Adelaide's Own 'Federation Square'

[loud]

Fountains actually suffer from a high level of evaporation and they are constantly needing to be topped up with fresh water. This is the same reason that the lake in Rymill Park has been filled in... because it is shallow and not a dense body of water, it too evaporates quickly.

Rymill Park Lake I can understand - but the surface water area of a fountain cannot be compared to that. The water feature at the "Entrance to Adelaide" at the Tollgate Junction has a very small pool at the bottom - or are you saying that the water is evaporating as it is falling?

Fountains lose water through: surface area evaporation (surface area of a body of water is increased if water is being sprayed or falling), wind accelerating evaporation in airborne and still water, wind blowing water out of the fountain, children (and some adults ) playing in the fountain...

From what i have read and heard, one of the other main reasons that fountains are shut down in drought conditions is to remind society that we are in a drought and to encourage us to conserve water.

[Edgar]

The sad thing is the location of the plaza. If the Parliament house isn't in the way, it could well be a popular meeting location no doubts about that.

Due to its 'inaccessibility', restricted by the Parliament house, it is pretty much hidden away from North Terrace. The Melbourne's Federation Square is located at junction, adjacent to the Flinders Station, with nothing in its way, no heritage building blocking the wide open area, which makes it one of the most popular meeting point in Melbourne.

We cannot basically achieve that with the Festival Plaza, no matter how much you invested in redeveloping the existing infrastructure.

I don't think its as inaccessable as you say. After walking around the area yesterday, i can say that the area has clear access from North Terrace, King William Street together with the Casino & Riverbank Precinct.

Whilst there are question marks over the heritage listing of the 'art' & the load bearing limits of the plaza, when it comes to redeveloping this area, never say never...

A public space should be welcoming, not hiding behind a building, as I said, blocked by the Parliament House. I think in this case, it is better to develop Victoria Sq.

[teflon fox]

Fountains actually suffer from a high level of evaporation and they are constantly needing to be topped up with fresh water. This is the same reason that the lake in Rymill Park has been filled in... because it is shallow and not a dense body of water, it too evaporates quickly.

Rymill Park Lake I can understand - but the surface water area of a fountain cannot be compared to that. The water feature at the "Entrance to Adelaide" at the Tollgate Junction has a very small pool at the bottom - or are you saying that the water is evaporating as it is falling?

Fountains lose water through: surface area evaporation (surface area of a body of water is increased if water is being sprayed or falling), wind accelerating evaporation in airborne and still water, wind blowing water out of the fountain, children (and some adults ) playing in the fountain...

From what i have read and heard, one of the other main reasons that fountains are shut down in drought conditions is to remind society that we are in a drought and to encourage us to conserve water.

Whilst i agree there is a certain degree of evaporation in all open water vessels surely the ACC can save water in other areas - more waterless urinals etc etc
to allow our fountains to be re-instated. Makes the squares much more appealing

[AtD]

Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra all have dry fountains and I assume the rest of the cities do too. It's not just an Adelaide problem. It's interesting to note that the one in the lobby of the Commonwealth Law Courts on Vic Sq still operates. Federal building, federal law.

[rhino]

It's interesting to note that the one in the lobby of the Commonwealth Law Courts on Vic Sq still operates. Federal building, federal law.

Less evaporation inside the building I guess?

I wonder what Jamie Durie is doing now that water features are out of favour?

[AtD]

Less evaporation inside the building I guess?

These are external.

[rhino]

Sorry, I didn't realise the lobby was external.

[AtD]

If memory serves, the fountain starts inside the lobby and flows outside. But I could be confused.

[Jim]

Shocked by the photos of the festival theater plaza, any improvment since? Both poor maintenance and choice of materials in the first place. I think Adelaide and the world is over pebble create, especially painted. Just shows how important it is to use quality durable surfaces on public buildings.
It is obvious that this surface needs upgrading with a durable finish like ceramics, granite or slate. The space needs a purpose as even on days when the banks of the Torrens are humming with people this plaza is empty.

Maybe given its theatrical location between parliament and the theater, performing stars could at least leave a hand print or signature in concrete or bronze, in a variation to Hollywood politicians could provide a bum print, this could at least provide something to laugh at while milling around for a waiting for concert.

[Wayno]

Shocked by the photos of the festival theater plaza, any improvment since? Both poor maintenance and choice of materials in the first place. I think Adelaide and the world is over pebble create, especially painted. Just shows how important it is to use quality durable surfaces on public buildings.
It is obvious that this surface needs upgrading with a durable finish like ceramics, granite or slate. The space needs a purpose as even on days when the banks of the Torrens are humming with people this plaza is empty.

Maybe given its theatrical location between parliament and the theater, performing stars could at least leave a hand print or signature in concrete or bronze, in a variation to Hollywood politicians could provide a bum print, this could at least provide something to laugh at while milling around for a waiting for concert.

Won't the plaza be demolished and rebuilt as a part of the 6 storey underground car park proposed by Skycity? I know the project is on hold, but i'm sure the plaza will receive a basic facelift as a part of the exercise...

[omada]

Wayno: Won't the plaza be demolished and rebuilt as a part of the 6 storey underground car park proposed by Skycity? I know the project is on hold, but i'm sure the plaza will receive a basic facelift as a part of the exercise...

I'm not sure they can touch the plaza, isn't the artwork "culturally significant" or something???

[Wayno]

Wayno: Won't the plaza be demolished and rebuilt as a part of the 6 storey underground car park proposed by Skycity? I know the project is on hold, but i'm sure the plaza will receive a basic facelift as a part of the exercise...

I'm not sure they can touch the plaza, isn't the artwork "culturally significant" or something???

yes, i believe they will keep all the Hajek lego structures, and probably give them a fresh paint job...

[Shuz]

Festival plaza is such a bloody eyesore, and those sculptures are heritage listed! Ugh. They're not even of historical or cultural value other than being the creative works of a 5 year old.

[Pat28]

The WHOLE of the Festival Centre and the crap behind Parliament House is heritage listed - they must have been smoking something back then. - anyway i agree with Shuz - the plaza behind Parliament is wasted space it should become of a Fed Square like space, it works in Melbourne

[Aidan]

Wayno: Won't the plaza be demolished and rebuilt as a part of the 6 storey underground car park proposed by Skycity? I know the project is on hold, but i'm sure the plaza will receive a basic facelift as a part of the exercise...

6 storeys is quite a lot - it sounds like it would go right down to river level or even below. Would it?

I'm not sure they can touch the plaza, isn't the artwork "culturally significant" or something???

It's heritage listed, but things have been heritage delisted before and will again!

As barren concrete spaces go, this one's problems go far beyond a lack of water in the fountains. It's not really on the way to anywhere - the most obvious potential users are passengers going between the railway station and the bus stops on King William Road, but since the eastern stairs have been closed off, its quicker to go via North Terrace or Festival Drive.

Then there's all the '80s angular blocky sculpture. Is it of heritage significance? Maybe, but I can't see any advantage in having it that big, and I can't think of anyone who appreciates it. I think small replicas of it, set into many transparent cubes, would look much better.

And IMO the best thing to do to make a large uneven concrete space more aesthetically pleasing is to plant lots of succulents, including some huge cacti. Below them could grow be spread gravel - or better still, shattered coloured toughened glass (which looks like translucent gravel, and is quite unlike normal broken glass).

But really, that sort of thing is better suited to a roof garden on a large institutional building! I'd much prefer this area to be returned to Parklands, with a gentle grassy slope down to the Festival Theatre. Of course this would require very big changes to the parking arrangements...