Appendix A - Urban Form Analysis: Canberra's Sustainability ...

Urban Form Analysis 

Canberra’s Sustainability Performance 

June 2010


Executive Summary - Key Results of the Analysis 

How sustainable is Canberra’s urban form? 

What can we learn from Canberra’s existing urban form when designing 

new developments and suburbs? 

The aim of this analysis is to understand the 

performance of Canberra’s existing urban form with 

the objective to aid in future decisions about how to 

plan Canberra. 

This study provides baseline sustainability information 

on existing development. This information and the 

additional understanding will assist in choosing future 

urban forms that use land more effi ciently, conserve 

more natural resources, ensure social diversity and 

equity and connect to important services such as 

transport options, employment opportunities and 

community facilities. 

ACTPLA has undertaken a comparative analysis of 

seven different subdivision patterns in Canberra and 

overseas. 

Type B - Kingston, Canberra Central 

Historic medium to recent high-density, mixed-use development 

Comparison of the four Canberra areas 

showed that: 

��there 

is no ‘average’ Canberra suburb with each 

area refl ecting the planning philosophy at the time; 

��none 

of these four areas performs outstandingly 

across all of the performance indicators; 

��the 

Kingston case study area is the most landeffi 

cient; 

��the 

higher density areas in Kingston and Reid use 

less land, water and energy per person to provide 

housing, open space, pedestrian networks and 

other amenities; 

��however, 

the predominant use of electricity from 

the grid to heat apartment buildings in these areas 

results in comparatively high greenhouse gas 

emissions; 

��all 

study areas lack diversity in terms of design 

and social mix, mix of dwelling types, tenures and 

household types. 

Type T E E- Hannover, H KKronsberg b GGermany 

Visionary urban planning with exceptionally high ecological standards 

Four case study areas in Canberra and three 

international showcases in urban sustainability 

were analysed according to a range of sustainability 

indicators in four main themes: 

Land Use 

Compact layout and effi cient land use 

Resource Use 

Effi cient energy and water use 

Diversity 

Housing choice and socio-demographic mix 

Connectivity 

Movement and amenity 

Type C - Gungahlin, Gungahlin 

Recent greenfi eld low to medium-density residential development 

Type F - Freiburg, Vauban Germany 

A model in sustainable urban redevelopment in late 1990’s 

Type T G - DDockside k id GGreen, CCanada d 

Greenhouse gas neutral harbourside prdevelopment. 

Type A - Reid, Canberra Central 

Historic low to recent medium-density residential development 

Type D - Weston, Weston Creek 

1960’s and 1970’s greenfi eld low-density residential development 

Key insights from the comparison with 

international examples were: 

Land use 

The overseas examples have two to ten times 

more land-effi cient neighbourhood design than the 

Kingston case study area, the most land-effi cient of 

the Canberra studies. Freiburg Vauban and Dockside 

Green reduce their land use for transport by having 

perimeter roads and minimising car traffi c within the 

development. 

Resource use - energy and water 

District scale co-generation plants and low-energy 

building design reduce the carbon emissions from 

operating the dwellings to a level signifi cantly below 

the Canberra examples. A publicly visible stormwater 

management and rainwater retention concept was 

applied across the developments. 

Diversity 

Hannover Kronsberg showcases diversity in design 

by offering a mix of types, tenures and sizes on a 

section scale and therefore achieved a balanced 

social mix. Freiburg Vauban is dominated by two- to 

four-storey row-houses and apartments for families 

with children. Dockside Green achieves a narrower 

social mix with four to ten storey buildings with one 

and two-bedroom apartments. 

Connectivity 

Car dependency in the international areas is reduced 

by providing rapid public transport in combination 

with neighbourhoods that have walkable distances 

to local essential services and quality design of the 

public realm, where pedestrian friendly spaces are 

linked and buildings have a diversity of forms and 

sizes.


Canberra 

Weston 

Gungahlin 

Reid 

Kingston

Urban Form Analysis - Type A 

Canberra Example - Reid, Canberra Central 

REID is located in the inner north of Canberra. This development was 

established in the 1920s according to Garden City principles, characterised by 

walkable suburbs where housing is sited within generous open space. 

Land Use Comparison Land Use Map 

Built Form v Open Space 

Reid features a range of different building footprint patterns (white); 

these patterns are a result of a mix of housing types, including 

single detached houses, townhouses and apartment blocks. 

Green Space 

A generous amount of green space (shown in blue) is created 

in Reid through a combination of wide street verges and well 

established green private open space. 

Building Footprint - 18% 

Private Open Space - 35% 

Semi Public Open Space - 7% 

Road Verge - 24% 

Road - 15% 

Public Open Space (parkland) - 1% 

Private Space v Public Space 

Private open spaces (blue) exist both as semi private space facing 

the streets, shared apartment courtyard spaces and fully private 

individual back yards. 

