For Landscape Architecture Month, we’re taking a step back to examine some of the major challenges our industry faces. At Vee Design, we’re committed not only to overcoming these hurdles in our own practice but also to sharing our insights with the broader community.

Today, we’re focusing on a critical issue: the mounting pressure our growing cities are placing on public open space. As urban areas continue to expand, how can we design and manage these essential spaces to meet the evolving needs of our communities?

A recent Brisbane Times study highlighted that the Greater Brisbane area is set to grow by around 400,000 residents over the next decade. Earlier forecasts underestimated this growth, and the rapid increase we’ve already seen has intensified the strain on our public open spaces. These figures underscore the urgent need for innovative, sustainable design solutions to ensure our parks and green spaces can meet the demands of an ever-growing urban community.

We have no choice but to think differently about the future. With limited space, we must explore all dimensions- looking up, down, and sideways- to find creative ways to enhance amenity for our expanding communities. Across Australia and abroad, we’ve seen inspiring examples that redefine traditional community spaces, from Sydney’s Barangaroo, which transformed an old container yard, to New York’s iconic High Line, built along an decommissioned train track. Just last year, we completed the Turbot Street Underpass project, which transformed a derelict area beneath a roadway into a bustling hub for sports and community gatherings. This type of reimagining is crucial for addressing the pressures our cities face.

The potential is vast. By giving these spaces a new lease on life, we can inject communities with a unique sense of place and identity. However, with any innovative, “out-of-the-box” thinking can sometimes meet resistance. It’s part of our role as landscape architects to champion alternative approaches to rethinking our landscapes.

So, how do we achieve this transformation? At Vee Design, one of our unique strengths is our ability to Create Connections. We’re shaping the future of our city by fostering strong collaborations across various sectors:

• Government & Policy Makers: Ensuring our design solutions integrate with broader infrastructure and community objectives, while advocating for the value of landscape architecture in policymaking.
• Allied Industries: Working closely with architects, urban planners, engineers, ecologists, and others to develop holistic, future-proof strategies.
• Developers: Collaborating with developers to incorporate innovative, sustainable design from the ground up.
• Local Communities: Engaging residents, businesses, and community groups early and often to ensure our designs truly reflect their needs and aspirations.

Stay tuned as we explore how innovative design and collaboration can transform public open spaces for the future.