George Street

Concept Design

September 2013

Team

Contents

City Design
Bridget Smyth

Jan Gehl

Michael Harvey

Henriette Vamberg

Laurence Johnson

Simon Goddard

Katharine Young
Glenn Wallace
Claire Morgan
Nick McCarthy
Olivia Gibbeson
Imogen Miller
Lucy Creagh
Thomas Drozdzewski

Contributing Consultants
Arterra
Arup
Hassell
Haycraft Duloy
MBM
Morris Goding Access Consulting
Steensen Varming
Taylor Thomson Whitting

Purpose of this Concept Design

Seven Key Principles

05
16

George Street Concept Design

The Eight Elements
Light Rail
Light Rail Stops
Paving
Trees
Furniture
Lighting
Art
The Edges

18
20
22
28
40
46
50
54
58
62

A World Class Street

Image References

66
68

Purpose of
the Concept
Design
The George Street Concept Design builds on the research
and testing undertaken by Gehl Architects, the City and its
consultants over the last year. It provides a snapshot of the
key issues around integrating light rail into George Street
and makes recommendations for creating a beautiful,
functional and high quality public realm.
In 2012, the NSW State Government identified George
Street as the preferred light rail route for the City Centre,
subject to feasibility and testing. The City has developed
detailed plans for the route, including stop locations, lane
closures and kerb realignments to assist Transport for
NSW (TfNSW) in its role of delivering the light rail project.
These plans continue to evolve as more information
becomes available.
The ideas contained in this study also have implications
for places adjacent to George Street, like Sydney Square,
Barrack Street and the laneway network. It is not the
purpose of this document to develop detailed designs
for these areas. Feasibility and design studies for these
spaces are being undertaken separately.
The principles and recommendations of this Concept
Design, if adopted by Council, will be submitted to TfNSW
for incorporation into the project.

Past Studies and Guiding Documents __

George Street
Concept Design
A City of Cities:
Metropolitan Strategy
NSW Government

Metropolitan Plan for

Sydney 2036
NSW Government

Sydneys Rail Future:

Modernising Sydneys Trains
NSW Government

Draft NSW Long Term

Transport Master Plan
NSW Government

2005

2010

2012

2012

2013

Design principles
to guide the
integration of light
rail into the public
realm.

The Vision
George Street
Concept Design
Draft

DRAFT GEORGE STREET URBAN DESIGN STUDY

January 2012

2007

2008

2012

2012

Public Spaces, Public Life

Gehl Architects

Sustainable Sydney 2030: The Vision

City of Sydney

George Street Urban Design Study

City of Sydney and Gehl Architects

George Street Concept Design

City of Sydney

2013

OF RECO
OVERVIEW
OFOVERVIEW
RECOMMENDATIO
OVERVIEW
OF RECOMMENDATIONS
OVERVIEW
OF
RECOMMENDA
OVERVIEW
OF RECOMMENDATIO
OVERVIEW
OF RECOMMENDATIONS
capitalise
on the amenities
capitalise
the
amenities
capitalise
on
the on
amenities
capitalise
on the
amenities
capitalise
on
the
amenities
capitalise on the amenities

Summary __

Recommendations

Public Spaces,
Public Life
Gehl Architects 2007

A WATERFRONT CITY
A WATERFRONT CITY
A WATERFRONT CITY
WATERFRONT CITY
A WATERFRONT ACITY

a waterfront city

In 2007 the City commissioned Gehl

Architects to create a blueprint to turn
Sydneys City Centre into a peoplefriendly, public transport-oriented and
green city.
The report reviews how people use our public
spaces and streets. It assesses how they
move around and how our public spaces could
better promote public life and outdoor leisure.
The report provides us with a benchmark to
measure our city against others including
London, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The
report provides a comprehensive set of ideas
to transform the city, one of which is the
George Street transformation.

a green
connected
city
st

capitalise on
the amenities

A WATERFRONT
A GREEN CONNECTED CITY
ACITY
GREEN
CONNECTED CITY
A GREEN
CONNECTED
CITYA
GREEN CONNECTED CITY
A
GREEN
CONNECTED
CITY
A GREEN CONNECTED CITY

st
century
traffic system
atraffic
21traffic
century
system
a 21astst 21
traffic
system
a 21ststcentury
century
system
century
traffic
system
a
21
a 21 century traffic system
water

water

water

Identity

water

water

water

Identity

Identity

Identity

Identity

Cycling

Identity
Cycling

Cycling

40 km/h
ZONE
40 km/h
ZONE

Key findings:

