Monday, July 13, 2015

GOLD COAST’S SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE? EIFFEL TOWER? ANYTHING WORLD HERITAGE?



The Sunland $600 million proposal to develop Mariner’s Cove on The Spit at the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia has been commented on previously – see: http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/the-zaha-abedian-sunland-towers-gold.html  The scheme that now seems to be two high-rise residential towers with some gallery and museum areas below - what happened to the hotel: will it come later as part of a ‘wedge’ development? - has been promoted as ‘a cultural precinct to rival the Guggenheim Museum at Bilbao in Spain,’ the dramatic project designed by Frank O. Gehry that has stirred the world with its commercial success.




Now the latest report on the Mariner’s Cove development draws parallels to the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower: Soheil, he said ‘I am 66 years old and want to create something like the Sydney Opera House or Eiffel Tower’. Is this a way of trying to say that the scheme seeks to be ‘iconic,’ special in a unique way similar to other loved places? Is it a way of trying to get a high-rise development approved in an area that has a height restriction of three floors?


The report notes that: The developer . . . has launched a charm offensive to win over city councillors. That ‘charm’ is now apparently being used to get the scheme approved is a real concern. The intent is transparent:
Sunland bosses, led by executive chairman Soheil Abedian have begun meeting city leaders in a bid to secure the necessary votes to gain the project approval when it goes before the city planning committee in coming months.


Exactly what is happening? The Gold Coast already has a problem with approving ‘feel-good’ projects that it really knows so little about: see - http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/approving-ghosts-grand-visions-and.html That this extreme project is being promoted in this ‘iconic’ manner is a problem. Surely the process is for the developer to place all of his information on the table and then let the scheme be assessed against the planning rules and regulations, with an understanding of its impacts in every detail. Feeling good about the potential of a ‘maybe’ Bilbao-Guggenhiem outcome; or perhaps a Sydney Opera House experience; or a possible Eiffel Tower draw card on the Gold Coast is not good enough. This is the stuff of pure fantasy: if only we had these, all three! Wow!! Why? The irony is that the Gold Coast seems unable to care for its current World Heritage listed region at Springbrook. Why should it try to emulate another? Both the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower have been listed as World Heritage sites. Springbrook, in the Gold Coast hinterland, has been listed as part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia: see - http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/world-heritage.html  It would be strange if matters 'World Heritage' might convince Councillors that the development of The Spit in this manner was worthwhile.




But is this project really ‘something like the Sydney Opera House or Eiffel Tower’? The buildings are big, but what else is there? It has been argued that the scheme is nothing like the Guggenheim in Bilbao other than it apparently seeks to be different: see - http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/the-zaha-abedian-sunland-towers-gold.html  Likewise it is no Sydney Opera House or Eiffel Tower, other than perhaps being ‘eye-catching.’ Both of these World Heritage projects engage with place in a structured manner, with buildings that have a civic intent. They are not commercial residential centres that accommodate ordinary, everyday comings and goings. They have earned their reputation over time because of their special characteristics that have to do with the rigour of ideas and their accomplishment. They have a special spirit, integrity and objective that are different to those of a commercial high-rise residential tower development. No additional ‘cultural’ component in the residential project’s plaza can create this World Heritage ambiance even though the words that describe the idea might suggest similarities.



Blues Point Tower

It would have made more sense to have likened the Mariner’s Cove project to Harry Seidler’s Blues Point Tower residential scheme in Sydney, but this development has had its critics and is not as universally acclaimed as the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower. The Seidler project has only a local heritage listing, so lacks the impressive emotional qualities of the World Heritage sites in Sydney and Paris.




Why are such analogies sought to promote what can be seen as a contentious project? It seems that the links might be trying to add some poignant richness to the development application; that these parallels might be an attempt to give some ‘charm,’ some exotic 'prestige' to the idea that could convince others that the project was highly desirable in spite of its not complying with the planning scheme. Councillors seem to have become involved in these ‘feel-good’ approvals before: see - http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/befitting-our-suburbs-on-butterflies.html



If a city is to become anything, it should become itself. It can only achieve this quality outcome with quality decisions made on the basis of quality city plans, not whimsy. Without such a strategy, cities become just an ad hoc shambles of developers’ ambitions that seem to get approved in the vague haze of hope. We can already see the poor results of this system of development approvals. Why is it that we still accept the ‘charm offensive’ approach in such silence? It is truly offensive to have a city managed in such a manner. We need to explore and expose our own genius loci – our own spirit of place and its unique importance rather than try to build places to be ‘world class’ or even ‘World Heritage,’ whatever this might mean.



THE REPORT

NEWS

Fate of $600m Sunland project in the hands of councillors as backers launch charm offensive

ANDREW POTTS
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
JULY 14, 2015 12:00AM

   Sunland unveils proposal for $600 m residential and cultural precinct at Mariner’s Cove.

THE developer behind the $600 million plans to redevelop the Mariner’s Cove site has launched a charm offensive to win over city councillors.
Sunland bosses, led by executive chairman Soheil Abedian have begun meeting city leaders in a bid to secure the necessary votes to gain the project approval when it goes before the city planning committee in coming months.

The Bulletin understands some councillors hold concerns about the 44-storey twin towers which, if approved, would defy the existing three-level height limit now in place.  

Artist’s impression of proposed $600m Sunland’s residential and cultural precinct at Mariner’s Cove.


 Despite these fears, it is expected a majority of councillors will vote in support of the development, which will including a world-class private cultural precinct, 370 apartments and 69-suite boutique hotel.
Pro-development Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor met Dr Abedian last week and was impressed by what he saw.
“I think it looks fabulous and personally I would back it all the way because it would be an icon and landmark for the city,” he said. “There is a concern about the height of the towers and how this will work out but when I spoke to Soheil, he said ‘I am 66 years old and want to create something like the Sydney Opera House or Eiffel Tower’.
“We will give it full consideration when it goes before the committee but it has my vote.”
Sunland filed a development application with the Gold Coast City Council six weeks ago after years of planning. It is one of two major developments earmarked for the area, with Chinese billionaire Tony Fung also announcing plans for a casino and integrated resort at the Sheraton Mirage.
It is understood that ASF Consortium has also eyed off land at the southern end of The Spit for its casino project.
While Mr Fung’s project would likely require a State Government “call-in”, the Sunland project will be in council’s hands. Area councillor Lex Bell met company representatives last week and said he would be guided by constituents.


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