Darwin Waterfront Redevelopment
The Darwin Waterfront redevelopment is well on its way to becoming the iconic vision that was presented at its inception almost ten years ago. Cities Australia wide are redeveloping their waterfront precincts, in a move that for the most part is being funded in private/government venture. Darwin is no exception.
The development of these waterfront precincts is in aid of garnering the growth of active community’s, whilst attracting tourists and economically stimulating the area. Official Darwin Waterfront statistics show that the private funding of the total projects is in excess of 86% at $900 million. This funding was awarded in order to develop hotels, restaurants and apartments. State government participation has been at approximately $149 million which was in aid of the multi-award winning Darwin Convention Centre.
Much like the convention centre, the $1 billion investment is already being plagued by state awards, making it one of the states most lucrative undertakings.
Architecture firm HASSELL, who have overseen much of the master planning and have acted as a key advisory team to the project at large, have been absolutely inundated with awards. For their contribution to the project at large they have received four major awards, including the Australian Institute of Architects 2009 Award for Urban Design and the 2010 AILA National Landscape Architecture Award for planning.
This 25-hectare precinct contains the Vibe Hotel, Medina Apartments, restaurants and retail, extensive public parkland and 4,000 sqm wave lagoon which is sure to become one of the areas most prominent features. The linking factor to the Darwin CBD comes in the form of an elevated Skywalk. The convention centre has taken the stage as the areas iconic landmark.
What HASSELL and an extensive team of industry companies and members have created is a growing metropolis in the place of “a redundant industrial port facility”.
As in the case of the Perth Riverbank Precinct, planners for the Darwin redevelopment have stressed the idea of cultural heritage and a re-establishing a connection back to the water.
The development is set to continue with further changes over the next ten years, with a 2010 approximate completion date.
The development boasts numerous further awards, which illustrates the pains in which the industry members are going to in order to create a world-class precinct. With architecture and design not traditionally gaining nation-wide attention in the Northern Territory, this award-winning redevelopment is a vital promotion of the excellence that the state’s industry members are able to achieve.
