4.9 Landscape material palette | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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4.9 Landscape material palette

Landscape materials are selected to complement the simple and relaxed landscape character of the campus, and to enhance its visual qualities.

Materials have low maintenance requirements, with a robust quality appropriate to the function and intensity of use related to the particular precinct wherein they are located. Unless used as a feature or focal point to a precinct, rather than visually dominating the environment, materials are intended to rather sit harmoniously within it, sympathetic to the existing hues and tones of surrounding vegetation and structures.

Materials selected preference ecologically sustainable sources wherever possible.

The following discussion recommends for use lighting fixtures, furniture elements and paving types based on materials which are currently used on the campus.

Lighting fixtures

Four metre high post lights are to be located in the in the open campus green, the cross link paths, car parks and lake shore. The preferred finishing colour is grey, to match post lights in the car parks.

Bollard lights are to be located in the open campus green and on the cross axial foot paths. The preferred finishing colour is grey, to match post lights in the car parks.

  • Refer Photograph 4.9.2; showing bollard light in white (preferred colour is grey)

Building mounted lights occur along the colonnades of the buildings facing the open campus green.

Feature lighting occurs at various locations in order to illuminate elements such as signage and major sculptural works, and the lake shore. The types of feature lights will vary depending on the specific lighting required.

Furniture

Custom designed concrete plinths for seating occur within the open campus green and at high activity areas. Future plinths should retain the grey concrete finish to match those already in use.

Custom designed concrete plinths with timber slat tops for seating occur within the high use areas of the open campus green.

Other custom design seating should be included as part of works for high activity areas outside of the central areas of the campus, such as along the lake shore University Club Garden.

Proprietary painted metal bench seats with backs are located outside of the open campus green, adjacent paths and buildings. Grey is the preferred colour, in order for it to match the other landscape fixtures around the campus.

  • Refer Photograph 4.9.5; showing existing proprietary painted metal bench seat (preferred colour is grey)

Steel hand rails occurring on ramps and bridges on the campus should be painted grey to match the other landscape fixtures around the campus.

The steel railing used to edge the campus ring road and within temporary car parks should be avoided if possible. Where deployed, the finished colour should be grey to match the other landscape fixtures around the campus.

Aluminium picnic benches are located at the lake shore.

Paving, decking and bridges

Red brick paving is used for the colonnades along the open campus green and for high activity areas such as the entrance to the Library.

In-situ exposed aggregate concrete with sand blasted finish and character jointing is used in the open campus green cross axial paths, building entries and other high activity areas. Future concrete paths should retain the grey concrete finish to match that already in use.

In-situ exposed aggregate concrete, honed with saw cuts is used in high activity areas, such as adjacent Building C and the Art Gallery Social Hub. Future concrete paths should retain the grey concrete finish to match that already in use.

Spray sealed concrete with local gravel topping is used for paths, key pedestrian pathways outside the area surrounding the main building axis and for car parks.

Consolidated local granitic sand is used on secondary paths within the Parkland and Bushland Zones

Timber decking is used for the lake shore boardwalk and University Club building frontage.

Timber bridges occur on pedestrian or shared use pathways, connecting paths over swales and watercourses