The Missing Piece/s

[Mawen]

I was just wondering; what is missing from the CBD?

I understand that this may be a duplicate thread; but what i am getting out is the x-factor, the unique adeliade icon the adelaide umph in the CBD?

What do you think it is it? What are your thoughts?

[Pikey]

Moved to the Pub section. Please keep this section for developments only.

[Mawen]

I beileve the missing pieces are;

Victoria Square. I think there needs to be some careful urban planning on this site. I would love to see a giant 'cubed' museum; title the History Muesum of South Australia. I would envisage it to be a giant iconic building; some quite different but blending. The building would house a four story museum dedicated to the History of South Australia - but it would be totally interactive. There would be walk-throughs, massive in -build displays, theatre - similar to the ideas at Federation Square, the Investiagators Science Centre and the London Human Body Museum [the latter, two now closed]. Outside there would be a visitors centre; which overlooks the VictoriSquare fountain. I would build the building in the middle of Victoria Square; c;losing off the road that runs through the middle of it, and build it underground. Part of the Museum; could be a glass floor in which you can see the cars pass through the tunnel - but ofcourse they can not see up. At the back of the museum i would have a giant ferris wheel; which overlooks the square and centres of Adelaide.

I beileve what is missing is a giant arcade/theme-park building in the city; not like Dazzle Land more like the Beach House [minus the prices]; which would welcome back a bit of youth and funk into the city. It would have a few rollercoasters, waterslides, arcades, theatres but most importantly something that is truly unique - the x-factor which brings us back. For instance; something like a tri-monthly display centre at the heart of the amusment park; in which local, national and international expitions use. For example; Massive Lego Display in Winter, Science / Technology Adventure forum in Spring, Massive Miniuature Train Expition, in Autumm.... etc.

I would like to see a giant screen somewhere in Adelaide. I would like to see something done to the River Torrens; something that is free; and different. Forget copying the cafe' culture - we have that. Something really unique and recreationally oritentated. I would like to see a bigger push to see more big buildings in the city that are unique and offer observation decks. I would like too see a modern-art musuem in Adelaide.

I understand that these are bold and out there ideas; but you can never stop someone from dreaming.

[Mawen]

Moved to the Pub section. Please keep this section for developments only.

My Apologies, happy with the move!

[alfer7_3]

Hey i like those ideas they sound great but they could be a while off. i know this is a while off but in 2036 SA will be 200 years since european settlement. Victoria square IMO is the best spot in Adelaide for some of the 'iconic' ideas you said. I think adelaide has great potential for art/design which i think a large 'monumental' building along the lines of Federation square should embrace this potential. Like the Modern arts museum or art gallery you suggested this could go somewhere in the west end seeing this area has a bit of an arts precinct or over the railway lines near North Tce and Morphett St bridge. I also think more of a focus should be put be put back onto the 5 squares to make them busy, vibrant places where people will naturally want be. At a time like the soccer world cup Victoria square should have been where people gathered. i think traffic should be taken out of Light square and whitmore square and have these squares more active with out door concerts or markets or buskers or anything like that which is going to make them more interesting. ofcourse more has to be done than to just ask buskers to come or throw a concert. they need to be completely redesigned and have developments around them which will support that. Hindmarsh square is pretty much developed and with COH Aurora and the new apartments it looks like it will become a residential/office surrounded square. this could be active by taking away the roads in it and just have Grenfell/Pultney and Pirie st running through it. outdoor cafes/resturants could replace those roads and also have them turned into walkways. Hurtle square is maily residential and should be left like it is. The area near the fetival centre and casino should be turned into an area where there is alot of night life and something there during the day. I think laneways in adelaide should be developed with bars/ resturants/ music venues/ art galleries etc. Laneways like Twin St, Leigh St could work. But above all i think adealide needs to be less dominated by cars and have more areas where people can go for any vibrant 'iconic' public spaces to work. elaborate onto my ideas too theyre just some thoughts, cheers

[urban]

Great suggestions alfer7_3

Pirie St through Hindmarsh Sq should be closed to all traffic except commercial vehicles.

I think a European style median strip bike lane with trees either side on Franklin/Flinders connecting the West Parklands and East parklands bike paths and connecting to the Balfours/Bus Station development and the CBD would help reduce vehicle traffic from the inner suburbs. A similar path on Morphett St all the way from South Parklands through North Adelaide to the North Parklands would connect 3 squares and improve the connection to the parklands.