Cycling

Cycling

Cycling

40 km/h
ZONE

40 km/h
ZONE

40 km/h
ZONE

40 km/h
ZONE

100

200

100

300

200

100

200

300
0

300

100

200

100

200

300

300

An introverted city
A traffic dominated city
A mono-functional city
A high city

a strong public
transport system

a better city
for walking

a 21st century
traffic system

A BETTER
BETTER CITY
CITY FOR
FOR
WALKING
A BETTERPUBLIC
CITY FOR
CYCLING
PUBLIC
TRANSPORT
A TRAFFIC CALMED CITY
A BETTER
CITY FOR WALKING
A BETTER
CITY FOR CYCLING
A TRANSPORT
STRONG
PUBLIC
CITYA STRONG
A TRAFFIC
CALMED CITY
A BETTER CITY FOR
WALKING
A
CYCLING
A STRONG
CITY TRANSPORT
TRAFFIC
CALMED
CITY CITY
A BETTER CITY FOR WALKING
A BETTER CITY FOR CYCLING
A STRONG
PUBLIC TRANSPORTACITY
A TRAFFIC CALMED CITY
A BETTER
CITY FOR WALKING
A BETTER
CITY FOR CYCLING
A STRONG
PUBLIC
TRANSPORT CITY
A TRAFFIC
A BETTER CITY FOR
WALKING
A BETTER CITY FOR
CYCLING
A STRONG PUBLIC
TRANSPORT
CITY
A TRAFFIC CALMED
CITY CALMED CITY

an attractive
public realm
an attractive
public
realm
an attractive
realm
an public
attractive
public
realm
an
attractive
public
realm
an attractive public realm

A lack of street hierarchy

Scattered open spaces

We want a city
of people; a city
where people feel
safe; a city that
is interesting and
lively. Jan Gehl

a strong
city identity

a diverse
and lively city

an attractive
public realm

A STRONG CITY IDENTITY

AN INVITING
STREETSCAPE
DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE AND LIVELY CITY
A STRONG CITY IDENTITY
AN INVITING STREETSCAPE
A DIVERSE,
INCLUSIVE
AND LIVELYACITY
A STRONG CITY IDENTITY
A DIVERSE,
INCLUSIVE
AND
CITY
A STRONG CITY IDENTITYAN INVITING STREETSCAPEAN INVITING STREETSCAPE
A LIVELY
DIVERSE,
INCLUSIVE AND LIVELY CITY
A
STRONG
CITY
IDENTITY
AN
INVITING
STREETSCAPE
A
DIVERSE,
INCLUSIVE
AND
LIVELY
CITY
A STRONG CITY IDENTITY
AN INVITING STREETSCAPE
A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE AND LIVELY CITY
water
water

water
water

water

Identity

water

Identity

George Street Concept Design

Identity
Identity

Identity

Cycling
Cycling

Identity
Cycling
Cycling

Cycling

Cycling

RECOMMENDATIONS
77
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDAT
RECOMMENDATIONS
779
RECOMMENDATIONS

Sydney
Harbour
Project Idea
2:
Sydney
05 THREE LINKED CITY SQUARES
Harbour
05 THREE LINKED CITY SQUARES

Summary __

Sustainable
Sydney2 2030

Linked City Squares for Public Life

Few cities in the world enjoy a natural
setting as spectacular as Sydneys.
The series of peninsulas and coves
and inlets
provide
a unique
Linked
City
Squares
for setting
Public Life
for a major city with views to the
Few
the worldbeyond.
enjoy a natural
watercities
and in
landscape
setting as spectacular as Sydneys.
The series
City Centre
positioned
oncoves
two
The
of peninsulas
and
hills
offers
constant
surprises.
A
and inlets provide a unique setting
long
narrowcity
Citywith
Centre
for
a major
viewsmeans
to theshort
distances
to cross from
east to west,
water
and landscape
beyond.
while moving south from Circular
The
City
Centre more
positioned
on two
Quay
presents
challenges.
hills offers constant surprises. A
long narrow City Centre means short
distances to cross from east to west,
while moving south from Circular
Quay presents more challenges.