Building Height and Road Reserve 

A variety of single (light grey), low rise (mid greys) and multistorey 

building heights (black) coexist in Reid. Taller buildings typically 

address busier street frontages whilst low rise often face on to 

secondary suburban streets. 

Typical Garden City suburban housing; low rise detached dwelling surrounded by private open space and wide street verges. 

SNAPSHOT 

Suburb Reid ACT 

Division Canberra Central 

Area of tile study 14.4 Hectares 

Residential dwellings 519 

Study area population 695 

Year of initial development 1920’s 

Territory Plan zoning 

RZ1 Suburban, RZ4 Medium Density Residential, Community Facilities, SZ1 Transport 

COMPACT LAYOUT AND 

EFFICIENT LAND UTILISATION 

Performance indicator Unit of measurement 

Population density 48 residents per ha urban area 

Gross dwelling density 36 dwellings per ha urban area 

Net dwelling density 60 dwellings per ha developable land 

Occupancy rate 1.3 occupants per dwelling 

Developable land 60% of the urban area 

Building footprint 18% of the urban area 

Private open space 35% of the urban area 

Semi public open space 7% of the urban area 

Road reserve 39% of the urban area 

Road 15% of the urban area 

Verges 24% of the urban area 

Public open space 1% of the urban area 

Public and semi-public open space 14 m2 per resident 

URBAN ECOLOGY, ENERGY AND WATER 


Annual residential greenhouse gas emissions 5.4 tonnes CO2 per resident 

from onsite building operation 7.3 tonnes CO2 per dwelling 

Annual residential energy use 22 GJ per resident 

30 GJ per dwelling 

residential electricity use 4.8 MWh per resident 

6.5 MWh per dwelling 

residential natural gas use 5 GJ per resident 


Annual commercial energy use 1.4% of overall energy use 

3,835 MJ per m2 commercial space 

Annual residential potable water use 86 kL per resident 

116 kL per dwelling 

Annual commercial potable water use 0.5% of overall potable water use 

3.6 kL per m2 commercial space 

Ratio pervious to impervious open space 

public and private 

1.6 pervious : 1 impervious 

Green open space 64% of the urban area 

public 29% of the urban area 

private 35% of the urban area 

Tree canopy in the urban area (overall) 36% of the urban area 


private 21% of the urban area

Urban Form Analysis - Type A 

Canberra Example - Reid, Canberra Central 

Cooyong Cooyong Street Street 

Study Area 

BRADDON 

Ainslie Ainslie Avenue Avenue 

REID 

DIVERSITY Dwellings and Socio-Demographic Mix 


Dwelling types in % of overall dwellings 

Detached house 4% 

Semi-detached or terrace 4% 

Apartment 1-2 storey 3% 

Apartment 3 storeys 57% 

Apartment 4 or more storeys 30% 

Dwelling size in % of overall dwellings 

1 Bedroom 19% 

2 Bedrooms 60% 


4 Bedrooms and more 4% 

Household composition in % of overall households 

single 55% 

couple w/o kids 22% 

couple with kids 3% 

single parent 7% 

groups 11% 

Population by age cohort in % of overall population 

0-19 yrs 12% 

20-39 yrs 49% 

40-59 yrs 24% 

60 yrs and over 15% 

Tenure type in % of overall dwellings 

Fully owned 13% 

Purchased 7% 

Rented 76% 

Rent/Buy Scheme 0% 

Owner occupancy rate 16% of all residents 

Public and social housing dwellings 

Low income households 

16% of all residential dwellings 

(gross weekly income less than $650) 

High income households 

9% of all households 

(gross weekly income of $2,500 or more) 9% of all households 

CONNECTIVITY Movement and Amenity 


Distance from centre of study area to: 

nearest major public transport node 

(bus interchange) 1.2 km walking distance 

nearest rapid bus stop 1.8 km walking distance 

nearest school 0.5 km walking distance 

local shop, group or town centre 

nearest green open space (public or 

0.5 km walking distance 

semi-public) 0.4 km walking distance 

Canberra city GPO 1.3 km road distance 

Length of bicycle network per ha 5m 

Length of pedestrian network per ha 227 m 

Intersection density 23 intersections per hectare 

CITY 

Connectivity 

The connectivity image above 

indicates how far can you get from 

the centre of the study area in a: 

5 minute walk 

10 minute walk 

5 minute cycle 

Pedestrians and cyclists can 

follow a choice of routes in and 

around this urban form, which is 

characterised by a high quantity 

of pedestrian pathways. A range 

of amenities – several educational 

facilities, open spaces and shops - 

are situated within walking distance 

of the Reid study area. The main 

city transport interchange is over 

1km away. 

SUMMARY 

High performance 

BRADDON AINSLIE 

Ainslie Primary 

School 

People per ha Urban Area 

Land Take per Person (m 2 ) 

Public Open Space per Person (m 2 ) 

Road per Person (m 2 ) 

Reid 

Preschool 

Comparative Snapshot 

Water use per Person (kL) 

CO2 Emissions per Person (t per year) 

Low Income Households (%) 

400m radius 

REID 

800m radius 

Campbell High 

School 

CAMPBELL 

• Effi cient land use with a population density of 48 residents per hectare and the lowest land-take per person with 206 m2 including 

building footprint, open spaces and road corridors. 

