# UC | Equus | 116m | Mixed Use

[docker]

old thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=28174

http://www.equusperth.com.au/

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a206/crave1980/eccy.jpg

Address: Cinema City, 580 Hay Steet, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

1955:
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8110/davidjones1955mn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

2007:
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7559/jll455927366792np0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Cinema City to make way for residential high-rise
10th October 2006, 11:45 WST

A Perth family company has unveiled plans to close the Cinema City complex in central Perth and redevelop the site into a residential tower with as many as 150 apartments.

The revised redevelopment for the Cinema City site, on a corner block bounded by Barrack and Hay streets, are yet to be finalised but it is understood it could include up to 5000sqm of office space and residential apartments over more than 20 storeys.
The proposal came to light as Birchwood Pty Ltd, controlled by brothers Simon, Adman and Gary Wright, confirmed it had bought the former Westpoint-owned property for $16 million.

Richard Szklarz Architects has been commissioned to draw up plans for the redevelopment, which will retain the existing retail arcade. However, the cinemas are unlikely to be part of the final design.

The Wrights and their flagship company, Elmbridge Pty Ltd, are behind several inner-city residential projects, including The Statton on Murray and the Ellement 996 development opposite QV1.

The Cinema City property was put on the market by mortgagee LM Investment Management in May following the collapse of Westpoint.

Macquarie Bank was the architect of the deal but it will not play any role in the development of the 26-year-old cinema property.

Commercial agent Mark Hay said the apartments in the Cinema City project would be targeting owneroccupiers who wanted to live in true inner-city style.

The cinema property was slated for an ambitious makeover by Westpoint, including more than 200 hotel rooms and more than 130 apartments in a 27-level tower.

The controversial design sparked criticism from local architects amid concerns the tower would cast a shadow over Perth Town Hall.

Jones Lang LaSalle was the selling agent for the Cinema City property but it would not comment on the deal. The sale of Cinema City, which was the last of Westpoint’s major Perth CBD properties to be sold, follows GE’s purchase of the group’s Paragon Arcade and the sale of the Emu Brewery site for $48.8 million to Babcock and Brown and Perth developer Saville Australia.

Catie Low


"CINEMA CITY"
580-602 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000
26 Level Development
consisting of 225
Apartments, 2
Basements, Upper Level
Carparking, Retail, Public
Library, Public Plaza and
Office Use
70,000,000.00 DA 2007/2027


11/02/2008 "CINEMA CITY"
580-602 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000
Forward Works - 26 Level Development $8,800,000 BA-FW 2008/51


http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4529/5344529al1196644920.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4412/534452920080212193820p6qo2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2642403490_757928aa81_b.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6599/arcadeimagepf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8563/5344529dl1216087368og5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



animation: http://www.lastpixel.com.au/animation_equus.html



Latest Update

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5499/p1020848copyfv2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/3222/p1020849copybf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Auxodium]

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6231/perth043bt8.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1974/perth040fr7.jpg
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/941/perth041ku1.jpg
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3107/perth042gf7.jpg

[miensie]

That is awesome. Just look at that. Thanks Aux, saves me going down there this week and taking a photo :okay:

[NailZ]

Wow, everything seems to go a lot quicker when you're not paying attention i reckon!

I forgot about this one a little, then the next time I look not only has the demolition finished but there's a decent excavation too. Awesome.

Should see a core start rise by mid-09?

[Scraperfan]

the demolition seemed to stall and then bam, its all gone.

[Qbriserth]

How deep is the excavation to be?

[acc521]

With the demolition done it's become a lot more apparent just how big this site is.

I can't wait for this entire end of the city to increase in vibrancy during out of office hours.

The West end has become such a night hub, will be good to see the vibe extend down here.

[crave]

this kinda reminds me of big developments like qv... woop woop.

we need another like this with varying concourse levels.

[acc521]

I was reading about QV last night. Can't beleive it only opened in 2005!

[WCG]

OMFG

Is that black n white pic what was originaly on this site????

If it was- what a shame, very very sad!!!!!!

[Auxodium]

yes... im sure docker wouldnt lie about that... LOL

[Bonga]

Is that black n white pic what was originaly on this site????
yes... im sure docker wouldnt lie about that... LOL
Are you sure? That doesn't look like the Town Hall in the right-hand edge of the photo...

