Victoria Square Visions

[monotonehell]

although it is good, it also means that traffic from both ends of King William St will not have access to Grote St except entering from side streets.

It is good, but needs some alterations.

Look again, the intersection above the square is a cross roads. There's access from all points to Grote Street.

[Edgar]

although it is good, it also means that traffic from both ends of King William St will not have access to Grote St except entering from side streets.

It is good, but needs some alterations.

Look again, the intersection above the square is a cross roads. There's access from all points to Grote Street.

My bad , I thought you eliminated the any intersection crossings between KWS and Grote St.

[monotonehell]

although it is good, it also means that traffic from both ends of King William St will not have access to Grote St except entering from side streets.

It is good, but needs some alterations.

Look again, the intersection above the square is a cross roads. There's access from all points to Grote Street.

My bad , I thought you eliminated the any intersection crossings between KWS and Grote St.

It's fundamentally the same as what we have now except that both lanes of KWS are pushed eastward, the Square's roads are eliminated (except for a shared zone servicing the Hilton), and Grote/Flinders is partly lowered under a partly raised section in Vic Square. That way the need for a long run into a deep tunnel is abated and the opportunity for a raised seating area is created for outdoor concerts and events. Also Queen Vic gets a better perch, befitting a monarch! *bursts into rule britania!*

[Wayno]

It's fundamentally the same as what we have now except that both lanes of KWS are pushed eastward, the Square's roads are eliminated (except for a shared zone servicing the Hilton), and Grote/Flinders is partly lowered under a partly raised section in Vic Square. That way the need for a long run into a deep tunnel is abated and the opportunity for a raised seating area is created for outdoor concerts and events. Also Queen Vic gets a better perch, befitting a monarch! *bursts into rule britania!*

I also love the fact that standing on the mound wil give you an elevated view down the 4 main boulevards!

[monotonehell]

It's fundamentally the same as what we have now except that both lanes of KWS are pushed eastward, the Square's roads are eliminated (except for a shared zone servicing the Hilton), and Grote/Flinders is partly lowered under a partly raised section in Vic Square. That way the need for a long run into a deep tunnel is abated and the opportunity for a raised seating area is created for outdoor concerts and events. Also Queen Vic gets a better perch, befitting a monarch! *bursts into rule britania!*

I also love the fact that standing on the mound wil give you an elevated view down the 4 main boulevards!

Avert your eyes, that view is reserved for Her Majesty Yes it's an added bonus, and if the landscaping is done with care and attention, imagine the view heading toward the centre.

[Shuz]

I am in the process of developing a city-wide master plan which will address the resolution of the Victoria Square redevelopment. Basically what I have done thus far is propose that the Grote/Wakefield thoroughfare is reserved for being just that a connection between east and west. It involves redirecting traffic onto Gouger/Angus and Franklin/Flinders Streets so that the the Square is able to become whole, with KWS redirected into a rectangular roundabout right against the edges of the square, allowing the tram track to remain as it is, with plaza sections in the NW and SW corners of the square. Part of the concept involves construction of a mound, so that it resembles something similar to Capitol Hill in Canberra, with amphitheater seating on one side (complimented by video screens emblazoned on the walls of the mound and a information kiosk on the other side. Queen Victoria or whatever statue people are suggesting would righteously earn her place atop, forming a central feature to the 2 thoroughfares of the city.

[Norman]

I'd love to see Grote Street between Morphett Street and Victoria Square made into a Tram/Pedestrian shared zone, thus completing the City Loop.

[Shuz]

Okay, forgive the unbelievably poor quality of the image and associated cut&paste efforts. Please remind yourselves that it is a purely conceptual drawing, and the real-time vision is to be processed in your heads, if you can.

[monotonehell]

Okay, forgive the unbelievably poor quality of the image and associated cut&paste efforts. Please remind yourselves that it is a purely conceptual drawing, and the real-time vision is to be processed in your heads, if you can.

Looking over the fact that you left most of Canberra under there ...

I thought of a similar idea but I didn't want to affect the restaurant section of Gouger Street and squaring off the corners of what would become a major round about might cause congestion and confusion. What kind of traffic controls did you have in mind for the intersections?

