[COM] SkyCity Adelaide Casino Expansion | 55m | 12 Levels | Hotel

[baytram366]

I've often thought that the original city plan for Adelaide turned its back on the river and we still have buildings and structures that basically separate us from the river. The ASER project did nothing to improve this situation either. Buildings cafes and other structures as mentioned to cover up the carpark when viewed from the Torrens is a great idea and should help remove the separation between river and the public areas that will actually attract people (ie. not just parks)

[Nort]

Comparisons to Brisbanes waterfront aren't that useful, as a lot of transport happens on the river and moves through that area. It could be a bare concrete plaza and it would still have a lot of people moving around. That Riverside area has more in common with Darling Harbor. Melbourne's riverside areas are much more useful to look at.

[rev]

Recently returned from Brisbane. The Riverside area in the picture is pulsating with life day and night, as is Southbank just around the bend. We might not like their building design but we can learn a lot about how to activate an urban riverside precinct. The casino hotel will be central to that, and look real good at the same time.

It’s not hard to activate a riverside precinct. Provide a reason for people to go there.

Restaurants/cafes/bars which embrace the riverfront view, with outdoor seating overlooking the view.

The problem in Adelaide with the Torrens is the ACC and parkland protectionists want it surrounded by park. You’re never going to get any “activation” by lining the river with parkland.

I think the southern (city) side of the Torrens riverfront between the Adelaide Oval footbridge and the Morphett St bridge should redeveloped with a strip of restaurants/cafes/bars in front of the Convention Centre. This is a distance of approx 250m.

This would also cover up the car park underneath the Convention Centre when viewed from the Torrens. It would also involve the relocation of the rowing sheds to another part of the Torrens. We could then have an urban-designed riverfront promenade between the river and these restaurants/cafes stretching the entire 250m

There's about half a kilometre of potential frontage for an entertainment strip between King William Road/Festival Center, and the Montefiore Road bridge/end of the Convention Center.
But like you said, for Adelaidians it's more important that we maintain patches of grass.

Oh no, not the rowing sheds. Heritage, history, that means nothing to 99% of people. Can't touch it. Heavens no. Wash your mouth out with soap, or your typing fingers, for that blasphemous thought.

Didn't some politicians compare the "redevelopment" of the Torrens to Melbournes Yarra or Docklands?

[ChillyPhilly]

I feel that one reason the Southbank Promenade in Melbourne is so successful is that there are destinations at either end (Federation Square at one, and South Wharf and beyond at the other). I'll be honest, it's a glorified path that leads to Crown Casino. But I like it. It has atmosphere, vibe and functionality. Our Riverbank lacks some 'destinations' and this is where all the talk of a masterplan, especially in the past, is relevant.

I feel so blasphemous for saying it, but I actually liked the plan the Liberals brought to the table for the 2010 State Election. I used to have the image of it, but must have deleted it some time ago.

[Patrick_27]

I feel that one reason the Southbank Promenade in Melbourne is so successful is that there are destinations at either end (Federation Square at one, and South Wharf and beyond at the other). I'll be honest, it's a glorified path that leads to Crown Casino. But I like it. It has atmosphere, vibe and functionality. Our Riverbank lacks some 'destinations' and this is where all the talk of a masterplan, especially in the past, is relevant.

I feel so blasphemous for saying it, but I actually liked the plan the Liberals brought to the table for the 2010 State Election. I used to have the image of it, but must have deleted it some time ago.

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that residential apartments are on the Southbank side and the CBD/retail precincts are on the north side of the river. People have to pass through Southbank to go between the two, and as a result it has become more and more popular and people from outside have come in to see what the hype is all about. Quite frankly, having lived in Melbourne on and off for the past seven years, I find Southbank to be a concrete jungle made up of restaurants that no-one can afford simply there as a place for knockoffs for business people, a novelty casino that everyone can afford and not much else that sets it apart from any other retail/hospitality precinct (i.e. foodcourts, cinemas etc).

[rev]

I feel that one reason the Southbank Promenade in Melbourne is so successful is that there are destinations at either end (Federation Square at one, and South Wharf and beyond at the other). I'll be honest, it's a glorified path that leads to Crown Casino. But I like it. It has atmosphere, vibe and functionality. Our Riverbank lacks some 'destinations' and this is where all the talk of a masterplan, especially in the past, is relevant.

I feel so blasphemous for saying it, but I actually liked the plan the Liberals brought to the table for the 2010 State Election. I used to have the image of it, but must have deleted it some time ago.

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that residential apartments are on the Southbank side and the CBD/retail precincts are on the north side of the river. People have to pass through Southbank to go between the two, and as a result it has become more and more popular and people from outside have come in to see what the hype is all about. Quite frankly, having lived in Melbourne on and off for the past seven years, I find Southbank to be a concrete jungle made up of restaurants that no-one can afford simply there as a place for knockoffs for business people, a novelty casino that everyone can afford and not much else that sets it apart from any other retail/hospitality precinct (i.e. foodcourts, cinemas etc).

And yet it's a hive of activity all year round. Whereas our river front is void of anything meaningful.