[RocStar]

That old building was on the corner of Barrack and Murray sts where currently that blue roof piece of shite of an excuse of a building is currently standing. Was likely approved for demolishment for the current building by the same generation as those of the CityVision group.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/BarrackStreetPerth01_gobeirne.jpg/200px-BarrackStreetPerth01_gobeirne.jpg http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2552/006394dju9.jpg

[ryan79]

Another thing, talking about old v new, that I don't understand is why they demolished grand buildings for smaller buildings? Like I get it if it was to build bigger buildings but in a lot of case the buildings are smaller making no sense at all.

These are the people who still make our planning decisions. Oh the old and wise peope of yesteryear, impart your bland wisdom upon us young people who have no clue.

[chrisaus]

I'm not a big fan at all of this building, the design is hardly interesting, plus its a lost retail oportunity when its only going to have an arcade.

[jackso]

Thats true but you need to look at the amount of people it will bring right into the heart of the city. I dont think there was ever a huge opportunity for retail here. Remember we have 4 new retail complex's opeing between now and 2012 (century city, wesley, raine sq, one40 william). Granted though it would have been good to see some resturaunts and cafe's and that sought of thing at the bottom.

I wish the heritage building was still there though. If i could go back and change one thing about Perth, it would have to be the heritage buildings. (and trams)

[Bonga]

Granted though it would have been good to see some resturaunts and cafe's and that sought of thing at the bottom.
Agreed. The Hay St entrance to the arcade doesn't look like it will contribute much to the streetscape.

I wish the heritage building was still there though. If i could go back and change one thing about Perth, it would have to be the heritage buildings. (and trams)
As mentioned above, that particular heritage building did not occupy the Equus site. The photo was included in this thread by mistake. But yeah, it's an awful shame that it's gone.

As far as I can determine, this is what was actually there (well, on the Maccas corner anyway):

1952:
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8207/608hay1952wz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ Although considerably less grand than the four-storey one at the Cine Centre site, it was prettier than the Maccas building that is there now. This "upgrade" in the mid-50's didn't do it any favours, though:

1956:
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8773/608hay1956bd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Bonga]

It appears that this David Jones store is what occupied the actual Cinema City/Equus site:

1954:
http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/8683/davidjones1954qk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1955:
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8110/davidjones1955mn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[crave]

:(

it's a bit sad seeing those tram tracks... what once was.

we had some messed up people in perth.

[Scraperfan]

public hanging of all planning officials and beaurocrats between 1950 and 1980 would be more than welcome.

well, perhaps just a flogging.

[dallastexjr]

From this photo, you can just make out what was on that corner site in 1897...(check out all the dudes standing around in the middle of the road lol).

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/7151/perthbarrackstreet1897lc8.jpg (http://img355.imageshack.us/my.php?image=perthbarrackstreet1897lc8.jpg)http://img355.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

[WCG]

That was an amazing building. See this is exactly what I have said here so many times. It makes me wonder how certain porjects get the go ahead and others dont...................... yeah rite not!

Beuro bull..... power...... crazy.......

its all so wrong

[finn]

In looking at the renderings I feel really uncomfortable about this development.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4412/534452920080212193820p6qo2.jpg

It's like they've started with one block and bought up any other piece of contiguous land they could get their hands on to create a giant connected building that just grew and grew, based purely on maximising development. It looks ungainly and could have been designed more elegantly if they'd created a couple of distinctly different buildings that were connected at podium level.

[perthgazer]

If it turns anything remotely like this developers previous developments (Ellement, Statton) this is going to look disgustingly cheap.

Statton and Ellement are hideous buildings, and their streetfonts even more so - no attention to detail, cheap fittings and masses of painted concrete.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong

[gotime]

i totally agree. it is no worse than most of the pretty average developments going up around perth. but i fear this will be one of the great eyesores of our time. a massive, uninspiring building which will sit on this site forever. getting something of this sized demolished would be quite a task.

[Scraperfan]

I feel that the building has been designed to take into account that the adjoining sites will probably have their own highrise buildings in time.

So look at the render, with an imagination to see highrise buildings immediately adjacent.

All of a sudden it then seems to fit well.

Touche on stratton and ellement. i think i just threw up in my mouth a little...

[Sanj]

If it turns anything remotely like this developers previous developments (Ellement, Statton) this is going to look disgustingly cheap.

Statton and Ellement are hideous buildings, and their streetfonts even more so - no attention to detail, cheap fittings and masses of painted concrete.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong

who is the developer? i didnt realise they did ellement and statton as well. have u been inside statton? really average. have heard similar things about ellement too.

i wa surprised at ellement because it is designed by richard szklarz i believe and he isnt exactly a dunce although some of his stuff isnt to my taste

[perthgazer]

Inner City Building Co is the name I believe, private company.

