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Let’s exploit the genius of Light’s vision

Nov 04, 2013
A bird in Adelaide's Parklands. Photo: Nat Rogers / InDaily

A bird in Adelaide's Parklands. Photo: Nat Rogers / InDaily

Light’s plan is Adelaide’s DNA – it’s what gives the city life, says architect Nick Tridente. As part of our series asking experts how they would design the city, he argues that urban form should celebrate the Colonel’s plan, rather than gloss over it.

The City of Adelaide plan envisaged by Colonel Light in 1836 was a development of the English Garden City Plan, an ordered arrangement with gardens. My understanding is that the Parklands were introduced to act as a mechanism to filter, both aesthetically and environmentally, the industrial activity designated outside the city square mile.

The Parklands have physically contained the spread of the city centre; Light’s introduction of wide terraces, streets and roads, while not envisaged for higher densities and the motor vehicle, have conveniently catered for Adelaide’s transformation into a modern city.

Read Daniel Bennett’s attempt to out-do Colonel Light here.

So what would I do differently? I would say very little. What South Australia should be now doing is exploiting the genius in the Adelaide planning strategy, and understanding what it is and what it can be without resorting to importing ideas which are successful elsewhere under very different conditions. Ideas developed should be intrinsic and specific to our place.

Adelaide’s genius loci – our protective, unique spirit  – is its unique DNA and something that should inform future thinking.

My view is that most of the Parklands should be reverted back to natural scrub, with designated areas developed for community use to reinforce the value of this unique element and identity of our city. An effort should be made not to erode them any further.

Iris Iwanicki says she couldn’t do any better than the Colonel

Conversely, the city centre should be reactivated into a vibrant, rich, diverse hub. How this is achieved has been the topic of intense discussion and debate in recent times. Maybe the answer lies in the simple concept of placing the highest priority on people.

This then begs the question on whether the current emphasis on tall buildings is the correct approach or whether a more restrained scale can better connect people to the streets.

Nick Tridente is director of Tridente Architects.

How would you plan Adelaide? Email your ideas to [email protected]

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