Artist’s impression of Sunland’s proposed $600M residential and cultural precinct at Mariner’s Cove.
Ever since Bilbao successfully
revitalised its identity with the work of Foster, Calatrava and Gehry, every
small, insignificant city and town has dreamed of becoming great with just one
outrageous, ‘iconic’ building. The Guggenheim at Bilbao by Gehry is the
reference because it presents the most obvious and extreme difference that
attracts. It is the gleaming highlight. Every place now seeks out its ‘Gehry’
in the hope that it too can become the centre of the world, or at least one
more ‘must-see’ tourist attraction. The Gold Coast City is not immune from this
dream. It keeps trying with every project that can be envisaged to grab the
limelight with something eye-catchingly extreme, for this is how the ‘Bilbao’
success has been rationalised.
Campo Volantin Footbridge, Bilbao
Bilbao Guggenheim
Bilbao Metro
Proposed New Cultural Centre, Gold Coast
One attempt to achieve this outcome was with the design of a
new city cultural centre by ARM – see http://voussoirs.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/gold-coast-guggenheim-gangnam-wow.html Now private developers appear to be wanting
to outdo everyone. The report was unequivocal: ‘Two sculptural residential towers and a world-class private cultural
precinct to rival the Guggenheim Museum at Bilbao in Spain are about to rise
above Mariner’s Cove in The Spit.’ It seems to be a certainty. While the
headlines boasted that the whole of this ‘$600m towers and
world-class museum’ project was
designed by Zaha Hadid, the text was less certain, noting that: ‘The
stunning two-tower project has been designed in collaboration with
internationally acclaimed Iraqi-British architect Dame Zaha Hadid — the first
woman to receive the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.’ There is an odd
variation here. While ‘collaboration’ waters down the authority of the
headline, the superlatives are now wrapped around the Zaha name in order, it
seems, to overcome this weakness, to counter it. There is nothing that gives
any hint as to who might be ‘collaborating’ with Ms Hadid. Still, the ambitions
are there: the 44 storey apartment/hotel project will be ‘the city’s first
privately owned cultural precinct dedicated to the arts, with a gallery, museum
and outdoor sculptural gardens.’ It is hard to see a commercial high-rise
apartment/hotel scheme being singularly ‘dedicated’ in this way.
NOTE: All detailed images in this piece have been taken from the published 'artist's impression.'
One is left wondering just what part of this scheme might
become the new ‘Bilbao.’ Is it the different, quirky, ‘organic’ shaping of the
towers that is seen as the eye-catching attraction, or is it the substance of
the collection on display? The towers are perhaps more an enigmatic commercial
identity, maybe a branding, rather than a singular bright light to an
international moth, so might it be the contents of the gallery and museum that
are to appeal, to become the drawcard? There is no indication just what these
pieces might be. What collection is this? Whose is it? Has it yet to be
assembled? By whom? Might it be the Louvre; the National Gallery? It is just
described as a sundry set of things ‘cultural,’ ‘art’ – ‘with a gallery, museum
and outdoor sculptural gardens.’ As if this catchall of art gallery and museum
might not be enough, the text elaborates: The project ‘also will feature an
underground aquarium and 1950sq m of ground-floor retail and dining space.’
These features are presented as if they might be add-ons to the building itself
that is seen as ‘a work of art on an architectural scale’ – ‘a trophy’:
‘monumental architecture.’ Why might such a masterpiece need more? Has the
Gehry building this combination of accessories? Does it need them? The pyramids
stand alone as ‘monumental’ icons without any supporting interests.
The whole seems to be an exuberance of everything ad hoc –
things grand, arty, historic, and aquatic - perhaps to catch the agreeable
attention of Council somewhere in the approval process; surely not to confuse
it? The height will apparently be a challenge. Strangely the scheme is
described as 44 storeys, but the illustration seems to show only about 40
levels. Have things been ‘adjusted’ for appearances? The proposal is promoted
as combining ‘leading architecture and residential spaces with unique, world
class tourism and cultural amenity’ –
“Mariner’s Cove is an exceptional site worthy of monumental
architecture,” he Abedian said. “This proposal has the capacity to enable the
Gold Coast to further define its cultural identity, not only through defining
architecture but also through the enhancement of the cultural aspects it will
provide to the city.”