[Levesque]

I feel that one reason the Southbank Promenade in Melbourne is so successful is that there are destinations at either end (Federation Square at one, and South Wharf and beyond at the other). I'll be honest, it's a glorified path that leads to Crown Casino. But I like it. It has atmosphere, vibe and functionality. Our Riverbank lacks some 'destinations' and this is where all the talk of a masterplan, especially in the past, is relevant.

I feel so blasphemous for saying it, but I actually liked the plan the Liberals brought to the table for the 2010 State Election. I used to have the image of it, but must have deleted it some time ago.

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that residential apartments are on the Southbank side and the CBD/retail precincts are on the north side of the river. People have to pass through Southbank to go between the two, and as a result it has become more and more popular and people from outside have come in to see what the hype is all about. Quite frankly, having lived in Melbourne on and off for the past seven years, I find Southbank to be a concrete jungle made up of restaurants that no-one can afford simply there as a place for knockoffs for business people, a novelty casino that everyone can afford and not much else that sets it apart from any other retail/hospitality precinct (i.e. foodcourts, cinemas etc).

And yet it's a hive of activity all year round. Whereas our river front is void of anything meaningful.

I think at this point the argument boils down to population. Melbourne is Australias biggest city, we are around 1/5th the size of Melbourne. In Adelaide we are spreading our retail precincts over vast areas (Chinatown, Rundle Mall/street, Hindley and laneways, etc.) and expecting (any of) them to be as busy as Melbourne or Sydney? Unfortunately we just dont have the people or tourists to patronise the plethora of options we have to offer.

[ChillyPhilly]

I think it's more a measure of culture than of population.

Sydney still has hundreds of thousands more people than Melbourne, but Darling Harbour - despite being warmer than Melbourne's Southbank in an Australian winter - does not carry the same level of activity as the latter. Darling Harbour definitely has more activitations like rides, etc. Maybe it's that Sydney has more than one decent waterfront destination (Circular Quay is also close by) whereas Melbourne has less. Sydney's culture has gone to sleep in recent years due to cost of living and the ridiculous lock-out laws (which will soon be abandoned).

[rev]

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that residential apartments are on the Southbank side and the CBD/retail precincts are on the north side of the river. People have to pass through Southbank to go between the two, and as a result it has become more and more popular and people from outside have come in to see what the hype is all about. Quite frankly, having lived in Melbourne on and off for the past seven years, I find Southbank to be a concrete jungle made up of restaurants that no-one can afford simply there as a place for knockoffs for business people, a novelty casino that everyone can afford and not much else that sets it apart from any other retail/hospitality precinct (i.e. foodcourts, cinemas etc).

And yet it's a hive of activity all year round. Whereas our river front is void of anything meaningful.

I think at this point the argument boils down to population. Melbourne is Australias biggest city, we are around 1/5th the size of Melbourne. In Adelaide we are spreading our retail precincts over vast areas (Chinatown, Rundle Mall/street, Hindley and laneways, etc.) and expecting (any of) them to be as busy as Melbourne or Sydney? Unfortunately we just dont have the people or tourists to patronise the plethora of options we have to offer.

Of course, but I don't expect anything to be as busy as anything equivalent in Melbourne, or Sydney for that matter.
But the riverbank could be a thriving precinct on a daily basis, especially on weekends, and throughout the year. But it isn't, and it's doubtful it will be while anyone on this forum is still young enough to enjoy such things without the need for a carer to take them around in a wheel chair.
Like I've said before, this is another big missed opportunity in Adelaide. We seem to be good at missing opportunities, too bad that cant be monetized..we'd be the Persian Gulf of missed opportunities.
This casino expansion isn't going to turn the area into a thriving precinct either. Casinos survive by keeping people within their walls, not outside them. It' not in Skycity's interests to activate the surrounding area..unless they put up another barrier of some form and make it part of the casino premises, in which case nothing we are back to square one.

[ChillyPhilly]

Four quick snaps from a Thursday evening. The moody sky changed the mood of the building.









Original sizes:

https://i.imgur.com/WG7pgaZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8MUVQQW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ec0oy19.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MYULuab.jpg

[Mpol03]

The dark brown glass of the Festival Centre compliement the colour of this development wonderfully.

[noted]

It also looks pretty good when viewed from the other side of the river. Ideally I'd love to get rid of buildings like the Stamford Plaza and (to a lesser extent) the Intercontinental, but if not then at least this building offers a bit of a contrast to them.

[gnrc_louis]

I actually think the Intercon is somewhat unfairly maligned on here sometimes, as a building I think the design isn't bad - sort of reminds me a bit of Australis House on Grenfell. The colour probably isn't ideal/hasn't aged too well though. Also, the atrium has a great 80s futurism type feel.

[Mpol03]

Glaze over the entire thing with glass I say. It's design would lend itself nicely to an all glass look. Perhaps a purple or bronze to match the casino...

But back to reality. We realy need to see more curves in our builds. I hope the quality of this will start a push for more of this in our upcoming developments.

[Patrick_27]

The InterContinental and Hilton would lend themselves nicely to glazed cladding. However I think the most we'll ever see is either a restoration of the current treatment (that sandstone look) or a paint job (heaven forbid!)