News & Discussion: Laneway & Streetscape Projects

[claybro]

The flaps needed to be made of thin metal, like the similar design element at Victoria Square.

Not a fan of the shade flaps in Victoria Sq either. The also look cheap and nasty.

[Norman]

Waymouth Street between Topham Mall and King William Street may finally get the footpath widening the council promised a few months ago. Bollards and equipment are on site.

[Nort]

Waymouth Street between Topham Mall and King William Street may finally get the footpath widening the council promised a few months ago. Bollards and equipment are on site.

Yup, that's currently in progress.

[Norman]

Let's take stock of some of the laneway/public realm projects we have happening in the city:

Completed
-Bank Street
-Topham Mall North
-Hindley Street West
-Peel Street
-Kintore Avenue/ANZAC Memorial

In Progress
-Waymouth Street East
-Frome Street

Planned 2018
-Gawler Place (March)
-Topham Mall South
-Bentham Street
-North Terrace East

Planned after 2018
-Festival Plaza
-Station Road/Lane
-Pitt Street

Proposed/Discussed Officially
-North Terrace West
-Twin Street
-George Street

Apart from the ones I've listed, I would like to see the following streets worked on:
-Grenfell and Currie Street (Major overhaul with bus bays, trees, footpath upgrade)
-Clarendon Street between Hindley Street and Flinders Street (once bus depot closes in a year or so, narrow street, plant trees and increase width of footpath)
-Rosina Street (Shared Space, add trees)
-Victoria Square

I also believe a number of lanes between Gouger Street East and Wright Street East should be turned into shared spaces.

Any that I've missed? What should we focus on next?

[SRW]

Add Victoria Square as high priority and I’m in full agreement!

[Brando]

When are the vines being planted? Not now because of the heat?

Vines have been planted, I noticed them last night.

[Joelmark]

Thanks Norman for the above update - really accurate.
One thing I've often thought is that when a street or laneway is upgraded, there's often a lot of fanfare - sometimes in the case of Bank Street rightly so - it looks great. However not all streets in Adelaide necessarily need really expensive glossy treatments to look a bit better - as in not all need artwork, granite pavements, etc. Many streets such as Flinders / Franklin / Morphett which haven't really been touched in decades could just do with new flagstone pavements, better lighting and more trees and greenery.

I've only been to Melbourne a few times but the streetscaping there does seem a little more consistent with paving, trees, etc.

There's also the issue of quality- Leigh Street was only upgraded twenty years ago with stone paving, street furniture and trees and yet the pavement is cracked and in need of replacement - these sort of upgrades should really last 50 or 100 years - in many European cities they've managed to maintain laneways with cobblestones for hundreds of years and seemingly upgrade water, electricity and other services without disturbing pavements. Apologies for the negative bit at the end but just some random thoughts.

The work on Rundle Mall four years ago looks like holding up well however, so well done for the work on that.

[Algernon]

Thanks Norman for the above update - really accurate.
One thing I've often thought is that when a street or laneway is upgraded, there's often a lot of fanfare - sometimes in the case of Bank Street rightly so - it looks great. However not all streets in Adelaide necessarily need really expensive glossy treatments to look a bit better - as in not all need artwork, granite pavements, etc. Many streets such as Flinders / Franklin / Morphett which haven't really been touched in decades could just do with new flagstone pavements, better lighting and more trees and greenery.

I've only been to Melbourne a few times but the streetscaping there does seem a little more consistent with paving, trees, etc.

There's also the issue of quality- Leigh Street was only upgraded twenty years ago with stone paving, street furniture and trees and yet the pavement is cracked and in need of replacement - these sort of upgrades should really last 50 or 100 years - in many European cities they've managed to maintain laneways with cobblestones for hundreds of years and seemingly upgrade water, electricity and other services without disturbing pavements. Apologies for the negative bit at the end but just some random thoughts.

The work on Rundle Mall four years ago looks like holding up well however, so well done for the work on that.

Interesting re: pavement treatments in Europe. In the case of Prague and to a lesser extent Brno, the reason the cobblestone streets last so long is because they're not permanent, they're stones set in stand and can be pulled in and out at will. Certainly you'll see stones out of place all over the place and can easily hurt yourself if you don't watch where you walk. The reason these semi permanent cobblestone streets last for centuries is they're maintained daily, and when you do underground works you can simply rip the stones out then put them back in, sweep the sand over and done.

IT's one of those things I notice walking around and say to myself we can't do it in Australia. Those cobblestone streets would average a lawsuit a day in a place like Adelaide.

[Nort]

IT's one of those things I notice walking around and say to myself we can't do it in Australia. Those cobblestone streets would average a lawsuit a day in a place like Adelaide.

And rightly so. Cobblestone streets are beautiful, but one of the main reasons is that they have historical significance and fit the surroundings. Putting cobblestones on an Adelaide street would be the tacky equivalent of putting brick veneer wallpaper on a concrete wall.

[rhino]

I'm sad to see that Peel Street is "Completed". There is so much more that could be done with Peel Street, which has so much pedestrian activity, many cafes / small bars etc. The beautification has a long way to go IMO

[timtam20292]

When are the vines being planted? Not now because of the heat?

Vines have been planted, I noticed them last night.

Yep I saw them today.

[HiTouch]

I’ve been thinking about those flaps and I came to this conclusion:

Even if you think it's subjectively ugly, we should be encouraging developers to be more daring with their design. Some polarising flaps around the city is a heck of a lot more interesting than the same bland shit we normally get. We certainly don't need any more designs with garden boxes and pods and aluminium panels and the the odd but of road painted in some highlight colour.

If you think this looks like it's from a war zone, pull your head out of your hyperbolic arse. That's the same nonsense as when people describe a development as "future slums", despite not in the least bit resembling a real slum.

I would say leave the flaps alone as from the words of Paul Rand said that “The public is more familiar with bad design than good design. It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with. The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring. – Paul Rand.”

[timtam20292]

Don’t think Nathan will appreciate having his words copied and pasted. Yet another bizarre post from you which I find very distracting from actual thread discussion.

[Algernon]

I’ve been thinking about those flaps and I came to this conclusion:

Even if you think it's subjectively ugly, we should be encouraging developers to be more daring with their design. Some polarising flaps around the city is a heck of a lot more interesting than the same bland shit we normally get. We certainly don't need any more designs with garden boxes and pods and aluminium panels and the the odd but of road painted in some highlight colour.

If you think this looks like it's from a war zone, pull your head out of your hyperbolic arse. That's the same nonsense as when people describe a development as "future slums", despite not in the least bit resembling a real slum.

I would say leave the flaps alone as from the words of Paul Rand said that “The public is more familiar with bad design than good design. It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with. The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring. – Paul Rand.”

No, the flaps are shit

[HiTouch]

Don’t think Nathan will appreciate having his words copied and pasted. Yet another bizarre post from you which I find very distracting from actual thread discussion.

Yeah sure mate. Chill. I quoted 2 inspirational people. Paul Rand and Nathan. Did you actually read what i said?
Obviously the flaps are a little bit mattered now but (when fixed or replaced with better material) I say leave them alone for the future to decide. Without them, apart from a few concrete blocks Topham Mall will look no different.