Perth master class focuses on light rail

20 Oct 2011

Director Peter Richards continues to strengthen his credentials in urban design teaching.

After co-presenting an urban design master class with John Byrne at the 2011 PIA State Planning Conference in Toowomba last month, Richards flew to Perth to assist leading a design master class for the ACNU.  The master class was prior to The New Urbanism and Smart Transport 2011 International Conference, 26 and 27 September, and was led by Stefanos Polyzoides, CNU founder and principal of Moule and Polyzoides in Pasadena, California and Wendy Morris from ESD in Melbourne.

Perth’s proposed light rail corridor was the focus of the master class. Three teams looked at each of the light rail routes, linking three universities and a major hospital to the city centre. An additional team investigated appropriate densification typologies and an architecture of place.

Peter led the ‘south-east route’ team, working with local urban designer Malcolm Mackay and John Stimson from Fairmont Homes in Adelaide.   The team investigated a route from the city centre — through Victoria Park, past the Australian Resources Research Centre and the Hayman Road Technology Park to Curtin University. Detailed analysis of the preferred route was undertaken, examining the two primary alternatives of Albany Highway or Shepperton Road. The light rail stops were seen as catalysts for development of contemporary medium rise, mixed-use urban buildings. (Image at right shows potential built form at the intersection of Shepperton Road and Duncan Street.)

The workshop outcomes will be published within the next few months.