From the way our buildings look to how our streets connect, seemingly small design decisions can have a big impact on how we experience our city every day.
A balcony overlooking a park can make an apartment more enjoyable to live in. A well-designed office can help local industries thrive. Wider footpaths with trees can give people shade from the sun while they walk home from work.
That is why the City of Hobart has drafted the Hobart Design Guidelines – a new handbook aimed at supporting thoughtful, high-quality development across the city.
The draft guidelines offer practical ideas to support thoughtful, well-designed development in Hobart.
The guidelines don’t introduce new rules. Instead, they provide a practical and inspiring resource for designers, developers and the broader community.
It is hoped the handbook will serve as a tool to help Hobart grow in a way that reflects its unique character, supports wellbeing, and responds to future challenges.
Jaime, an urban designer with the City of Hobart, has been closely involved in developing the guidelines.
The guidelines encourage new buildings to contribute to a compact, connected and people-friendly city.
He says they’re grounded in national and international best practice, but tailored to Hobart’s distinct setting.
“These guidelines are about encouraging good design that works for our unique context,” he said.
“They’re here to support better outcomes and help Hobart grow in a way that reinforces what we love about our city."
Jaime, from the City's urban design team, says the guidelines are grounded in best practice and shaped by Hobart's unique setting.
The document includes a range of principles and actions that should be considered in any new development, such as how buildings relate to the street, the mix of uses they support, the accessibility of public spaces, and how projects embrace greenery.
At the heart of the guidelines is an understanding that all design in Hobart takes place on lands of the Muwinina people. The landscape, ecosystems and communities we live among are deeply connected to Country, and the guidelines aim to respect and reflect that connection throughout the framework.
The handbook is designed to be useful tool for designers, developers and the wider Hobart community.
The draft guidelines are open for public feedback until June 10. Community members can share their thoughts by completing a short survey on YourSay, attending a public forum at Shambles Brewery or dropping by a pop-up stall in Mathers Lane.
“We want to know what people think are the most important aspects designers, developers and government should consider when delivering streets, open spaces and buildings in Hobart,” Jaime said.
“This is a real chance to help shape how Hobart looks, feels and works into the future.”