Why do the Park Lands need buildings?
High-quality, well considered buildings help to achieve greater visitor numbers in the Park Lands and increased community participation in recreational and sporting activities, as well as passive relaxation. A building that engages with the community ensures its broader appreciation and extends the purpose and life of the building. Successful buildings enhance the key functions of the Park Lands to their community. They support active recreation and passive relaxation to improve the health and wellbeing of the community, whilst also providing facilities for arts and music festivals, and sporting and cultural events.
Why can’t we just keep the existing buildings?
Many Park Lands buildings
are ageing, unsightly and
no longer fit-for-purpose. They do not meet current building code standards,
disability access and circulation standards, and do not provide facilities for
women in sport. In addition, they do not offer facilities for wider community
participation.
Why do we need Building Design Guidelines?
Good design is paramount to
buildings being successful, accepted and contributing value to the Park Lands.
These draft Guidelines address and balance the increasing current demands for
new and renovated buildings with the desire to conserve the existing qualities
of the Park Lands. The draft Guidelines will ensure that the design of new
buildings align with current Council strategies and policies, and that
buildings will capture the recent developments in smart building technology and
consistently achieve a high level of sustainability.
Do the Guidelines replace an existing document?
Yes. These Guidelines
replace the 2008 edition of the Adelaide Park Lands Building Design Guidelines.
When do the Guidelines come into effect?
The Guidelines should come
into effect in mid-2020, pending APLA and Council endorsement.
Will these Guidelines result in an increase in Park Lands building activity?
No. However whenever
building work is proposed in the Park Lands, these Guidelines will deliver
better outcomes.
Will the Guidelines increase the number of buildings in the Park Lands?
No. The Guidelines apply to
both proposed new buildings and work to existing buildings. A new building
proposed for the Park Lands will generally replace an existing building that is
no longer fit-for-purpose. The Guidelines will ensure that the new replacement
building is outstanding in its site planning, design and community offering.
The City of Adelaide remains committed to reducing the overall built footprint
in the Park Lands.
What determines the size of a building in the Park Lands?
Building size is determined
by a rigorous testing of the needs of the proposed facility, seeking balance
between all user groups including the wider non-sporting community. Buildings
should be designed for average user numbers (not peak numbers) and be designed
with flexibility to accommodate multiple simultaneous user groups. Building
code requirements, disability access and circulation standards will also impact
the size of a building.
Can multi-storey buildings be appropriate for the Park Lands?
Yes. A multi-level building
will have a smaller footprint than a single level building, however multi-level
will not be appropriate for all buildings and will be considered on a case by
case basis. Park Lands buildings need to balance usability with form. Café
patrons require universal access. Sporting users require easy interaction with
the building at ground level for changeroom access in sporting footwear. Sporting
buildings also require clubrooms and social spaces which are best located at
first floor level to provide passive surveillance, elevated viewing and balcony
areas. The maximum building height should always be below tree height and
influenced by local topography and any adjacent heritage structures or
significant Park Land features.
Can under-crofts be appropriate for Park Lands buildings?
An under-croft is a part of a building that is built below ground. It may be only 300mm below ground, or an entire story below ground. They can be effective in reducing the visual impact of a building. However, under-crofts should be avoided in the Park Lands to avoid the risk of encountering ground water and contaminated soils. Under-crofts also require significant additional infrastructure such as additional balustrades, sumps, pumps, waterproofing to walls, and ramped access (greatly increasing a building’s footprint). They greatly reduce daylight and passive ventilation to the under-croft level, create personal safety risks and substantially add to construction costs. In addition, they can make it difficult to achieve universal access to a building and may introduce significant risks and hazards for users to access lower level facilities (i.e. sports persons in sporting footwear, amongst others).
Any proposal for an under-croft in the Park Lands would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
How do I provide my feedback?
Online
Click here to complete the feedback form.
Information Pack
Complete the Feedback Form attached to the Information Pack, also available in hard copy from our Customer Centre, libraries and community centres.
Written Submissions
All written submissions must be received by 5.00pm, Monday 2 March 2020 and should be addressed to:
Community Consultation
Adelaide Park Lands Building Design Guidelines
GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001
Alternatively, comments can be emailed to yoursay@cityofadelaide.com.au.
What happens next?
We will acknowledge your feedback either by email or in writing so that you know your comments/feedback has been received.
Your feedback will be collated and the results will be reported to Council.
Results of the consultation will be uploaded online at yoursay.cityofadelaide.com.au. It is anticipated this information will be released in mid-2020.
