Case Studies
Urban Orchard
Design Feature
Type of project
Placemaking
State
Western Australia
Location
Urban
The Urban Orchard, which is located in the Perth Cultural Centre, is a highly successful community garden that was built on a neglected area on the rooftop of a carpark. The Urban Orchard is a leading example of environmental excellence in urban design and development and is a working demonstration of the key principles of sustainability, showing how food production, form and function can co-exist within a busy urban landscape.
Placemaking in the heart of the city
Completed in July 2010, the Urban Orchard was a key component of an $11 million short term revitalisation program by the State Government, through the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (now known as DevelopmentWA), which has successfully delivered a revitalised place that is vibrant and inclusive, offers a more diverse mix of uses and embraces the indigenous and multicultural heritage of Northbridge.
In the past, despite its location and many advantages, the Perth Cultural Centre and in particular the area now occupied by the Urban Orchard, had failed to realise its potential as an iconic hub that celebrates the cultural aspirations of Western Australians. The area was dark, uninviting, and considered by most to be unsafe (especially at night) and suffered from a negative reputation as a place synonymous with antisocial behaviour.
Today, the Urban Orchard is a favourite meeting place and provides a unique opportunity for many Western Australians to reconnect with the cultural heart of Perth. It is a place to celebrate the importance of growing fresh, healthy food and is the perfect spot for city workers and residents to eat lunch and meet up with friends.
Today, the Urban Orchard is a favourite meeting place and provides a unique opportunity for many Western Australians to reconnect with the cultural heart of Perth. It is a place to celebrate the importance of growing fresh, healthy food and is the perfect spot for city workers and residents to eat lunch and meet up with friends.
The Urban Orchard is a leading example of environmental excellence in urban design and development. This successful project has provided Perth residents with a unique green space and working community garden that produces organic fruit, vegetables and herbs in the heart of the city. It is a respected community resource that embodies sustainable practices with planter boxes made from recycled waste, and plants that are managed organically and harvested and planted with the community, at the turn of each season.
The Urban Orchard incorporates water sensitive design, established organic gardens and innovative recycling systems. It is also a working demonstration of the key principles of sustainability and shows how food production, form and function can co-exist within a busy urban landscape. The Orchard was also built on a car park rooftop, which presented numerous design and construction challenges with strict loading limits and depth restrictions.
The Urban Orchard in the Perth Cultural Centre has become renowned for demonstrating how environmental excellence can be successfully integrated into urban redevelopment, and the subsequent benefits that such a project can deliver to a growing inner-city population.
The Urban Orchard in the Perth Cultural Centre has become renowned for demonstrating how environmental excellence can be successfully integrated into urban redevelopment, and the subsequent benefits that such a project can deliver to a growing inner-city population.
Project team
- Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (now DevelopmentWA)
- Perth Theatre Trust (PTT)
- State Government
- Perth City Farm
Project cost
The short-term program budget to revitalise the Perth Cultural Centre was $11 Million.
Health value
- The well-designed, inviting space supports pedestrian movement and passive recreation.
- The Urban Orchard is a resource for fresh food in which the community is able to enjoy.
- The Urban Orchard is a resource for fresh food in which the community is able to enjoy.
Economic value
- The attractive and engaging space encourages visitation to the area, which can increase local spending.
- With nearly 10,000 creative industries businesses in WA (4.4% of all WA businesses and 7.9% of creative industries businesses nationally) [1], it is spaces like the Urban Orchard and its program of events, which lend valuable support to the creative industries.
- In 2020, the Fringe World Festival (which utilises the Urban Orchard) delivered an estimated spend of over $72.4 million and created approximately 2,214 Full Time Equivalent jobs. Overall, it was shown to have an economic impact of $100,624,315 for Western Australia [2].
Environmental value
- The planter boxes within the Urban Orchard are made from recycled materials from other parts of the building works, highlighting sustainability outcomes.
Social value
- The Urban Orchard has been a location for people to gather and eat lunch, as well as a popular event space, providing a place of tranquility in a busy working day.
- Community partnerships are critical to maintaining the space. Perth City Farm creates meaningful, hands on opportunities to get involved, learn how to grow food and help maintain the shared public space.
Use value
- Activation of the area has enhanced perceived safety, which helps to increase community engagement and use.
- The public are welcome to come pick the fruit, vegetables and herbs in the space, and it is well used by visitors.
- The high-quality public space at the Urban Orchard makes it a valuable meeting and event location for all members of the community to utilise and enjoy.
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