• High degree of green open space (64 per cent of the urban area) with predominantly pervious surfaces for rainwater penetration and 

more than one third of the urban area covered by tree canopies. 

• Parks, shops and schools mostly in 5 minutes walking distance with a generous pedestrian network in place. 

Moderate performance 

• Moderately high potable water use of 86 kL per resident is driven by the high watering requirements of the private gardens in the 

suburban blocks of the area. 

• Diversity is addressed to a limited degree with 90 per cent of the dwellings being apartments with 2 bedrooms and rental tenure for 

medium income households. The age of the population is moderately balanced with the potential to better target families with children. 

Low performance 

Reid Kingston Gungahlin Weston Hannover Freiburg Dockside 

• Mostly electricity operated apartment buildings with reverse-cycle air conditioning and electric hot water appliances performing badly in 

terms of carbon emissions (as opposed to gas heating) resulting in 5.4 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per resident.

Urban Form Analysis - Type B 

Canberra Example - Kingston, Canberra Central 

KINGSTON is located in the inner south of Canberra. The area was established 

in the 1920s, with newer development extending to the foreshore of Lake Burley 

Griffin at the turn of this century. 



Kingston is characterised by a range of building footprint sizes 

(shown in white), from modest single dwellings through to the larger 

footprints created by commercial buildings. . 

Green Space 

A combination of private and public green space in Kingston 

produces a distinctive landscape of green spaces, consisting of 

native and exotic established vegetation. 

Medium density residential living; Kingston apartments. 





Road - 33% 



Private open space (in blue) in Kingston varies in size and layout 

according to the building type; new apartments share large internal 

courtyards and older dwellings are set within modest private yards. 


Kingston’s multistorey building heights (mid grey) refl ect the 

medium density residential and commercial zoning of the area. The 

new Kingston Foreshore buildings increase in height compared to 

earlier Kingston developments. 

SNAPSHOT 

Suburb Kingston ACT 

Division Canberra Central 




Year of initial development 1920’s 


RZ5 High Density Residential, CZ1 Core zone, CZ2 Business, CZ5 Mixed Use, PRZ1 

Urban Open Space, TSZ1 Transport 














Verges 22% of the urban area 












Annual commercial energy use 57% of overall energy use 

564 MJ per m2 commercial space 



Annual commercial potable water use 43% of overall potable water use 

1.5kL per m2 commercial space 



1 pervious : 1.7 impervious 







Urban Form Analysis - Type B 

Canberra Example - Kingston, Canberra Central 

TELOPEA 

PARK 

Study Area 

Leichhardt Leichhardt Street Street 

Giles Giles Street Street 

KINGSTON 

Wentworth Wentworth Avenue Avenue 

Dawes Street 










1 Bedroom 12% 




Household composition in % of overall population 

single 40% 




groups 21% 

Population by age cohort in% of each age cohort 

0-19 yrs 6% 

20-39 yrs 69% 

40-59 yrs 19% 




Purchased 17% 

Rented 73% 






















Length of bicycle network per ha 1 m 



BARTON 

Connectivity 




5 minute walk 



Pedestrians and cyclists can follow 

a choice of routes in and around 

this urban form although dedicated 

cycle paths are limited. Connectivity 

and proximity to shops and rapid 

public transport is excellent with 

walking distances of less than 

400m. Access to a selection of 

educational facilities and open 

spaces is also good. 

SUMMARY 


Telopea Park 

School 

GRIFFITH 

400m radius 

KINGSTON 

St Edmunds 

College 

800m radius 

St Clares 

College 

• Effi cient land use given it is a mixed use area with a population density of 47 residents per hectare and a small land-take per person of 

214 m2 including building footprint, open spaces, road corridors and commercial zones. 

• With 3.6 tonnes per year the lowest CO2 emissions per resident for operating the dwelling. 

• Lowest potable water use per person (66 kL per year) due to low garden watering requirements. 

• Shops, parks and rapid bus lines within 5 minutes walking distance and a school within one kilometre walking distance. 


• Despite higher densities and mixed-use zones a higher proportion of pervious green open spaces than the low-density Gungahlin 

example. 











• With predominately rented two bedroom apartments there is a lack of diversity in building types, sizes and tenures. 

• Dwellings mainly caters for high-income single or young couples without children and there is a lack of choice for medium income 

families with children. 

• There is no bicycle network in place.

Urban Form Analysis - Type C 

Canberra Example - Gungahlin, Gungahlin 

GUNGAHLIN is located 13km north of Canberra Central within the district of 

Gungahlin. It’s Canberra’s newest town centre (commencing 1993), and has an 

expected final population of 90,000. 