I haven't been in either but have heard similar things like you mentioned, and anyone on the street can see they are hideous.

[crave]

it's tha white that's gonna make or break this building... otherwise it's not that bad imo.

[samboy]

This will be a landmark development with world class facilities in an iconic location in the heart of a bustling entertainment precinct. I also believe it will have the most reflective glass in the southern hemisphere.

[wexford]

I rather like it, myself. Look at all those neat vertical and horizontal lines, the vaguely futuristic 1970's appearance, and of course all that glass.

Imagine the life that all those windows will throw out into the surrounding areas once people are in there. There'll be movement from residents walking around inside, watching TV (presumably pretty large screens), switching internal lights on or off and all different colours from their personal furniture, fixtures and fittings.

[Auxodium]

of all the projects i wanted this one to fail not the ones like altus or capital square... but that is the building world

[acc521]

It just goes to show you what the attitude of the Natrass council was. Knock back the development multiple times due to it being to tall yet say nothing about what could be improved architecturally and asthetically.

[desperaterobots]

I agree with SF, when the sites surrounding it are built up it won't be so bad. If we get a good Treasury Building, for instance. And it's not that bad looking, more interesting than the monolithic commie block factor of Capital Square. Not to mention the nearby Medina, blegh.

Whats wrong with Ellement etc being cheap? Or did the prices not reflect that?

[Scraperfan]

thanks for agreeing DR but i meant the absolute adjoining sites on barrack street and the old maccas building and on the very east block right next to it.

these will all have their own tall buildings butting up against this, so i think that has been taken into account with the design.

once the neighbours develop, it will slot right in.

[desperaterobots]

Yeah, that's what I meant, but it's true in the broader sense too. It'll only stick out for as long as the surrounding sites remain underdeveloped (hopefully not too long).

I'd be worried about buying here with the potential of a big development on the greater union block.... Views: gone.

[jackso]

Isnt this infront of the greater union block?
People with river views would be fine but i suppose of you were on the NW side.

[PD]

As long as the materials are reasonable quality I think this is going to be one beautiful mess of urbanity.

[scotdaliney]

I think it could go either way. It will either look terrible or fantastic. Better than another white box though.

[Johnvb]

I think this is a bit of a white box!! A serious attempt at creating something more mixed use with the site would have been beneficial.. something more like 140 william! Its a similar site

[Dilaz89]

lol.

Piling has commenced and there is a siteworks crane on site.

[WAuzzie]

i think this baby will turn out awesome. i love its .. messed up look. gives it a feeling of being much larger and of bigger mass then it will really be.

[ryan79]

I think this is a bit of a white box!! A serious attempt at creating something more mixed use with the site would have been beneficial.. something more like 140 william! Its a similar site

Mixed use? Such as a cinema ;)

[Dilaz89]

Theres a good chance we will see some mixed used including a cinema on the greater union site. Council need to take the first step and encourage it.

[scotdaliney]

It's existence is especially repulsive due to the fact that a beautiful old building was demolished to make way for it. I will personally help tear it's ugly shit-brown brickwork down piece by fucking ugly piece. Practically that whole block needs detonation.

Any pics of what used to be there?

[tayls84]

^^ See Rocstar's post 13 of this thread. Photo is there.

[dallastexjr]

Behold. Beauty and the Beast....

That old building was on the corner of Barrack and Murray sts where currently that blue roof piece of shite of an excuse of a building is currently standing. Was likely approved for demolishment for the current building by the same generation as those of the CityVision group.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/BarrackStreetPerth01_gobeirne.jpg/200px-BarrackStreetPerth01_gobeirne.jpg http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2552/006394dju9.jpg

[samboy]

I hope I'm wrong but could this be the next casualty of the credit crunch?

[Dilaz89]

Doubt it. It's bieng both developed and built by the one company and financed by BankWest.

[Auxodium]

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/88/09102008393ep3.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2568/09102008394in8.jpg

[Bonga]

It has been mentioned that our favourite blue and brown ex-cinema...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/BarrackStreetPerth01_gobeirne.jpg/200px-BarrackStreetPerth01_gobeirne.jpg

...is actually part of the Equus site, and would be demolished at a later stage of the development.

However, the render in the first post of this thread clearly shows this building intact. Anyone know what the story is here?

[samboy]

The cinema is NOT part of the equus site. It's a different lot owned by different people. Anyone's guess as to what they do with it.

[hack404]

Is it just me or is this building a Ziggurat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat)?

Who said innovative architecture and Perth didn't mix? :):):nuts:

[Blindfold]

It IS on a high site compared to the Terrace and Wellington St so might appear as high as St Martins or Allendale.

