Case Studies
Bowden Park
Design Feature
Type of project
Placemaking
State
South Australia
Location
Urban
Forming the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Bowden in Adelaide’s inner north, Bowden Park offers relief from its urban surroundings. It is a garden oasis, activity and play space in what is projected to become one of the city’s most densely populated urban districts outside the Central Business District.
An urban oasis
The park is immediately adjacent to, and was developed in conjunction with the refurbishment of the old Clipsal ‘Plant 4’ factory building – now incorporating a small supermarket, cafes, bar, markets (bi-weekly), specialist stores, and event spaces. Bowden Park is in contrast to the redevelopment’s reuse of the remaining industrial buildings and an attractive destination for the surrounding community.
Formally a factory site, Bowden has been transformed into a new urban residential and mixed-use precinct, integrating good quality public open space. The total size of the park is 5,800 square metres. Designed to draw people through and encourage them to linger, Bowden Park is a place of relaxation, social connection and recreation. A fringe of gardens surrounding the central event lawns saturate the site with life. This access to public open space allows residents and visitors to reconnect with nature, undertake physical activity, or simply relax outdoors.
A series of connected pathways invites people in from all directions, adding to the walkability of the site and providing scootering, or skating opportunities around the park. Bins, water fountains, bike parking and cycle repair are all provided encouraging active transport and longer stays. In addition, a long shelter with picnic and barbeque areas, and a small play area with water jets is popular with families; with surveillance over this play space possible from café seating. As the trees grow in the park even more shade will be provided. The adjacent Plant 4 building provides further shaded seating, accessible toilets, baby change and other amenities.
The planting of the street trees in residential areas was one of the initial changes made during the development of Bowden. This has resulted in a green and comfortable streetscape which encourages walking in the warmer months. As part of achieving a 6 Start Green Star rating for the Bowden community, there is a signage project underway, with directional, active living and historical interpretive signs explaining the stories of the community, sharing the benefits of active transport and providing tips for better health.
Bowden Park is an example of how thoughtful and considered design can connect people by enhancing the social and recreational fabric of the city. Bowden provides an authentic destination within an establishing community.
> "The great thing about Bowden is that when you design for people and you have medium-density housing that has lots of amenities and a walkable neighbourhood, you’re also designing for the health and economy of the businesses surrounding it.” – Tuesday Udell, Heart Foundation
Bowden Park is an example of how thoughtful and considered design can connect people by enhancing the social and recreational fabric of the city. Bowden provides an authentic destination within an establishing community.
> "The great thing about Bowden is that when you design for people and you have medium-density housing that has lots of amenities and a walkable neighbourhood, you’re also designing for the health and economy of the businesses surrounding it.” – Tuesday Udell, Heart Foundation
Project team
- Project Design Lead: ASPECT Studios
- Client: Renewal SA
- Collaborators: FMG Engineering (structural and hydraulic engineers)
- Tonkin Consulting (civil and stormwater engineers)
- Lucid Consulting Engineers (heritage consultant)
- JBA (planning consultant)
- Lighting Art + Science (lighting designers)
- Landscape Construction Services (head contractor)
Project cost
$1.95 Million
Health value
- The development is connected by public transport, cycle ways and direct connections to the Adelaide Park Lands, encouraging the use of active forms of transport. This is further supported by bike facilities at the park.
- The green outlook supports the mental refreshment of surrounding residents in dwellings which line three sides of the park. The passive surveillance of the park by those dwellings enhances safety for park and surrounding public realm users – particularly at times when Plant 4 is closed.
- In a development without traditional backyards the provision of high amenity facilities aimed at small scale active play for young people as well as informal sport and activity for others supports active living. The provision of eateries overlooking the play area, including currently predominantly healthy food options, supports healthy eating, and the social focus of this space can reduce isolation.
Economic value
- The park is seamlessly connected to Plant 4, an adjacent building which has been repurposed as a food destination with eateries, weekly produce markets, organic traders and stores, as well as regular events. This adds to the flexibility of purposes either facility can be used for, and park users keep Plant 4 economically viable. The passive surveillance from eateries over outdoor play spaces is rare within Adelaide, and draws families in from an extended area and at traditionally ‘non-peak’ times.
- The project has been a major success attracting locals and visitors to a unique and vibrant destination with activities as varied as night markets, moonlight cinemas, functions and a water play component as part of the bigger play space. The success of this combined space adds to the economic viability of the development project as a whole, promoting Bowden as somewhere both to live and also set up a business.
Environmental value
- The location of Bowden Park and the co-location of destinations encourages families and visitors to walk or ride within, saving emissions for short trips that may have ordinarily been done by car.
- The park demonstrates the commitment to Water Sensitive Urban Design throughout the entire Bowden development including the extensive use of raingardens and a lawn irrigated with recycled water.
- The park demonstrates the re-use of materials, including recycled bricks, jetty timbers and steel.
Social value
- The space offers a unique community destination that facilitates social connection and increases safety via passive surveillance. This is supported by the inclusion of extensive informal and bespoke seating around the park, attracting people to gather in groups.
- The park location connected seamlessly to a market/event space attracts all household types for a range of different purposes and the design invites people to connect and share. The park offers rest, recreation and refreshment for workers, residents and visitors.
Use value
- The facility offers a space to host events for people of all backgrounds and abilities. It also brings a diverse cultural and ethnic mix of people together through the market space and food stalls.
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