MOST PEOPLE HAVE NOW HEARD OF ELIZABETH QUAY BUT MOST WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF THE DETAILED PLANNING THAT IS SITTING BEHIND THIS MASSIVE PROJECT.
Whilst the government is currently constructing the inlet, it will be the private sector that takes up the opportunity to deliver the hotels, restaurants, shops and office space.
The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) is in charge of this development and they have just approved the “design guidelines” which will govern the look and feel of the area.
All of the development sites in the project will require a minimum of a 5 star Green Star Rating which is regarded as achieving an Australian excellence standard. Buildings will be up to thirty storeys tall with the podium level, the part that addresses the street, no more than two stories tall. This keeps the development at “pedestrian scale” rather than sheer walls rising up along the street.
There will be a number of public areas, probably the most high profile of which will be the inlet itself. It will be navigable by a variety of boats and vessels, with temporary mooring as well as accommodating the ferry terminal. It is envisaged that a stage could be floated on the water for events and performances. The Island in the middle will be a massive garden for families and friends to gather and have fun.
The promenades, which are on either side of the inlet, will incorporate two levels. The upper level will have shaded alfresco eating and seating areas which will terrace down to the lower level where there will be more informal seating and the opportunity to get “up close and personal” with both the river and the many birds that frequent the area.
The appropriately named Station Park will be located opposite the Esplanade Train station providing an entrance statement for the area which will host small scale events in a “tranquil relaxed and sheltered environment.”
The William Street Landing is the southernmost point of the plan and provides a view across the Swan River to Kings Park which may in the future become the landing point for the cable car connection between Kings Park and the Swan River.
The design guidelines are available on the MRA website and provide a fascinating insight into what this iconic site will look like and how they are designing for things like solar access and acoustics as well as safety and security. Worth a read.