Gungahlin is characterised by linear strips of compact buildings 

(white) aligned with a regular street pattern. Long strips of built 

space are surrounded by narrow strips of open space (blue). 

Green Space 

Street verges and local park areas (blue) supplement the amount of 

private open space available to residents. Plantings throughout the 

Gungahlin town centre are both exotic and native. 

Gungahlin streetscape framing views to surrounding hills. 





Road - 12% 



Private open space in Gungahlin (blue) is very compact, consisting 

of narrow strips of individual front and rear yards. 


A consistent low building height (shown as light grey) is retained 

throughout the Gungahlin study area. 

SNAPSHOT 

Suburb Gungahlin ACT 

Division Gungahlin 




Year of initial development 1998 


RZ3 Urban Residential, PRZ1 Urban Open Space, TSZ1 Transport 














Verge 22% of the urban area 












Annual commercial energy use n/a 

Annual residential potable water use 

no commercial uses 

76 kL per resident 


Annual commercial potable water use n/a 




1 pervious : 2.3 impervious 







Urban Form Analysis - Type C 

Canberra Example - Gungahlin, Gungahlin 

Study Area 

GUNGAHLIN 

Gundaroo Gundaroo Drive Drive 










1 Bedroom 0% 

2 Bedrooms 0% 




single 12% 




groups 3% 


0-19 yrs 32% 

20-39 yrs 43% 

40-59 yrs 21% 




Purchased 62% 

Rented 30% 











Horse Horse Park Park Drive Drive 















Yerrabi Pond 

Connectivity 




5 minute walk 



AMAROO 

The grid network of streets and 

paths offers a choice of movement 

options within and around the study 

area, allowing residents excellent 

connectivity to local open spaces. 

Connectivity and proximity to other 

amenities – education, shops and 

public transport – is characterised 

by distances over 1km. 

SUMMARY 


GUNGAHLIN 

Gungahlin Town 

Centre 

400m radius 

800m radius 

• With 3.6 tonnes per year the lowest CO2 emissions per resident for operating the dwelling. 

• Achieves the most balanced results in terms of social mix of age and income groups and household types, as well as diversity in building 

types. 

• Pocket parks are distributed well across the area and are in a few minutes walking distance to the dwellings. 


• Given the low density character of the area, due to high occupancy rates it achieves moderate results in population density with 33 

residents per hectare and a moderate land-take of 303 m2 per resident. 

• Due to smaller gardens and predominantly paved areas there is a fairly low per capita water use of 76 kL per year at the expense of poor 

rainwater penetration and a lack of green amenity. 

• Rapid bus lines and bus interchange services are within 10 minutes walking distance of the area, the school is within 15 minutes walk. 











• The second highest average building footprint per dwelling (215 m2). 

• Despite low densities and reasonable open spaces, there is a lack of impervious and green open spaces and a lack of mature trees, in 

particular in public open spaces. 

• Although the pedestrian infrastructure has been put in place, it takes the residents longer to walk to the nearest shops in the town centre 

(2,400 m walking distance).

Urban Form Analysis - Type D 

Canberra Example - Weston, Weston Creek 

WESTON is located west of Canberra Central within Weston Creek. Weston 

Creek town centre was established in the late 1960s, with the then National 

Capital Development Commission describing Weston Creek as ‘one of the most 

picturesque parts of the National Capital’. 



Weston Creek features a regular pattern of fi ne grain building 

footprints. The built form defi nes linear blocks of open space (roads 

and back yards). 

Green Space 

Weston Creek exemplifi es the 1960s approach to local landscape 

development, with buildings set in bushland. Native vegetation is 

continued throughout streetscapes and urban open spaces. 





Road - 9% 


Weston Creek sits within a bushland setting which connects to adjacent ridges and buffers. 


Private open space is provided to each dwelling. Generally 

consistent setbacks create uniform streetscapes and space at the 

front of dwellings, and larger areas of private open space behind. 


Building heights are uniformly low rise (light grey). Road reserves 

also align with open space corridors. 

SNAPSHOT 

Suburb Weston ACT 

Division Weston Creek 






RZ1 Suburban, NUZ3 Hills Ridges and Buffer Areas, PRZ1 Urban Open Space, TSZ1 

Transport 














Verge 9% of the urban area 












Annual commercial energy use n/a 

Annual residential potable water use 


111 kL per resident 


Annual commercial potable water use n/a 




2.3 pervious : 1 impervious 







Urban Form Analysis - Type D 

Canberra Example - Weston, Weston Creek 

WESTON 

Study Area 

Tuggeranong Tuggeranong Expressway Expressway 



LYONS 








1 Bedroom 0% 

2 Bedrooms 0% 




single 26% 




groups 0% 


0-19 yrs 16% 

20-39 yrs 24% 

40-59 yrs 34% 




Purchased 31% 

Rented 4% 

























HOLDER 

Weston Primary 

School 

Cooleman 

Court 

STIRLING 

Connectivity 




5 minute walk 



Connectivity to open space is 

very high within this urban form. 

