Village Green Redevelopment

The new village green redevelopment has a strong environmental focus, incorporating key initiatives in social sustainability in significantly increasing available use for multiple sporting and wellness activities, increasing stormwater capture on campus, facilitating reductions in water usage, retaining existing tree canopy, and incorporating use of recycled materials.

The Village Green redevelopment project has a strong environmental focus. Key features include:

• Social Sustainability & Inclusivity - the Village Green Redevelopment has activated and transformed the largest open space on the Kensington Campus from an oval for elite cricket to a vibrant space of passive, social and active recreation and wellness for UNSW students, staff, and local community.
• The Urban Farm initiative offers a complementary experience to the Village Green Redevelopment, encouraging students and staff to actively be involved in the productive process of the garden. Amenities including BBQs, wash basins, raised planters, maintenance shed, fire pit and seating have been incorporated into the final design to enable the space to be used as an outdoor classroom, and to host larger workshops, farmers markets and informative events.
• Planting - planting schemes use a minimum 70% indigenous species, with a preference for drought-resistant species. The tree canopy coverage of 23% within the site Village Green boundary was maintained with an increase in garden beds.
• Increase in Existing Stormwater Capture Capability - a new stormwater infiltration tank contributes to recharging the Botany Sands Aquifer, and in doing so provides a substantial source of sustainable water supply on campus. The new 15,000m3 tank was installed to capture 17.5-hectare Kensington campus stormwater underground, contribute to recharging the Botany Aquifer, and in doing so provides a substantial source (bore water capture represents approximately 40% of UNSW’s water use on campus) of sustainable water supply on campus.
• Energy and Water Efficiency – the synthetic pitch requires no water comparatively to a grass pitch that is estimated to require 4.8 million litres per year for an 8000m2 soccer pitch. Effectively, playing field irrigation is reduced by 100% and the surrounds by approximately 40%. The approximate water savings will be in the order of 18,000 kilolitres per annum.
• The Newton Garden is a contemplative open space flanked by lush garden beds. Garden rooms accommodate a variety of users including outdoor learning and studying, meditation and yoga and reflection. Planting species have been selected based on their native locale.
• Use of Recycled Material - The new Village Green synthetic pitch system targets 90% recyclability of materials including pitch yarn, infill and shock pad on top of the infiltration tank. The rubber shock pad can be recycled, and the carpet is recommended for repurposing. Cork was selected for the performance infill which is both natural and biodegradable.

'A Well Being' artwork was developed by celebrated artist Agatha Gothe-Snape. It is a language-based work focusing on the concepts fo 'wellness' and 'being'.

Following wide-ranging consultation with the University community, 88 phrases were selected and mapped onto the site from the artist's handwriting as a gestural painting. The materials and 'pounce' installation technique was selected to maximise impact and longevity. Installation included placement of each phrase, pouncing the text outline and twice hand-painting.

Installation was completed in May 2023.

The new Village Green supports a more inclusive and diverse utilisation of the spaces including:

• A mounded grandstand aesthetically incorporated into the landscape, increasing the usability of this area for events, exercise and passive recreation.
• The walking track circulates users around the new Village Green. It ties the area together. The track accommodates users of all abilities and is not intended to cater specifically for running.
• The synthetic pitch offers high competition facilities that enables Football NSW and Rugby Australia to host games on the pitch. The pitch also allows other sports and activities to be played on its surface, encouraging inclusive use for all users.

A number of key design elements form the Village Green redevelopment.

Given the project site’s close proximity to the University Mall, the central spine of UNSW that guides students and staff from Anzac Parade into the heart of the Kensington campus, the new Village Green forms a seamless interface with the generous entrance via University Mall. The existing avenue of large fig trees forms a distinction between the two areas. The large lawn area encourages pop-up shelters such as tents and stalls to spill out onto the lawn and provide extra space for student events.

The synthetic pitch forms the centrepiece of the new Village Green. The University Mall interface, social terrace, Sam Cracknell Pavilion and the mounded grandstand face inwards to the pitch with a multitude of seating and viewing opportunities for sporting and social activities. The pitch also serves an additional purpose of encasing the infiltration tank sitting under its surface.

Three terraces have been created to reflect different modes of activation. Social (café and canteen) active (bouldering wall and fitness activity) and casual (table tennis tables). The orientation of the terraces foster hubs of social activity within each terrace whilst maintaining an open environment.