[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[rev]

One day, when we get a leader with some balls, we might actually see something like this happen.

The Victoria Park debacle is proof enough that something of such a grand scale is never going to eventuate in this graveyard of a city.

Let's face it - look at the massive outcry about the tram extension and new grandstand in Vic Park - it's only realistic to assume Victoria Square will continue to lay as dormant and pointless as it has for decades.
Someone surprise me and take this by the scruff of the neck.

There was not a massive outcry, at least not from the majority.
The majority of people were either sceptical or for it.
It was a small minority, all be it the most vocal, who were opposed, and are opposed to practically any development in Adelaide.

[tstaylor]

The problem is that people don't know what they want, they are too stuck in there ways and most of the time too conservative. Also politicians don't want to take huge risks, they just don't have the balls. What Adelaide needs is a Jack Lang!!
Who said Vic Park an't going ahead?

[Matt]

One day, when we get a leader with some balls, we might actually see something like this happen.

The Victoria Park debacle is proof enough that something of such a grand scale is never going to eventuate in this graveyard of a city.

Let's face it - look at the massive outcry about the tram extension and new grandstand in Vic Park - it's only realistic to assume Victoria Square will continue to lay as dormant and pointless as it has for decades.
Someone surprise me and take this by the scruff of the neck.

There was not a massive outcry, at least not from the majority.
The majority of people were either sceptical or for it.
It was a small minority, all be it the most vocal, who were opposed, and are opposed to practically any development in Adelaide.

Sorry, should have been more specific.
There was a massive outcry from the vocal (powerful) minority that seems to hold Adelaide by the balls whenever any major change is suggested.

If the public comments on AdelaideNow are anything to go by, the majority of people are as pro-development as we are on here.

[Brando]

perhaps something similar to the gateway arch in saint louis?

different design of course.

SPOT ON Mants.

St Louis arch. I recognise that anywhere, yet i could not tell you the first thing about the city or anything.
Hope you don't mind Mants, but just continuing your point further and providing a night photo.

[rogue]

nice....

[Matt]

I emailed the ACC about a month ago for some information about the "competition", but never heard back.

Perhaps it's already been run and won, and the winning design suggested they just grass it over.

[Shuz]

How typical of the Advertiser, they release a story on Vic Square - one that recieves many pro-development and encouraging positivity to the story and it seems to be shunned. Do I sense media propaganda, and even 'deliberate' intervention into political affairs that manipulates the minds of Adelaidians into believeing that the Victoria Square (and Victoria Park, LeCornu site, Chentalham, Buckland Park, you-name-it) are all dead-ended ambitions that will never see the day of light.

[Dave_The_Planner]

The trouble with the Victoria Square site is that we are trying to please everyone. I can't believe the Council or State Government doesn't just put up $50 million or whatever, get a few Adelaide architects to submit their ideas, select the best one without public intervention, commission the architect and build something. Once it's built, accept it and move on.

This year after year of procrastination is getting quite boring and of course, predictable...

[AtD]

Very true. Do you think Federation Square in Melbourne would have survived public consultation?

[Will]

I'm sorry if there's another more appropriate Victoria Square thread (moderators feel free to re-direct this post)

Victoria Square is a joke

Chris Day

23Oct07


Architect Andrew Vorassi in Victoria Square.

Pic by Roy Van Der Vegt.

THE $20,000 competition to redesign Victoria Square is a cynical, cheap smokescreen, leading city architects say.


``Vic Square has become a joke,'' Royal Australian Institute of Architects SA president Andrew Vorrasi said.
``It's dragged out by every city council and state government every few years and nothing ever happens and no one takes it seriously.
``Everyone has finally got jack of Vic Square and you won't get any serious proposals until the State Government and the City Council work out what they want to do.''
The latest call for fresh ideas on how to reinvigorate the city's heart was made by the Government and the City Council in August.
The enticement a $10,000 prize for an all-encompassing design and a further $10,000 prize to redesign the former central tram stop has failed to spark much inspiration.
``It's not high on our agenda,'' said David Hassell, managing principal of Adelaide-based global architects Hassell. ``The main issue, and it is a bit cynical, is that these things tend to happen around an election.''
David Burton, one of three architects who recently released their vision for the inner-city's future, dubbed Adelaide 2050, said: ``(The competition) seems a bit of a smokescreen and it's not the way we would like to see planning happen in SA.
``There needs to be a lot more work done on a masterplan of the CBD, and the wider metropolitan area, before you can work out what to do with that little parcel of land.
``A $10,000 prize is peanuts for a site like that. If you were serious you would draw up a proper brief and get companies of international note interested.''
Previous ideas for the square include traffic tunnels, an underground car park, turning it into a market square and creating a plaza with a pavilion for special events.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said it wasn't only architects who came up with good ideas. ``We're quite happy for it just to be interested people and students,'' he said.

[Bulldozer]

But where the hell is the information on how to enter the competition? I tried searching but couldn't find anything on the ACC's website. Anyone know where information on the competition and how to enter it can be found?

[aussie2000]

I'm sorry if there's another more appropriate Victoria Square thread (moderators feel free to re-direct this post)

theres the 'whats next for Victoria Square' thread in general developments that where all this news is right now, but i wouldn't think anyone would worry, its the same thing lol, I hope something happens next year, victoria square is like a big hole in the city and the new developments going up around it are just highlighing it more

[Matt]

But where the hell is the information on how to enter the competition? I tried searching but couldn't find anything on the ACC's website. Anyone know where information on the competition and how to enter it can be found?

I emailed council months ago and got no response.
Usually they're pretty quick and efficient... I emailed them re: Rundle Lantern when they were still deciding what they were doing, and they actually sent a bunch of info to me via courier within a day... I was impressed. Dunno what happened this time, perhaps they're still working it all out.

Anyway... I still think the $10,000 prize thing is completely the wrong plan of attack for Victoria Square.

If the $10,000 thing is aimed at getting local entries from the general public, I think it's a complete waste of time.
I think we're far too parochial here, it borders on ridiculous sometimes. This needs to be given a much greater emphasis and ideas about transforming the entire square into something fantastic should be attracting architects and planners Australiawide, if not worldwide, and $10,000 is not going to do it. Hell, $10,000 won't even get Adelaide's professionals' attention.

Victoria Square is the centre point of the city, and is a major site with great importance. Throwing a $10,000 prize at it to get a handful of dodgy ideas come in from school kids is not an appropriate solution to me.

I just think instead of wasting time with this, the ACC and State Government should be coming up with some proper, workable designs that are going to turn Vic Square into something world class.

[Snorkie]

Made my comment and I did a quick copy & paste job of the idea.

Slightly off topic, but noticed today that the circled building in the picture has been sold. Anyone know who bought it? Looks like the perfect opportunity to demolish that fugly building and build a nice 119m scraper, as there are not that many clear sites left within those height regulations...

[Plasmatron]

I've been brewing my own idea for the Victoria Square Tower proposal. It combines the monument/archway concept and observation tower into one structure. First, the road going through the middle of Victoria Square would have to be completely paved over. The structure would span from where that road started and ended, on either side (East-West). The idea behind the design is the letter A (for Adelaide) and V (Victoria) being seamlessly incorporate. Below is a diagram. Height would be exactly 245m, which is pretty tall but not ridiculous. I'm also planning to do a proper mock-up in 3D Studio Max.