#SWP: Victoria Square Redevelopment (Stage One)

[splashmo]

It seems like the most realistic plan we've seen to date.

[StopTheWar]

Originally Posted by splashmo

It seems like the most realistic plan we've seen to date.

realistic because its lame?

yeah i'd give it that.

based on what i do understand (and that isnt much) about this proposal, i'd say we're better off leaving it as it is.

[crawf]

Vic Square facelift a step closer
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...15/2571633.htm
15 May 2009

The Adelaide City Council has made another move towards redeveloping Victoria Square.

The Council has appointed the design firm Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects to design a plan for public consultation in August.

The Council has committed $24 million to the project over the next five years but will also seek support from the State and Federal Governments and the private sector.

Kevin Taylor from Taylor Cullity Lethlean says his firm is free to create its own design concept but has been given some guidelines by the Council.

"They're basically looking for a much better balance between pedestrians and vehicles, much better access to the internals of the square and I think really importantly a mix of activities that really draw people into the square," he said.

Adelaide City Councillor Ralph Clark says after several failed attempts, he believes this plan will be followed through to completion.

"I have every confidence that in fact we will see progress made on Victoria Square on this occasion," he said.

"I think the team that the Council's selected is just the right team to come up with a design that will excite the populous, where there'll be a demand in fact that we carry out the final design."

[metro_minotaur]

well thats some pretty good news, finally something will be done with Victoria Square, and it should be something good with the Taylor Cullity Lethlean people doing most of the work, their work on North Tce is pretty amazing and transformed a really dull part of the city into something that is very attractive, modern and well used. Hopefully the same happens with Victoria Square, if/when they actually get around to doing it.

To be honest i would prefer to see the whole of North Tce upgraded from East tce to West Tce first before any redevelopment of Victoria Square.

[Pistol78]

Those architects really have to think about the names of their firms don't ya think.

I will believe it when I see the first sod turned.

[AtD]

Originally Posted by metro_minotaur

To be honest i would prefer to see the whole of North Tce upgraded from East tce to West Tce first before any redevelopment of Victoria Square.

Agreed. Vic Sq is simply too big for the ACC to go alone, it needs state support. I worry this will be a mediocre job, while the ACC's project on North Tce sits idle and half complete.

[crawf]

Victoria Square event-hub part of Gago's plan for city development
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/s...-1225849053468


VICTORIA square is a "lump" in the city's centre which must be revamped to host events while there is potential to develop the parklands, new City of Adelaide Minister Gail Gago says.

In her first interview since taking on the portfolio, Ms Gago told The Advertiser she would like to see the square - which she described as an "uninviting island" - host more events but warned against permanent structures such as cafes.

She also signalled a shift in attitude to the parklands, claiming that while they were a "precious asset" Colonel Light's vision did not "exclude" development. Ms Gago took over the role from Jane Lomax-Smith, who was voted out of her seat of Adelaide at the March 20 state election.

Critics accused Dr Lomax-Smith of being idle in the portfolio and favouring influential North Adelaide residents and parklands protectors.

She most infamously opposed the Government's plans for a permanent grandstand in Victoria Park and excused herself from Cabinet deliberations over the parklands.

Less outspoken than most of her Cabinet colleagues, Ms Gago is a member of Parliament's Upper House, has lived in North Adelaide for more than two decades and previously ran as a federal candidate for the seat of Adelaide.

Her comments open the door for a more progressive approach to development in the CBD and surrounds, which will be welcomed by business and developers and benefit the expected influx of residents and workers to the city in coming years.

Victoria Square has long been a blight on the city landscape and Ms Gago admitted "it needs improvement".

"It's a completely uninviting island, you have to brave the elements to cross it," she said.

"It needs to be better connected to the rest of the city, it's just this lump in the middle.

"Surely it has more potential than just a starting place for rallies."

Ms Gago said it was not up to her alone what happened to the square but said she would personally like to see facilities that would allow events without obstructing the open space.

While Ms Gago agreed with her predecessor that parklands are "an incredibly precious asset" which must be protected, she said they held untapped potential.

"Colonel Light's vision for our parklands was multi-use, his vision never excluded the parklands from developments and activities," she said.

"Some people's views are that all of those sorts of activities and developments should be excluded but that was never part of the vision, never part of the intention. It was about involving people."