Exactly what do these words mean? On face value they appear
to say something meaningful, but with more consideration, one is left perplexed
by the motherhood haze. What is the Gold Coast’s ‘cultural identity’? What is
‘defining architecture’? Exactly what ‘cultural aspects’ will be ‘enhanced’ and
how? The whole gives the appearance of ‘meaningful’ gobbledygook. It is a
concern, because Council needs to know precisely what it is being asked to
approve. The problem with vague and suggestive applications has already been
noted – see http://voussoirs.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/approving-ghosts-grand-visions-and.html
What is this ‘vibrant mixed-use setting’? Is it? Will it be?
How? Why is Mariner's Cove ‘an exceptional site worthy of monumental
architecture,’ as Abedian says? Words are just not enough. Consider: ‘
"Each residential tower is designed as if it were an organic, living form,
with sinuous lines interlacing upwards from the tapered base, creating a sense
of flow and movement," he (Abedian) says.’ What is the value and relevance
of this – well, this seemingly apparent ‘vibrancy’?
"This vibrancy is further brought to life by the
reflection and interaction of the glass facade with its stunning Broadwater
setting." Gosh, will the reflections become the problem that other
projects have experienced? What might the ‘interactions’ be? Is this really
something to be desired? Will each apartment/hotel room remain private or be on
grand display for all to peruse, for ‘interaction’?
There is an apparent attempt to promote this project as an
integrated whole. One wonders if Hadid had any say in these descriptions: ‘At
the ground plane, the towers merge seamlessly with public spaces dedicated to
culture and the arts via an art gallery and museum, an outdoor sculptural art
precinct, and conference centre.’ Now there is a conference centre too! What
happens to the cars, the ‘ground plane’ access and parking for the 370
apartments, 69 boutique suites, art gallery, museum, restaurants, shops,
conference centre and aquarium?
More is then said about the museum that has only been noted
as an aside previously: "The museum's sweeping organic forms reflect the
landscape of its unique location, symbolic of the dunal shapes distinctive to
the Broadwater.” Exactly what and where is this museum? What forms shape the
art gallery? The words now seem to seek out some contextual relevance in their
sand siting that has public amenity as its core ambition. The Spit is a
contentious area:
"The entire ground level has been designed as a
continuous public amenity, with a plaza and waterfront promenade connecting
retail and dining spaces, boardwalk gardens and pedestrian links.’ So it is
really a people-place complete with the newly revealed ‘boardwalk gardens and
pedestrian links’ – to where; from where?
The final masterstroke is then revealed:
"The underground aquarium, organically integrated in
the landscape and plaza layout, completes the master plan." What does this
mean? Might the project be incomplete without the aquarium? How it is
‘integrated’ into the ‘pedestrian links,’ the ‘plaza,’ the ‘promenade,’ the
‘boardwalk gardens,’ and the remainder of the development? Dare one ask about
the car park for hundreds of cars?
Given more thought, these statements are all words that
really say very little that is specific about the scheme. They appear to be
broad and hopeful, inspired by the illustration, the ‘artist’s impression,’
that exuberantly tells about what is shown as it cleverly conceals much with
its distracting attractions. The statements appear to seek to subtly explain
contentious matters: ‘Abedian says increasing the height of the project allows
for a smaller development footprint to create "generous view lines and
pedestrian access to the waterfront".’ The message here suggests that the
whole idea of the project has been to create a place for people, with towers
reducing in size to open up vistas and access, creating a reduced footprint
that demands the height – all, apparently, for the ordinary person to enjoy. In
short, it seems to be the declared ambition to cater for the common man, (perhaps not too common), that
has pushed the project up to the extreme of 44 stories.
