Bowden – Streets for People

Design Feature

Type of project
Placemaking and transport planning
State
South Australia
Location
Urban
Bowden is a master-planned, mixed-use urban village on a former industrial site near the Adelaide CBD. First established in 2013, this ongoing staged development will eventually house some 5,300 residents in a mix of energy-efficient apartments, townhouses and lofts that sit alongside commercial and retail sites. With a target of 153 dwellings per hectare, Bowden is designed to be a medium-density, highly walkable and wheelable environment with strong connections to public transport and public open spaces.


An initiative of the City of Charles Sturt and Renewal SA, Bowden is a shining example of the power of public/private partnerships – from 2025 to 2027, it’s set to receive more than $350 million in private construction investment across 10 development sites. This project demonstrates how the adaptive reuse of industrial land can increase urban density near existing infrastructure and provides example for other councils and developers seeking to create walkable, socially integrated and sustainable communities.
Project team
City of Charles Sturt
Renewal SA
Health value
  • Bowden’s emphasis on walkability is supported by continuous footpaths, short blocks and direct pedestrian access to key destinations. Regular physical activity, such as walking and wheeling, is associated with a wealth of health benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases1 and better mental wellbeing,2 among others.

  • Traffic calming techniques such as planting spaces, kerbless streets and narrow lane widths help people to move safely through the neighbourhood.

  • Extensive green spaces invite residents to connect with nature. Research shows that green spaces are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and lower levels of psychological distress.3

Economic value
  • Mixed-use zoning supports residential, commercial and retail developments, creating new opportunities for local employment and fostering business diversity and increased foot traffic.

  • Proximity to Bowden Railway Station and tram routes helps lower household travel costs, increases accessibility of housing and local businesses, and reduces car dependence. Limited car parking allows for higher-value land uses to be prioritised.

Environmental value
  • Street trees, canopy coverage, green infrastructure and public green spaces are key features of Bowden’s design. Urban greening and tree canopy coverage can provide shade and cool the air, increase biodiversity by providing habitat for plants and animals, and improve both air and stormwater quality, among other benefits.4

  • Tree pits on 5th and 6th streets and rain gardens on Gibson Street contribute to increased biodiversity and sustainable stormwater quality outcomes.

  • Bowden’s walkable design and car-parking strategy encourage walking, wheeling, car sharing and public transport use. Reducing reliance on private vehicle leads to lower carbon emissions and energy usage.

  • Water-saving opportunities are built into the development’s design at the individual dwelling, apartment block and precinct levels.

Social value
  • Pedestrian-friendly and interconnected streets and plazas encourage residents to interact in public spaces, fostering social interaction and community gathering.

  • Open spaces like the Bowden Village Reserve provide opportunities for space activation via community events, markets and informal play that bring the people of Bowden together.

  • Inclusive design, including kerbless and well-lit paths and paving treatments that distinguish pedestrian priority areas from shared zones, makes the neighbourhood safe, accessible and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities.

Use value
  • As a high-quality, high-profile, long-term development, Bowden has attracted sustained investment from the private sector.

  • A walkable environment connected by bike trails and multiple public transport modes, the precinct has come to life through clever urban design, as well as through a committed approach to reducing private vehicle use.

  • Bowden’s mixed-use credentials offer a flexible design approach that can be adapted in response to residential, commercial and retail priorities as the precinct grows.

References

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