaptive reuse
can be seen in figure one that shows an aerial photo of Barangaroo and Millers Point in 1937
and 2017.
Fieldwork was conducted at Barangaroo on Friday 6 March 2020 with Austin Brooks from
Observatory Hill. Whilst conducting fieldwork the following evidence of ecologically
sustainable urban renewal was observed:
Louvres on the sides of buildings (figures two and three)
Lion made up of living plants with a rainbow theme to celebrate Mardi Gras (figure
four)
Bins with sorting systems in the major food court, “The Canteen” (figures five and
six)
Tapered footpaths and drains in the middle of the footpath (figure seven)
Construction in Barangaroo Central (figures eight, nine, ten)
Architectural design and artworks to represent the culture and history of Barangaroo
(figures four, seven and eleven)
Adaptive reuse (figure twelve)
Barangaroo Reserve
Walkways and cycle ways, including Wynyard Walk, bike storage and bathroom
facilities for post-cycle, ferries and construction of Metro station.
Housing/residential buildings (figure fifteen and eighteen) including key-worker
housing (figure eighteen)
Green walls (figure fourteen)
Retail buildings (figure sixteen)
Public transport
During an interview with Austin Brooks from Observatory Hill, he highlighted that
Barangaroo:
Uses solar panels (figure eighteen)
Owns an off-site solar farm
Uses chilled beams in buildings to cool down them down (figure eighteen)
Is carbon neutral
Incorporated sustainable building materials (figure thirteen and eighteen)
Is environmentally sustainable (figure eighteen)
Is working towards zero waste
Is water positive
Is climate positive
ResultsSocial and Cultural Benefits/Sustainability
Barangaroo has multiple artworks and installations to represent its culture, history and
aboriginal heritage. These include the design of the drains to look like the ropes that were
used at Cockle Bay (figure seven), a lion made up of 5,600 plants with a rainbow theme to
celebrate Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (figure four), a video about the Aboriginal
people (figure eleven) and the Cockle Bay Shell Mural (figure seventeen).
The HSBC lion is made up of 5,600 plants and is watered with recycled water from the
Barangaroo precinct. The Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Jessica Power
said that the lion represents the company’s, “commitment to diversity and inclusion and
ongoing support for the LGBTIQ community,” (HSBC, 2020).
The Barangaroo precinct strives to achieve community wellbeing by having as many services
as possible within walking distance (eg. doctor, dentist, childcare, gym, office space,
residential space) as well as easy access to public transport. Access to bike lockers and
showering/bathroom facilities encourages people to cycle to work. This together with
artwork and plants increase the mental and physical health and wellbeing of workers.
Unfortunately, Barangaroo doesn’t provide a large range of different housing types at
varying costs. The current minimum price for an apartment is $1,350,000
(Realestate.com.au, n.d.). There is key-worker housing under construction (figure eighteen),
however, it was proposed that the residents of this housing use a different entrance to the
other residents.
Environmental Benefits/Sustainability
Barangaroo precinct is a climate positive area and one of the most sustainable precincts in
the world. To achieve this Barangaroo is water positive (returns more water into the
environment then is used – figure seven), working towards zero waste, has a complex
rubbish sorting system, is carbon neutral with solar energy and chilled beam air conditioning
and uses environmentally sustainable materials. As of December 6 2019, Barangaroo was
announced as carbon neutral, making it the first urban precinct in Australia to be awarded
carbon neutral status.
Initiatives used to become climate positive include the complex rubbish sorting system
including up to nineteen different bins where rubbish can be sorted by category to allow for
the best disposal. This system is so refined that there is a separate bin for if a restaurant
breaks a plate. As well as this, in “The Canteen”, there are three separate bins for public to
sort their rubbish into (figure five).
Barangaroo reduces the amount of energy used for lights, heating and cooling by using
sustainable design. Louvres (figures two, three and eighteen) are attached to windows,
allow light and wind through but can also reflect or block heat to cool down or heat up a
room. All buildings in Barangaroo make use of chilled beams (figure eighteen) where water
is brought in from the harbour and then pumped through pipes in the building to it down.
Barangaroo relies on solar energy (figure eighteen) from 6km2 of rooftop solar panels as well
as an additional offsite solar farm.
Economic Benefits/Sustainability
Barangaroo was developed from a brownfield site (a site that has been previously
developed but is not currently in use). This is cheaper and more environmentally sustainable
than developing a greenfield site. Some of the necessary infrastructure such as water
supply, sewerage and electricity were already in place but needed upgrading due to the
population increase. Barangaroo now provides a positive contribution to the NSW economy
with about 20,000 people working in the precinct.
The sustainable design of Barangaroo provides economic benefits for residents by reducing
the cost of commuting as everywhere in Barangaroo can be walked or ridden to by bike. For
people who work but don’t live in the Barangaroo precinct, costs of commuting to work can
be reduced through the easy access to public transport from Sydney CBD provided by the
new Wynyard Walk, the ferry service and future metro station.
ConclusionBarangaroo is an excellent example of sustainable urban renewal. The project has provided
significant social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits (figure twenty). Whilst
there is not a wide variety of housing at varying costs (figure nineteen) all other components
have a high level of achievement. With around 20,000 people working in Barangaroo, there
is a large amount of opportunities for employment and business. The architecture of the
buildings is diverse and sustainable (figure eighteen). There are multiple opportunities for
walking, cycling and public transport as well as quality end of trip facilities.
