[COM] Adelaide Convention Centre - Stage 3 | $350m

[russo92]

why would tourists come to Adelaide to look at a 132m building?

lol They wouldn't come for that, the building would create an image for the city and would be like a centre piece to a revitalised area that tourists will use

[Howie]

Waewick, with all due respect I think you missed my point. No one is going to come solely for a 132m tower, i'm not that naive. They'll come for an integrated entertainment precinct and a world class tower might have a place in something like that.

[crawf]

I think a tower on that site is a big mistake.

The Festival Plaza is a prime spot for a tourist precinct. An area for the enjoyment of citizens and visitors alike.

A tower for politicians and rich old people will do nothing to bring life to the Festival Plaza.

This is a prime example of long-term vision being rejected for short-term profits.

Agreed

[Omicron]

It's not April 1, is it?

Guess not.

Well, that is a surprise. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that a well-designed tower would fit right in with the Casino extension, the Festival Theatre and the Riverbank precinct, and cleverly incorporate much-needed Parliament House extensions in a reasonably-acceptable manner - but only a well-designed one. Anything here is skyline-make-or-break material - there's simply no place for a square, transparent, green-glassed box or any dubious evolution of such.

Done well, I think it could really work.

[stumpjumper]

There are a few legitimate questions to be asked about this. Here are some:

First, because parliamentarians are likely personally to be beneficiaries of the project as well as approving us paying for it, wouldn't it be wise to get some objectivity in the decision-making, not least with regard to funding priority? It seems common for politicians since the pyramids to have been seduced by the process of building, and ours are not likely to be exceptions. Remember that Pat Conlon, who is supposed to be driving this, has just completed a $490,000 refit of his 40sqm office on the 12th floor of the Roma Mitchell Building, where he already has superb view of several of the government's pet construction projects. It should be noted that Pat does have a keen eye to economy - he trimmed the original cost of his office refit from $1,000,000 ($25,000 per sqm) to only $12,250 per sqm, although the result was obviously less than ideal.

The land is probably Park Lands, and is certainly public space. Before it became the parliamentary carpark (which would no doubt remain) with the attractive concrete sculpture garden above it, the Government Printing Office occupied the site but the surface at least could be said to have reverted to Park Lands with the demolition of the printer's building. Residential development in the Park Lands is prohibited by the Park Lands Act 2005.

Secondly, has the development been considered as part of the riverside revamp which has been chewed over by numerous visiting architects and urban designers such as Jan Gehl and others?

Thirdly, new projects are exciting etc, but are there other priorities? Nicolae Ceaucescu of Romania and his delightful wife, for example, enjoyed the business of building large and expensive projects, often for Ceaucescu's own occupation, but did it with borrowed money while leaving schools in Romania to rot.

On the positive side, perhaps having luxury offices on the riverbank complete no doubt with swanky bars, restaurants, gym, pool and saunas might encourage our highly paid politicians to turn up at Parliament House on more than 35 days per year.

[Matt]

the tower would have to be an icon for the city, something unlike anything thats been built and would be great if it could succeed Westpac House as a new tallest. (Huge wishful thinking, but hey they've released the idea so why not)

I can't think of a better statement to make about relaunching Adelaide CBD as a tourist destination than having a new tallest... and honestly it wouldn't take much to build a tower taller than 132m. If they do it right, it could really activate the precinct.

why would tourists come to Adelaide to look at a 132m building?

Have you seen the queues for the viewing deck at Eureka in Melbourne?
It's a tourist attraction in its own right.

I work between the Gherkin and Lloyds in London, and just across the Thames from the new (half built) Shard building - tourists are constantly snapping away with their cameras at all three.

Decent architecture (and height) does bring in tourists.

[stumpjumper]

For those not familiar with the Shard building, google image 'Shard London'. It looks pretty good.

For one that doesn't look so good, try '20 Fenchurch Street'. How close are you to that one, matt?

[Waewick]

@Matt - I'm sure if there are other things to do for tourists then they will take an interest - but they ain't coming to Adelaide just to look a building.

It would be a nice segway for a tourist but not a reason to book a flight.

[Wayno]

This idea reminds me of the Bennelong "Toaster" situation in downtown Sydney.

There was huge public furore in NSW that an area such as Circular Quay & the Rocks would be tainted by building private residential apartments smack bang in the middle of what ostensibly is one of Australia's most iconic regions. I was a Sydney-sider when these apartments were built, and still regularly visit Sydney for work, and I cringe every time i see the apartments.

Obviously the populus wanted the area retained as public space. But there was also widespread tolerance for it to be used for a luxury hotel which, although privately owned, brings an ongoing public dividend.

It's also worth noting that soon after the apartments were built, and the lucky few had moved in, they started complaining about noise in *their* backyard. They even lodged a formal petition against plans to turn the Opera House forecourt into an outdoor venue attracting up to 6000 people. My heart bleeds, not.

Gosh, i'm a NIMBY!

[stumpjumper]

The Toaster itself isn't the whole problem either - there's now a line of 'infill' buildings going back to Circular Quay.

I was at the Opera House recently at night and I have to admit that I looked up at the floor to ceiling windows of the penthouse of the Toaster and I thought, 'F*ck good urban planning - I'd live there.'

[iTouch]

in my opinion, if they have to have a tower, it better be a F****ing good looking one that's 100m+.

[Matt]

For those not familiar with the Shard building, google image 'Shard London'. It looks pretty good.

For one that doesn't look so good, try '20 Fenchurch Street'. How close are you to that one, matt?

I'm a street back from Fenchurch, next-door to the Willis building (which is a cracker).

The one on Fenchurch St looks awful from the renders. The "walkie talkie" they're calling it - it does have an interesting looking "roof garden" thing that i'm hoping will be open to the public as opposed to the restaurant atop the Gherkin which is members only.

There's another one across from Lloyds (the "cheese grater") that looks promising, and another one behind that called The Pinnacle (the "helper skelter" - they seem to love their nicknames) that looks like it's going to be fantastic... from memory, that will be the tallest in the city itself. (Shard is on the other side of the river).

Anyway, in a feeble attempt to bring my ranting back on topic, it'd take something like one of these (of architectural interest rather than another box) for any building to be suitable for the plaza at the Festival Centre.

[stumpjumper]

as opposed to the restaurant atop the Gherkin which is members only.

Members? Who occupies the Gherkin, matt?

And how lucky are you to work in London, from an architectural POV anyway. Never a dull moment.

[Ben]

Looks like stage 1 is about to commence:

Type: Section 49 Application Received
Application Number: S49/1/2011
Lodgement Date: 16/06/2011
Location: Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description: Demolition existing structures including ramps, retaining walls & loading dock

Type: Section 49 Application Received
Application Number: S49/2/2011
Lodgement Date: 16/06/2011
Location: Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description: Demolition of air-condition towers, retaining walls & associated structures, construction of earth batters, removal & relocation of 2 significant trees

[metro]

i believe work has already started, seen some activity and drilling happening around here in the last couple of days: http://www.nearmap.com/[email protected],1 ... d=20110424