South Australian Sites
Adelaide University North Terrace Frontage
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Landscape Architect: Taylor Cullity Lethlean
Location: North Terrace, Adelaide (situated north of the corner with Pulteney Street)
The North Terrace frontage of North Terrace includes a grouping of some of the oldest and most stately buildings in Adelaide. The Mitchell Building, Elder Hall and Bonython Hall form a large open forecourt space which was formerly known as Goodman Crescent.
At the time of commissioning of this project Goodman Crescent was a vehicle thoroughfare used by students, visitors and service vehicles. Pedestrian safety was severely compromised and the frontages to each of the heritage buildings was dominated by bitumen and vehicle movements.
The brief called for a re-ordering of the forecourt to create a shared use space which gave priority to pedestrians. This simple objective was achieved after a complex series of negotiations lead by the landscape architect which gradually pulled back the vehicle access and allowed for the establishment of a pedestrian scale environment.
A significant opportunity existed to create a seamless and permeable edge with North Terrace and open the University up to the city. In achieving this objective the University has made a major contribution to the city’s public realm.
The forecourt design required the integration of the frontages of each of the heritage buildings to create a strong sense of continuity throughout the space while also resulting in an appropriate and stately approach and sense of entry to each building. This has been achieved through the use of a simple palette of materials and details, the application of which varies in response to each building.
It is significant that this prominent project was undertaken by a team lead by a landscape architect, thus ensuring that landscape and urban design values drove the design outcomes. Within the context of the development of the profession in South Australia the project is a further step in consolidating the role of landscape architects as the primary designers of urban public realm.
intro / overview / images / location / SA-Projects
2008
