And the winners is - Logan City Council Urban Design Awards!

Six reasons why Village Square is an 'urban oasis' for shoppers and diners in Logan City (how urban design can create a street in a shopping centre).   Image: This is a new street for Browns Plains. What is impressive about this project is the context. Can you see the Bunnings Store in the background? Posted by: Andrew Hammonds Thanks to: Logan City Council I was pleased to be one of the judges (with Shane Thompson and Jeff Humphries) for the inaugural Urban Design Awards for Logan City Council. An important intitiative to recognise and encourage urban design in the city. Best Commercial/Industrial Development; People's Choice Award; and Commendation Award - Village Square (Landpartners Limited) Village Square is a significant project for Queensland and Australia. It has challenged the 'rules of contemporary retail design' to create public streets and places which people like. Located in a centre dominated by internally focused shopping malls this project has demonstrated an alternative future of retail in Australia. We expect and encourage the surrounding shopping malls to follow this example and integrate and relate to their streets. To create an even better centre, future development must include homes, parks and businesses. Council might consider changing the name of Eastern Road to a street eg James Street in Brisbane. Image: The aerial view places this street in context. Smack bang in the middle of "Big Box' heaven/nightmare! This 'urban oasis' offers a unique street experience for shoppers and diners in Logan City. It is created by: quality landscaping; buildings which relate to the street with active frontages, awnings and two storey facades; public ownership of the road- enabling real opportunities for the community rather than controlled experiences; buildings which trade to the street as well as the carparks behind; large number of shade trees within parking areas; and water sensitive urban design treatment is noted by the judges - which has proven difficult in most carparks. Shane Smith (Land Partners) and colleague Best Residential Development - Woodlands (Lend Lease) This is a well designed residential development which features: housing choice and affordability with triplexes, duplexes, quadruplex; diversity mixed in with detached houses; landscape which works with a challenging topography; mature native trees; house which reduce the impact of garages to the street; stone, timber and brick detailing of houses to the street; lightweight construction to respond to slope; well designed parks which relate to the terrain and environment; parks with facilities for many within the community To create even better streets and parks, we recommend rear lane houses in future stages and strategic locations of this and other developments in Logan City. We congratulate the developer and consultants for delivering a quality living environment in this location. However, we query the long term affordability of living in an area where most trips to centres, schools, shopping etc will seem to require the use of a car. Visit www.placefocus.com for more articles.