A network of roads and dedicated 

cycle paths allows movement 

through the study area, although 

like Yerrabi the distances to other 

amenities such as shops and public 

transport are over 1km. 

SUMMARY 


WESTON 

400m radius 

800m radius 

LYONS 

• A vast amount (70 per cent) of the urban area represents green open spaces with buildings set in bushland, large front setbacks and 

generous backyards. 











• Low population density with only 13 residents per hectare and with 800 m2 per person, nearly four times the land-take of Reid and 

Kingston. 

• The highest average building footprint per dwelling (270 m2). 

• With 6.4 tonnes per year the highest carbon emissions per resident from heating and cooling. 

• Highest potable water consumption per resident (111 kL per year) due to watering requirements of generous gardens. 

• Narrow housing choices with detached houses for medium to high income households only. 

• Aging population with 61 per cent of the population being 40 years and older.

Urban Form Analysis - Type E 

International Example - Hannover Kronsberg, Germany 

KRONSBERG is located to the southeast of Hannover, the state capital of Lower Saxony. 

Developed for the World EXPO 2000 the Kronsberg district presents a comprehensive 

example of visionary urban planning and construction with exceptionally high ecological 

standards, above-average quality of accommodation and semi-natural open space design. 



The appearance of the district is shaped by its wide-meshed rectangular 

grid layout, which creates frames for a variety of block structures. The 

grid layout of the blocks, the avenue-like streets and the open space 

planning unite various construction forms and designs 

Green Space 

Interconnected public, semi-public and private areas close to the 

homes offer differing green and open spaces with rainwater retention 

and infi ltration areas integrated in the design. Perimeter developments 

with inner courtyards and internal paths offer secluded communal green 

spaces and safe play areas for children. 



Vibrant residential development with easy access to open space recreational areas. 



Road - 9% 



Diverse building designs create distinct areas that are grouped around 

a neighbourhood park and bordered by park corridors or green zones. 

Emphasis is placed on good open space design, and semi-public inner 

courtyards and private outdoor areas are available for almost every 

home. 


Low land take was a key design feature with compact urban form and 

perimeter development. Transport Development Areas with maximum 

buildings heights of four to fi ve storeys along the light rail corridor 

to the north-west links the development with the city. The densities 

and buildings heights decrease to two or three storeys towards the 

countryside to the south-east. 

HANNOVER KRONSBERG currently has a population of around 6,800 people. 

The fi rst two development phases, Kronsberg-Nord and Kronsberg-Mitte, 

delivered more than 3,000 dwellings. Almost 3,000 jobs are located in the 

immediate vicinity with bank and data processing companies. The new 

residential area, the adjacent commercial areas with their numerous new 

service industry jobs, and the neighbouring countryside create an urban 

spatial unity 

SNAPSHOT 

Suburb Hannover, Kronsberg 





The following comparison is based on land use data from a study area of 21.4 hectares 

located in the northern part of the development (see Aerial Image on the right page). 

Urban ecology, energy and social data are based on Kronsberg averages. Water data is 

based on Hannover average household consumption. 





Gross dwelling density 38 dwellings per ha developable land 

Net dwelling density 73 dwellings per ha residential area 


Developable land 52% of the overall urban area 

Building footprint 16% of the overall urban area 

Private open space 23% of the overall urban area 

Semi public open space 13% of the overall urban area 

Road reserve 38% of the overall urban area 

Road 9% of the overall urban area 

Verge 29% of the overall urban area 

Public open space 10% of the overall urban area 




from onsite building operation 2 tonnes CO2 per dwelling 





The energy concept for the development consists of the following components: 

• Low Energy construction methods with quality assurance, monitoring and skills 

qualifi cation measures. 

• Two decentralised gas-boosted cogeneration plants provide heat for space heating 

and warm water for all households. 

• Renewable energy sources are utilised: Three wind turbine facilities with an overall 

capacity of 3.6 MW, solar collectors and photovoltaic facilities on roofs. 

• Innovative technology by solar passive houses, solar district heating, and 

microclimate zones. 

Main features of the semi-natural decentralised rainwater management system are: 

• Rainwater retention basin. 

• Hillside avenue to the north with renaturalised watercourse. 

• Natural rainwater retention areas. 

• Rainwater use concept for inner courtyards. 

• Water harvesting and saving concept in school and community centre.

Urban Form Analysis - Type E 

International Example - Hannover Kronsberg, Germany 

Study Area 

KRONSBERG 



Dwelling types in % of overall dwelling 


Terrace or Row Houses 6% 

Apartment up to 3 storeys 66% 

Apartment 4 to 5 storeys 23% 


single 39% 




groups 21% 


0-17 yrs 28% 

18-59 yrs 64% 



(recieving public transfer services) 37% of all households 


The development of Kronsberg followed the regional planning principle, according to 

which residential development should occur in the main expand along local rail public 

transport routes and be concentrated at urban densities in the catchment areas of the 

stops and stations. The three tram stations are within less than 600 metres walking 

distance from all the dwellings. 

