Stage 3 of the massive Republic development in Belconnen will mean more units, shops and offices. Images: Geocon.
Canberra development giant Geocon is looking to increase the number of apartments and commercial tenancies in Stage 3 of its massive Republic precinct development in Belconnen.
Fresh from the topping out of Stage 2, known as High Society and now boasting the two tallest buildings in the ACT, Geocon has reviewed Stage 3 and lodged amended plans in response to market demand and feedback.
Stage 3, dubbed Nightfall, is a 24-storey mixed-use residential development with four levels of basement parking, ground floor commercial tenancies and podium parking on Level 1.
As it has done with some of its other developments, Geocon wants to increase the number of one and two-bedroom apartments, boosting the total number of units from 283 to 334. It says these smaller apartments are highly sought after within the town centre, as well as being close to the University of Canberra.
The amended DA increases the number of units on Level 2 from 12 to 14 and on typical floor levels from 12 to 16.
It also seeks to increase the number and size of the commercial spaces, in light of market demand for larger commercial office type tenancies and retail areas, and to activate the streetscape.
As well as boosting the residential and commercial capacity, Geocon also wants to make changes to the design and form of the development but the building height will not change.
It also doesn’t propose any increase in parking, except for motorcycles, with the Aecom traffic report saying that while there will be a slight reduction in the resident parking ratio compared with the previous DA it is considered appropriate and prevents an oversupply of parking within a town centre.
”It is not expected to impact the amenity or functionally or the site, nor impact the nearby publicly available parking,” the report says.
The proximity to the Belconnen Bus Interchange and government policy to encourage public transport is also cited.
The ”cluttered and busy” façade will change from staggered vertical fins and columns to one considered cleaner, more visually cohesive, and more consistent with the architectural context of the precinct.
At levels 2 and 3, a new kinetic facade is proposed as a centrepiece of the precinct and the Cameron Avenue frontage, which the DA says will create a precinct identity and provide human scale and life to the precinct.
The DA says a kinetic façade changes with the wind, transforming a static building into one that moves with the environment.
”The element has been inspired by world class buildings like the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and represents a new standard of articulation for the ACT,” it says.
A new awning to provide protection for pedestrian and shops will span 33 metres of the Cameron Avenue frontage.
A landscaped outdoor area and residents’ amenity centre has also been added to the development.
The development of Republic Stage 1, Dusk, is nearly complete and residents will move in soon, with Stage 2 to follow soon after.
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