Rest in Plaza: Sydney’s need for skate-friendly architecture.
Words and Photography by Angus Piper
Community at the soon to be demolished Central Place/Railway Square
Barcelona has MACBA, Paris has Republique, San Francisco has Union Square, London has Southbank and Copenhagen has Jarmers. Just to name a few plazas’ skateboarders flock to like flies on fruit. In all these places community grows like weeds in cracks, a safe space for anyone to come and sit, fostering friendships, watching skateboarders embrace the city in their own individual way.
Yet Sydney is far behind the trend of skate-friendly architecture, instead choosing to waste millions on skate-stoppers, brutalising public space, crushing creativity and only ensuing more property destruction in D.I.Y removal. Skateboarding was born in the streets and there it will always live.
However, in the past few months, if you walk through Railway Square you may have heard a lot more commotion at any time of day. This is because Central Place has become home to Sydney skateboarders in the midst of impending demolition in December. The area is set to become ‘Tech Central’, a $3bn precinct to rival Silicone Valley.
Previously un-skateable with hundreds of skate-stoppers and 24hr security, we could only look in envy at a perfect plaza, weaving in lines between security. Currently, at any given time you will see a multitude of skaters enjoying the sweet marble ledges and perfect ground before it disappears forever.
‘Film anything you can, this won’t last’, I heard someone laugh and say.
Every time someone new rocks up they are greeted with smiles and the look of a new friend. I witnessed tiles being fixed and altered; ledges realigned and drains refitted like a twisted jigsaw. There are not many places that have this feeling and pride in it.
All this time, hi-vis workers with notepads and clean boots, watch like vultures.
In the ‘Tech Central’ plans there is mention of public space called ‘The Pavilion’, “Where work and lifestyle can blend seamlessly”, according to project director Kimberly Jackson (SMH, 2022). If this is the future of Sydney development, why not include a skate friendly area that would grow the skateboarding community significantly, encouraging creativity and human interaction?
When you look at cities in the US and Europe, and compare them to Sydney, the key differences lie in the tight knit communities of subcultures like skateboarding. This comes down to public space, showing that it is accepted in the eyes of the city and people.
Next time you’re walking to Central, stop in at Railway Square and see the potential community that will be removed if the city does not catch up with the rest of the world in catering for all people.
Now get out there and skate it while it lasts…
VIVA LA PLAZA
