Bradfield Central Park

Honouring the Cumberland Plain as expressed by the Traditional Custodians, our design for Bradfield Central Park offers a new typology of urban space for Australia, demonstrating how a city space can help heal Country. 

Bradfield Central Park will be the first major public space in Bradfield, a new city within Aerotropolis, the urban region set to transform Western Sydney. Guided by an ambition to do no more harm and touch the ground lightly, we delivered a simple design proposition: completely fill the area with nature, while carving out spaces for people to enjoy their lives in Bradfield, connected to and immersed in nature. 

A rare chance to shape the culture of an emerging city, our design for Bradfield Central Park challenges conventional approaches and showcases the benefits of designing with Country. Instead of relying on European civic design traditions, Hassell conceived a new typology of urban space that begins with listening to Country and its Custodians. This new ​‘Dharug Civic’ approach is guided by nature, using natural systems as inspiration for design solutions. In close collaboration with our long time First Nations design partner, Djinjama, our design for Bradfield Central Park highlights how a city space can help heal Country.

“From the smallest of things to the biggest of things and everything in between”

Danièle Hromek’s grandmother

Designed for all species to use and enjoy, Bradfield Central Park is a place where both humans and non-humans will want to spend time. Ecological corridors and ​‘shrubby’ stepping stones provide uninterrupted pathways for local animals, while timber boardwalks that barely touch the ground allow people to meander among grasses and wildflowers, without disrupting the species below.

Along the paths are places for respite or gathering, carved out of the natural landscape which, in some instances, seem hard to find without paying close attention. Planting from the park extends to the entrance of the nearby metro line, serving as an invitation to commuters to take a stroll after their commute. To advance our ambition to do no more harm and walk lightly, Bradfield Central Park will be a site for ecological restoration.

“Falling in love with Country is an act of caring for Country. If we love Country, Country loves us.”

- Danièle Hromek, Djinjama Director

Unlike most civic parks, Bradfield Central Park is designed with a lens on the future, balancing immediate attractiveness with long-term ecological goals. That’s why we embedded ongoing management, research, education and engagement with the park’s ecological communities into our design approach.

A collaboration with Western Sydney University would enable the park to become a vital testing ground for 22nd-century public realm design. By monitoring its ecological and environmental performance, Bradfield Central Park has the potential to inspire future projects.

Client

The Western Parkland City Authority (WPCA)

Location

Dharug Nation
Bradfield City, Greater Western Sydney, Australia

Status

Unbuilt

Year

2023

Scale

20,000 sqm

Collaborators

Aileen Sage, Arup, COLA Studio, Djinjama, E2DESIGNLAB, Northrop, Western Sydney University

Design team

Sharon Wright, Jon Hazelwood, Chloe Walsh, Anthony Thevenon, Simon Rich, Jackson Hill, Samantha Peart

“The first major public space in a new city does not come along very often. Given its bold aspirations, this space needs to go beyond the usual expectations for urban spaces.”

- Sharon Wright, Hassell Principal and Head of Design

Our cultural engagement process culminated in a framework of principles that guided our ambition to do no more harm and touch the ground lightly.

A LIGHT TOUCH

  • Uninterrupted soils to preserve existing soil structures and habitats
  • Elevated boardwalks that enable visitors to stroll among the grasses and wildflowers, preserving the natural habitat below.
  • No additional underground infrastructure of pits and pipes 

DO NO MORE HARM

  • Only adding materials when absolutely essential
  • When we do need to add materials, be intentional about what they are and where they come from, such as 100% reused timber sourced from local felled trees
  • Avoid the use of ​‘virgin’ materials and explore use of recycled and reclaimed
  • Materials used in the design must not destroy more trees just to source wood. 
  • All elements to be off grid and disconnected when possible 

SPECIES RICH

  • Avoiding use of traditional lawns, which have adverse outcomes for biodiversity 
  • 80 percent planted, which still allows 5,000 people to gather, play, sit quietly and enjoy a city park
  • Avoiding monoculture planting. As the Cumberland Plain consists of 536 different species, we will have a minimum of 10 species per sq metre. 
  • 100% native planting, with the option to explore non-endemic species to increase floristic and cultural nature of the park
  • Designed to encourage diverse fauna species back to the site.
Related

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People

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Jon is one of our most experienced public realm and landscape architecture professionals. Based in the Sydney studio, Jon is also a prolific writer, regularly sharing his insights on how great design, planting design and access to nature enriches our lives.

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