Walsh
Bay
Walsh
Bay
Millers
Point

City of Sydney
2008
2

Millers
Point

Darling
Harbour

The
Rocks

City
Centre

Potts
Point

Woolloomooloo

140

Darlington
Chippendale

SUSTAINABLE SYDNEY 2030 : THE VISION

Darlington

Elizabeth Bay

Darling
Point

Rushcutters Bay

Darling
Point

Now

St James

Woolloomooloo Kings
Cross
East
Sydney
Museum
Kings
Cross
Darlinghurst
East
A network
of newthat
public
space
unifies the great
A network of new
public space
unifies
thethat
great
Sydney
monuments
Museum
monuments

Rushcutters Bay
Concept by Tony Caro, 2008

Create
well scaled
for the monuments
Create well scaled
settings
for thesettings
monuments

Taylor
Paddington
A place where
pedestrians
Town Hall Square is proposed as a new civic meeting
place creating a civic centre
Railway Square
A place where pedestrians
have
priority have priority
Square
Darlinghurst

TOWN HALL SQUARE - TONY CARO ARCHITECT

TOWN HALL SQUARE - TONY CARO ARCHITECTURE

AA network
oflarge
newthat
public
space
unifies
the greatin the European tradition. The plaza would be dominated by the Victorian architecture of
A network of new
publicfor
space
unifies
thethat
great
place
public
gatherings
and
celebrations
A place for large
public gatherings and celebrations
monuments
monuments
the Town Hall, Queen Victoria Building and St Andrew's Cathedral, but new development
Improve the design quality of the transport interchange
Improve the design
quality
of the transport
interchange
of sustainable buildings
would create a contemporary edge. Redesign of the station
and
Create
well
scaled
settings
for
the
monuments
Create well scaled settings for the monuments
P
TOWN HALL SQUARE - TONY CARO ARCHITECT
TOWN HALL SQUARE - TONY CARO ARCHITECTURE
Primary traffic corridors to become a shared pedestrian
a
light
rail
stop
would
make
Town
Hall
Square
a
gateway
to
the
southern
entertainment
Primary traffic corridors
to transport
become
a
shared
pedestrian
Aand
place
where
pedestrians
have
priority
public
environment
Hay Str
Town
A place where pedestrians
have
priority
eet is proposed as a new civic meeting place creating a civic centre
precinctHall
and Square
Chinatown
Haymarket to the south. The square would be a focal point midway
and public transport environment
in
the
European
tradition.
The
plaza would be dominated
by thethe
Victorian
A place for large public gatherings and celebrationsalong the Citys pedestrian
thouroughfareGeorge
Streetin
centre architecture
of the City. of
A place for large public gatherings and celebrations

Taylor
Square

Woollahra

Paddington

the Town Hall, Queen Victoria Building and St Andrew's Cathedral, but new development
buildings would create a contemporary edge. Redesign of the station and
Primary traffic corridors to become a shared pedestrian
a
light
rail
stop
would make Town Hall Square a gateway to the southern entertainment
Primary traffic corridors
to transport
become a
shared pedestrian
and public
environment
Surry
precinct and Chinatown Haymarket to the south. The square would be a focal point midway
and public transport environment
P
Hills
P
alongP the
Citys
pedestrian thouroughfareGeorge Streetin the centre of the City.
P