Along the light rail corridor runs the main access road. This transport corridor 

became an attractive location for shops and offi ces. At the mid-section of the current 

development these uses are concentrated with a shopping centre, a district square, the 

‘KroKus’ arts and community centre, a health centre and a church. 

Early Delivery of Social Infrastructure 

Social infrastructure was put in place concurrently with the housing and includes a 

primary school with water saving concept and photovoltaic installation, three children 

day care facilities and around 17 units for community use. Community units for 

local groups are located on the ground fl oor of apartment buildings as a result of a 

compulsory agreement with the developers. 

Varied Architecture and Accommodation 

Over forty architectural and open space planning offi ces applied very different 

approaches and design solutions, in many cases after design competitions. 

Balanced Social Mix and Social Infrastructure 

Diverse design with a mix of types, tenures and sizes on a fi ne, section scale was 

applied to achieve a balanced social mix. Key concepts were fl exible residential design 

to cope with changing housing needs, a mixture of large and small apartments, and 

apartments suitable for families and for new lifestyles. The objective was to avoid social 

segregation by applying various forms of delivery model, tenures and social housing. 

BEMERODE 

Aerial Image 

Image courtesy of Karin Rumming, City of Hannover 



SUMMARY 

Exemplary performance 

• Diversity in design and high quality public realm achieves a balanced social mix in terms of household composition (singles, couples, 

family with children) and household income (37% low income). 

• Early delivery of social infrastructure (school, child care, parks, community spaces) concurrently with housing. 

• Landscape design ‘City as a habitat’. 

• Low carbon urban design with low energy and passive houses, renewable energy sources, CHP district heating and rapid public 

transport. 

Web Links 









KRONSBERG 

http://www.hannover.de/de/umwelt_bauen/bauen/bauen_lhh/oekobauen/oemobakr/modkrons/kroliter/rotebuch.html 

http://connectedcities.eu/downloads/showcases/kronsberg_hannover_handbook.pdf 

http://www.rudi.net/node/7346 

WULFERODE 

Reid Kingston Gungahlin Weston Hannover Freiburg Dockside

Urban Form Analysis - Type F 

International Example - Freiburg Vauban, Germany 

VAUBAN, a former French military base in Germany’s southwest, was 

redeveloped as a model sustainable urban district in the late 1990s with a focus 

on reduced car use, high ecological standards of buildings and co-building 

initiatives to improve affordability. 



The housing types include two to four storey row-houses and 

apartment buildings. All houses are built to a compulsory low 

energy standard, some of them exceeding the performance to 

Passivhaus or even Plus Energy Standard. Zoning prohibits the 

construction of parking space on the site of the house. 

Green Space 

To create a landscaped neighbourhood was an explicit design 

goal. The design of public green spaces, local streets and the 

neighbourhood centre were developed in meetings and workshops 

with residents. 





Road - 4% 



Semi-public spaces such as access galleries, community gardens 

and community facilities are a visible feature of the neighbourhood. 

Streets and other public spaces are playgrounds for children and 

places for social interaction. 


The plan departs from the simple inherited grid and creates a 

network based on the principle of ‘fi ltered permeability’. The 

network geometry favours active modes of transport such 

as walking and cycling and disadvantages the car. This is 

accomplished by reducing the number of streets that run through 

the neighbourhood. Most local streets are shared zones and cul-desacs. 

Vibrant mixed density residential development with ease of access to open space and communial green spaces. 

FREIBURG VAUBAN’S new district is 41 hectares in size with 1,800 dwellings, 

5,000 residents and 600 permanent jobs. It largely consists of two to four 

storey row houses and walk-up apartments. Approximately two thirds of 

the developments have no garages and front-door parking provisions. As of 

2009 around 70% of the households had chosen to live without a private car. 

A tram network and two bus lines connect the residents with the surrounding 

area. Most individual blocks were sold to small cooperatives of owneroccupiers, 

each comprising between 3 and 21 households, which were 

responsible for the detailed building design of their shared property. This 

generated diverse architectural and open space designs in a fi ne-grain mix of 

lot sizes suitable for varying building types from single-family terrace houses 

to 20-unit apartment buildings. Besides the owner cooperatives, there is a 

number of rental units, both with and without public subsidies. 

SNAPSHOT 

Suburb Vauban Freiburg, Germany 





The following comparison is based on land use data from a study area of 11.1 hectares 

located in the southern part of the development (see Aerial Image on the right page). 

Urban ecology, energy, water and social data are based on Vauban averages. 
























Impervious open spaces 80% 

The energy concept for the development consists of the following components: 

• All houses are built to a compulsory low energy standard of 65 kWh/m2 every year 

(German Average 1995-2000: 100 kWh/m2, before: 200 kWh/m2). 