[Shuz]

Sequential traffic lights. (Yes there would be 3 sets of lights at both the northern and southern sections of the square) but they would operate so that all the N/S traffic flows in one go (rather than stop-starting) and then the E/W traffic flows in one go as well.

Adelaide needs to reduce its reliance on car usage in the CBD and I have taken into consideration a plan that favors a pedestrian friendly zone and tram-friendly zone than become a car-dominated landscape.

My idea is obviously controversial, but as a compromise, if we retained the diamond formation, but still close off Grote/Wakefield into a underpass, where access into the square from E/W is only accessed by Franklin/Flinders/Angus/Gouger streets, and only had 1 set of lights at the north and south of the square. Noone would have to do sharp-turns into the square, because the east-west streets north and south of the square would be one-way in the directions I showed on the map.

[JamesXander]

Okay, forgive the unbelievably poor quality of the image and associated cut&paste efforts. Please remind yourselves that it is a purely conceptual drawing, and the real-time vision is to be processed in your heads, if you can.

yeah not too bad. I like the idea of a raised Queen Victoria. The Centre Peice of Adelaide

I like

[Howie]

Did anyone ever find a link to that design competition being run by the ACC?

[Joely]

How about if the square is completely dug up, and filled with water, with Wakefield St/Grote St spanning the lake as a modern bridge similar to the ANZAC bridge in Sydney. There can be dancing water and light shows similar to Bellagio in Vegas, but better! With outdoor cafe's, restaurants and viewing platforms and pathways all the way around! I've always loved the view of the city from Victoria Sqaure. Imagine how stunning the relections would be on the water at night!

[Joely]

Ok, this might just win the award for the ugliest and most poorly drawn diagram ever (straight lines anyone?), but this is kinda what I mean. "Victoria Lake" will be created using recycled water from Bolivar water treatment plant (a la Mawson Lakes) and will be the main focal point of the precinct with several large fountain shows happening at certain times of the day and night, with smaller fountains running continuously all day. A boardwalk would encircle the lake with clusters of retail outlets, cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs etc dotted around the boardwalk. The tramline would have to be moved closer to the Hilton, unless it can be intergrated on the boadwalk somehow (probably a better idea). Perhaps some kind of concert stage can be built overhanging the water for festival events and New Years celebrations etc. Ultimately, more apartment buildings need to be built around the square, especially on the eastern side as it would bring more people to the area.

This is just my wacky imagination at work, but I really believe Victoria Square can become a space which is really unique for Adelaide. I admit this is very tacky and over-the-top but its an idea. Adelaide needs something radical and new and not the boring conservative crap we get time and time again in this city. Look at Perth's waterfront. We need something like that to give our great city a face! We need to think outside the box a little more.

[cruel_world00]

Ok, this might just win the award for the ugliest and most poorly drawn diagram ever (straight lines anyone?), but this is kinda what I mean. "Victoria Lake" will be created using recycled water from Bolivar water treatment plant (a la Mawson Lakes) and will be the main focal point of the precinct with several large fountain shows happening at certain times of the day and night, with smaller fountains running continuously all day. A boardwalk would encircle the lake with clusters of retail outlets, cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs etc dotted around the boardwalk. The tramline would have to be moved closer to the Hilton, unless it can be intergrated on the boadwalk somehow (probably a better idea). Perhaps some kind of concert stage can be built overhanging the water for festival events and New Years celebrations etc. Ultimately, more apartment buildings need to be built around the square, especially on the eastern side as it would bring more people to the area.

This is just my wacky imagination at work, but I really believe Victoria Square can become a space which is really unique for Adelaide. I admit this is very tacky and over-the-top but its an idea. Adelaide needs something radical and new and not the boring conservative crap we get time and time again in this city. Look at Perth's waterfront. We need something like that to give our great city a face! We need to think outside the box a little more.

Logistically, I think there would be a few kinks to iron our with this proposal etc...but at least you're thinking and putting imagination into this as opposed to the stupid "wiggle" concept the ACC put forward. Good on you for thinking outside the box.