Adelaide's Premier Development and Construction Site
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It's awful. Perhaps it would be tolerable as an anonymous density filler somewhere on Flinders/Pirie Streets but absolutely not here.thecityguy wrote:Yes, uninspiring for sure. But not awful
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...Where exactly has the standard of design improved in Adelaide? Almost every proposal that is either under construction or approved for construction doesn't go that far beyond what our skyline currently has... And most of those buildings that have recently been completed have failed to meet the expectations that the renders have imposed on the public. This building is underwhelming, sure, but it hardly warrants the excessive use of terms such as 'awful'.slenderman wrote:It just seems like a huge step backwards when you see how much the standard of design proposed for Adelaide is improving, especially considering this really is one of the most prominent sites in the city as it will help fill in Victoria Square.
Are you a contrarian Patrick, or are you the only one who's entitled to an opinion on the architectural merit of proposals?Patrick_27 wrote:...Where exactly has the standard of design improved in Adelaide? Almost every proposal that is either under construction or approved for construction doesn't go that far beyond what our skyline currently has... And most of those buildings that have recently been completed have failed to meet the expectations that the renders have imposed on the public. This building is underwhelming, sure, but it hardly warrants the excessive use of terms such as 'awful'.slenderman wrote:It just seems like a huge step backwards when you see how much the standard of design proposed for Adelaide is improving, especially considering this really is one of the most prominent sites in the city as it will help fill in Victoria Square.
Hang on, where in my posting did I even suggest to being the only one who can pass an opinion? Seems a bit unfair for you to say that when thecityguy expressed his opinion and you responded with 'it's awful' and went on to completely disregard most of the very little that he said. And just because my perspective differs from yours (and others) doesn't make me a contrarian either, architecture is a form of art and therefore subjective.slenderman wrote:Are you a contrarian Patrick, or are you the only one who's entitled to an opinion on the architectural merit of proposals?Patrick_27 wrote:...Where exactly has the standard of design improved in Adelaide? Almost every proposal that is either under construction or approved for construction doesn't go that far beyond what our skyline currently has... And most of those buildings that have recently been completed have failed to meet the expectations that the renders have imposed on the public. This building is underwhelming, sure, but it hardly warrants the excessive use of terms such as 'awful'.slenderman wrote:It just seems like a huge step backwards when you see how much the standard of design proposed for Adelaide is improving, especially considering this really is one of the most prominent sites in the city as it will help fill in Victoria Square.
Let's not forget that you've used even more excessive terms to describe buildings you don't like. That proposal on Hutt Street is a "pile of shit", and so are Vision on Morphett and the Frome Street proposal (although that's probably motivated more by the loss of Rhino Room rather than the architectural merit of the building).
There's plenty of examples of designs that have been constructed/proposed this decade that have improved over what we've got in previous decades.
Built/under construction:
CC8, Ibis Hotel, Vue, SAHMRI, UniSA, Calvary Hospital (yes, even a hospital), Central Adelaide, Adelaide Uni Med School and Bohem are all vastly superior designs to this. 115 KWS also has two very attractive walls going for it at least.
Proposed:
Sofitel, Echelon, Realm Adelaide, 211-215 South Terrace, West Franklin, Flinders East, The University of Adelaide gateway building/towers, Adelaide Casino and Park Hotel are all either well-designed buildings or game changers for Adelaide if they go ahead.
Even more "meh" developments like August Towers, Maughan Church, Vision on Morphett, 70 Franklin, 50 Flinders, Holiday Inn Express, Quest KWS South and 261 South Terrace are inoffensive at worst.
Sure, there's always going to be a bit of crap that slips through, like 228 North Terrace, Alto Apartments and probably that Waymouth Street student accommodation, but at least they aren't taking up some of the CBD's most prominent sites.
And besides, even if our architecture was all even as close to as bad as this proposal, wouldn't it be high time to stop building crap and demand higher standards from architects who are paid money and go to university to come up with innovative designs?
As you've said, all thecityguy has said is that it's underwhelming but he approves of it because, to him at least, it's decent and predominately glass.Patrick_27 wrote: Hang on, where in my posting did I even suggest to being the only one who can pass an opinion? Seems a bit unfair for you to say that when thecityguy expressed his opinion and you responded with 'it's awful' and went on to completely disregard most of the very little that he said. And just because my perspective differs from yours (and others) doesn't make me a contrarian either, architecture is a form of art and therefore subjective.
I said most, not all; of-course there are a few good ones which has slipped through the cracks, but there are still a lot of buildings have failed to live up to their own design. VUE and the Adelaide Uni's building immediately come to mind (115 KWS turned out better than I had thought but as you've said, has two blank walls), hell, I'm even starting to get the feeling that Bohem will also fall into that basket.
What would you like to see on this site? I can probably guess (because it's the same tag-line I read from most people on here)... 'tall, sleek and curvy'. It seems that anything that doesn't fall into at-least one of those categories these days will get knocked by the majority on here.
GPO precinct development to refocus the business heart of Adelaide’s city centre
Richard Evans, The Advertiser
November 1, 2016 9:15am
THE $235 million development of the General Post Office precinct is set to realign the heart of the Adelaide CBD, says the agent responsible for bringing in a major state government department as the anchor tenant.
The Attorney-General’s Department will occupy the top half of the new 20-storey building on Franklin St (overlooking Victoria Square), said CBRE director Andrew Bahr, and will help foster the laneway culture favoured by the State Government and Adelaide City Council.
“This isn’t just another glass building, it’s all about the precinct,” Mr Bahr said. “There will be retail and food and beverage built into the design via the Telephone Exchange building next door. It will refocus the CBD, dragging people back to the GPO, to the true and literal centre of Adelaide. The GPO precinct will be the final piece in the puzzle.”
Mr Bahr, who began a soft search for new tenants around 18 months ago, said interest in occupying the remaining 12,000sqm of the new 24,500sqm tower had intensified since last Friday’s announcement.
“There’s been much interest, this is now a project that is going to happen. This is the biggest pre commitment deal in Adelaide since the ATO moved to Tower 8 (adjacent the GPO precinct on Franklin St) four years ago. Prior to precommitment, it’s very difficult to sell a plan to tenants on paper.”
A dearth of major transactions in Adelaide this year has been in part due to a shortage of large leases approaching their end date, he said, but will not impact upon the Precinct GPO.
“A lot of major leases are expiring in the city in 2019,” Mr Bahr said. “I have had a half a dozen calls and messages this morning already because of what is now happening.”
The new tower — a second and smaller tower of 15 storeys with a King William St address is also being planned — will have a floor plate of 1460sqm, Mr Bahr said, and will boast a unique podium design.
“There will be podium level car parking above the ground floor, the actual office space will start on Level 3,” he said. “From the low levels up, the tenants will all have the same experience throughout the building, sitting above the heritage GPO. This will not be just another office tower, but something that will redefine the modern workplace.”
The landmark GPO opened in 1872 and was the tallest building in Adelaide at the start of last century. A refurbishment (including the Telephone Exchange building) by national property conglomerate Charter Hall which owns the site, is part of the overall place making exercise, Mr Bahr said.
The Charter Hall plan can be best compared to Brookfield Place in Perth, which provides a heritage retail area for the city plus food and fashion options in some of the that city’s sympathetically restored historical buildings, Mr Bahr said.
Architects Hassell and Fitzpatrick and Partners have been charged with the building design and construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of next year with completion expected by July, 2019.
