30 May 2011

Northbourne Avenue design competition

| johnboy
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height limits

Minister for Housing Joy Burch has kicked off a design competition to revamp the slums that greet new arrivals to Canberra down Northbourne Avenue.

Ms Burch said the competition would seek an architectural firm to redesign the public housing, which was built in 1958 as government housing to accommodate the influx of public servants. The completed redevelopment would include a mixture of public housing, affordable housing and housing for the Civic workforce.

“The Northbourne Avenue public housing precinct in Braddon and Turner is a gateway to the capital and this competition gives us the opportunity to ensure the buildings reflect this significant status,” Ms Burch said.

“Entrants in the competition will be asked to work within parameters that will yield about 1000 properties in total for the precinct, more than triple the current number of units of 245, by utilising the existing height restrictions.”

They’re planning to announce the winners in October this year.

[Image: The height limits for the architecture competition, with the buildings directly facing Northbourne Ave at 8 storeys, which is the existing height limit.]

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Anybody heard anything further on this? Do we know things like how the winners will be decided? Is there a ‘competition secretary’ or something for it? I had heard there was, but I sure do hope that whoever is at the helm isn’t the individual it was suggseted to me to be.

Calamity said :

Yes, have to agree that the buildings and surrounds themselves are a huge eyesore and probably beyond saving. Do over!!

+1

Keijidosha said :

My comment regarding use of a bulldozer was meant in no way to disrespect the occupants. I’m sure the majority of these people are in unfortunate circumstances and are upstanding, law abiding citizens who should have decent public housing. However, the combination of poor maintanence by the Govt and a minority of occupants who are less than respectful of their accomodation have created an environment that only a bulldozer and more strictly enforced tenancy agreements will fix.

Yes, have to agree that the buildings and surrounds themselves are a huge eyesore and probably beyond saving. Do over!!

Keijidosha said :

My comment regarding use of a bulldozer was meant in no way to disrespect the occupants. I’m sure the majority of these people are in unfortunate circumstances and are upstanding, law abiding citizens who should have decent public housing. However, the combination of poor maintanence by the Govt and a minority of occupants who are less than respectful of their accomodation have created an environment that only a bulldozer and more strictly enforced tenancy agreements will fix.

I agreed with you – and still do for the reasons you stated. I think that some people may misinterprete occassionally.

My comment regarding use of a bulldozer was meant in no way to disrespect the occupants. I’m sure the majority of these people are in unfortunate circumstances and are upstanding, law abiding citizens who should have decent public housing. However, the combination of poor maintanence by the Govt and a minority of occupants who are less than respectful of their accomodation have created an environment that only a bulldozer and more strictly enforced tenancy agreements will fix.

Calamity said :

Spot on, Watson. AMAZING how superior people can decide they are and how frankly they will tell you so!

+1 for that!

The only comment i’d make is to not have 8 storey buildings actually line Northbourne (I heard on 666 that they are allowed up to 8 storeys?). I think if they did that it would make Northbourne a bit of a dark ‘alley’ leading into Civic, which would kinda take away from the bush capital theme of Canberra. I know 8 floors is not excessive but still….
So, if we were to look at the example (mulitcoloured!) pic above, i’d personally have the taller buildings further back from Northbourne, and the shorter ones adjacent. Basically, the opposite of what is shown in the example picture…

It is sounding like the only design that will appease the tax paying masses is to line the Avenue with gallows and string up the poor, the sick and the stupid. Welcome to Canberra.

Spot on, Watson. AMAZING how superior people can decide they are and how frankly they will tell you so!

colourful sydney racing identity11:56 am 31 May 11

Mysteryman said :

It would be nice to have some good looking buildings there. The only way they will stay decent is to move most of the occupants elsewhere though.

Why do you say that?

It would be nice to have some good looking buildings there. The only way they will stay decent is to move most of the occupants elsewhere though.

ScienceRules said :

My dear Watson, perhaps that’s because you’ve never met any of the creatures…

Dear ScienceRules, there’s no need to patronise me. And I even KNOW some of them! Yes, I am a good little middle class public servant paying my own rent and I do not run away screaming when I meet govvie tenants out of fear they will stab me with a syringe or throw one of their scum kids at me.

ScienceRules8:39 am 31 May 11

My dear Watson, perhaps that’s because you’ve never met any of the creatures…

Am I the only one who finds this “public housing tenant hate” quite unnerving?

I would have hoped that ‘about 1000 properties’ would be roughly/more than quadruple the existing 245.

Will this be one-for-one public housing replacement, with the new units diluting the existing population, or will the area become more of a ghetto?

Gungahlin can look forward to the Northbourne residents being relocated to brand new units in Crace, Franklin, Forde and Bonner while this reno takes place. Massey needed to be replaced after all.

ScienceRules said :

Well, Owen Flats would sure benefit from a good coat of fire. Particularly if we board up the bacteria that live there already while the “cleansing” is under way.

Chop71 said :

I bet they are stoked

Pun intended…?

creative_canberran4:03 pm 30 May 11

Given what the government did to the convention centre, I fear those colours in the picture may not just be indicative.

….. and nice new govie housing for all the residents. I bet they are stoked

ScienceRules2:40 pm 30 May 11

Well, Owen Flats would sure benefit from a good coat of fire. Particularly if we board up the bacteria that live there already while the “cleansing” is under way.

I wonder if the new development will have reserved spots for the “less fortunate” in the community that make the current settlement such an anthropological treasure trove.

TVStar said :

Already working on my design.

Key elements:
1. Post Brutalist facade.
2. Communal areas designed to amplify the domestic violence noise.
3. Lighting to be adequate, however, particularly unreliable; so as to provide significant dark corners and shadows in which to loiter.
4. Public phone boxes to include numerous covert drug hiding opportunities.
5. Kitchens and wet areas ‘meth kitchen’ ready.
6. A solar panel.

Wrong, wrong wrong…………………………………………….I am totally against the solar panel!

Already working on my design.

Key elements:
1. Post Brutalist facade.
2. Communal areas designed to amplify the domestic violence noise.
3. Lighting to be adequate, however, particularly unreliable; so as to provide significant dark corners and shadows in which to loiter.
4. Public phone boxes to include numerous covert drug hiding opportunities.
5. Kitchens and wet areas ‘meth kitchen’ ready.
6. A solar panel.

I was just commenting yesterday upon returning from Sydney how crappy the entrance to Canberra is! You’re suddenly just jammed onto northbourne after hitting a roundabout (that’s a real canberra greeting) and the only indication is the ACT border sign which was probably made about 50 years ago!

Ha, and +2

Why do I get the feeling that the winner will be a developer with a deep pocket?
The only saving grace is that the building won’t last 25 years with the current (sub)standard of building construction.

Keijidosha said :

This project should start with a bulldozer, not a competition.

+1 – Absolutely!

This project should start with a bulldozer, not a competition.

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