News & Discussion: Squares and Parklands

[Wayno]

...they not very likely to venture outside of the office other than the hours of 8-9am, 12-1pm, and 5-6pm. Hardly a case of 24/7 vibrancy...

While I agree that any offices are best limited to uses that compliment the arts and so on (as per Fed Square, they have SBS's offices there), your statement above contradicts itself. No offices means the only activity will be driven by entertainment, which is very restricted to before and after shows etc. Mostly outside business hours. Your example above would mean that in addition to the crowds coming to and from shows etc, there would be extra foot traffic between "the hours of 8-9am, 12-1pm, and 5-6pm."

Another way of approaching is from a 'what constitutes a successful riverbank precinct' perspective, basically setting meaningful goals and leaving the details of how to achieve to those in charge of designing the riverbank. Not saying we should not provide ideas, but ideas alone are cart before horse.

In my mind success could mean 'X number of people' to be found lingering/using the riverbank precinct at certain times of each week and weekend day, in addition to those crowds coincidentally in the riverbank area before/after festival theater shows. Breaking it down further the X number could be divided into Y number of nearby office workers (8-9am, 12-1pm, 5-6pm), Z number of tourists, W number of city residents, L number of casino punters, V number of pre/post festival theater show crowds, U number of Adelaide Oval game attendees, etc. You can then step back and think how to achieve and the ideas will then flow to fill the gaps. This approach also clearly indicates when success has been achieved.

An all too common failing with the 'gathering ideas on post-it notes' approach is you get a bunch of simple & non-contextual ideas from people (such as wetlands, swimming pool, etc) but without knowing their deeper thoughts - what does riverbank precinct success look like to these post-it note contributors? I bet their underlying definitions differ widely, many having no idea at all. The govt not knowing the populus definition of success is planning for failure & criticism, even if they deliver all ideas.

"Synergy" Where'd you pick up foul language like that, young man?

I work for a US firm and am regularly chastized for using the Queens English. Staff are actively encouraged to practice neologism (use existing words or terms in new ways, or invent new words & terms that better describe a new situation - acronyms galore). Basically whatever it takes to generate extra sales. We call it innovative incentivation. true.

[monotonehell]

"Synergy" Where'd you pick up foul language like that, young man?

I work for a US firm and am regularly chastized for using the Queens English. Staff are actively encouraged to practice neologism (use existing words or terms in new ways, or invent new words & terms that better describe a new situation - acronyms galore). Basically whatever it takes to generate extra sales. We call it innovative incentivation. true.

You have become everything that is wrong in this world.

[ml69]

First let me say that I applaud the state government for creating this vision of a great urban park in the heart of Adelaide. I’m in total agreement with the broad framework of the plan.

It’s a bold plan, but if executed properly really will create a parkland area which will be enjoyed for generations to come and enhance our status as one of the most liveable cities in the world. Let’s hope it becomes more than the creation of a few new walking paths. It could also become a must-visit destination for visitors, in the same way that Southbank parklands is to Brisbane, and Darling Harbour is to Sydney.

Below I’ve listed my top 5 quick wins and game-changing proposals which have yet to be identified in the Greater Riverbank master plan.

Top 5 Quick Wins (short term, next 5 years):
1. As mentioned by others, relocate Government House elsewhere, remove the walls and open the gardens to the public
2a. A high-quality urban adventure playground and water-based playground for the proposed riverbank park to the west of the Morphett St bridge (something like the recently opened Darling Harbour playground in Sydney). Located as another destination on the River Path, I think this is vital to bring increased family visitation to the area. The relocated skate park could go here too.
2b. Move those crappy rowing sheds in front of the Convention Centre (move to Jolleys Boathouse area), and extend the proposed cafe/restaurant/bar strip to Morphett St.
3. Permanent display lighting of the Festival Centre roof (but with changing display lights). Also seasonal Northern Lights display (warmer months Nov-Apr).
4. Start planting thousands of trees once further details of the masterplan have been developed, so that by 2036 at least the trees will be semi-mature. Don’t wait til 10 or 20 years later to plant them!
5. A fifth path on the northern riverbank should be created between the weir and Frome Rd. Also I’d suggest realigning the North Adelaide path to follow the edge of the parklands along Strangways Tce, Pennington Tce and Mackinnon Pde, thereby passing Light’s Vision, St Peter’s Cathedral etc which also takes advantage of some of spectacular views of the CBD.

Top 5 Gamechangers (longer term):
1. Redevelopment of Memorial Drive as Adelaide’s leading indoor entertainment arena (relocate Next Generation gym, realign War Memorial Drive). Current Adelaide Ent Centre land can be redeveloped as an extension of Bowden mixed use development
2. Also as mentioned elsewhere, a botanic and educational development like the Eden Project on the current RAH site next to the Botanic Gardens. This could include a giant rainforest enclosure (far bigger than Bicentennial Conservatory) and Desert/Outback enclosure. Would be a unique attraction in Australia.
3. Vegas-style musical lighted fountain in the middle of the Torrens, in front of Convention Centre. I know it sounds kitsch, but I think this would be a huge attraction to draw people down to the riverbank (because currently there is nothing to look out onto at night – pitch black). Similar to how Northern Light brought people onto North Tce to have a look.
4. Pinky Flat and the proposed riverbank park to the west of the Morphett St bridge need to be re-made as stunning high-quality gardens, befitting their prime Torrens riverbank location in the heart of the core entertainment area. They’ve got to be much more than lawn and trees.
5. Indigenous Culture Art Gallery & Museum – showcasing our huge collection of Aboriginal art and artifacts. Perhaps repurposing the existing Government House with a new contemporary annexe built.

[rev]

riverbank grand vision.png (904.02 KiB) Viewed 3385 times

I'm surprised there isn't a separate thread for this already?

[ml69]

Does anyone know what the large white oval immediately to the west of Adelaide Oval is supposed to be? Is it Adelaide oval no.2?

Also agree with Rev about the Riverbank masterplan having its own thread. This plan, if executed with boldness, will define Adelaide much more than any high-rise building will.

[Shahkar]

I think they should move the Bio-Recycling centre elsewhere and allow the zoo to expand over the river.

[Nathan]

I think they should move the Bio-Recycling centre elsewhere and allow the zoo to expand over the river.

The zoo struggles financially as it is, so I wouldn't be expecting them to expand for a very long time. Also, expanding across the river would block of the linear park paths on both sides of the river when the number one focus of the master plan is the paths and how they connect the various areas of the precinct.

[Dog]

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[rev]

Does anyone know what the large white oval immediately to the west of Adelaide Oval is supposed to be? Is it Adelaide oval no.2?

Also agree with Rev about the Riverbank masterplan having its own thread. This plan, if executed with boldness, will define Adelaide much more than any high-rise building will.

Yeh that's Adelaide Oval no 2.

I think one of the biggest improvements they can make, is to actually do some landscaping, to make the riverbank look like it's actually in a city, and not some random riverbank in the middle of nowhere.

[Shahkar]

The zoo struggles financially as it is, so I wouldn't be expecting them to expand for a very long time. Also, expanding across the river would block of the linear park paths on both sides of the river when the number one focus of the master plan is the paths and how they connect the various areas of the precinct.

A higher zoo bridge could connect both sides of the river with out blocking the lower river walks.

Exactly. The zoo really needs to lift it's game up. Being part of the Riverbank, it needs to deliver a lot more.

[Patrick_27]

The zoo struggles financially as it is, so I wouldn't be expecting them to expand for a very long time. Also, expanding across the river would block of the linear park paths on both sides of the river when the number one focus of the master plan is the paths and how they connect the various areas of the precinct.

A higher zoo bridge could connect both sides of the river with out blocking the lower river walks.

Exactly. The zoo really needs to lift it's game up. Being part of the Riverbank, it needs to deliver a lot more.

How can it lift it's game? In comparison to what is on offer inter-state we have one key attraction; the pandas, which entry prices are so high, it's not worth the visit.

I feel they should consider an aquarium for where they have planned the city pool, it would sit quite nicely. Hand over ownership to Zoo's SA and create joint packages that would be worth the expense. This might also pose as a great reason to improve the quality of the water in the Torrens. I use to think an Aquarium at Port Adelaide would be quite neat, but then I realized how much that would limit it's exposure due to the port's current situation..

[Dog]

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[Mr Smith]

I really wonder if there is any architectural merit in these old rowing sheds, look a bit sad 1950's reno jobs to me, love to see them replacing with either something really traditional in keeping with the history of rowing of a new real architectural statement with restaurant.entertainment areas or form part of a new river pool and water sport area.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1373327337.148903.jpg

For such a prominent location in a mainland capital city they are a disgrace and should be demolished/relocated.

[ml69]

I really wonder if there is any architectural merit in these old rowing sheds, look a bit sad 1950's reno jobs to me, love to see them replacing with either something really traditional in keeping with the history of rowing of a new real architectural statement with restaurant.entertainment areas or form part of a new river pool and water sport area.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1373327337.148903.jpg

For such a prominent location in a mainland capital city they are a disgrace and should be demolished/relocated.

Relocate them to the Jolleys Boathouse area (near other rowing sheds) or northern riverbank (west of Morphett St). They are neither beautiful nor create vitality.

Extend the proposed cafe/restaurant/bar pavilions in front the Convention Centre to Morphett St ground level ... this area needs to be badly activated.

[Dog]

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