The parklands and the squares have the possibility of being our X factor but the Parklands need a major landscaping overhaul with the addition of small iconic buildings that facilitate their use such as cafes, sculpture gardens. The existing sporting changerooms should be demolished with new iconic multi-use buildings in their place. Each different park with its buildings should be designed around a theme.

[alfer7_3]

I was also thinking as an architecture student more needs to be done to support the potential that artists and designers in adelaide have. The state government and adelaide city council love to boast that we have one of the worlds biggest fringe (arts) festivals in the world and give it more funding but i think more needs to be done to support artists, designers and architects and get them to stay here rather than loose that talent as they go interstate. having a stronger arts and design community will also help to make adelaide a more interesting place and if most people allow it it can also become very unique. cheers

[urban]

The small projects I suggested above have the greatest potential for true collaboration between artists, designers and architects. These types of public projects increase general awareness of art and help to educate. As people become aware they are more likely to purchase custom designed pieces for themselves thus expanding the opportunities for artists.

Too often SA projects are driven by engineers leaving us with bland infrastructure. Anything that is visible should be designed by someone with design training whether they be Architect, Landscape Architect, Artist, Furniture maker.

Many interstate artists and galleries won't come near Adelaide because there is a very limited customer base. Any artist who can carve out a career in Adelaide can succeed anywhere in the world.

[Pistol]

I was also thinking as an architecture student more needs to be done to support the potential that artists and designers in adelaide have. The state government and adelaide city council love to boast that we have one of the worlds biggest fringe (arts) festivals in the world and give it more funding but i think more needs to be done to support artists, designers and architects and get them to stay here rather than loose that talent as they go interstate. having a stronger arts and design community will also help to make adelaide a more interesting place and if most people allow it it can also become very unique. cheers

I agree wholeheartedly with you Alfer. I used to work at The JamFactory in the furniture studio and the government cut its funding to the arts thus hurting us a lot. They decided to close the furniture studio which placed me in limbo. It sucks when you work your ass off for a passion that not many appreciate in this community (especially the govt.) and then you hear that the government is increasing its funding for sport! This isn't really an Adelaidecentric problem but a national problem. Just look at the amount of money spent on sport in this country (I'm thinking AIS, Olympic Games, Comm. Games etc.) - then compare that to the amount of funding to arts/design. Alfer if you really want to be supported in your chosen arts field then may I suggest that you move to Melbourne where it seems that they appreciate the arts - SA has a long way to go in this respect.

[urban]

Disappointing to hear the furniture studio has shut down. Many great designers have gone through that studio.

Adelaide used to have a thriving furniture design industry, probably the best in Australia. If you see funky 60's or 70's furniture in 2nd hand stores have a look at the bottom and you will probably see it was made in SA.

Melbourne has undergone a resurgence in the last 10-15 years in a large part due to their adoption of design as an important of every aspect of the built environment.

[Pistol]

Disappointing to hear the furniture studio has shut down. Many great designers have gone through that studio.

Me being one

It has reopened since Urban. It was a way of JamFactory decreasing their financial burden in the short term. They just didn't take into account the associates that were there at the time. It basically put us out on the street. I have been back since and the studio is going from strength to strength.

[alfer7_3]

yeah i was thinking of moving to melbourne for that reason but i would like to see adelaide improve in this area but i agree adelaide does have a long way to go. cheers

[urban]

It has reopened since Urban. It was a way of JamFactory decreasing their financial burden in the short term. They just didn't take into account the associates that were there at the time. It basically put us out on the street. I have been back since and the studio is going from strength to strength.

Good to hear.

[Shuz]

For the nations largest sized CBD, there is a lack of space being utilised for 'CBD' pruposes. Beyond the boundaries of North, Morphett, Pulteney, and Grote/Wakefield Streets, nothing else much happens. There should be major revitalisation of the outer CBD areas to transform them into 'dense' hubs surrounding each of the city squares.

[alfer7_3]

yeah momentkiller i agree with you thats sort of what i was suggesting by saying that we should put more life back into the 5 squares making them all the most busy and vibrant places in the city, cheers