• 100 four-storey units are designed to an ultra-low energy building standard 

(Passivhaus Standard) that has no conventional heating system and uses internal 

heat gains, passive solar gains and heat recovery technology. 

• A solar district of at least 100 units comprises plus-energy-houses with solar 

collectors for heating and photovoltaic systems that produce a surplus of electricity. 

The solar energy surplus is then sold back into the city’s grid and provides a profi t 

on every home.

Urban Form Analysis - Type F 

International Example - Freiburg Vauban, Germany 

Study Area 

UFFHAUSEN GEWERBEGEBIET SUD 

FREIBURG 

Giles Street 

• Buildings with conventional heating systems are heated by a combined heat and 

power station burning wood chips. 

The water management concept is based on 

• Infi ltration of rainwater into the ground is provided for 80% of the residential areas 

• A new ecological sewage system with vacuum pipes to a biogas plant where it 

ferments together with organic household waste and generates biogas which is 

used for cooking 

• Remaining waste water (grey water) is cleaned and reused for gardening, fl ashing 

toilets etc. 




2 to 4 storey row houses 

and apartments 

100% 


single 12% 




0-17 yrs 30% 

18-30 yrs 4% 

31-45 yrs 48% 

46-60 yrs 15% 


Low income households 10% of all households 


An integrated transport system for the city and the region has achieved the following 

modal split: 

Walking 21% 

Cycling 18% 

Public transport 21% 

Cars 39% 

Motorcycle 1% 

Reduced car usage in Vauban is based on: 

• A zoning for major parts of the development that prohibits the construction of 

parking space on the site of the house. Housing units and parking spaces are sold 

separately. 

• A liveable street design concept has been applied based on: 

• A 30 km/h zone along all main roads through Vauban (as does every residential 

street in Freiburg). 

• Every road except the main road is a ‘play road’ designed as a 5km/h shared 

zone for all residents with pavement widths of 3 to 5 metres and 1 metre wide 

pervious and driveable curbs that allow emergency access. 

• Bicycle streets that are one way roads for cars and two way streets for 

bicycles. 

• Pedestrian-only paths that linking residents to nature, retail and public 

transport. 

• Cars may enter the residential streets but only for loading and unloading purposes. 

Residents and visitors, too, are expected to park their car in one of the perimeter 

garages and pay for it. 

• Car sharing organisation offers its members not only access to cars but also a on 

year free pass for public transportation within Freiburg. 

• A light rail line runs down the main street with three stations and 8 to 10 services 

per hour during peak times. It provides access to the city centre in 13 minutes and 

to the central train station in 18 minutes. Interchange opportunities are available 

with buses. 

UFFHAUSEN 

ST GEORGEN 

Aerial Image 

SUMMARY 



• Land-effi cient road pattern with only 7 m2 of road corridor per resident due to a liveable street design and car access restrictions 

• Low land-take per resident (75 m2) based on minimised road corridor 

• Family-friendly compact urban form with 134 people per hectare, two- to four-storey buildings and 80% family households with children 

• Low carbon design with energy-effi cient buildings, renewable energy sources, CHP district heating and rapid public transport 

Web Links 









http://streetswiki.wikispaces.com/Quartier+Vauban,+Freiburg,+Germany 

http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/vauban/ 

http://www.greenlivingpedia.org/Freiburg 

FREIBURG 

Fig. Concept of fi ltering permeability. 

GEWERBEGEBIET SUD

Urban Form Analysis - Type G 

International Example - Dockside Green, Canada 

DOCKSIDE GREEN is located in the City of Victoria, British Columbia, 

Canada. This mixed-use harbourside precinct is designed to be a greenhouse gas 

(carbon) neutral development. 



Building footprints range in size but all are at an urban scale with 

no single detached dwellings. Smaller apartment blocks arranged 

in narrow linear bands lie close to the harbour and larger mixed use 

buildings distributed opposite an open space corridor. 

Green Space 

A naturalised creek and pond system or ‘greenway’ runs the length 

of the site, terminating in a public amphitheatre. This integrated 

storm water and urban ecology system uses native and adaptive 

species. Green roofs are also provided on site. 


Typical Dockside Green development including high density residential built form. 




Road - 12% 



Emphasis is placed on shared public spaces. Buildings sit within 

a network of larger grain semi-private spaces (building courtyards) 

and public open spaces. Private open space is minimal. Mixed use 

street frontages encourage outdoor activity within the public realm. 


A perimeter road provides access to the site and reduces the need 

for on-site road land take. A mix between medium rise and high rise 

building heights achieves a high density within a modest site area 

whilst still providing a high ratio of public open space. 

DOCKSIDE GREEN seeks to be a world-leading model for holistic, closedloop 

design, functioning as a total environmental system in which form, 

structure, materials, mechanical and electrical systems are interrelated and 

interdependent and largely self-suffi cient. When completed, Dockside Green 

will showcase energy generating technologies which sustain mixed-use 

residential and commercial development including affordable housing, public 

open spaces, public art, a mini-transit system, local shops and offi ces. It 

achieved LEED Platinum accreditation for stage 1. 

SNAPSHOT 

Suburb Dockside Green, British 

Columbia 




Year of initial development c. 2006 

The following comparison is based on two types of available data: 1. actual performance 

data for completed phases of the development and 2. aspirational performance 

targets which are planned for but which are not yet completed or data verifying their 

performance is not yet published. 







Occupancy rate 2 number of occupants per dwelling 











Annual residential greenhouse gas emissions 0.2 tonnes CO2 per year 






Energy concept for the development 

A biomass gasifi cation plant will make Dockside Green the fi rst large community-scale 

development in North America to be “greenhouse gas neutral” or better from a building 

energy perspective. The process uses wood waste recovered from local mills and 

woodworking shops, as well as tree trimmings and deadfall from the region.This will 

offset emissions created onsite from electricity and the delivery of waste wood to the 

site. Excess heat produced by the biomass plant will be sold off-site to neighbouring 

businesses. 

Building features providing optimised energy performance include passive building 

design (shading and daylighting), insulation, low E double-glazed windows, heat 

recovery technology to pre-warm incoming fresh air by capturing the heat from 

ventilated air being exhausted, a four-pipe fan coil system for domestic hot and cold 

water supply system (providing free cooling), photovoltaic and solar hot water products 

and wind turbines recycle or reuse 90% of construction waste on site.

Urban Form Analysis - Type G 

International Example - Dockside Green, Canada 

VICTORIA WEST 

Study Area 

DOCKSIDE 

GREEN 

Individual dwelling meters will monitor consumption of cold water, hot water, heat, and 

electricity, assisting individual residents to voluntarily conserve energy. 

Main features of the water management and treatment systems include: 

• The development will treat 100% of its sewage on site and use the treated water for 

fl ushing toilets, landscape irrigation and water features. 

• Storm water will be treated through green roofs and fl ow via a series of connected 

central naturalized creeks and waterways which are key public landscape features. 

• Potable water consumption will be minimised by using high performance water 

fi xtures and appliances. 




Detached or semi-detached 0% 

Terrace or row houses 0% 

Apartment up to 3 storeys 5% 

Apartment 4 to 5 storeys 95% 


1 Bedroom 53% 


3 Bedrooms 4% 



0-17 yrs 0% 

18-59 yrs 89% 


Low income households 10% 

Dockside Green is has limited diversity of housing choice in terms of dwelling size or 

type, predominately consisting of apartments. Initiatives to promote diverse housing 

ownership and affordability include distributing affordable (subsidised) apartments 

throughout the site (10%) and constructing energy effi cient buildings with low operating 

costs. 


The development will provide a range of transport options which connect it to the 

nearby downtown area and reduce car use. Features which reduce car reliance and 

promote sustainable transport choices include: 

• Providing a mixed use urban fabric where people can live, work and access social 

infrastructure such as shops. 

• A car share program using electric vehicles. 

• Upgraded bike trails and bike racks in each building. 

• A harbour ferry dock facility. 

• Transit and a mini-transit shuttle bus. 

• Links and upgrades to existing cycle infrastructure (the Galloping Goose Trail). 

Monitoring sustainability performance 

Dockside Green has developed a set of performance indicators that will measure the 

performance of the project, assessing whether it is achieving its economic, social and 

environmental goals. The indicators are to be monitored and results published on an 

interactive web page. The City of Victoria will penalise the developer if performance 

goals are not achieved. Residential dwellings are also equipped with water and energy 

meters which allow them to monitor and adjust their own domestic consumption. 

Sustainable development practices 

Dockside Green has sought to create a model of how developers, municipalities and 

community, environment and business groups can collaborate to create sustainable 

developments. Features of this development process model include: 

• Community engagement and transparency. 

• 

Conducting sustainability education programs with schools. 

• Supporting local businesses and suppliers which supports the local economy (and 

reduces CO2 emissions by minimizing transportation needs). 

• Creating local employment. 

• Communicating sustainability initiatives and sharing knowledge (publishing, the 

internet). 

Aerial Image 

SUMMARY 


• Innovative technology applied at a neighbourhood scale (e.g. biomass gasifi cation plant , on-site sewage treatment, green roofs and 

naturalised creeks) are presented as a sustainability aesthetic highly visible in the public realm. 

• First urban development that achieved LEED platinum accreditation. 

• Establishing an online monitoring system accessible for the public that reports and up-dates on the sustainability performance of the 

development (http://docksidegreen.visiblestrategies.com/). 

Web Links 

VICTORIA WEST 

VICTORIA 

HARBOUR 









http://docksidegreen.com/ 

http://docksidegreen.visiblestrategies.com/ 

http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/documents/DockGreenVicCan.pdf 

DOCKSIDE 

GREEN 

VICTORIA 

Reid Kingston Gungahlin Weston Hannover Freiburg Dockside

Appendix A - Urban Form Analysis: Canberra's Sustainability ...

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