Improve the design quality of the transport interchange

Improve the design quality of the transport interchange
of sustainable

Surry
Hills

ue

Sta

tio

Railway
Square

P
P

Av
en

Ce
n

tra
l

Woollahra

Belmore Park

Ed
dy

SUSTAINABLE SYDNEY 2030 : THE VISION

Elizabeth Bay

Llightra
il

Chinatown

Forest
Chinatown
Lodge

Five Big Moves
Railway
Glebe
Ultimo Square
Forest
Camperdown
Broadway

Ten Strategic
Directions
Central
Lodge
Railway
Square

T
en
Project
Ideas
Camperdown
Broadway
Central
140

Circular Quay

2030 Vision
The spine
CIRCULAR QUAY - FJMT
Circular Quay open front gateway to the city
Circular Quay open front gateway to the city
Circular
Quay
could
be
renewed
as
a
new
harbour
gateway
to
the
City
with
the
design
ofCIRCULAR
a QUAY Town hall high point and pivot
new public square with better access and views to the water. Customs House Square would be
2030 Vision Town hall high point and pivot
Central southern gateway
celebrated as a natural gathering place in a harbour City, renewing Sydneys image nationally
The spine
2030
Vision
Central southern gateway
Concept by FJMT Architects, 2008
The spine
and internationally. Concepts for Circular Quay propose
removal of the Cahill Expressway
Peripheral car park,
possible bus layover and intersection
CIRCULAR QUAY - FJMT
Circular Quay open
front
gateway
to
the
city
Peripheral car park, possible bus layover and intersection
with cross city tunnel
and
celebrating
the
station
as
an
arrival
and
interchange
to a proposed light rail city loop. CIRCULAR QUAY - F
Circular
Quay
front gateway to the city
with cross
cityopen
tunnel
Circular Quay could be renewed as a new harbour gateway to the City with the design of a
Town hall high point and pivot
new public square with better access and views to the water. Customs House Square would be
Town hall high point and pivot
Central southern gateway
celebrated as a natural gathering place in a harbourTown
City,Hall
renewing
Sydneys image nationally
Central southern gateway
Square
Now
and
internationally. Concepts for Circular Quay propose removal of the Cahill Expressway
Peripheral car park, possible bus layover and intersection
Peripheral car park, possible bus layover and intersection
with cross city tunnel
and celebrating the station as an arrival and interchange to a proposed light rail city loop.
with cross city tunnel

Wynyard

Cockle
Bay

Chippendale

Garden
Island

Potts
Point

Town
Hall

Ultimo

Circular
Quay

City
Centre

Town
Hall

Glebe

Garden
Island

Wynyard

Darling
Cockle
The traffic on George
Harbour
Bay
Street should be simplified

and changed into a public

transport street with zones
for public transport, cyclists
and traffic
pedestrians
only.
The
on George
Street
Jan Gehlshould be simplified
and
intoLife,
a public
Publicchanged
Spaces Public
2008
transport street with zones
for public transport, cyclists
and pedestrians only.

Circular
Quay

St James

Pyrmont

Jan Gehl
Public Spaces Public Life, 2008

The Vision

The
Rocks

CITY SQUARES
05 THREE LINKED CITY
SQUARES
Now
Point

The George Street transformation is fundamental to

the ideas and aspirations described in Sustainable
Sydney 2030. Sustainable development is not
just about the physical environment, but about
the economy, society and culture as a whole.
To address each, Five Big Moves, Ten Strategic
Directions, Ten Project Ideas, coupled with strong
governance, will result in better outcomes for
current and future communities. One of the Ten
Project Ideas relates directly to the George Street
transformation, to create and connect three city
squares on the George Street thoroughfare.

Dawes
05 City
THREE
Three
SquaresLINKED

2030 Vision
The spine

Sustainable Sydney 2030

has a vision of a Green,
Global, and Connected City.

Pyrmont

Now

tre
e

THREE CITY
SQUARES
THREE
CITY SQUARES

Balmain

Point

Pit
tS

Balmain

Three Linked City Squares

Dawes
Three City
Squares

SUSTAINABLE SYDNEY 2030 :

P
P

Concept by Gehl Architects, 2008

RAILWAY SQUARE
Strengthen the public domain in the area around Central Station by upgrading Railway Square, Eddy Avenue and Belmore Park.
Credits: Cleveland Rose (base drawing) & Gehl Architects (photoshop rendering)

George Street Concept Design

11

long term strategy

SUSTAINABLE SYDNEY 2030 :

Summary __

George Street
Urban Design
Study

What makes a
great street?
Memorable streets have common features. They are
places for people and are designed with them in mind.
Typically, a good pedestrian street features:

City of Sydney with

Gehl Architects 2012

Generous
footpaths
Lighting for
people
Trees and
shade

The George Street Urban

Design Study sets design
principles for transforming
George Street into a
pedestrian boulevard.

Active and
open facades
Street
furniture
Human scale
Artworks
and cultural
markers

DRAFT GEORGE STREET URBAN DESIGN STUDY

January 2012

Figure A
George Street Concept Design

13

Footpath
18.5 mwidth: 30 m
Street
22-30width:
m
Street width:Street
30 m width: 30 m
Street width: 30
m width: 26 Street
width:
2
Footpath
18.5
m width: Street
Street width: 22-30
m width:
Street
m
Stree
Status:
street width: 8Footpath
Footpath
width:
m
width:
8 m width: 8Footpath
width:
8 m width: 6-9
Footpath
width
Status:4-6
Pedestrian
streetPedestrian
Footpath width: 4-6
m
Footpath
m
Footpath
m
Footpath
m
Footp
dominated
by
retail.
Status:
Main
street
with
Status:
Main
street
Status:
Shopping
street
Status:
Main
sh
Status: Main street with dominated by retail.
Status: Main street
Status: Shopping street
Status: Main shopping
Statu
shopping and heavy
dominated by
for pedestrians
and Pedestrians
street.
shopping and heavy
dominated by shopping.
forshopping.
pedestrians and
street.
and Pedestr
domi
traffic.
Trams,
taxis
and
bicycles.
public
transportation.
public
transpor
traffic.
Trams, taxis and bicycles.
public transportation.
public transportation.
archit

Case study comparison

What do we
have now?

