FINAL Class Group Members:

o Purva Kurhade

CASE STUDY o Hafiz Mandeiya

o Joseph Kuria
o Aastha Aastha
o Princess Eto

BLDG51324
Urban Design Research Methods & Analysis

Sheridan College Urban Design 2023

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 Darling Harbour
Urban Design and public realm improvement guidelines

02 Lakeview Village
Mixed-Use, Residential & Recreation and Commercials
DARLING HARBOUR
AN URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT

Darling Harbour has undergone

significant redevelopment over
the years to transform it into a
major entertainment and leisure
hub. Its diverse range of
attractions and activities make it
a must-visit destination for
anyone exploring Sydney,
whether for leisure, business, or
tourism.

Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Project Type: Urban Renewal
Size: 2,153,000 sq feet
Current Status: Completed(2018)

Project Consultants:
OMA+ Hassell Studio + Populous
OVERVIEW & SITE LOCATION
A lively waterfront quarter, Darling Harbour is in Central Sydney, Australia.
It began off as a busy port, before undergoing its first wave of urban
renewal in the early 1980s, which notably brought about the former Sydney
Convention and Exhibition Centre, defining it as a cultural and
entertainment hub.

The project under study is the US$2.3 billion second-wave urban renewal
works program for Cockle Bay, Sydney, where Darling Harbour is situated.
Throughout this case study report, we have used the term ‘Darling Harbour’
as a representation of this urban renewal project. Darling Harbour is home
to The International Convention Centre Sydney and numerous attractions
such as the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, the Australian National Maritime
Museum, and the iconic Sydney Tower Eye. The district also features a wide
range of shopping, entertainment, and leisure venues. It is also within
walking distance of other major Sydney attractions such as the Sydney
Opera House and the Royal Botanical Garden.

AUSTRALIA SYDNEY DARLING HARBOUR

 An ambitious urban renewal project, Darling Harbour

THE VISION envisioned the creation of a world-class convention centre to

• To be a major events destination in Sydney with three large
public venues including Tumbalong Park, a high-capacity,
open-air event space that has been expanded to include an
additional 3,000 sq.m of green space, a stage, event screens,
and better lighting.
replace the former Sydney Convention & Exhibition centre,
which had been demolished in 2013 after a 30-year-long
service. The project also had the objective of opening up the
urbanity around Darling Harbour to improve movement through
and around it.
Construction Period: 2014 - 2018

• To be a linked precinct with an improved network of lanes

and streets, including The Boulevard, a 680m-long
Eucalyptus-lined promenade which anchors the entire
property and improves pedestrian linkages between Central
Station and Cockle Bay.

• To create more diverse and engaging community experiences

with new urban places such as the Chinese Garden Plaza, a
forecourt to the current Chinese Garden of Friendship, with a
water fountain that can be turned off to allow for market and
event-related installations.

• To craft a greener Darling Harbour, with 30% more public

space, 9,000 sq. mtr of extra green space, and 650 new
trees. The project used native species extensively, resulting
in a more biodiverse and sustainable habitat.

• To show off Sydney’s uniqueness through a variety of public

artworks and landscape elements inspired by the
surrounding nature.
 THE PRINCIPLES
An over-achieving set of design principles ensured
the precinct knits the urban district together through its
activation, scale & density; including by:

● Unifying the precinct through a clear north-south

pedestrian boulevard.

● Integration and alignment with the existing urban

fabric.

● Improving east-west connections to the city and

surrounding neighbourhoods.

● Creating a new urban fabric with the neighbouring

ABOVE: The Darling Harbour Project Drivers:
Haymarket, and with business and residential areas.
The Boulevard, Three Squares, Green Harbour, Permeability, Public Realm

● Expanding Tumbalong Park to enhance events

capacity.

● Re-establishing the natural environment.

