Victoria Square Visions

[Will409]

While it is perfectly reasonable to have KWS go into a small cutting to meet up with Grote Street in the low level tunnel, what about the tramline? How would you work with that? I would prefer to have the tramline go up a small incline to allow for removal of one set of traffic lights. However, a 3m lump in the track with a stop shelter ontop of that would not exactly look 100%.

[AtD]

Would you mind please keeping your suggestions in the Visions section. Thanks.

[BenJ]

I agree that Victoria square is badly missing a reason for most people to walk through and even stay there. We have an abundance of grassed areas in this city, very few of which are used anywhere near as much as they could be. Why does Vic Square have to be another one? I hate to sound like we should be copying Melbourne but one reason that Federation Square is so successful is the fact that there are bars, cafes, museums/galleries and a large screen adjoining it. All of these are top reasons for people to visit and then stay to take in the view.

Vic square has a great backdrop of city buildings and activity around the central market precinct but I can't help but feel that the activity is all leaving the square to head North to the Mall or West to the markets instead of coming to it. A cosmetic upgrade will not change that. Despite the opposition on this forum to a large screen in the square, I feel that this would be a start and would provide a focal point for watching sporting events (such as cricket, world cup soccer, grand finals) along with other important cultural events (such as the government's apology tomorrow morning) for free in a public space.

Stretched bars or cafes around a few of the edges of the square to separate the people from the traffic and a decent amount of interactive public art would really help as well. Think of the new fountain in Moseley Square where children can always be seen running through it and playing for example. The landscaping would not have to be too expensive or revolutionary; it would only need to provide a focus to show people how to use the different elements of the square.

The way the current council is treating this square is as if it's a problem, a curse or something they'd rather not have to deal with as opposed to an amazing opportunity to give this city a real heart.

It's a big space that could be very special. Come on local and state governments!!!

[Hindley Street Alley]

i agree with previous people who have suggested pedestrian bridges, including ramps... i'm living in japan now and these things work fine... people use them! this could be a solution?
it could solve the problem of pedestrian access if it became a busy roundabout. hell, why not make one of the pedestrian bridges interesting and a little bigger...
just a thought

[rhino]

While it is perfectly reasonable to have KWS go into a small cutting to meet up with Grote Street in the low level tunnel, what about the tramline? How would you work with that? I would prefer to have the tramline go up a small incline to allow for removal of one set of traffic lights. However, a 3m lump in the track with a stop shelter ontop of that would not exactly look 100%.

I was thinking about the tram line last night. Haven't come up with an acceptable solution yet, but I'm still thinking.....

[Edgar]

My suggestion:

1) Closed the crossing from Wakefield St to Gouger St, it is this road that split the Victoria Square in half.

2) As proposed by someone, built an underpass with the grass pavement covering over the existing road.

3) Leave the existing side streets around Victoria Square as it serves the traffic between the north and the south of King William St.

4) Place bus stops on the kerb side of Victoria Square instead and make it a major passenger drop off points for both buses and trams.

5) Shift the existing Metro Ticketing and Information Centre from corner of King William St and Currie St to Victoria Square.

6) Move the existing Tourist Information kiosk in Rundle Mall to Victoria Square and make it a big attractive one.

7) Build kiosks or small stalls around the borders of Victoria Square for fast food, newspaper, wraps, etc.

If there are plans to further extend or creating new tram routes, make Victoria Square as the central tram station.

[rhino]

Considering the number of posts in the other thread, would it not be possible to move the whole thread over here, instead of starting a new one and running the risk of missing out on some good ideas?

[Howie]

Merged from vic square thread.

[Ash-SV6]

I think the best way to solve the 'island' effect created by King William Street and the spliting in half of the square caused by Grote/Wakefield Street is to raise the two halves of the square up above road level, connect the two halves with a deck bridge, then link the raised square (in reality a diamond) with foot bridges over King William Street, and in some cases, directly into the second story of buildings surrounding the square, so office workers (or visitors staying at the Hilton) can directly access the square without needing to cross any traffic lights.

I think the raised square should have a health and recreation theme, and have two main levels - around the outside on the lowest level should be a jogging track (which passes over Wakefield/Grote Street but under the connecting pedestrian bridges). On the main higher level should be hireable sport facilities - tennis courts, volleyball courts, badmington court, half-sized basketball court, netball court, cricket nets, golf driving range and boule lawn. To fit all these courts in, some of them can overhang the jogging track and perhaps also King William Street. A cafe with equipment hire would be an obvious inclusion.

[Edgar]

Ash-sv6, instead of raising the lawns, isn't it more feasible to sink the road by building an under-pass?

Or if that happens, we could have an underground shopping precinct, and move the tram station down there.

[monotonehell]

Ash-sv6, instead of raising the lawns, isn't it more feasible to sink the road by building an under-pass?

Or if that happens, we could have an underground shopping precinct, and move the tram station down there.

Probably cost inhibitive but I like that. A bit like what's under the Louvre end of the Champs-Elysées in Paris. The Samuel Way building would make a grand entrance for an under the square shopping precinct, connected to the Markets but if that was there how would you sink the roads down there also?

[Brando]

Sink Grote St with a cut and cover underpass, instead of covering it with grass, what about covering with thick glass and have a dining area above it, so you can see the cars passing below, it doesn't even need a dining area, but make more of an 'out the square' attempt to create something different.

[monotonehell]

Sink Grote St with a cut and cover underpass, instead of covering it with grass, what about covering with thick glass and have a dining area above it, so you can see the cars passing below, it doesn't even need a dining area, but make more of an 'out the square' attempt to create something different.

LOL! nice altered metaphor.

I'm unsure if that would be interesting to look at for people on top, but it certainly would help save power by sun - lighting the trench by day.

[AtD]

Sink Grote St with a cut and cover underpass, instead of covering it with grass, what about covering with thick glass and have a dining area above it, so you can see the cars passing below, it doesn't even need a dining area, but make more of an 'out the square' attempt to create something different.

I'd like to see that!

[AG]

As an offshoot from Brando's idea, maybe the restaurant structure could be a large glass pyramid, cube or shard that can be seen clearly from the far ends of King William Street, Wakefield Street (from Kensington Road as well) and Grote Street (also from Sir Donald Bradman Drive).