UNSW research and student ideas have helped transform an underused courtyard into a cooler, more welcoming space for the Art & Design campus community.
There’s more to the new courtyard at UNSW Art & Design Paddington than meets the eye. Behind the new shade, planting and shared spaces is a story of research and learning.
Associate Professor Riccardo Paolini, Manager of the High Performance Architecture Lab, used thermal imaging and other research to understand how heat, shade and thermal comfort were affecting the courtyard. The findings helped identify where changes could make the space more comfortable.
Students then had the chance to add their own ideas into the mix.
As part of Landscape Architecture coursework led by Dr Sara Padgett Kjaersgaard from the School of Built Environment, students developed concepts for the courtyard and presented their ideas to the project team. Concepts by Imran Moon and Lionel Pek helped explore what the space could become, with their elements influencing the final design.
For the Built Environment students, it was an opportunity to see their learning in practice and to experience what happens when a design idea is tested against the realities of a live project. They received feedback from the project architects and gained an insight into how ideas evolve from concept to deliverable outcomes.
The courtyard also showcases work by an Art & Design student.
Following an artwork competition coordinated by Stephen Goddard, second-year design student Jonty Davies-Conyngham’s winning work, Figs of Paddington, was incorporated into the decorative shrouds within the courtyard.
Nature has also been given a bigger role. Artificial turf has been replaced with garden beds and new planting, creating more vegetation and a greener, more resilient outdoor space.
Together, these contributions have helped create more than a refreshed courtyard. They show how the spaces around us can become part of the University’s teaching and research, while giving students an opportunity to shape our campus.
The result is a cooler, greener space for the Paddington community to come together and enjoy.
Learn more about the design and delivery of the project.
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