● Diversification of public experiences through actively Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands
programmed spaces & features.
ABOVE: The Darling Harbour Massing Strategy
● Enriching the individual identities of the 3
venues by connecting them with the public realm.
 BELOW: The wading pool and the Pedestrian Boulevard

THE OPPORTUNITIES
As an urban renewal project, Darling Harbour opened up a variety of
socio-economic and cultural opportunities such as the following:

TOURISM DESTINATION: Darling Harbour is a popular destination for local

and international tourism, with its great views to the harbour. The area offers a
range of attractions such as the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Madame Tussauds
Sydney, the Australian National Maritime Museum, and the Wildlife Sydney Zoo.
There are also many entertainment venues in the area, making it a destination
for dining and entertainment.

EVENTS DESTINATION: Darling Harbour hosts numerous local and

international events throughout the year, including cultural festivals, music
concerts, and sporting events. The International Convention Centre Sydney is
one of the largest convention and exhibition centres in the world. These events
attract many visitors thereby sustaining local businesses.

BUSINESS: Darling Harbour is home to a variety of businesses such as hotels,

retail stores, and offices. Because businesses attract businesses, the project EDUCATION: The University of Technology
has invigorated the business scene in its entire urban district. The area is easily Sydney (UTS) has a campus at Darling
accessible via transit, making it a convenient location for businesses to connect Harbour, providing opportunities for
with potential customers. academia to study and collaborate with local
businesses, which can give impetus to
growth and innovation in assorted fields.
PRIME REAL ESTATE: The actualization of this harbourside project birthed
numerous real estate investments opportunities. The precinct and its urban
environs have experienced significant growth in the past decade.
 THE CHALLENGES LEFT: The Western
Distributor Motorway
overflies Darling
Site Context: The project faced the unsettling challenge of The Western
Harbour, essentially
Distributor Motorway overflying the facility, like an urban design edge severing
severing the
the site into two portions, not to mention the resultant traffic noise.
development into 2
portions.
Connectedness: Given Darling Harbour’s location in Central Sydney, the
project needed to integrate into the urban context seamlessly, through multi-
modal mobility including public transport, cycling and pedestrian networks.

Sustainability: Like other large projects, Darling Harbour risked damaging

the environment of a sensitive waterfront area, and therefore ecological
concerns must have been top on the minds of the designers and decision
makers.

Entry & Egress: With venues that can accommodate almost 4,000 people,
the question of trouble-free access and smooth and safe exits was an
important planning and design consideration, which must have influenced the
integration into the project of the 40-metre-wide pedestrian boulevard, which
connects areas beyond the site to the harbour front.

Cultural & Heritage Conservation: Central Sydney has a rich culture and
history; a significant number of buildings and structures around Darling
Harbour are of historical significance.

Environmental Management: Like any seaside project, Darling Harbour

faces aquatic threats such as flooding and erosion. As regards long-term
sustainability, the urban planners must have contended with the threat that ABOVE: The project site comprises an ecologically sensitive
could be posed by rising sea levels. valley and marine environment
LAND USE & BUILT FORM
The project’s massing concept is dense but low-rise,
affording visitors good views & human-scale movement
around the complex.
THE KEY DESIGN ELEMENT: The masses are organized around a
40m wide pedestrian boulevard that can take visitors directly from
downtown to Darling Harbour marina.
URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES: A study of the project reveals the
following urban design principles: Placemaking, Permeability,
Identity, Flexibility, Variety, and Connectivity

The Darling Harbour

development consists of the
following main usages:
1. The ICC Exhibition Centre
2. The ICC Hotel
3. The Convention Centre
4. The Theatre
5. Harborside
6. Tumbalong Park
7. The Hay Market
8. The Chinese Garden of Friendship.

The project’s is dominated by

convention, exhibition, and
entertainment land uses.
STREET PATTERN

Above: The Darling Harbour Master Plan showing Tumbalong Park as the intended urban Above: Darling Harbour in the Sydney Downtown Context
design focal point

The graphic to the right reveals the orthogonal street grid pattern in Sydney’s Central Business District (or Downtown). As the streets
approach Cockle Bay, the grid pattern gets warped by the irregular shape of the waterfront area. Around Darling Harbour’s immediate
vicinity, the street pattern is further influenced by Tumbalong Park and the harbour area in general becoming an urban design focal
point (as seen on the graphic to the left). Existing north-west view of the L akeview Village lands
MOBILITY ROUTES
THE PROJECT’S CONTEXT PEDESTRIAN & BIKE ROUTES TRANSIT ROUTES

