23 March 2021

Striking new buildings planned for former Macarthur House site

| Ian Bushnell
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Northbourne Avenue buildings

An artist’s impression of the Northbourne Avenue buildings opposite the light rail stop. Images: Stewart Architecture.

Art Group is planning to transform a key Northbourne corridor corner into an urban village comprising striking residential and office buildings, a retail marketplace, community spaces and restaurants and cafes.

The developer behind the massive Soho project across the road, Art Group now wants to remake the corner of Northbourne and Macarthur Avenues in Lyneham opposite the ABC studios and the former site of the Macarthur House government offices.

It bought the 1.363 hectare site for $19 million in January.

The Suburban Land Agency pitched the site, opposite a light rail stop, as an opportunity to build a landmark development within minutes of the CBD and Dickson dining precincts and with easy access to Canberra’s major universities.

Up to 424 dwellings and a range of commercial and community uses are permitted, including a requirement for 50 affordable dwellings. Developers can build to 48 metres high on the site after changes to the City and Gateway Urban Design Framework in 2019.

The site fronts three roads – Northbourne, Macarthur and Wattle Street – and four buildings form a perimeter around a community plaza at the centre, according to the project website set up for community consultation ahead of a development application being lodged.

The Stewart Architecture plans show three residential apartment buildings of varying size and what appears to be a 10-storey office block on the corner between Northbourne and Macarthur, which Art Group says will be a cutting-edge sustainable construction using cross laminated timber (CLT) which has superior weight-to-strength performance than steel or concrete.

Two buildings at the ANU use CLT – Fenner Hall Student Accommodation and Union Court – and one at Canberra Girls Grammar School in Deakin.

The plans show 14 and eight-storey distinctive concrete apartment buildings on Northbourne, and another two-part seven-storey apartment building on Wattle Street, domestic in feel, with brickwork walls and earthy colouring, according to the website.

The lower ground level contains retail including a supermarket, hospitality, community and lobby areas, while an upper ground level has amenity for residents including a pool and gym, workspace/business centre, lounges and adaptable units.

Art Group says landscaping and gardens will be a priority across the precinct including roof gardens, and is promising extensive tree cover across the site.

The landscaping plan shows green spaces on the lower and upper ground levels and includes an urban forest.

Pedestrian paths criss-cross the site and walkways connect the Wattle Street apartments to the residential amenity areas and down to the restaurants, shops and supermarket.

Vehicle access is from Wattle Street with a laneway circuit on the site and two down ramps to the two levels of basement parking and an exit ramp back to Wattle Street.

Community consultation is open until the end of the month and a drop-in session will be held on 31 March at Pavilion on Northbourne in Dickson from 5:30 pm – 7 pm.

Comment was sought from Art Group.

To learn more go to the project website.

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Capital Retro9:05 pm 23 Mar 21

Soho? More so-so I think.

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