[hayds]

It IS on a high site compared to the Terrace and Wellington St so might appear as high as St Martins or Allendale.

yeha itll definately impact the skyline greatly from south/east and north/east perth

[basics]

Job advert in The West for construction managers yesterday. Job market in WA still very strong obviously.

[acc521]

^^Yep, lastest figures put unemployment at 2.2%.

[Citystyle]

Job advert in The West for construction managers yesterday. Job market in WA still very strong obviously.

Good luck to them. Im sure a few from over east will be without work.

[Scraperfan]

the gloomy economic times on the horizon could actually be a boon for wa.

if theres an influx of workers from the east, that can only help stimulate our local economy and ease the backlog for projects.

[Skyline Art]

^^ However how many have been canned here? Possibly less than the east aye?

[Blindfold]

Two tower crane bases are now on-site - one yellow and one turqoise.

I know this proposal has been given a lot of stick by forumers recently but I, for one, think it will be a great addition to the skyline. Its different in the sense that is 'stepped' as it gets taller, its bulky which will add density (something we've all been crying for since the dawn of time) and its not on The Terrace. No its not ground-breaking by any stretch of the imagination but you just have to look at the buildings behind it: HBF, Western Power and that pole 'o shite called Medina to see Equus' merits. Also its almost opposite the Law Chambers & Public Trustee buildings which are surely the work of the Devil himself.

Driving down the hill on Berwick St in Vic Park yesterday towards Canning Highway - this building is going to have a MASSIVE impact.

[NailZ]

Its good to a building of significant size being built off the Tce. I have high hopes for this area one day - hopefully Equus will be the catalyst for bigger and better developments.

[Dilaz89]

damn blindfold you beat me to it.

That green crane base isnt a crane base at all but some sort of piling machine.

Don't forget about Criterion too. That will have an impact from the north east.

[Johnvb]

: HBF, Western Power and that pole 'o shite called Medina to see Equus' merits. Also its almost opposite the Law Chambers & Public Trustee buildings which are surely the work of the Devil himself.

God I just laughed out loud for this... totally sums up the area. A pile of shit in a prime location. Only time will tell if Equus becomes just another stinking turd

[Dilaz89]

I noticed tonight that western power have uplit thier antenna. Looks decent.

[tbor]

^^ Pity about the building its attached to eh?

I hear people complain about Medina, but c'mon the Western Power buildings are so much worse...

[Scraperfan]

I noticed tonight that western power have uplit thier antenna. Looks decent.

thanks for pointing that out last night michael, i would never have noticed.

the christmas lights also look excellent, especially the tree trunk and trunk guard bud lights, in the murray st mall.

[Dilaz89]

There is now a second crane base located adjacent to the rear of the Greater Union building.

[WAuzzie]

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2756/equus1eq4.jpg

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/2715/equus2wa4.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2512/equus3ma7.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2353/equus4on4.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3913/equus5sf2.jpg

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/2277/equus6ec1.jpg

[Scraperfan]

that balcony is the best thing ever.

[miensie]

The kitchen looks pretty small? :(

The interiors are pretty cool though...almost as good as Zenith :D

Thanks for the pics, Goran.

[dallastexjr]

A pic I took of Equus site about 3 days ago...

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4306/mobilephonepics2008003js0.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mobilephonepics2008003js0.jpg)

[hayds]

any1 know when the cranes are going onto the bases?

[RocStar]

Just when you thought this building couldn't get any more uglier lol. Well lucky for the 14 level proposal on the corner to cover the now blank westerly wall. Never seen it before in a render ?

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/1060/5441060ml1220510792.jpg
http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/1060/5441060al1220510793.jpg
http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/1060/5441060bl1220510794.jpg
http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/1060/5441060,20080904164634,p,600x800,ImageC.jpg

[Bonga]

Just when you thought this building couldn't get any more uglier lol. Well lucky for the 14 level proposal on the corner to cover the now blank westerly wall. Never seen it before in a render ?
Thanks for posting.

It would be nice if these renders included scenery beyond the building's immediate vicinty, but at least they show the building as it will look from street level, rather than from the air.

I'm still not a fan, but it looks a bit more shapely and interesting than in previous renders. The blank walls are pretty nasty though, particularly the western one you've pointed out! Again, it's a major shame it doesn't incorporate any rooftop gardens or other green features...

This may have been said before, but I wonder how much better this project could have been had it been designed as a series of separate buildings on the original lots, rather than maintaining the oddly-shaped amalgamated lot of Cinema City.