1 The main ICC Buildings

1. LRT along Darling Drive The 40m-wide pedestrian boulevard The LRT along Darling Drive
2. Harbourside Shopping Center and Cockle
Bay
3. Darling Quarter, Chinese Garden and As an urban renewal project, Darling Harbour seamlessly stitched into the existing urban fabric,
Harbour Street improving mobility as opposed to hindering it.
4. Hay street
 PROJECT EVALUATION
Notable Positives:
o Darling Harbour’s urban design embraces the City of Sydney’s wider sustainability goals for open
spaces through integrated WSUD solutions, green spaces, transit connections and mode shift towards
walkability and micro-mobility.
o As a key planning and urban design objective, the project contributed to the opening up of the urbanity
around Darling Harbour, improving movement in the wider urban district and making walkability and micro-
mobility more feasible.
o To ensure the project did not become an impermeable collection of masses, the urban designers stitched
together the 3 ICC Sydney buildings by incorporating walkthrough landscaping and terraces.
o In a node to Australia’s environmental protection and enhancement expectations, Darling Harbour added to
the study area 30% more public space, 9,000 sq. mtr of extra green space, and 650 new trees.

o By creating a more revitalized public realm, Darling Harbour now houses more inclusive and engaging
public places.

Notable Negatives:
o Despite this having been a Public-Private-Partnership
project, the challenge of one of the busiest motorways
ABOVE: The transformation of
flying over the project could not be resolved.
movement around the wider district
o It is arguable that movement in the wider urban was a key objective from inception
district could have been improved even further by
innovatively breaking up the project’s largest masses; RIGHT: The Western Distributor
for example the Convention Centre, or by Motorway flies over the project
incorporating mobility routes over and/or beneath the dividing it into 2 portions and bringing
masses. about traffic noise
THE PROJECT’S HIGHLIGHTS
Darling Harbour is a good example of a large project delivered through the Public-Private-
Partnership model, where planning and zoning bureaucracy can be circumvented by bringing
the key players into a cooperative team. With planning having started in the early 2000s, the
project responded well to one of the key drivers of the time: convention tourism. The project
also managed to create conditions that addressed the following socio-economic and cultural
challenges to varying degrees:

HOUSING: The project included Darling Square, an early example of mixed-use development which
incorporates mid-rise and high-rise apartment towers. Beyond the study area, the project invigorated the
wider urban district, bringing in multiple mixed-use developments, thereby addressing housing availability
and affordability.
Adaptable usage: Wading pool shut
SUSTAINABILITY: Darling Harbour was designed with environmental sustainability as a guiding principle. off to allow for informal gatherings
The buildings are energy-efficient and are part of a comprehensive recycling program. As a seaside
development, Darling Harbour was constructed to be resilient to aquatic threats such as erosion, flooding,
rising sea levels, and climate-change related extreme weather events.

ACCESSIBILITY: Darling Harbour is gradually moving towards universal accessibility, where every area of
the development would be accessible to persons of all abilities.

CULTURAL INTEGRATION & IDENTITY: Darling Harbour consciously created a large, vibrant, and
inclusive public realm, designed to encourage people of different backgrounds to interact and engage with
one another.

Through public art installations, Darling Harbour reflects Sydney’s diverse culture and heritage. Specifically, it
celebrates the Chinese community through the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

CREATIVITY: As a noteworthy contribution, Darling Harbour brought innovations such as modern adaptive
usage and integrated seating to the Australian urban design and architectural scene. Innovative, integrated seating
LAKEVIEW VILLAGE
URBAN PLANNING & URBAN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Project Type: Mixed-Use development

Size: 564,030 ft² / 52,400 m²
Current Status: Approved
 INTRODUCTION
Lakeview, a neighborhood in Mississauga, was known for its 4 Sisters, the
four smokestacks of the former Lakeview Generating Station.
The generating station was demolished in 2007, and Lakeview is home to
several facilities, including the Port Credit Yacht Club, Lakefront Promenade
Marina, Arthur P. Kennedy Water Treatment Plant, and G. E. Booth
(Lakeview) Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Lakeview Village will breathe new life into Mississauga's waterfront,
reconnecting the community back to the water's edge with a diverse mix of
residential offerings as well as institutional, cultural, office, and retail
spaces.

