How do you transform underutilised public spaces into vibrant places? Inspired by temporary installations that have reclaimed spaces in cities around the world, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ (AILA) STREET WORKS competition aims to bring this global approach to Sydney. Sixty-seven teams of landscape architects, artists, designers and architects participated and all entries are now exhibited at Customs House, Circular Quay. So many engaging and downright clever proposals, but unfortunately there could only be five finalists…
The five schemes chosen by a design jury are now installed around town and I started my stroll at Haymarket with the WALK THE LINE project, responding to cultural changes over the past few decades - before computer games and the iPod. It consists of a trail of large pink dots on the footpath connecting the project sites, and in selected areas turns into kids’ (and parents?) pavement games like hopscotch grids, marble fields and bat tennis courts. I’m hoping that the inner child will wear kneepads and sturdy shoes.
1108 BEER LINE – FROM BARLEY TO THE BOTTLE, Hay St, Sydney
I defy anyone visiting this installation not to run their hands across the lush green barley crops planted in timber palettes running alongside the Light Rail and Monorail near Paddy’s Market. A homage to the Castlemaine Brewery of 1869 and the former grain hub of Haymarket, Beer Line brings a wonderful organic quality to the hard lines of pavement and public transport infrastructure. Planted four weeks ago for a late December harvest, there’s much to look forward to here, including a celebration to the creation of beer in January and a website with an “adopt-a-beer for charity” activity. Bring on Oktoberfest in January I say.
GREEN IS GOLD, Barrack St, Sydney
Here’s a frightening statistic: 1.5 billion non-recyclable paper cups are used in Australia each year. Green is Gold encourages coffee drinkers to re-use the takeaway objects of their affections in a positive way. What if the used cups were filled with soil and fragrant herb seeds and deposited in the 13 modules installed in this charming plaza to create a flourishing green haven in the coming weeks? Custom-designed “Plant-Me-Cup” sleeves containing seeds are available from nearby coffee shops; soil and other requirements supplied too. This is still a work-in-progress at time of writing but will no doubt gather momentum quickly.
SYDNEY! THERE’S SOMETHING I’VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU…Customs House Forecourt, Sydney
It was the perfect day for a load of washing, and the Hills Hoist between two washing machines on a grassy knoll in Customs House Plaza was filling up. This installation, with the simple premise of giving people the opportunity to air their “dirty little secrets” in writing on freshly-laundered napkins and then peg them onto lines was proving popular. Participants were taking as much delight in writing their secrets as they were in reading other peoples’ contributions fluttering in the breeze. A great social exercise in communicating and observing, but also perhaps a trigger to get more people pegging out rather than using the spin cycle.
URBAN WATERFALL, Redfern St, Redfern
What better way to brighten up a drab inner-city laneway than festooning the sky between two adjoining buildings with a collection of coloured flagging tape and solar-powered spotlights. The commuters using the lane as a shortcut from Redfern Railway station to the suburb’s main shopping hub certainly take notice of the coloured canopy, looking skywards when the movement generated by the wind grabs their attention.
STREET WORKS exhibition showcasing all entries at Customs House until 11 November. Finalists/installations on display until 15 January 2012. For more information go to streetworks.org.au
Reviewed by Festival Volunteer Ambra Sancin