[Scraperfan]

Perth just keeps coming up with these things.

We're a magnet for shit skyscrapers, but I simply welcome the sheer size of this thing to the city.

We need to just keep moving on UP. This helps.

[perthgazer]

the thing that worries me the most is that hay street podium, its just like ellements except in poo colour

[Auxodium]

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/1060/5441060,20080904164634,p,600x800,ImageC.jpg


my god... are they serious?

[Ipggi]

Well the blank walls are going to happen in city apartment developments like this where they build away from existing establish height. Without those walls you are essentially limiting any future height in the surrounding blocks, specially if what is being built are apartments!

In the short and maybe medium term it looks ugly but in the long term you will have a cluster of wall to wall, zero frontage density.

[Bonga]

Well the blank walls are going to happen in city apartment developments like this where they build away from existing establish height. Without those walls you are essentially limiting any future height in the surrounding blocks, specially if what is being built are apartments!

In the short and maybe medium term it looks ugly but in the long term you will have a cluster of wall to wall, zero frontage density.
Of course; that goes without saying. Doesn't mean we can't bitch about it in the meantime, though. ;) In fairness, the subtle grey stripes on the side walls will look better than if they were completely blank.

In a way, it would be nice if the western blank wall were a bit taller, to allow a taller development on the Greater Union site. (The setback of the west-facing apartments may still permit this, but in practice I imagine a taller proposal on the latter site would attract objections due to blocking views/sunlight.) But that would mean putting up with the blankness for longer, and would require something clever to be done in the section behind the other Barrack St buildings.

[crave]

bad renders... it's good, at tha same time it's not bad either...

tha blank western walls are a good thing, you can bet other towers will be plonked on either side of criterion/hbf. which means hays st/murray st could potentially be wall to wall with low-mid rise towers... dense!

look at tha book end concrete walls of criterion... yeugh.

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/1060/5441060al1220510793.jpg

[ryan79]

Well the blank walls are going to happen in city apartment developments like this where they build away from existing establish height. Without those walls you are essentially limiting any future height in the surrounding blocks, specially if what is being built are apartments!

In the short and maybe medium term it looks ugly but in the long term you will have a cluster of wall to wall, zero frontage density.

Well thats it. I'm not sure what the whinging is about.

This clearly sets up a space for another tower in the area.

[Bonga]

the thing that worries me the most is that hay street podium, its just like ellements except in poo colour
Yikes. The Murray St entrance is the same colour, too.

Maybe that's their tribute to Cinema City. :|

[Direwolf]

any1 know when the cranes are going onto the bases?
Yesterday afternoon 13-12 :)

[stadiumdesigner]

will upload photo later....one crane is fully up, one mast is fully up without the head and one is still just the base

[docker]

as SD said it seems this has three cranes...

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5499/p1020848copyfv2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/3222/p1020849copybf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[miensie]

3 cranes huh.

Now that is the smex :)

[Skyline Art]

as SD said it seems this has three cranes...
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/3222/p1020849copybf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

What is that drain doing so high up in the bottom of that pic? It is a drain isn't it? or is it an air vent of some sort?

^^ :lol: what is "the smex"?

[miensie]

^^ :lol: what is "the smex"?

Ahahaha...

smex = hot = hawt

Kapiche?

[TRS-80]

What is that drain doing so high up in the bottom of that pic? It is a drain isn't it? or is it an air vent of some sort?

Looks like it's just stacked there for storage, until it's installed in the ground.

[Auxodium]

Ahahaha...

smex = hot = hawt

Kapiche?

my god you are now a true scraper nerd :lol: ;)

[BartBart]

Looks like it's just stacked there for storage, until it's installed in the ground.

Yeah - looks like a gully pit lid for a soakwell. I assume will be used on the ground floor or maybe a basement carpark eventually.

[Scraperfan]

who can see the crane for equus in the background...

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9771/p1020917copyta8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

wow, never did i think equus would be visible from kings park.

[Auxodium]

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1092/24122008107tk3.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8676/24122008109ay4.jpg

[WAuzzie]

progressing well

[jarkti]

when will this be complete?

[crave]

2011.

[jarkti]

cant wait intill it starts rising
and when its finished
i love this haha it looks amazing

[jarkti]

i went passed it today
i couldnt get a decent picture theres shade cloth on the fence
so yeah kinda sucked haha but atleast theres actually a pictures :D

http://i39.tinypic.com/babgj.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/kbzyn9.jpg

[Rezz]

Good stuff Jarkti thanks for making the effort