Sensational-Adelaide.com

claybro wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:32 pm

Great hall... wrong location. Needs to be near the "cultural boulevards"

Imagine this ... urban designer David Cooke outlines dream vision for Le Cornu’s old North Adelaide site
Dan Jervis-Bardy, The City
April 4, 2018 11:43am







IT is Adelaide’s most famous patch of dirt, having sat vacant for almost 30 years.

But there is renewed hope that 88 O’Connell St — better known as North Adelaide’s Le Cornu site — will finally be redeveloped after Adelaide City Council bought it for $34 million late last year.

The council will on Sunday invite the community to enter the site for the first time since the furniture warehouse closed in 1989, as it starts public consultation on the land’s future use.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese says feedback from the community will help it establish a set of “guiding principles” to shape how the block is redeveloped.

But before the people have their say, Advertiser.com.au asked an urban designer (Part One: today), a developer (Part Two: Tomorrow) and an architect (Part Three: Friday) to create their own vision for the long-vacant lot.

Although the council has hinted the space might one day be filled with a mix of uses, including housing, shops and offices, the three firms were given free rein to create whatever they wanted.

No rules.

Actually, there was one — create something that does not include 7353sq m of dirt.

And they have delivered.

Over the next three days, Advertiser.com.au will reveal what the firms would do with 88 O’Connell St, including artist impressions and a description of their design.

The proposals are each very different.

They are thought provoking, too. Pie in the sky stuff? Maybe.

But aren’t all great ideas?

Today, we unveil the vision of Adelaide-based urban design firm City Collective, led by director David Cooke.

Best known as the man behind the plan to bring the Commonwealth Games to Adelaide, Mr Cooke’s portfolio includes residential, transport and sporting projects for a client list that features AFL teams, local councils and developers.

Here is how he would transform 88 O’Connell St.

PART 1: THE URBAN DESIGNER

City Collective, David Cooke

“The council’s leadership to purchase the 88 O’Connell St site has reignited debate in the community about ‘What does the council do with this parcel of land?’ In order to consider this, we need to consider another question: What’s good about North Adelaide?

There would be no argument that North Adelaide has an abundance of high quality streets, historic residential properties, quality hospitality and open space, but an opportunity to enhance these community attributes comes once in a generation and a lot can be achieved with this parcel of land.

In order to respond to this opportunity, City Collective has framed our design proposal by answering: What could make North Adelaide even better and what does the community need?

Public space is critical to all growing communities.

North Adelaide is blessed with Wellington Square, one of Light’s original squares, which is still maintained as unified green landscaped space and being surrounded on three sides by the Parklands.

But what it lacks is an urban civic heart.

We believe that Forum 88 can be the civic heart North Adelaide needs, a space that brings community together, encourages diversity and strengthens the existing O’Connell St amenity by offering a destination for all.”

This new multipurpose public space has the ability to be used for theatre performances, concerts, festivals, indoor sports, school activities and art exhibitions. Internal and external spaces offer full adaptability for everyone, from small group workshops, through to large format events up to 5000 people.

A key feature is a four-storey high 1600sq m movable canopy structure that can be moved into place to cover the central plaza space and link to the adjoining multi-event and theatre buildings.

It’s flexibility creates an iconic all-weather civic space that is unique to Adelaide.

Within Forum 88, residential accommodation is provided in multi-level buildings above the retail and commercial podium fronting Tynte St.

These buildings at seven and nine levels are modest compared to previously approved heights for this site yet provide up to 200 residential outcomes for families, couples and empty nesters.

Our plan builds upon North Adelaide’s rich history and provides a true multipurpose civic heart that responds to the current and future needs of the community.”