• Article by Clémence Carayol

With this project, Tilt Industrial Design and Arcadia put urban design at the centre of their expertise and bring a new dimension to community design.

The borders between the environments designed for work, play and social activity are becoming increasingly blurred, with more mixed-use projects combining commercial and residential functionality emerging on our city fringes and suburbs. 

Named Friedlander Place, and located in Sydney’s North Shore, the Landmark is an example of what can be achieved when creative intent and community well-being are placed at the forefront of design within a new development. 

“A key part of our work is conceptualising creative, yet complex responses that are both functional and aesthetic in design. 

“Tilt was able to deliver a unique, site-specific response for Arcadia, ensuring all thematic elements were integrated and connected across all the site’s structures,” says Tilt Industrial Design managing director Tim Phillips. 

“We know well what the transformative power of unique and innovative design can play in our communities. 

“We are passionate about elevating civic space into ‘destinations’ that are attractive and that offer experiential outcomes for end-users. 

“Conceptual and imaginative themes are central to creating spaces where people will want to visit time and time again.” 

According to him, the studio was also pleased to be able to bring a complex and highly conceptual idea to life, pushing boundaries for what is possible for revitalised urban space. 

Designed for Lane Cove Council, the innovative, revitalised public space named Friedlander Place is an exemplar of what can be achieved when creative intent and the well-being of communities are placed at the forefront of design within a new development. 

The space offers a range of site-specific installations including a children’s playground and accessible water play, public art, seating elements, shade and fitness equipment, with the design taking inspiration from the leaf curling spider, a regular inhabitant of North Shore gardens and bush, as well as surrounding flora and fauna. 

Designed to encourage rest and respite as much as adventure, the public domain space offers a range of site-specific installations including a children’s playground and accessible water play, public art, seating elements, shade and fitness equipment.

Taking inspiration from the leaf curling spider, a regular inhabitant of North Shore gardens and bush, as well as surrounding flora and fauna, Friedlander Place was designed to connect end-users with the identity of the local area. 

“Arcadia wanted to create an urban realm for end-users where they could connect with each other and with nature; and one that is equally bespoke, aesthetic, and functional,” says the landscape architecture practice director Mike Barnett. 

“We were able to design and offer an innovative solution to transform a tired, underutilised public space into a vibrant new hub of local community activity with a range of exciting opportunities for active and passive engagement. 

“It has been great to see Friedlander Place come back to life with the delivery of The Landmark.” 

Design and play professor Lisa Grocott from Monash University sees Friedlander Place as modelling what is possible when public assets recognise urban, open, green and play spaces as foundational to community development. 

“Public spaces provide intergenerational spaces, whereby people of all ages can gather for a range of reasons including play, exercise, and socialising. 

“Play spaces, as catalysts for unplanned connection, help to create a sense of community belonging,” says Grocott. 

“As a play researcher, I know this, but as a parent who raised my children in New York City playgrounds, I experienced how this connection is as important for the caregivers as it is for the children. 

“As the density of our cities changes, we need councils and developers who recognise the potential of play spaces for promoting social inclusion and connection.” 

All photography by Maggie Mikolajczak unless otherwise stated.

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