Western Gateway Sub-Precinct Publicly Accessible Space Strategy

Ethos Urban was engaged by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) to develop a strategy for the renewal of the publicly accessible spaces in the Western Gateway sub-precinct. These are part of broader changes occurring in the Central Precinct Renewal Program. The strategy represents a partnership of interested parties to ensure that a precinct that is high quality, activated and which creates opportunities for conversation and collaboration, transit and relaxation. 

The publicly accessible spaces within the sub-precinct will prioritise the pedestrian experience, improve connectivity and pedestrian legibility within the sub-precinct and provide clear direct links to and from Central Station and its surrounds. They will be designed to perform their role according to their place in the hierarchy of spaces, with a view to accommodating the changes over time in the area, as this precinct becomes a major new destination for Sydney.

Ethos Urban continues to be involved with the development of this State Significant Precinct and is currently leading an ongoing review on behalf of TfNSW of the ground plane for the Western Gateway Sub-precinct, which will include a range of publicly accessible spaces that will draw on the distinctive local character of the station and explore opportunities to create authentic places grounded by the relationships between the circulation, landscape features and architecture.

The ground plane will also tie a number of transit-oriented developments that include a mix of hotel, commercial and residential uses that will culminate in a complete repositioning of the precinct as an advanced mixed-use technology hub in the heart of Central Sydney.

Key features of Publicly Accessible Space Strategy include: 

• Balancing competing movement and place priorities and the functional brief of key buildings. 
• Review of ground plane on behalf of TfNSW.
• Consideration of multiple developments and their impact on the public domain.
• Understanding the interrelationship of varying levels and key movement corridors impacting how people circulate, use and gather in spaces.