Chapters 1 to 11 Combined - Century City

The OvalThe Oval is intended to bepredominantly office related in nature,with a minor business component.A communal open space forms theheart of this development. It isintended as a sports field for theentire Century City project, and will beowned by the Property OwnersAssociation. The field can be used asa soccer field, for other open airevents or just for passive recreation.The communal open space provides agreen heart to the project and relief tothe higher density office developmentaround the perimeter. Grassed seatingwill form an enclosing feature to thefield, and provide an opportunity forsome directional signage.Extensive landscaping will complementthe buildings to provide the sense ofenclosure to this space. On gradevisitor parking which serves the officesduring normal office hours will doubleas spectator parking after hours. Roofsof buildings should be tiled withselected materials and pitched,although a portion of the roofs maycontain flat concrete elements.The figures illustrate principles of theprecinct plan:• A compact built form will becreated, surrounding a softgreen heart;• Two entrances are providedwith wide roads and flankingbuildings that will create astrong sense of arrival;• The built form is informed by,and responds to CenturyBoulevard and CenturyAvenue, and helps to reinforcethe boulevard effect;• The development provides anappropriate interface with theBosmansdam Business Parkand responds to the plannedextension of the canal systemnext to Bougain VillasSpecific Design Elements for theOval and Estuaries Office ParkThe “perimeter block” approach is animportant principle of urban design inwhich the frontages of buildings areset close to the street creatingcontinuity of streetscape and helpingto define public, semi-public andprivate spaces. Design elements suchas building heights, focal points andbuild-to lines create an attractive andintegrated development.The use of balconies, canopies andcolonnades are encouraged to createan interesting and varied streetscape.On street parking has been providedin many cases to support street lifeand to activate the public realm.Traffic calming measures are placedthroughout the precinct to ensure it ispedestrian friendly.The design elements help to enhancelegibility, identity and orientationwithin the precinct. They also givedevelopers the opportunity todifferentiate buildings. Variations inthe height of buildings areencouraged.Provisional building heights areillustrated. Further vertical modulationis encouraged by means of patios onground, first and second floor levels,as well as roof terraces and otherforms of junctions between façade androof.PLANNING PARTNERS: CENTURY CITY URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK October 2005 43 REVISION 1