The master plan has allowed for the protection and improvement of the natural
environment through initiatives such as the move to zero waste including the use of a
complex rubbish sorting system, solar panels and offsite solar farm and use of chilled
beams. However, the protection and improvements for the cultural environment are
lacking. Whilst the HSBC lion (figure four) does celebrate the LGBT+ community this was the
only feature that celebrates modern culture and diversity. To celebrate the Aboriginal
heritage and history, there is a video about Aboriginal culture playing in Barangaroo Reserve
(figure eleven) and the Cockle Shell Wall Mural (figure seventeen).
BibliographyBarangaroo becomes Australia’s first carbon neutral precinct 2019, NSW
Government, Barangaroo, viewed 22 March 2020, <https://www.barangaroo.com/the-
project/news/barangaroo-becomes-australia-s-first-carbon-neutral-precinct/>.
Barangaroo n.d., Photograph, Property Council of Australia, viewed 9 March 2020,
<https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/Web/Content/Media_Release/NSW/2018/
Barangaroo_South_wins_NSW_s_top_property_honour.aspx>.
Brooks, A 2020, pers. comm., 6 March.
Brooks, A n.d., Sustainability in Barangaroo, Handout, Year 12 Geography, Observatory
Hill, delivered 20 March 2020.
Colour the Streets n.d., The Streets of Barangaroo, Barangaroo, viewed 13 March 2020,
<https://thestreetsofbarangaroo.com/see-do/colour-the-streets>.
Google 2020, Map of Barangaroo, General reference map, viewed 9 March 2020,
<https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barangaroo+NSW+2000/@-
33.8605872,151.1995215,16.03z/data=!4m5!3m4!
1s0x6b12ae4136fd92d5:0x5017d6816334950!8m2!3d-33.8637941!4d151.2022304?hl=en-
GB>.
Macken, L 2019, Sydney’s most expensive residence sold for more than $140
million, Domain, viewed 22 March 2020, <https://www.domain.com.au/news/sydneys-
most-expensive-residence-has-sold-for-more-than-140-million-894214/>.
Meet the lion now living in Barangaroo 2020, HSBC, viewed 19 March 2020,
<https://www.about.hsbc.com.au/news-and-media/living-lion-barangaroo>.
NSW Government n.d., About Barangaroo, viewed 9 March 2020,
<https://www.barangaroo.com/see-and-do/barangaroo/about/>.
NSW Government n.d., Central Barangaroo Project, viewed 18 March 2020,
<https://www.barangaroo.com/the-project/progress/central-barangaroo-project/>.
Sold Apartments & units in Barangaroo, NSW 2000 n.d., viewed 22 March 2020,
<https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit+apartment-in-barangaroo,
+nsw+2000/list-1>.
AppendixAll photos taken by Camilla Kelgren and Caitlin Darcy
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
External louvres on the side of the building
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Aerial image of Barangaroo and
Millers Point taken in 2017
Arrow indicates location where these images can be
seen
Aerial image of Barangaroo and Millers Point from 1937
Figure 1
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 2
Figure 4
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
External louvres on the side of the building (International Towers Sydney). The red
colour adds an element of design. Other residential
buildings have other coloured louvres
During the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in late
February to Early March, the lion was given a rainbow mane
to celebrate the LGBT+ community.
Living plants make up the body of the lion. Recycled water is used to water the
plants.
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 3
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Multiple bins for different types of waste in “The Canteen”
Figure 6
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Bins in Barangaroo Reserve
Figure 5
The drains capture water for reuse and are designed to look like the ropes that
were used at Cockle Bay to acknowledge the history of the area
Footpaths are slightly tapered to make water flow
into drains
Figure 7
Construction occurring on Crown Resort in Barangaroo
Central
Figure 8
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 9
Crane working on construction in
Barangaroo Central
Commercial buildings in Barangaroo (International
Towers Sydney)
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 10
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Construction occurring in Barangaroo Central
Barangaroo South
Crown Resort
Figure 11
Video playing on loop in Barangaroo Reserve celebrating
Aboriginal culture
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Example of adaptive reuse. Building was formerly a factory but is now office
buildings
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 12
Figure 13
Sustainable building materials were used to make this building. The building was
delivered to Barangaroo in the form of a “flat-pack” which reduced the time needed to construct the building at Barangaroo and
reduced disturbances to workers and residents
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 14
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Barangaroo House is a restaurant owned by Matt Moran and features
a large green wall
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 15
Crown Resort
Residential buildings
David Jones shop in Barangaroo. One of the many retail buildings in
Barangaroo. Many of which are targeted at the upper class.
Figure 16
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 17
Cockle Shell Wall Mural – this artwork pays tribute to the heritage and history of the
Aboriginal people history. Aboriginal people would collect shells and place them around
the area to know what was previously hunted and what should be avoided. These
are called middens.
Date taken: Fri 6 March 2020
Figure 18
Diagram outlining the features of the buildings in Barangaroo
Date recorded: Fri 6 March 2020
Examples of the cheaper apartments sold in Barangaroo
(from Relestate.com.au)
Examples of the more expensive apartments sold in Barangaroo (from Realestate.com.au)
Cheapest apartment sold that could be found on realestate.com.au
Figure 19
Example of a middle-range priced apartment that was sold in
Barangaroo (from Realestate.com.au)
Date taken: Sun 22 March 2020
Evaluation criteria
Figure 20 Date recorded: Fri 6 March 2020
Evaluation of Barangaroo South using above criteria