She warned precautions must be taken so as not to "destroy or over-use" the city's greenbelt. "It should be a parkland for everyone, not just if you want to go and look at the trees," she said.

....

[yousername]

no fixed ideas though, she just says what we all know and the reason for this thread. something needs to be done, victoria square is quite huge, bigger than some of the worlds best known (wenceslas in prague, palace square, st petersburg, piazza del duomo, milan) but its just a dump.

[Shuz]

The answer's right here at home.

What's our most successful public square? Hindmarsh.

Copy-pasta.

[metro_minotaur]

Hindmarsh would have to be one of the worst squares: half of it is carparking

Like i said before i'd rather see the council finish of more important work like North Terrace and Rundle Street before starting another project.

[yousername]

Victoria Square's $100m makeover
DANIEL WILLS From: The Advertiser May 10, 2010 12:01am
Source: AdelaideNow

GIANT sweeping arbors, shaded lunchtime garden areas, a huge television screen fronting a lawned public events space and vibrant cafe precinct.

This is the new face of the long-neglected Victoria Square, which is set to be overhauled in a $100 million plan to give the city a new heart.

The Advertiser today exclusively reveals images and details of the masterplan kept secret by Adelaide City Council for over a year, which now has State Government backing.

AdelaideNow readers will play a key role in the month-long consultation beginning today and can send comments directly to the project designers online.

Construction is planned in at least two stages, similar to the North Terrace revitalisation. The council has budgeted $24 million for the build and plans to seek the remainder from the state and federal governments and private investors as building progresses.

The square's northern half - an open space for large events - is to be constructed first, with turning of the first sod slated for mid next year.

Work on the the southern half - intended as a public garden including a Kaurna Aboriginal heritage centre, cafes and wetland - is scheduled to begin in 2012.

Premier Mike Rann has already committed $2 million for a final engineering and design study due for conclusion by year's end.

The masterplan includes:

KEEPING the Grote-Wakefield streets crossing open to daily traffic but closing it when major events are held.

PLANTING giant tree arbours on the perimeter of the square under which events can be held and stalls placed.

BUILDING an events stage in the square's northern tip in front of a lawned area for up to 8000 people that can be used for concerts and large public events.

INSTALLING a jumbo television screen on a movable arm to broadcast sporting and cultural events from around the world.

TREATING stormwater in a wetland that will be the centrepiece of an exotic garden in the square's south dotted with cafes.

MOVING the Three Rivers Fountain to the northern edge of the square.

BICYCLE storage areas and a tourism information booth.

Traffic around the square will be reduced to a uniform three lanes, including one bus lane, but council modelling shows minimal impact on vehicle flows.

Tramline turns at the north and south of the square will be rounded to allow more pedestrian space and passengers will board from the interior of the square.

Mr Rann said the "exciting concepts" for the square built on State Government investments including the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, tramline extension and Adelaide Oval upgrade.

"We need to ensure development of our city occurs in a co-ordinated way, rather than the ad hoc fashion of the past," said.

The masterplan was compiled by a council-appointed design team headed by Kevin Taylor, director of award-winning landscape architecture firm Taylor Cullity Lethlean.

Consultation has already included Central Market traders, traditional owners and precinct business groups.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said the council was committed to delivering a revitalised square that competed with the best worldwide.

"This time we have a design on which there is consensus amongst the council and with the State Government," he said.

Industry groups have warned against further delay and say Adelaide must overcome an entrenched culture of opposition to change.

Australian Institute of Architects SA chapter president Tim Horton said the new plan was the best ever proposed for Victoria Square.

"What we can anticipate now is a collective holding of the breath to make sure something happens this time and we don't have another false start," he told The Advertiser yesterday. "Now is the time, and if this doesn't happen let's all make a deal to take our deck chairs and just go somewhere else."

Property Council of Australia SA chief executive Nathan Paine said firm action must be taken at the site after years of fruitless talk.

"In Adelaide we criticise, complain and get nowhere," he said.

"That's why Victoria Square looks the same as it did back in the 1950s."

"That's an indictment on every South Australian. If you don't like it, just shut up. Don't kill it for the rest of us." Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan said other areas of the city, including the "dying" Rundle Mall, should be targeted for spending ahead of Victoria Square.

