Introduced with great success in New York in 1990, the Common Ground supportive housing model responds to the particular circumstances of vulnerable people who not only require secure long-term accommodation but also on-site support services to improve their health, wellbeing and ability to live independently.

Following the introduction of Common Ground to Australia in Adelaide and Melbourne, the Sydney site at Camperdown was chosen in July 2009. It was at this early stage that GML became involved, working with Housing NSW, architects Hassell, and the developer Grocon to progress the initiative from the concept stage, through the development approval process and finally to construction.  GML provided initial heritage advice, an assessment of heritage impact, and later archaeological excavation and site interpretation concept designs.

The site has had a complex layering of nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century land uses, including factories, a church and school.  In 1927 the City of Sydney developed part of the site for what at the time w as an early and progressive example of public housing.  By continuing this historic use, and retaining the majority of the public housing units in conjunction with the new Common Ground building, the key heritage values of the site were conserved.  Pre-construction archaeological excavation by GML also revealed a diverse collection of relics as evidence of previous developments on the site.   A range of on-site interpretation devices, such as the use of markings and text in the floor of the new Common Ground building, illustrating the footprints of earlier buildings on the site, will enhance the residents’ enjoyment, understanding and connection to their new home, and the history of which they are now a part.

GML is proud to have been involved with such a ground breaking initiative, and congratulates the team led by Housing NSW and Grocon on the successful completion and opening of the project in November 2011.

Click here for more on the exciting and innovative Common Ground initiative

Aboriginal culture and heritage provides essential links between the past and present. It is an important part of cultural identity and connection to Country, and its protection and conservation is crucial in supporting the right to the ongoing cultural self-determination of Aboriginal communities.

This review aims to investigate options for a broad reform of the legislation in NSW. Goals include ensuring effective mechanisms for the protection of Aboriginal heritage and culture, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all parties, as well as the promotion of greater awareness and understanding of this heritage.

Consultation has been underway throughout November and December in the form of regional workshops. However, you can still have your say by using the web-based community engagement forum (closes 30 December 2011).

Click here for more information on the review process and the full list of reform goals.

TIME: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

WHERE: Goethe-Institut Australia, 90 Ocean Street, Woollahra

BOOK: rsvp@sydney.goethe.org

COST: Free / RSVP by 25 October 2011

Why are so few modern heritage places included on the World Heritage List? What is listed internationally? What isn’t? The six housing estates of Berlin Modernism (1913–1934) that were listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008 play a significant role in 20th century architecture and urbanism. Do such modern heritage places need fresh approaches to conservation and adaptation?

As part of the Sydney Architecture Festival 2011, join us to explore these questions and ponder the successes and failures of apartment design and the European influence on 1920s and 30s apartment design in Sydney.

Speakers: Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, Assistant Director, Creative Services Historic Houses Trust, and Sheridan Burke, Partner, Godden Mackay Logan.

Introduction: Alec Tzannes, Tzannes Associates & Dean of UNSW, Built Environment.

WHEN: Friday 28 October, 2011, 8.30 for 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

WHERE: Macquarie Graduate School of Management, CBD campus, level 7, 37 Pitt Street, Sydney

COST: $395.00 PIA/ AIA MEMBER: $365.00

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Planners, architects, project managers, site owners and anyone involved in planning the adaptation of heritage sites.

HOW TO REGISTER: online at www.planning.org.au/nsw or download a registration form and fax to 02 8904 1133 or email to nswevents@planning.org.au

This one-day workshop focuses on the role that planning can play in achieving sustainable heritage outcomes on sites and in areas undergoing redevelopment. Current attitudes to heritage conservation will be discussed as well as the principles behind the Burra Charter. Topical local and overseas examples will be used to demonstrate how heritage can be successfully factored into strategic planning by councils and government as part of sustainable environmental planning and what can happen when it is not adequately considered.

Best practice planning processes that have led to win/win development outcomes on complex heritage sites undergoing urban renewal will be highlighted. Several case studies, including former public hospital sites, will discuss the entire process of adapting large heritage sites containing many buildings, landscape elements, archaeological features as well as Aboriginal heritage values and community social values for a range of new residential and other uses. Principles for the appropriate master planning, development and management of complex heritage sites will be outlined as well as the various ways in which planning for interpretation can help to sustain heritage values and mitigate the impacts of development.

About the Presenter

David Logan—BArch (Hons) MBEnv (Bld Cons) MPIA CPP AffAIA

David is a partner of Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants and has over 30 years’ experience in heritage management in the private and public sectors. He has worked on many major urban renewal and redevelopment projects in Sydney including the Prince Henry site, Botanica ( former Lidcombe Hospital site), The Bond at Hickson Road, and Fox Studios at Moore Park. He has undertaken projects across Australia and overseas as well as training programmes and UNESCO World Heritage monitoring.

David is a member of the Heritage Council of NSW, the Parramatta (SEPP 65) Design Review Panel, the Heritage Committee of the Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) and the City of Sydney Business Forum. He is a former Vice President and National Executive Committee member of Australia ICOMOS and was involved in drafting the current version of the Burra Charter.

________________________________________________________________

2011 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE PRESENTATIONS AND DINNER, 8 NOVEMBER- REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

You are invited to join in the celebration of the 2011 Awards for Excellence in Planning – visit our website for details.