Footpath width and pedestrian numbers at a single location

Circular Quay

Circular Quay

Circular
King
Street Quay

King Street

ria

28,650

98,916
87,834

87,834

104,772
99,372
6pm-10am

24,180

Bourke Street

Flinders Street

Flinders Street

116,484
28,650
87,834

116,484

Federation
Square

Federation
Square

Liverpool Street

Liverpool Street
Castlereagh Street

Castlereagh Street

George Street

George Street

Central Station

Central Station

Central Station

Broadway

Broadway

Broadway

a decrease
87,834
in pedestrian
flow during
the day
28,650

2012

Marble Arch

George Street,
Sydney

Swanston Street,
Melbourne

Oxford Street,
London

Total length 2,550m

Total length 1,270m

Total length 2,000m

Street width 22.30m

Street width 30m

Street width 26m

Footpath width 8m

Footpath width 6-9m

Number of weekday
pedestrians: 57,280

Number of weekday
pedestrians: 126,360

Footpath width 4-6m

George Street, SydneyGeorge Street, Sydney

2012

99,372 99,372
24,180

Oxford Circus

Oxford Circus

Marble Arch

2007 vs 2012 Pedestrian Study

2012
2007

Macquarie Street

Macquarie Street

part of the City Centre network

day
time

2007

Bourke Street

Flinders

Oxford Street

28,650
25,974

Swanston Street

Oxford Street

time

8am-6pm

116,484

Bourke

Flinders Street

2012

116,484
124,890

Sct. Giles

Sct. Giles

Oxford Street

192 bus routes

Liverpool Street

6pm-12am
night

Elizabeth Street

Oxford Street

Market Street

arrive in the City Centre

every week day.

2012
2007

Swanston Street

Total length: 450 Total

m length: 450 m
Street width: 30 m
Street width: 30 m
Status: Pedestrian
Status: Pedestrian
street dominatedstreet
by dominated by
Market Street
Market Street
office buildings. office buildings.

6,000 buses

No cycling facilities

Swanston Street

Swanston Street

place
martin place martinMartin
Place

Facts

Closed frontages and facades

Elizabeth Street

Martin Place

Martin Place

Noise

Str
eet

Bridge Street

Bridge Street

George Street is overloaded. It no longer functions

efficiently for either pedestrians or vehicles.
George Street is characterised by:

Poor pedestrian amenity

ria

Market Street

Market Street

An overload of buses

Vic
to
Str
eet

Bourke Street

Bridge Street

Low pedestrian priority

Vic
to

cours

Number of weekday
pedestrians: 39,780
George Street Concept Design

99,372

Swanston Street, Melbourne

Swanston Street, Melbourne

Oxford Street, LondonO

15

How do we fix it? __

Seven key
principles
Circular
Quay

Bridge Street

Circular
Quay

Bridge Street

Wynyard

Bridge Street

Market Street

Wynyard

Circular
Quay
Bridge Street

Circular
Quay

Market Street

Town Hall

Liverpool Street

Town Hall
Town Hall
Square

Liverpool
Street
Liverpool
Street

Town Hall
Square

Liverpool Street

Hay Street
Hay Street

Central

Central
Station

Central

01
02
03
04
01
02
03
04
An efficient
A pedestrian
A legible
An iconic
transport
spine

An efficient
transport
focused
spine
boulevard

A pedestrian
focused
spine
boulevard

A legible
spine
street

An iconic
street

05
06
05
06
07
A 24-hour
Linking the
Connecting
street

A 24-hour
street
city to the

harbour

Linking the
citythree
to thegreat
harbour
squares

Central
Station

07
Connecting
three great
squares

George Street
Concept
Design
City of Sydney with
Gehl Architects
This document sets out the design principles that will guide
the detailed design of George Street. It outlines strategies
and concepts for improving the public realm in concert with
the State Governments light rail project.
The ideas and images in this document have been tested
to ensure that the Citys $220 million investment is spent
wisely and can achieve the public benefit that we strive for.

18

George Street Concept Design

George Street Concept Design

19

How we deliver on the vision __

Eight
elements
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08

Light Rail

Light Rail Stops

2

Paving
Trees
Furniture

Lighting
Art
The Edges

George Street Concept Design

21