Adelaide Hilton general manager Michael Schmitt said having a redeveloped Victoria Square on the hotel's doorstep would be a boon for business.

"Victoria Square at the moment is the centre of the city but not the heart," he said.

"There is no real meeting place for people to come and enjoy. Everybody wants to do something. And this time I get the feeling they really mean business."

Video Clickey

[yousername]

[yousername]

AdelaideNow readers will play a key role

[Shuz]

I hate it, I absolutely hate it. My vomit would look better than that.

[crawf]

After looking at the renders I am starting to like it, through the plan still needs alot of work.

With the Adelaide CBD now starting to spread further south with projects like 400KWS, Edge, Wave and the Yorke Campus development etc, I like the plan for a much better faster connection for pedestrians wanting to travel from north to south. Currently you have to go through 5 sets of traffic lights to cross Victoria Square!

Another thing I like is the tourist information centre, if designed right it could become a tourist attraction itself.

More information can be found on here
www.victoriasquareadelaide.com

There is also a PDF which goes more into depth
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/A...masterplan.pdf

Pedestrian Activity
An analysis of pedestrian activity using Jan Gehl’s methodology reveals very few people engaged in social activities, especially in the central space of the Square. There are 35,000 - 45,000 pedestrians in the Square each day. Approximately 75% of pedestrians are passing through the Square for necessary use (i.e. as a thoroughfare to a destination). These observations support the market research results in which a high percentage of respondents expressed frustration at the difficulty in accessing the central spaces of the Square.

Edges (at ground level)
A detailed analysis of the Square’s edges and their activity reveals long lengths of blank walls with few full height windows and fewer openings; and rare opportunities to connect internal and public realm activities. The above condition represents a significant challenge to the regeneration of the Square and the achievement of high daily activity levels. It is clear that the Square itself will be required to attract large numbers of users rather than relying on spill out from surrounding buildings.

Public Transport
Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga is a major public transport interchange within the city. There are eleven bus stops for bus routes totalling approximately 30% of the metropolitan bus system. These routes generate approximately 1800 movements a day. The tram has 200 movements with an average of 7000 passengers using the Victoria Square stop each weekday. This is the second most popular stop on the Glenelg - North Terrace route after Rundle Mall. The high number of public transport movements and the presence of the free city tram through the Square is a significant opportunity which will support future uses and activities. Conversely these modes of transport represent a challenge to future road configurations due to their complex movement patterns and in the case of buses, their
size and exhaust emissions.

[metro_minotaur]

Originally Posted by Shuz

I hate it, I absolutely hate it. My vomit would look better than that.

Yeah what we have at the moment makes me sick too

I dont know if it's a good or bad thing or not, but you can tell from the design it's a taylor cullity lethlean project. Hopefully it turns out to be great like the North Terrace improvements, and the Japanese Garden in Mawson Lakes.

Best thing about the plan is cutting back the number of lanes and traffic prioirty. BUT like the tram extension thru the city there will be a LOT of people who complain...

[crawf]

I reccomend everyone have a look at the PDF, goes way more into depth and looks much better compared to what is currently on AdelaideNow.

Personally I now believe this is the best plan ever proposed for Victoria Square. Its a unique design and not some rip off from another city

It would be great to sit there and watch a concert with the city skyline as a backdrop.

The giant Arbours are brilliant aswell

From the PDF


Legend
1. Three Rivers Fountain
2. Stage
3. Event Lawn
4. Cafe/kiosk
5. Big Screen
6. Tram stop
7. Cafe
8. Mosaic Garden
9. Wetland/Bioretention Garden
10. Bicycle hub
11. Arbour
12. Tourist Information Centre
13. Storage/Amenities Hub
14. Kaurna Centre of Culture & Performance Space
15. Avenue Planting
16. Perimeter Garden
17. Flagpoles
18. Statues

[AtD]

Looks great IMO. Build it now!

[Pistol78]

Building in two stages...

For crying out loud!

[Cruise]

Originally Posted by Pistol78

Building in two stages...

For crying out loud!

That how we roll in Adelaide.



Anyway, It's another year and it's another plan for Victoria Square (Also known as Tarnnanadanydangadangaanagganagga)

So i'm not going to be holding my breath while waiting for this one.