Sensational-Adelaide.com

Tee hee.

I've actually had another idea since the deadline, drat. It might be a bit of a controversial one as people first look at it, but I've been thinking on the success of the layout of parts of Hindmarsh square and how they mesh with their surrounds because they are not isolated by traffic around their perimeter.

The ideas behind it are:
1 Through traffic is a reality, but tunnels are not possible due to the long run ups required.
2 For people to make daily use of it, it really needs to mesh with the surrounding buildings, be an extension of the activities at its perimeter.
3 To be a useful and functional space for special events it needs to be a large contiguous space.

Obviously points 1 and 3 are not compatible, unless we allow the roads to be roads most of the time, but close them off for events. To this end I've eradicated the diamond, there are no access roads at the perimeter (except a provision to allow taxis and dropoffs access to the Hilton's front door) instead KWS and Grote/Wakefield bisect the square on both axes. However they are not normal black top roads, whilst in the square they are differently paved roads (possibly those high wear pavers that they use in shared zones in Germany) the kerbs are also removed and replaced with flat style spoon gutters (like in Rundle Mall) in order to provide a completely flat surface. In this way the entire square can be cordoned during large events without anyone tripping over the gutters etc.

I was toying with the idea of a shared traffic/pedestrian space in the orange zone - but haven't convinced myself that it would work as yet.

Also I have the idea that the intersection in the centre of the square could be mounted by some kind of spire or other architectural feature that is accessed from the supporting pillars at each of the four cardinal points (NE, SE, SW & NW) around the intersection (the red crosshatches and the green blobs). Perhaps even providing a pedestrian overpass to the tram stop?

Additionally certain buildings around the perimeter would be allowed to 'invade' the square to small degrees. An example might be an extension of the Central Markets Arcade or if the Law Courts become a shopping centre an extension of their entry to accommodate outdoor cafés etc. Perhaps a low rise cultural building of some sort could be constructed in a corner for whatever purposes can be thought of.

The green areas would be landscaped in such a way that would facilitate the best balance between the daily functions and the special events functions.

Here's a really rough sketch I made with crayons in my lunch break weeks ago... *shame*


I stress it's a really rough sketch, I was just jotting down the idea before I forgot it. And it's a really rough outline of where I was going with this before I changed jobs and lost my life. Do with it what you will.

In the overall scheme of things I think we may be best leaving this one well enough alone for now. Some times unless the solution is obvious and affordable it’s simply not yet time. We could move the roads around spend millions only to move them all back in ten or 15 years.
The square has huge future potential; I would hate to stuff it up with some half backed scheme base on what we could afford today.
Surly if any one has a vision to underground one of the roads then anything less than undergrounding both is compromise based on cost.
Then if we were going to all the trouble to dig it up to underground some roads why wouldn’t we not underground some sort of transport interchange, train loop, bus station or even the central market, or something like it.
There are more pressing projects if we can only afford so much. All those things about our city that don’t look anywhere as good as Vic square like the neglected lanes, the overhead wires, tree-less West tce, ugly power poles and street lighting. Do the things that can be done now and done well. Leave the square till we are reaping the fruits of our mining boom and our real visions can be achieved. So I think keep your visions for our square big and spectacular but be prepared to wait till its the right time.

Jim wrote:In the overall scheme of things I think we may be best leaving this one well enough alone. Some times unless the solution is obvious and affordable it’s simply not yet time. We could move the roads around spend millions only to move them all back in ten or 15 years.
The square has huge future potential; I would hate to stuff it up with some half backed scheme base on what we could afford today.
Surly if any one has a vision to underground one of the roads then anything less than undergrounding both is compromise based on cost.
Then if we were going to all the trouble to dig it up to underground some roads why wouldn’t we not underground some sort of transport interchange, train loop, bus station or even the central market, or something like it.
There are more pressing projects if we can only afford so much. All those things about our city that don’t look anywhere as good as Vic square like the neglected lanes, the overhead wires, tree-less West tce, ugly power poles and street lighting. Do the things that can be done now and done well. Leave the square till we are reaping the fruits of our mining boom and our real visions can be achieved. So I think keep your visions for our square big and spectacular but be prepared to wait till its the right time.

