Iconic Bricks Ltd’s Post

Yesterday was interesting. I joined a full house at an event organised by Kimberley Guthrie and her colleagues at Scotland's Towns Partnership. The question of the day was: ‘Is town centre living the catalyst for change in our towns and town centres that will ensure long-term growth and sustainability?’ We were treated to hearing about 6 examples of how that question is being answered, from new-build construction to a recalibrated Victorian library that now provides much-needed housing, all made possible by people with top-flight expertise in all sorts of trades and professions and underpinned by a cocktail of novel investment structures. If ever there was an example of ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’ this was it, despite there being significant obstacles at almost every turn. The main take-away was that a sagacious approach to implementing the policies and parameters that govern such projects will go some considerable distance to generating more projects of the types we saw yesterday, and that can only be good for the environment and society. The answer to the question is, yes: town centre living does provide an important route to long-term growth and sustainability, and at a time when growth and sustainability are needed urgently. Fortunately, the talent who'll deliver that long-term growth and sustainability is here now. Obstacle amelioration should be paramount. There's more info here: https://lnkd.in/exFxSpC8 Thanks to Mhairi Donaghy, Heather Claridge, Rod Duncan, Johnny Cadell, Tricia Hill, to Rebecca Mather, CAE for the last minute stuff, and to yesterday's presenters (pictured) at Perth Theatre and Concert Hall. #heritagebuildings #townplanning #environmentalimpact #economicimpact Rocket Heritage & Archaeology Ltd Rocket Ecology Limited Rocket Architectural Design Rocket Media Company

Do you want to learn more about Louise McKinney Park - its history, culture and future? Its like a travel log for urban planning and park nerds. Read my two vlogs below. Part I of my vlog describes what you see. See my next post that shares the same park within a broader context of what may be hidden in plain sight that helps explain and understand its current form, and future opportunities and challenges #parks #indigenous #urbanplanning #recreation #leisure #Edmonton https://lnkd.in/gCTkENsv

New Lexicon - Inhabiting Landscape Inhabiting the landscape encompasses cultural, social, and ecological dimensions, recognizing the diverse ways in which humans inhabit and are shaped by the environment they occupy, while also highlighting the responsibilities inherent in stewarding the Earth’s resources for future generations. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/dPg3-p7V #topography #urbanism #environment #inhabitinglandscape

Exploring abandoned buildings can be an exciting and rewarding experience. It can also be quite daunting and difficult, however, if you don't know how to find them. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to locate abandoned buildings. In this blog post, I will discuss the best way to find abandoned buildings and provide tips on how to go about exploring them safely. #PeopleandPlaces

Hello EVERYONE on Linkedin, I need your help to stop a terrible development idea for the last remaining section of Sydney Harbor foreshore, which is currently at the public submissions stage. Link to the latest proposal and objection here: https://lnkd.in/gFHcTCQ4  Please scroll down once you have gone through the above link to the make a ‘submission’ section, and help me fight for Sydneys heritage.   The image below is an accurate reflection of the current revised proposal in regard to size, and what could happen to the public's view of the historic residential streets of The Rocks area of Sydney CBD. Submissions to the Department of Planning can now be made up to 5.00 pm on Wednesday, 21 February (NEXT WEEK!!)  Our principal objections to the revised Mod 9 include:  ·       The developer of Central Barangaroo seeks to double the size of the approved concept plan (from 45,000 to 104,000 m2), despite offering a negligible improvement in public benefit. It takes much and delivers little. ·       The heritage sightlines from public open spaces to the opposing foreshore from Observatory Hill and the State Heritage listed Millers Point and Dawes Point precincts of The Rocks are lost under the new proposal. ·       The modified proposal reduces the size of Hickson Park and reduces the amount of community space from 28,000 to 2,800 m2. ·       The new proposal seeks to build 150 luxury apartments and a new hotel on the Sydney Harbour foreshore previously allocated to be the ‘civic and cultural heart’ of Barangaroo. ·       It still blocks the historical views from Balmain, Pyrmont, and the harbour, to the heritage-listed Millers Point and Dawes Point precinct of The Rocks. This is the last part of Sydney city that the public can see from the harbour and surrounding suburbs that looks the same as it has it did: Pre-colonial and early 1800s (Observatory Hill), Late 1800s (Terrace houses on Kent St) and The early 1900s (terrace houses on High St). Not to mention that the landscape of this whole part of Sydney was cut into giant steps from Observatory Hill down to the Hungry Mile at water level, by convict labor to quarry the sandstone out of The Rocks area which was used to build the great historic buildings of Macquarie St and George St; and currently the public can see all this from the water. BUT WE ARE ABOUT TO LOSE SIGHT OF ALL OF THIS HISTORY IF WE DON'T OBJECT!! If we allow this to go ahead the heritage parts of Sydney that were saved from developers 50 years ago, (The Rocks is all that's left of the CBD in its original post-collonial condition) will be hidden by developers this year!!! #DontBlockTheRocks https://lnkd.in/gFHcTCQ4

