When we saw the pictures for what is planned for the Adelaide Festival Plaza site, our jaws dropped. And not in a bad way! We think that this is exactly what Adelaide needs and the plans are pretty spectacular!
So what exactly are the plans? Well Premier Jay Weatherill said the plans, being consulted on by the Development Assessment Commission, seamlessly link Elder Park and the Riverbank Footbridge to Adelaide Railway Station and North Terrace.
“If approved, the plans will see Adelaide Festival Plaza become the city’s preeminent public meeting place with more than 25,000 square metres of public spaces that are as practical as they are appealing,” Mr Weatherill said.
“The new plaza will feature public artwork, water features, trees and shrubs as well as ample seating and shelter to make it a year-round destination.
“A new square which can be used for gatherings and events hosting thousands of people will be at the heart of the Festival Plaza.
“Station Road will become a picturesque north-south avenue connecting the city to the Festival Plaza, Elder Park and the River Torrens.
“I encourage people to view the plans and to find out more about the many elements of the project that are likely to appeal to them.” Riverbank Authority chair Andrew McEvoy said the ambition was to make the Festival Plaza a “world’s best” meeting place for locals and visitors alike.
“The lodging of the development application for the Festival Plaza is the culmination of a lot of work including earlier consultation by Renewal SA, with the people of South Australia and Riverbank stakeholders,” Mr McEvoy said.
“We held a number of community and creative community forums last year to get further input and inform the development of a public art and cultural strategy for the Festival Plaza.
“The secret to any great public space is that locals love it, use it and take visitors there – and not just on game or event days”.
Key features of the latest plans include:
Art Space Plaza (also referred to as the Dunstan Plaza) with a central garden where people can wait for a performance to begin or enjoy food and drink from nearby cafes.
Station Road will become a primarily pedestrian, tree-lined avenue linking the city with the new Adelaide Festival Plaza, Elder Park and the Torrens.
A new square that will be Adelaide’s best meeting place, used for gatherings and events and boasting a water feature as well as shaded leafy alcoves.
The promenade along the northern edge of the Adelaide Festival Centre is proposed to incorporate a “Walk of Fame”, comprising stars set into the walkway to celebrate performers past and present.
A new pedestrian bridge to provide direct, level access from the Riverbank Footbridge to a new entry to Adelaide Railway Station, separating pedestrians from vehicles. The Adelaide Casino expansion will see a new arcade linking the promenade to the train station, featuring an arched ceiling and retail outlets.
The plans have been developed by ARM Architecture in consultation with HASSELL. The State Government has committed $180 million to redeveloping the Festival Plaza public realm and for technical, structural and façade upgrades to the Adelaide Festival Centre. The investment is stimulating more than $430 million in private investment by Walker Corporation and $300 million by SkyCity.
Walker Corporation is shortly expected to lodge a separate application for a new underground car park, premium office building along a partially closed-to-traffic avenue on Station Road, featuring cafes, restaurants and retail behind Parliament House. In addition, SkyCity has lodged a separate application with the DAC to extend the existing Casino including new gaming facilities, cafes, restaurants and a six-star hotel.
The plans are available on the Riverbank Precinct website at www.riverbank.sa.gov.au and South Australians, well, you can have your say on the plans. Formal written feedback about the Adelaide Festival Plaza redevelopment plans can be provided by visiting www.dac.sa.gov.au. The deadline for written submissions is Thursday 4 February.
If you were after more information there will also be five public display pods installed near the five key sites (listed above) from 18 January. On Sunday 24 January, to coincide with the final stage of the 2016 Santos Tour Down Under through the city, there will be a public information day, with staff at the displays to help answer any questions about the redevelopment.
Here are the images of the potential result should these plans be approved:
What do you think of the plans?
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