Register online at www.planning.org.au or download a registration form and fax to 02 8904 1133 or email nswevents@planning.org.au

________________________________________________________________

Contact PIA NSW

NSW Executive Officer Robyn Vincin
Policy Officer Cathy Towers
Administration Assistant Heather Johns

A link to the review website can be found at: http://planningreview.nsw.gov.au/

At the same time, a review is being undertaken of the Standard Planning Instrument (LEP) which contains the standard statutory provisions for heritage management. The Heritage Council is concerned about certain aspects of the provisions and has recommended that some changes be made. The resolution can be found at: http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/04_subnav_02_1.htm

Our three teams notched up some 23.5 million steps, burning some 4 million kj of energy on the metaphorical journey from Milford Sound, NZ, all the way to the magnificent Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain – with a little help from the occasional GCC complimentary steam train, submarine and military jet to traverse the more difficult parts of Google Earth.

We are happy to confirm we feel better as a result and even managed to avoid hitting that wall during the course of the trek (although at least one pedometer did when it accidentally reset itself).

However, Graduate Consultant and all round great sport, Diana Cowie, went one step further than all of us, organising for all GCC backpacks provided to GML to be donated to A Start In Life!

To find out more about this worthy cause, please visit www.astartinlife.org.au.

Related Stories:

>> “Hard Core” – read more about Martin’s sculpture and see how it took shape!

Heritage interpretation engages people in life and culture, creating experiences and shared memories.

Of course, good intentions can all too easily end up as polarising public art or tourist tokenism. Yet done well, interpretation has the ability to engage and involve local communities, pass on cultural knowledge for future generations, and tell a compelling tale of our journey to the present day.

‘Heritage’ is part of who we are, our cultural identity. It is intrinsically linked with our everyday life and can be communicated through literature, music, dance, art, food and other creative works.

Its conservation, therefore, is essential in securing and maintaining Australian culture and identity.  We need to ‘keep it alive’ for current and future generations.

Some heritage items are easy to understand. The Pyramids of Giza,  for example, require very little explanation in order for us to appreciate their significance.

Yet most heritage items are not the Great Pyramids!  And so a little more digging is required, along with a little creative help, before their values can truly be understood by the wider audience.

This is where heritage interpretation comes in.

Interpretation facilitates connections between people and place, strengthening and sustaining the relationship between communities and their heritage.

All types of media can be used, including signs, publications, audio, video, artworks and trails, activities and events. And their use can enhance understanding and enjoyment of a place by appealing to varying levels of experience, knowledge and different learning styles.

But more than that, heritage interpretation breathes life into stories that would otherwise have been lost.

A compelling form of storytelling, it connects place, history and people – ensuring memories and experiences that bring a site’s flavour to the fore and showcases its value for owners and visitors alike.

>> Read more on GML’s heritage interpretation services.

Related Interpretation Stories:

>> “Snake Man Stories” – The heritage interpretation project at La Perouse

>> “Burn, Baby, Burn!” – Recent work at the Willoughby Incinerator.

Our Top Five…

Fotopedia Heritage (free)

With a database of more than 25,000 photos of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as links to more information about each destination, this app makes great viewing. Select a destination on the map and explore.

Wikihood (free)

Turning your phone into a tour guide this app pinpoints your geographic location and combines it with Wikipedia facts to show you important sites, historic events and famous folk linked to the area.

iHandy Level (free)

For those moments on site when you are not quite sure if the window frame has a tilt—or its just you—iHandy Level turns your phone into a spirit level. Great for straightening your paintings up at home too!

English Heritage- Days Out Worth Talking About (free)

If you find yourself in Old Blighty why not load this app and let it tell you about sites and events near you.  You can also search categories and find out more about all of English Heritage’s many properties—which would be very handy when planning your holiday.

Powerhouse Museum Walking Tours App (free)

Offering a variety of three hour tours—each with a list of the stops, a GPS-enabled map with the route marked on it, explanatory text, images and photos as well as full audio commentary—this app is well worth downloading.  Our favorite is the Sydney Heritage Pub Crawl (in-App $2.49) but the Sydney Observatory tour is good too.

See our previous story on heritage apps for a couple of other favourites: the DigiMacq one and the British Museum one are also great examples.

A major cultural event in the Spring Festival program run by Willoughby Council, the biannual exhibition attracts artists from across Australia to help celebrate the visual arts in our community.

Entrants were invited to respond to the theme ‘rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle’ and from 183 sculptures 51 were selected, providing an opportunity to exhibit works inside the recently opened Incinerator and throughout surrounding parklands.

Martin’s sculpture, entitled ‘Core’, was designed to draw people into thinking about the nature of archaeological sites and the very specific nature of the debris we leave behind.

Responding initially to the history and archaeology of the Willoughby Incinerator and its relationship to rubbish disposal, its philosophical leanings actually have merit on a much wider scale.

Says Martin, ‘Every place has a unique cultural signature. Even your very own backyard! Some are more tangible and realisable than others, but wherever you are, the archaeological record buried beneath your feet contains an individual story of the lives lived and artefacts lost at that site.’

Standing a magnificent 2.5m in height, and constructed from cement, sand, dirt and several archaeological artefacts, Core boldly reflects site development and the changing approaches to consumerism, materialism and waste—presenting imagined layers and strata that could conceivably be in the ground at Willoughby Incinerator.

Related Stories:

>> “Snap Shot” – See the finished work!

>> “Burn, Baby, Burn!” – Recent work at the Willoughby Incinerator