#CBD | Site Works | Cathedral Square Development [155m | Mixed ]

[Scraperfan]

I read the agenda last week and they were saying that the hay street facade needed upgrading to match the barrack street facade so they match and that the building should be set back so the town hall would be clearly visible, so a new courtyard needed creating on the hay street side.

i dont think its rejected i just think its getting improved actually.

dont stress!

[planner-stu]

I saw that too, but I have reservations about it. The PCC could have granted approval with those recommendations but they have downright rejected the proposal instead. The report in the agenda is nothing more than the recommendations of the poor CoP planners and committees, working hard behind the scenes to inform the often short-sighted council.

[Scribbler]

planner-stu - a very astute observation and you are 100 per cent correct.

[Scraperfan]

I think they will ammend the plans and put it forward again within a month.

The recommended changes are very good i think, subtle but important.

[Johnvb]

I think the Hay St frontage is an area of key concern, the barrack st side is important don't get me wrong...but the Hay St is also a key aspect of the building...

[Dilaz89]

I think nothing needs improving and we should just build the bastars without anymore delay.

[Dilaz89]

Treasury Buildings plan opposed
Thursday 18 May 2006



The City ofPerth has expressed grave concern that three of the city’s most important heritage buildings will be adversely impacted upon if State Government plans for the Old Treasury Building site proceed.



Lord Mayor Dr Peter Nattrass said the Perth Town Hall, the former Land Titles Office and the Treasury Building would be severely compromised if out-of-character and overbearing modern buildings were allowed to dominate the precinct.



He said the Council of the City of Perth also strongly opposed a requirement that 17,000 sqm of government office space be included in redevelopment of the site, saying it was excessive and such a requirement would severely compromise the integrity of surrounding buildings and the adjacent “Foundation Park”.



As a consequence, the Council rejected an application from the Department of Housing and Works for the “adaptive re-use” of the Old Treasury Buildings and the associated construction of a nine-storey office building on the historic site. The City will advise the WA Planning Commission of its refusal of the application.



Dr Nattrass said it was his view that the planning application was the most important the Council had been required to consider in many years.



“The City has spent more than $12 million on refurbishing our most important heritage building, the Perth Town Hall, yet the plans before the Council would impact very adversely on it,” Dr Nattrass said.



“The other buildings are also of great architectural and historical significance with the Old Treasury Building and Land Titles Office dating back more than a century and St George’s Cathedral completing the picture.



“One of the great mistakes of the past was that Perth lost so many of its heritage buildings. We should not compound that mistake today by compromising these beautiful old buildings with grossly excessive over-bearing additions.



“Future generations will condemn us if we make such short-term decisions based on achieving a cost-neutral outcome.”



Dr Nattrass said that whatever development proposals were put forward for the site, they should optimise opportunities for public use and enjoyment of the site in much the same way that the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney achieves that purpose.



“In particular, sterile office space should be avoided and the buildings opened up at ground level with dining and retail opportunities,” he said. “As the plans stand, people-oriented activities have been relegated to the basement.



“This is a poor planning decision which will do little to attract people into the Treasury Building and little to bring “people activity” to St Georges Terrace

[RocStar]

Don’t worry the architects had ago at the PCC in Saturday’s West. They used the word ‘dullsville’ which Nattrass gets fired up on big time.. hehe

Also as said, their own design advisory committee, The Heritage Council and Housing and Works, Michelle Roberts all approve the development, so the City of Perth can go and get stuffed, besides the ones in their rank who were in favour of it.

[Scribbler]

Here is the story:

Architects dismiss "confused' critics

The architects behind the ultra-modern design for Perth's Old Treasury buildings have spoken out for the first time, labelling vitriolic criticism from Perth City Council as confused and immature.
Architect Geoff Warn, of Donaldson and Warn, one of the lead firms in the ambitious redevelopment, told The West Australian that the world's most popular buildings and structures emerged out of controversy and history had shown time and time again that the detractors were wrong.
Citing the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Federation Square, Mr Warn said the mark of a mature and sophisticated city was its capacity to show leadership and embrace change.
The city council this week rejected plans for the Treasury buildings, with Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass declaring they were bastardising Perth's most important heritage precinct. He said the plans for 17,000sq m of new government office space were “grossly overbearing and excessive”.
Mr Warn said similar criticism had been levelled at the “monolithic” Town Hall when it was built.
“In this day and age, when you approach design in a heritage context, you don't mimic previous architecture. One always introduces exemplary new architecture that is of its kind and of its time,” Mr Warn said.
“The Town Hall and the Treasury buildings can be seen as architecture of very different eras and very different styles, and yet they sit quite comfortably together.
“The contrast between architectural forms and aesthetics of different eras makes cities rich and diverse.”
Mr Warn said the councillors were going against expert advice from their own planning department and the council's independent design advisory committee, both of which supported the redevelopment.
And Mr Warn said Cr Max Kay, who described part of the new office building as “a colostomy bag” at this week's council meeting, had personally congratulated him and leading Melbourne heritage architect Peter Elliot when the design was first unveiled to the council.
Mr Warn said he was surprised by the criticism because the redevelopment even had the support of the Heritage Council.
“These sorts of opportunities are just not a problem in cities like Sydney and Melbourne,” he said. “If the councillors reject it or water it down, you end up kind of reinforcing the Dullsville tag.”
Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts said this week the radical design would not have been her choice, but after sitting down with the architects she believed modern and historic could sit side by side.

[RocStar]

Arrr now I know why the City of Perth is against the current Treasury redevelopment plans. It’s because it will block out their view of the clock tower after spending so much time and money on it.

Look how well the Bell Tower and the Town Hall clock towers work together!!!!!! Old and new is the perfect fit. It’s black and white.

[chrisaus]

i think the officer tower is oriented towards the left of that pic, so it still wont block out the clock tower, and even if the tower is behind it you will still be able to see the town hall, and also you cant see the town hall from st georges terrace atm anyway, comeon pcc, old and new can work very well

[RocStar]

I don’t know Chris. It does look like it may somewhat block out the PCC precious views. It makes no difference to street level like you said.

There are such large setbacks from the new office components, which in term the Town Hall will still dominate the corner. The new buildings will present it well.

[Th3-Co0L-P3rTh-Guy]

i dont quite see why people are complaining about the views?? because it doesn't look like it will be blocking any views, will it?
cheers

[RocStar]

Just the City of Perth wont be able to see it,so lets have a half-ass development then.

[Th3-Co0L-P3rTh-Guy]

so who the heck cares?? i say just go ahead and build it

[Mr Magnate]

I don't see any problem with the Hay Street Facade, don't like the look of the building along Barrack Street though. It could do with some more windows facing Barrack Street, instead of only five windows shown on the concept.

[Dilaz89]

Knocked back by the WAPC. They are going to put it out to public comment in the hay st mall so i shall be going to that and voicing my oppinion and ofcourse, exerting it on others

[RocStar]

It was defered Dilaz. I received this yeterday from DHW.

"The CPPC (WAPC delegated committee) deferred the DA seeking a two week
public consultaiton process on the design model. While this process was
undertaken earlier this year, this new process will occur again
shortly.
Thank you for your interest in this matter."
___________

Knowing the people of Perth, it will probably receive a negative response, so we all should put our 2 cents in definitely in this next public submission.... At the same time, throw in a few insults directed at the PCC :p

[RocStar]

I just read in the paper, Nattrass will be at the display everyday in the Hay St mall, putting his views across. What a dick! If it does get soooooo many negative responses from the public, well the WAPC will know he had a major hand in it (he may be doing us a favor lol). I like him to try and tell me it’s a bad design. I look forward to the head to head!!

Don’t get me wrong, a few modifications are totally acceptable but to redesign the entire thing to suit his taste is totally unacceptable even after so many professionals approve of it. What are his qualifications?

Again he mentioned how it will over shadow, it just reinforces my belief it's all about blocking his view of the Town Hall clock tower.

Because of him the project has stalled!..what else is new.

[Dilaz89]

WOOOO cant wait to tell him that he belong in the smithsonian institute.

Rob Butler for mayor!!!!

Modifications could include making it less square or adding more retail, othan than that, i love it.