Then there is the further suggestion that this could have
been a much larger scheme, that Sunland is offering a fair and sensitive,
realistic compromise:
‘Sunland's plans for Mariner's Cove have been in development
for some time. The company is understood to have originally proposed a
larger-scale development that would have required the acquisition of vacant
state government land adjacent to Mariner's Cove.’ Realistically, this option
seems to have struck a political problem with the change in government.
Grace on Coronation
There are many mixed messages here. They appear similar to
those used to promote the Grace on Coronation project – an urban village - that
is another Zaha Abedian Sunland set of towers described alluringly as
‘champagne flutes’: a ‘champagne project’? – see http://voussoirs.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/ha-ha-ha-hadid-designs-for-world-class.html One does wonder if this Gold Coast project
might not be the same or a very similar design adapted in ‘collaboration’ with
the Toowong scheme. Nothing is made clear to describe just what is going on.
Reading the two reports – see below – one does discover the similarity in the
texts suggesting that both have used media kits for sources. The big difference
between the Grace and Mariner’s development is that the promo for Grace had
words directly attributed to Hadid. Mariner’s does not. What has Hadid done
here? Who is working with her? Is this Gold Coast ‘Bilbao’ proposal merely an
adaptation of another scheme that might not go ahead as planned? Indeed, the
proposition might be: why waste an idea?
The hopes for another ‘Bilbao’ success story linger, but can they be achieved here? Does Bilbao do more than push for a major commercial
apartment block and a twinned smart hotel - should they match? - with a
supporting base of a few incidental cultural features, whatever these might be?
Bilbao seems to have a more holistic vision, richer and with a greater civic
commitment. It did get a Gehry gallery, but it also revitalised the city with a
marvellous bridge and a Metro that infiltrate and connect place with
excitement, vigour and a new vision - a new, vital optimism. The difference
appears to be in things urban, in their communal intent and experience.
THE REPORTS
BUSINESS
$600m towers and world-class museum designed by Zaha Hadid
feature in plan for The Spit
JENNY
ROGERS
GOLD
COAST BULLETIN
JUNE
06, 2015 12:00 AM
Sunland unveils proposal for $600M residential and cultural
precinct at Mariner’s Cove.
TWO sculptural
residential towers and a world-class private cultural precinct to rival the
Guggenheim Museum at Bilbao in Spain are about to rise above Mariner’s Cove in
The Spit. The developer behind the Q1
supertower and Palazzo Versace Hotel has unveiled its long-awaited plans for
the $600 million landmark.
Sunland Group has lodged a development application with Gold
Coast City Council for the redevelopment of Mariner’s Cove.
Sunland unveils proposal for $600M residential and cultural
precinct at Mariner’s Cove designed by world-famous architect
Zaha Hadid.
Zaha Hadid.
The stunning two-tower project has been designed in
collaboration with internationally acclaimed Iraqi-British architect Dame Zaha
Hadid — the first woman to receive the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Sunland’s proposal comprises two sculptural residential
towers of 44 storeys — one featuring 370 apartments and the other a 69-suite
boutique hotel. The groundbreaking project will include the city’s first
privately owned cultural precinct dedicated to the arts, with a gallery, museum
and outdoor sculptural gardens.
It also will feature an underground aquarium and 1950sq m of
ground-floor retail and dining space.
Dame Zaha Hadid has designed the proposed Sunland towers and
cultural space.
Sunland Group purchased the trophy site adjacent to Marina
Mirage on Sea World Drive overlooking the Broadwater in 2013 for $13 million.
Mariner’s Cove is Sunland’s second collaboration with Zaha
Hadid, the architect behind the group’s proposed three-tower $420 million
residential Grace on Coronation project. It features a quilted diamond facade,
planned for the old ABC site on the Brisbane riverfront in Toowong.
Sunland executive chairman Dr Soheil Abedian, who has long
advocated for the city’s cultural enhancement, said the proposal combined
leading architecture and residential spaces with unique, world class tourism
and cultural amenity.