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

 VISION
Lakeview Village will transform the former
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) coal-burning
power plant into a vibrant waterfront destination
that will become a model for sustainable mixed-
use development.
Lakeview Village will become the Greater
Toronto Area's most unique, innovative, and
exciting waterfront community, reconnecting
Mississauga to Lake Ontario.
A sustainable and diverse mix of residential
offerings will allow people the unique
opportunity to live and play on the lake.
Unique gathering and recreational spaces
weave throughout the community, contributing
to a dynamic, walkable, connected, and active
lifestyle at the water's edge and extending onto
the lake at Inspiration Point.

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

VISION’S MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT

Since the demolition of the iconic "Four Sisters" smokestacks,

the former Ontario Power Generation Plant site on Lake
Ontario has been a site for citizens visions and dreams for what
Mississauga's waterfront could be. Since its selection as a
development partner in December 2017, Lakeview Community
Partners Limited (LCPL) has led the effort to meaningfully re-
engage the community and progress the development of a master
plan vision for a vibrant and unique community on the waterfront.

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

 POLICY CONTEXT
MISSISSAUGA OFFICIAL PLAN: General Policies
The distribution of height and density will achieve the following:
§ A gradual transition to existing adjacent residential
neighbourhoods:
§ Reinforce a pedestrian scale along Lakeshore Road East:
§ protect and enhance view corridors along Lakefront
Promenade/Street 'G', the linear park along Street T, and Hydro
Road/Street J. Mana Street 'K'.
§ The greatest heights and densities will be located at the
southwestern edge of the community, subject to a detailed height
study:
§ Buildings located in the Waterway District Area will provide an
appropriate transition in height to adjacent development in
surrounding areas; provide a pedestrian scale with appropriate
step backs that includes a transition towards adjacent parks and
the waterfront;
§ Provide an appropriate transition between private development
and public open space:
§ Ensure accessibility and views towards the waterfront; and
§ Ensure a variety of built forms to create a varied skyline that
promotes views of Lake Ontario
LAND USE & BUILT FORM

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

LAND USE: ACCESS

Parking Pedestrian Cycling

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

KEY COMPONENTS

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

KEY COMPONENTS

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

PUBLIC SPACES Recreational Park

Lakeview Village will be a destination where residents and visitors can enjoy a
wide array of recreational experiences and amenities. Ogden Park, a "river of
green stretching from Lakeshore Road to Lake Ontario, is just one of the four
large park systems and open space networks connecting existing and future
neighborhoods to the waterfront.

A Serene Park Family Park

Park for all Seasons

PUBLIC TRANSIT
Current perspective of the Lakeview Village
lands from the northwest.

Introducing transportation connectivity to the

location will play a crucial role in securing the
project's sustainability over the long term. The
blueprint is intentionally adaptable, allowing the
integration of transit as the project progresses
through its phases and in alignment with
regional transit initiatives.
Strategically positioned, Lakeview Village enjoys
close proximity to the Long Branch and Port
Credit GO stations, the upcoming Hurontario
Street LRT, as well as the TTC transit hub. This
advantageous location ensures that residents,
workers, and visitors have convenient access to
both local and regional attractions.
Establishing effective and easily accessible
transit choices to and from Lakeview Village
constitutes a fundamental element of the
transportation and sustainability strategy.
STREET PATTERN
The proposed street network aims to provide safe access to
Lakeview Village for various modes of travel, including
pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and vehicles. It aims to
intertwine all districts and neighborhoods, ensuring direct,
efficient, and memorable connections. Street patterns that limit
block lengths, reduce vehicular speeds, and enhance walkability
promote walkability and reduce reliance on vehicular travel.
Lakeview Village is strategically located near Long Branch and
Port Credit GO stations, future Hurontario Street LRT, and TTC
transit hubs, making it easily accessible to residents, employees,
and visitors. The employment and innovation corridor will
provide local bus service along collector streets, direct
connections to two GO stations, and a link to the future
Lakeshore Road East transit facility. The project's long-term
sustainability is ensured by incorporating transit as the project is
phased and regional transit plans are implemented. Alternative
options, such as UberPool or Lyft, and autonomous vehicle
services are also being considered for community development.
The focus will be on a transit model that increases modal split
towards transit and away from private car use.
STREET PATTERN

