Designing a Connected City – Part 4: Connected Shade

In Part 4, Scott Clements and Nader Ibrahim (O2LA) explore the idea of a Green Spine: a seamless band of landscape and pedestrian spaces linking the Norman Creek corridor through the Woolloongabba Precinct and onward to the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Within Woolloongabba itself, this thinking continues through the idea of the ‘Woolloongabba Arbour’ – an intuitive, shaded pedestrian network that stitches together the surrounding precincts. Inspired by the success of South Bank’s iconic arbour, the concept prioritises comfort and walkability, creating a clear and attractive way for people to move through the area.

Scott and Nader discuss how, over time, these interconnected arbours could help shape Brisbane’s identity. As Scott mentioned: “We’re known as the River City, but why not the Arbour City too?”

In a subtropical climate where people want to be active year-round, the only barrier is often the lack of shade. A city-wide commitment to connected arbours would support our active lifestyle while elevating Brisbane’s brand on the global stage as a leader in outdoor living.

They also zoom in on ‘Gabba East’, the future mixed-use heart of the precinct. With a central green space framed by northern and southern buildings, it has the potential to become an inviting destination, including an opportunity to repurpose the former police station into a museum, celebrating the heritage of the site and the legacy of the Gabba.

Stay tuned for Part 5, where Scott and Nader unpack the bigger challenges and why long-term thinking is essential to creating a true Woolloongabba Village. To hear the full conversation, click here: https://lnkd.in/g3CqiSPV