Before and after ‘development’

Below are small images of various sites in Ku-ring-gai, showing in two or three shots how the streetscape and amenity of the area have been adversely affected by so-called ‘development’.  Clicking on any of these ‘thumbnails’ will provide a larger view of each set, in a new window.  When you’ve finished with the larger view, simply close that window to return to this page.

Most of the homes demolished below were family homes, with backyards, gardens and canopy trees.  Most of the replacements are apartments standing on ‘landscaped’ but largely bare blocks, confronting their neighbours, showing no respect to their context, enjoying views of their neighbours gardens and trees, but invading their privacy and giving nothing in return.

Moreover, most have little if any architectural merit.  Most are overly bulky, with little articulation and presenting a monolithic face to their neighbours.

They puncture the tree canopy, overshadow their surrounds, and allow little opportunity for canopy trees to grow nearby, and thus little chance of softening their bulk and outlines.

They pretend to offer ‘housing choice’ but in fact detract from it.  Ku-ring-gai is a municipality that has always been basically residential.  It has virtually no industry.  The closest it has to an ‘industry’ is the many schools and colleges established within its borders.  Families seeking to live near schooling, or within easy walking distance of local railway stations that service their schools, are finding ‘housing choice’ a thing of the past.  They are being forced to live further and further from the railway line, leading to more and more car trips between station and home – something that Ku-ring-gai’s overloaded roads can well do without.