Somewhere Public

Public Places have the ability to transform, reinvent and invigorate communities. These are the spaces that attract people to neighbourhoods, suburbs and towns; centrifugally bringing us together. They become part of our DNA; the places we tell stories about and remember most vividly. They are the difference between being anywhere and being somewhere.

 

Aboriginal Health Care Centre, Albury

Designed 2008–2009 | Installed September 2009
A scar tree and a sacred tree; I feel humbled to be here. A central circular space for community, laughter and time. Traditional medicinal and endemic plantings to link the site with pride and belief.

Riverina Cancercare Centre, Wagga

Designed 2009 | Installed 2009
A little courtyard nestled into Calvary Hospital Wagga Wagga to be explored but also to be experienced as a ‘viewing landscape’ by the patients receiving their treatment overlooking the space. A beautiful rock wall by Wayne Fox, birds inspired by Michael Murphy by his friends and ‘that tree’ which was worth the argument to save; a symbol of hope and life.

Watermark residences, Wagga Wagga

Designed 2004–2006 | Installed 2006: Stage 2 Coming Soon
A new life for St Michaels on the Murrumbidgee River; an authentic Watermark by the amazing Tony and Enzo. The challenge to create a landscape of home and to be respectful of the history and the the age of the buildings and its connection with the great river. For Uncle Bill.

CSU Learning Commons, Albury

Designed March 2009 | Installed September 2009
The new learning commons at Charles Sturt University, Thurgoona by the fabulous JWP architects includes a courtyard of split levels, endemic plantings, recycled timber seating and shapes that link the inside to the out or is that the other way around. I hope that one day they include the tree ‘greats’ by the wonderful team of Hayley Crossing and Alex Dalglish and that the outside gallery gets up.

CSU Residences, Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Orange, Thurgoona

Designed 2008–2010 | Installed 2008–2010
The new residences at all the campuses feature low water use endemic and Mediterranean plantings, recycled grey water use and integrated stormwater management as rock lined swales and small detention basins. Centrally located BarBQ areas include gabion basket retaining walls and seating with furniture inspired by uni students’ penchant for ‘borrowing’ signs.

Wollundry Lagoon, Wagga Wagga

Designed 1999–2003 | Installed 2000–2003
I still dream of crescent shape moons. How to get the levels to work around that lagoon? The Wawi lives in there; Dawn, Sue, Kirsty and I know it. So many happy memories making it come true. For Paul H my mentor; forever in debt for the opportunity to work with such a great man.

Annettes Place, childcare centre, Young

Designed 2004 | Installed 2004
Young know what is under and what is over. Flower boats and twig steam engines down the waterfall. Level changes, witchetty grub decks, imaginative spaces that take you anywhere. Veggies, chickens, mud sculpture and fairy circles where anything is possible. If only I was 5 again.

Watermark residences, Castlecove

Designed 2006–2007 | Installed June 2009
Another Watermark project and a chance to spend time with Enzo and Tony again and to be inspired by Marchese and Partners and Gavin Drew from insideOUT landscape. Beautiful sandstone outcrops, lost Cheese Trees, water underground and bandicoots. A landscape built on a concrete slab creates many challenges of depth and weight; but it is becoming a home; coves within the cove. At last a regenerating site; I knew the seeds were hiding in the soil somewhere. Looking forward to see how she grows.