We are often to asked to carry out surveys to historic buildings to ascertain current condition, understand its significance and characteristics and recommend appropriate conservation or restoration methods. An important part of surveying built heritage is the identification of the building's significance, be it aesthetic, evidential, historic or communal. This will guide and inform decisions about any further works. We conduct surveys with the principles of conservation at front of mind, ensuring that any work recommended is necessary and appropriate to the building, taking a holistic view of the structure and its wider environment. If you require a survey of a historic or listed building or would like some advice, please contact us on info@quadrigaltd.com #Survey #Historicbuilding #Heritageconservation

A very exciting milestone for my favourite project - “The Greenmount Headland Revitalisation” right at the doorstep of Snapper Rocks! With our platforms, stairs and walkway approaching end of life upon this iconic headland, we have been proactively planning to enhance an already beautiful location. Undertaking lots of consultation to make sure we are aligned with the vision of the community, we are able to work towards the next stage of design. Community engagement is something a lot of people fear due to backlash, but the community just wants to be involved in the journey and be given tangible choices to make sure they can make a difference. This is what we have done in this survey, asked the Coolangatta community and its visitors for feedback on certain precincts of this project. With a project this size, there are certain aspects are non-negotiable due to site constraints and geography, but giving the community input into the negotiables has been super effective and overwhelmingly positive. I have loved this level of engagement and I have learnt so much about our community in the mean time, with a lot of community members initially on the back foot about change but then changing their views once taken on the journey and given time. The survey is still live if you would like to have input into our design choices ! https://lnkd.in/g7PqYYyK

Pavement heave. Incorrectly planted and poorly maintained urban trees can cause pavement heave which ruins the value of infrastructure. But the risk of pavement heave can be eliminated using structural soil cells, which provides street trees with all the space they need to develop strong, healthy root systems, but in a directed and managed way. Even when the street trees are figs! Using our structural soil cells, the City of Newcastle, Australia, overcame these problems, creating an iconic avenue of figs in the civic center that coexists in perfect harmony with urban infrastructure. In less than 10 years, the figs on either side of the street have grown to meet in the middle, offering a cool, shady respite for residents, and visitors atop the civic park stairs and a fittingly picture-perfect entrance to the Newcastle Art Gallery. Access the full case study here https://ow.ly/XNWj50SRIIf #citygreen #urbanlandscapesolutions #sustainablefuture #greeninfrastructure #environment #stratavault #treecanopies #urbantrees #trees #climatechange #localgov

What does it mean to be an "actual" parks planner, beyond what is written in your job description? Below is (composite) summary of 30+ years of the role and function of practitioner experiences. #parks #sustainablecities #leisure #community #recreation #urbanplanning #social #history #edmonton #urbanplanning #knowledge #Alberta https://lnkd.in/gdKuY3kM

SIGNAL: The project will create more space for pedestrians and give continuity to the remodelling work completed in the section from Gran Via to Pl. Molina. The work will see pavements widened and more greenery added, the goal being greater connectivity between the neighbourhoods of Sant Gervasi – Galvany and El Farró. Pavements will be widened to 4.35 metres on average, with new trees introduced. - - - Tags: policy - - - What is this? Signals are part of Adventuring Ventures' research methodology for exploring possible futures. A signal is a small or local phenomenon and a potential sign of change that might grow in scale, where it shows up, or who it influences. The tags refer to 5 lenses through which we look for signals - society, technology, economics, ecology, and policy. - - -