A study of change in the built environment with special reference to urban and architectural design in Brisbane's central business district core and core periphery

De Gruchy, Graham Francis (1977). A study of change in the built environment with special reference to urban and architectural design in Brisbane's central business district core and core periphery PhD Thesis, School of Geography, Planning and Architecture, The University of Queensland.

Attached Files (Some files may be inaccessible until you login with your UQ eSpace credentials)
Name Description MIMEType Size Downloads
Read with bookreader  the4790_v1_ptA_ch1_3.pdf Full text - v.1 pt. A ch.1 - 3 application/pdf 97.23MB 86
Read with bookreader  the4790_v1_ptB_ch4_6.pdf Full text - v.1 pt. B ch.4 - 6 application/pdf 58.44MB 77
Read with bookreader  the4790_v2.pdf Full text - v.2 application/pdf 34.90MB 143
Author De Gruchy, Graham Francis
Thesis Title A study of change in the built environment with special reference to urban and architectural design in Brisbane's central business district core and core periphery
School, Centre or Institute School of Geography, Planning and Architecture
Institution The University of Queensland
Publication date 1977
Thesis type PhD Thesis
Total pages 735 (2 v)
Language eng
Subjects 310000 Architecture, Urban Environment and Building
870105 Urban Planning
430101 History - Australian
Formatted abstract       In this thesis the writer has considered two aspects of change in the physical environment of Brisbane's city centre. The first aspect concerns the nature of the urban transformation from institutional settlement to modern social and business centre over a period of one and a half centuries. The second aspect of change concerns the need for a plan to guide the physical development of the area in the future. Based on the study of these two aspects the writer has made recommendations for a reappraisal of current town planning control policies in order to reduce the negative environmental impact of large scale redevelopment projects and for positive steps to be taken in creating a high quality, pedestrian oriented city centre environment.

      The structure of the thesis has been arranged in two parts. In volume one a general background is provided which sets out the objectives, scope, hypothesis and methods adopted in the study followed by a short appraisal of the relationship between the city centre and the Moreton Region, Current town planning and building controls governing development are also reviewed.

      The study area comprising the most intensely developed area of the city is defined by means of a delimitation method and the geomorphology of the area is examined in relation to foundation strength and flooding. Micro-climatic influences are set out and the positive as well as the negative characteristics of the climate summarised. Land values are examined in relation to pattern and change and the demographic composition of the study area is considered.

      In the historical study four main phases in the urban evolution of the city centre have been examined in relation to the development of infrastructure and buildings. Maps summarising development at the end of each decade have been devised and these maps have been augmented by historical maps and photographs to further clarify the development process. An outline of the evolution of the main functional zones in the city centre is provided.

      After tracing recent changes in the land use structure of the study area two of the principal land uses have been examined in greater detail. Office based activity in the city centre expanding more rapidly than any other, is analysed. The type and number of retail outlets at ground level in the study area, measured and compared with those recorded in 1959, shows the nature of change in this land use in recent years.

      The interrelationship between land use and transportation has been considered and the roles of the various modes of transport examined. With the growing workforce and with the increasing number of shoppers and visitors to the city centre the pedestrian space network, particularly in Queen Street and Adelaide Street, is showing signs of stress. A short and long term pedestrianisation programme has therefore been proposed to overcome many of the foreseeable problems in the retail zone where pedestrian densities are greatest. The layout of services, located below the streets of the study area has been considered in relation to the increasing use of floor space below ground level.

      Numerous architectural styles are to be found in the study area and these have been examined in relation to changing attitudes and architectural philosophies, changing building techniques and an increase in the demand for a higher quality work environment. Precincts and areas with precinct potential have been identified, environmental improvements considered, and aspects of building conservation discussed.

      In the final chapter environmental deficiencies have been summarised, urban problems and planning opportunities discussed and the need for a Development Control Plan for the city centre examined. Planning policies and directions for action associated with the formulation of a Development Control Plan are proposed and areas for further research outlined.

      Volume two contains the bibliography of references cited, the appendices of related material and the writer's published work relevant to the topic. Appendix five containing the building survey data and the architectural classification sheets are of particular relevance to the thesis and are referred to frequently in Chapters two and five.
Keyword City planning -- Queensland -- Brisbane.
Central business districts -- Queensland -- Brisbane.
Architecture -- Queensland -- Brisbane -- History.
Land use, Urban -- Queensland -- Brisbane.
Additional Notes THE4790 v.1: page 266a - text at bottom of page illegible; page 139 located before page 138. **These features reflect the quality/format of the original document -------- The University of Queensland acknowledges that the copyright owner of a thesis is its author, not the University. The University has made best endeavours to obtain author permissions to include theses in this collection, however we have been unable to trace and contact all authors. If you are the author of a thesis included in this collection and we have been unable to contact you, please email espace@library.uq.edu.au.

 
Citation counts: Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 130 Abstract Views, 308 File Downloads  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Wed, 19 May 2010, 09:46:15 EST by Muhammad Noman Ali on behalf of Social Sciences and Humanities Library Service