[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[ozisnowman]

Why waste money on a designing a plan if they have no intention of implementing it!!!

There is nothing wrong with the plan by KBR consulting a number of years back
which had the tram tracks along the side. the central corridor closed off
and a music pavillion at one end. The design was simple and elegant.
It would have been a great meeting place.

If they didnt want the central corridor closed (due to business concerns) they
could have kept the same plan and built a tunnel under it to serve
grote-wakefield streets.

Why waste time stuffing around with more plans etc when we have a good
one all we dont have is a government that has the balls to go on and
finance and build the project.

[ozisnowman]

Here is the post I was reffering to.... thanks AtD

Personally, I still haven't forgiven Harbo for playing politics with Victoria Sq. He used a bit of NIMBY-ism and a scare campaign in the last council elections, suggesting closing Victoria Square to east/west traffic and turning it into a traffic circle would kill the Central Markets.

We could have had this:

This was the plan i was talking about --- all they needed on top of this was a tunnel under grote-wakefield to
cater for those that complained business at the central markets etc would be hampered by the plan.

[Ho Really]

[...]

This was the plan i was talking about --- all they needed on top of this was a tunnel under grote-wakefield to
cater for those that complained business at the central markets etc would be hampered by the plan.

The plan above has very little wrong with it. As you said, add the east-west tunnel. That will keep some of us who want a major thoroughfare across town happy. A further option is to send traffic from King William Street right around the square. The tram line is the only hitch now that it has been laid in its current configuration, but I think that's a minor issue to other things. If this or a similar option by the same design team is implemented it may save money since it is already available.

Cheers

[Cruise]

Here is the post I was reffering to.... thanks AtD

Personally, I still haven't forgiven Harbo for playing politics with Victoria Sq. He used a bit of NIMBY-ism and a scare campaign in the last council elections, suggesting closing Victoria Square to east/west traffic and turning it into a traffic circle would kill the Central Markets.

We could have had this:

Just build that and were done with it
is it that hard?

[Bulldozer]

This aboriginal name stuff is hopeless PC bullshit. I also agree re the prize money - $10K for each category? Why even two categories? Obviously so they can show off the "clean slate" idea and then implement the "existing layout" plan because it's cheaper.

I reckon just bulldoze the whole bloody thing, cover it in bitumen and let it be a free for all.

[urban]

Good point ozisnowman, the plans there just implement it. Yes it will cost money which should be spent on orphans with cancer but the economic return from the additional visitors generated by having a vibrant city centre will more than pay for the project.

[stelaras]

That design looks great...

Its green, its densely vegetated but importantly, it has enough space allocated so that it can act as a meeting ground. Add to the that a historical/cultural walk around and through the square to showcase both Aborginal and mass migration history, make it well lit and bobs your uncle...You have the MAKINGS of a meeting area where people will want to gather and wonder through the city.

To make it a meeting place proper, there needs to be incentive for people to go there, i.e moving some of our many cultural festivals (greek, italian, shutzenfest, chinese, whatever race) into that gathering area. Add to that a screen that pumps stuff out 24/7 and a covered area for live music (during the festivals), some cafes/bars and you have a lively place that can be used as a launch pad into the rest of the city.

Whether an aboriginal term is used to name the place or not is not my concern....The basic idea is to make the city lively and to make Vic Square a place where people can meet and venture out exploring the city, have something to do there if they want to and have fun...

[Al]

This aboriginal name stuff is hopeless PC bullshit.

Yep. No offense but "Victoria Square" sounds heaps better than some aboriginal name I can't remember after 5 minutes. Surely flying the aboriginal flag in Vic Square for the past century is enough to show any due respect.

[Düsseldorfer]

Options:

1; the cheap option of just grass or some garden type thing

2; put in another fountain or some cool water feature kinda like those water jets they have by crown casino in Melbourne.

3; a small market place could be an extension of the central markets onto the square instead of being inside that dark hole we currently have.

4; an outdoor cafe/club/restaurant or something.

5; a new information centre

6; a cool looking sculpture or something that reflects the soul of Adelaide.

anything better than just dirt or grass...

[Bulldozer]

So does anyone know anything more abou this competition, like how to enter it?

[Howie]

Sounds like a re-jig of the older proposal we've heard about. Good to see it's still alive.

If anyone has a render that would be great.

Push for re-think on square proposal
Article from: The Advertiser

ANTIMO IANNELLA
October 09, 2007 02:15am

AN ADELAIDE consortium of architects is urging Adelaide City Council to reconsider their radical multi-million dollar plan to redevelop Victoria Square.

The proposal, which features a 2000-space underground car park and a 97 metre tower, was first presented to council in 1992.

It was revived in 1996 and in 2003 but talks between council, consortium and developers broke down.

Head of the consortium, architect Michael Thiele, said the commercial project was the ideal way to redevelop Victoria Square.

"We believe our original idea still holds today," Mr Thiele said.

"It's very viable. We think we have a winner because the way its packaged it will cost the council and the State Government very little."

Under the plan, a developer would fund the majority of the project, which is expected to cost up to $300 million.

The developer would recoup costs through the three-level underground car park before handing back ownership to the council.

"It is a completely self-funded project and that is the secret," he said. "It's just a matter of getting the council and the developer to come to agreement."

The redeveloped square would centre around a steel and glass tower, with the north and south sections united in a plaza.

The proposal also features an underpass beneath the tower for Wakefield St traffic, and shops, restaurants and gardens.

Mr Thiele described the square in its current form as a shambles.

"At the moment you look from North Terrace to Victoria Square and there's nothing," he said.

[stelaras]

sounds to good to be true!

[Pikey]

Noooooo.

Don't waste such a prominent site on a 97m tower. It needs to be at least 200m if it's going to be nothing but a "feature." Crank up the height, and make this the highest point in the city, so it can be the central focal point it deserves to be.

[Ben]

Noooooo.

Don't waste such a prominent site on a 97m tower. It needs to be at least 200m if it's going to be nothing but a "feature." Crank up the height, and make this the highest point in the city, so it can be the central focal point it deserves to be.

I agree but I think atleast 250 -300m as no doubt within 10 - 20 years we will have buildings 200 m +... maybe i'm being optimistic but the higher the less likely it is to be "outgrown". it is also to the south of the flight path so less likely to be in the way of the emergency path..

[Howie]

Definately another 100m... i've added that as a comment on the story
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comm ... 01,00.html

Hopefully if enough people make the same suggestion it would be heard.