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August 25, 2008
There is a competition for the redesign of Victoria Square in Adelaide. It needs a redesign as it has been killed by north south and east west traffic. It is a space to move though, rather than a piazza.
From a people's perspective--workers, visitors and residents---Victoria Square is an inhospital wasteland. Numerous efforts to do something about it over the past 25 years have been blocked apart from more concrete and less vegetation. Both the City Council and State Government have committed to revamping this dead space.
History Trust of SA, Victoria Square, Adelaide
The most recent source of opposition has been the combined Grote Business Precinct-Gouger St Traders Association, who along with the current mayor of Adelaide Michael Harbison have historically opposed closing Victoria Square to traffic so as to make it a proper pizza--a people's plaza. Harbison and the traders opposed a proposed $18 million redevelopment of Victoria Square in 2003. Their idea of urban design is that cars are needed for trade.
The Grote/Gouger St trader's design for Victoria Square:
would involve: excavating the entire square to a depth of at least two levels; re-directing some traffic; building an east-west road bridge; a 350-space underground car park; and a sunken public plaza.The proposed tower would be about the same height as the Adelaide GPO spire and it would house a cafe, restaurant and observation deck. The plans [are] designed by Loucas Zahos Architects,
This design is all about cars and it indicates that Adelaide has no urban design culture in the way Melbourne does. All traffic should be underground.
The culture that exists is one of the relatively secret processes of the big development, where the rights of property owner, developer and consultant team are seemingly pre-eminent, and the public interest is merely a nuisance rather than a resource to be harnessed for the good that may flow. So a European style piazza or a Federation Square is not an option for the property crowd. Much better to turn it a shopping centre.
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I wish you luck in getting it re-developed, but if it cheers you up, I come from a place in Tassie with the main attractions being a very effeminate family friendly windmill and a big Penguin, so everytyhing looks gold to me...