Artist’s impression of Sunland’s proposed $600M residential
and cultural precinct at Mariner’s Cove.
“Mariner’s Cove is an exceptional site worthy of monumental
architecture,” he Abedian said. “This proposal has the capacity to enable the
Gold Coast to further define its cultural identity, not only through defining
architecture but also through the enhancement of the cultural aspects it will
provide to the city.”
Sunland managing director Sabha Abedian said the design was
a work of art on an architectural scale.
“This development will be one of the greatest architectural
undertakings in Sunland’s history and a landmark destination,” he said.
SUNLAND FINALLY UNVEILS $600M MARINER'S COVE VISION
Written on the 5 June 2015 by Nick Nicholas
SUNLAND Group has taken a giant leap back into the Gold Coast high rise market with plans for a $600 million redevelopment of Mariner's Cove.
The proposal, which features two sculptured towers of 44
storey each, is likely to spark spirited debate over high rise development on
The Spit.
However, Sunland executive chairman Soheil Abedian has
described the project as a world-class landmark development that will deliver a
new cultural precinct for the city in a vibrant mixed-use setting.
"Mariner's Cove is an exceptional site worthy of
monumental architecture," Abedian says.
"This proposal has the capacity to enable the Gold
Coast to further define its cultural identity, not only through defining
architecture, but also through the enhancement of the cultural aspects it will
provide to the city."
Sunland has lodged a development application with the city
council in a bid to transform the ageing Mariner's Cove site into a precinct
that combines luxury living with the arts through a dedicated art gallery,
museum and outdoor sculptural gardens.
It will be the Gold Coast's first privately-owned cultural
precinct and will also feature an underground aquarium, as well as 1950sqm of
ground-floor retail and dining space.
The twin-tower design, created in collaboration with
Pritzker Prize winning architect Dame Zaha Hadid, will comprise 370 apartments
and a boutique hotel of 69 suites. The design has a similar theme to Sunland's
proposed three-tower redevelopment of the ABC studios along Brisbane's
riverside in Toowong. That also was designed by Hadid.
Abedian describes the company's latest Gold Coast vision as
"a work of art on an architectural scale" and "one of the
greatest architectural undertakings in Sunland's 32-year history." He says
it will be a "landmark destination of international significance and
acclaim".
"Each residential tower is designed as if it were an
organic, living form, with sinuous lines interlacing upwards from the tapered
base, creating a sense of flow and movement," he says.
"This vibrancy is further brought to life by the
reflection and interaction of the glass facade with its stunning Broadwater
setting."At the ground plane, the towers merge seamlessly with public
spaces dedicated to culture and the arts via an art gallery and museum, an
outdoor sculptural art precinct, and conference centre.
"The museum's sweeping organic forms reflect the
landscape of its unique location, symbolic of the dunal shapes distinctive to
the Broadwater.
"The entire ground level has been designed as a
continuous public amenity, with a plaza and waterfront promenade connecting
retail and dining spaces, boardwalk gardens and pedestrian links.
"The underground aquarium, organically integrated in
the landscape and plaza layout, completes the master plan."
Abedian says increasing the height of the project allows for
a smaller development footprint to create "generous view lines and
pedestrian access to the waterfront".
Sunland's plans for Mariner's Cove have been in development
for some time. The company is understood to have originally proposed a
larger-scale development that would have required the acquisition of vacant
state government land adjacent to Mariner's Cove.
The company acquired Mariner's Cove from receivers for $13
million in 2011 and has indicated for a long time its intention to create a
landmark development on the site.
The Mariner's Cove project is part of a $1.5 billion-plus
development surge for the company on the Gold Coast. This week, Sunland
announced the settlement of a $61 million deal to acquire the 41.9ha Lakeview
site at Mermaid Waters, where it plans to build 1425 dwellings, including
residential housing, townhouses and medium-rise buildings.
The Gold Coast still accounts for a significant
portion of the now Brisbane-based Sunland's $4.3 billion national development
portfolio.
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