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

THE OPPORTUNITIES

Near the western edge of the City

of Toronto, Lakeview Village is
situated in south-east Mississauga
on Lake Ontario, about 3.8 km east
of Port Credit.With Lakeshore Road
East as its northern boundary and
easy access to both the Queen
Elizabeth Way (QEW) and Highway
427, the site is well connected to
important roads and
highways.Lakeview Village is
situated in the City of Mississauga,
about 7 km from the City Centre
(Hurontario St. and
Burnhamthorpe Rd.).

Existing north-west view of the Lakeview Village lands

THE CHALLENGES
The roads in the Lakeview area were unable to support
the already approved 8,050 units in the previously
approved application; there is insufficient capacity for
schools to accommodate the children that would come
with 16,000 new units; the unlimited height being
requested would cause issues with the adjacent
wastewater treatment plant (particularly for units above
the 20th floor where odours are worse); there is
insufficient infrastructure to service the 16,000 units;
there are no guarantees that affordable housing will be
included as part of the development, which sits along a
major transit corridor in Mississauga.

Despite the provincial government's assertions in a press release posted

Friday; and the approval of this many new units in the area will require a
complete reworking of the City's capital plan, triggering an upheaval of
the ongoing Transit Project Assessment Process (TAP) for the Lakeshore
BRT, something that will create a web of financial problems an timing
delays for the City. According to a press release from the
provincial government, the approval of the MZO, including two other
properties at 3355 and 5645 Hurontario Street, is needed in order to tackle
the housing crisis in Ontario
 CONCLUSIONS
This study comes to the conclusion that the proposed urban
design vision, strategy, form, and pattern for the subject site
effectively address and support the urban design-related
policies of the City of Mississauga Official Plan, among other
pertinent built form standards and guidelines. The planned
development is appropriate for the Uptown Node Character
Area as well as the City as a whole, in terms of its transit-
supportive, pedestrian-oriented urban design character. The
Proposal transforms the Subject Site into a comprehensive
mixed-use village where inhabitants can live, work, and play,
making better use of unused land by adding housing,
amenities, open space, office uses, and retail space bordering
key streets.
The proposal promotes the urbanization of the crossroads
because it is a portion of the Comprehensive Master Plan
region.
URBAN DESIGN CHALLENGES
Affordable Housing: Urban design strategies such as mixed-
use development, transit-oriented development, and policies
that mandate developers include affordable housing units in
their projects This can help create more equitable and
sustainable communities.
Climate Change: Urban design has the potential to promote
sustainable transportation options like biking, walking, and public
transit, which can contribute to a healthier lifestyle and a
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Social Integration: Urban design has the potential to address
social isolation by creating neighbourhoods, bike-friendly
infrastructure, and promoting the use of public transportation,
which fosters social connections and community engagement.
Identity: Urban design has the potential to instill a sense of
belonging and uniqueness by integrating aspects of the
community's cultural and historical heritage into public spaces
and structures.
 REFERENCES
•https://populous.com/wp-content/uploads/SydneyICC_MediaKit.pdf
•https://mirrorsydney.wordpress.com/tag/darling-harbour/
•Appendix C - Statement of Heritage Impact Issue Part....pdf
•https://issuu.com/lakeviewcommunitypartners/docs/lakeviewvillage_dmp3.0
•https://mylakeviewvillage.com/project
•https://www.sasaki.com/projects/lakeview-village-master-plan/
•https://mylakeviewvillage.com/
•https://issuu.com/lakeviewcommunitypartners/docs/lakeviewvillage-jun2021
•https://issuu.com/lakeviewcommunitypartners/docs/lakeviewvillage_dmp2.0
•https://issuu.com/lakeviewcommunitypartners/docs/lakeviewvillage_dmp3.0
THANK YOU