So hopefully I have set the scene for a spectacular project instead of some rearranged landscaping.
So here is my best shot, excavate the whole square including the roads up to the footpaths in front of the buildings around the square down three levels an additional a lower 4th lower north south strip would be created for a future train loop and station. The lowest of the three levels would incorporate a north south roadway (King William) and parking for cars entering from the north - south. The second level would incorporate the east - west roadway and parking for cars entering from east west. The first level would be an architectuural space of the new central market, its beautiful vaulted, brick, granite pillars and mosaic ceiling would hold up the new grassed and granite paved Victoria square. This new square would be a people place with a small limited access road around the edge and the tram reinstated. The new underground 7day a week market would give covered access linking all sides of the square. At surface (ground) level new square would have open air cafes like the mall. If we were really ambitious a 300m plus slender tower and observation deck would rise above centre. I would move Queen Victoria statue to the southern end of the square and the light horseman statue currently on the corner on North Tce and King William to the northern end of the square. Currently this beautiful statue is lost in a sea of traffic. All the finishes, materials and paving would be of highly durable granites and its design a commissioned art work in its self. The existing central market could be earmarked for a future housing/office precinct. Some of the ground floor space in the buildings around the square could be set aside for restaurants.

Leave the Central Market alone. If you were to move it somewhere else you would ruin what makes it unique. You cannot replicate what the Central Market is anywhere else. It would instead become a boring, sterile, American mall.

Will wrote:Leave the Central Market alone. If you were to move it somewhere else you would ruin what makes it unique. You cannot replicate what the Central Market is anywhere else. It would instead become a boring, sterile, American mall.

Will, This would be no Westfield, or Disneyland type development, no Gyprock or blue board or piped music for this project. I would see the market space (the first lower level under the square) with vaulted dome ceilings in granite, old red brick and mosaic commissioned tiles. The stalls themselves would be the same owner operated eclectic mix they are today. I defiantly do not want to create another suburban mall. The eclectic mix of stalls is what makes the market work, but it is housed in a ramshackle mix of concrete car park of no significant architectural merit and if one of our aims is to get more people to use our square this would do it.

Speaking of the Central Market, could the CM "emulate" the Queen Victoria Markets in Melb with textiles and clothing being sold in the stall instead of exclusively selling food?

Pat28 wrote:Speaking of the Central Market, could the CM "emulate" the Queen Victoria Markets in Melb with textiles and clothing being sold in the stall instead of exclusively selling food?

Please, no. We have the Fisherman's Wharf for that. I don't want the Central Markets to be infested with Scientologists giving out free "stress tests".

Norman wrote:

Pat28 wrote:Speaking of the Central Market, could the CM "emulate" the Queen Victoria Markets in Melb with textiles and clothing being sold in the stall instead of exclusively selling food?

Please, no. We have the Fisherman's Wharf for that. I don't want the Central Markets to be infested with Scientologists giving out free "stress tests".

Well it helps if Fishermans Warf was promoted heavily like the CM and have evryone jumping and up and down about it then - but this may happen since the Port is getting cleaned up

I can't see the Fishermens Wharf markets lasting much longer IMO

Cruise wrote:I can't see the Fishermens Wharf markets lasting much longer IMO

Is SA running out of Scientologists? I sure hope so!

Does anyone have the article from todays Advertiser? Apparently the joint winner's for the VS competition are ESD0019 and USD0081

jlimty wrote:Does anyone have the article from todays Advertiser? Apparently the joint winner's for the VS competition are ESD0019 and USD0081

i saw the article. Apparently the review panel thought the submissions were 'nice' but are not going to use any of them unchanged. They are still going to have architects design a few more options...

The article did not say who won the $20,000 prize, two people are sharing the cash.

So what now? half a square in 1 design and half a square in another, cmon the comp was supposed to help ACC decide on a plan not come up with 2.

Pat28 wrote:So what now? half a square in 1 design and half a square in another, cmon the comp was supposed to help ACC decide on a plan not come up with 2.

I still say don't do anything half baked, or we will be having the same conversation in 15 years, the square needs a grand vision something a $1billion in todays dollars. Changing around the roads and more grass will not give Adelaide a visionary project. Leave well enough alone until we can do it well. Every city has its squares, it will have to be a very unique project to put us on the map. Think big!!!!!
Maybe an underground Guggenheim for aboriginal art, new underground central market and wine cellars, rail station, and above an Eifel tower or all in one project.

I just wish the GOV would pull their finger out and actually do something about this! TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much talking and :wank: