The Sunland $600 million proposal to develop Mariner’s Cove
on The Spit at the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia has been commented on
previously – see: http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/the-zaha-abedian-sunland-towers-gold.html The scheme that now seems to be two high-rise residential towers with some
gallery and museum areas below - what happened to the hotel: will it come later
as part of a ‘wedge’ development? - has been promoted as ‘a cultural precinct
to rival the Guggenheim Museum at Bilbao in Spain,’ the dramatic project
designed by Frank O. Gehry that has stirred the world with its commercial
success.
Now the latest report on the Mariner’s Cove development
draws parallels to the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower: Soheil, he said ‘I am 66 years old and want to
create something like the Sydney Opera House or Eiffel Tower’. Is this a way of trying
to say that the scheme seeks to be ‘iconic,’ special in a unique way similar to
other loved places? Is it a way of trying to get a high-rise development
approved in an area that has a height restriction of three floors?
The report notes that: The
developer . . . has launched a charm offensive to win over city councillors.
That ‘charm’ is now apparently being used to get the scheme approved is a real
concern. The intent is transparent:
Sunland bosses, led by executive chairman Soheil Abedian
have begun meeting city leaders in a bid to secure the necessary votes to gain
the project approval when it goes before the city planning committee in coming
months.
Exactly what is happening? The Gold Coast already has a problem
with approving ‘feel-good’ projects that it really knows so little about: see -
http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/approving-ghosts-grand-visions-and.html
That this extreme project is being promoted in this ‘iconic’ manner is a
problem. Surely the process is for the developer to place all of his
information on the table and then let the scheme be assessed against the
planning rules and regulations, with an understanding of its impacts in every
detail. Feeling good about the potential of a ‘maybe’ Bilbao-Guggenhiem
outcome; or perhaps a Sydney Opera House experience; or a possible Eiffel Tower draw card on the Gold Coast is not good enough. This is the stuff of pure
fantasy: if only we had these, all three! Wow!! Why? The irony is that the Gold Coast seems
unable to care for its current World Heritage listed region at Springbrook. Why should it try to emulate another? Both the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel
Tower have been listed as World Heritage sites. Springbrook, in the Gold Coast
hinterland, has been listed as part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia:
see - http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/world-heritage.html It would be strange if matters 'World Heritage' might convince Councillors that the development of The Spit in this manner was worthwhile.
But is this project really ‘something like the Sydney Opera House
or Eiffel Tower’? The buildings are big, but what else is there? It has been
argued that the scheme is nothing like the Guggenheim in Bilbao other than it
apparently seeks to be different: see - http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/the-zaha-abedian-sunland-towers-gold.html Likewise it is no Sydney Opera House or Eiffel Tower, other than perhaps being
‘eye-catching.’ Both of these World Heritage projects engage with place in a
structured manner, with buildings that have a civic intent. They are not
commercial residential centres that accommodate ordinary, everyday comings and
goings. They have earned their reputation over time because of their special
characteristics that have to do with the rigour of ideas and their
accomplishment. They have a special spirit, integrity and objective that are
different to those of a commercial high-rise residential tower development. No
additional ‘cultural’ component in the residential project’s plaza can create
this World Heritage ambiance even though the words that describe the idea might
suggest similarities.
Blues Point Tower
It would have made more sense to have likened the Mariner’s
Cove project to Harry Seidler’s Blues Point Tower residential scheme in Sydney,
but this development has had its critics and is not as universally acclaimed as
the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower. The Seidler project has only a
local heritage listing, so lacks the impressive emotional qualities of the
World Heritage sites in Sydney and Paris.
Why are such analogies sought to promote what can be seen as
a contentious project? It seems that the links might be trying to add some poignant richness
to the development application; that these parallels might be an attempt to give some ‘charm,’ some exotic 'prestige' to
the idea that could convince others that the project was highly desirable in
spite of its not complying with the planning scheme. Councillors seem to have
become involved in these ‘feel-good’ approvals before: see - http://springbrooklocale.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/befitting-our-suburbs-on-butterflies.html
If a city is to become anything, it should become itself. It
can only achieve this quality outcome with quality decisions made on the basis
of quality city plans, not whimsy. Without such a strategy, cities become just
an ad hoc shambles of developers’ ambitions that seem to get approved in the
vague haze of hope. We can already see the poor results of this system of
development approvals. Why is it that we still accept the ‘charm offensive’ approach
in such silence? It is truly offensive to have a city managed in such a manner.
We need to explore and expose our own genius loci – our own spirit of place and
its unique importance rather than try to build places to be ‘world class’ or
even ‘World Heritage,’ whatever this might mean.
THE REPORT
NEWS
Fate of
$600m Sunland project in the hands of councillors as backers launch charm
offensive
ANDREW POTTS
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
JULY 14, 2015
Sunland unveils proposal for $600 m residential and cultural
precinct at Mariner’s Cove.
THE developer behind the $600 million plans to redevelop
the Mariner’s Cove site has launched a charm offensive to win over city
councillors.
Sunland
bosses, led by executive chairman Soheil Abedian have begun meeting city
leaders in a bid to secure the necessary votes to gain the project approval
when it goes before the city planning committee in coming months.
The
Bulletin understands some councillors hold concerns about the 44-storey twin
towers which, if approved, would defy the existing three-level height limit now
in place.
Artist’s impression of proposed $600m Sunland’s
residential and cultural precinct at
Mariner’s Cove.
Despite
these fears, it is expected a majority of councillors will vote in support of
the development, which will including a world-class private cultural precinct,
370 apartments and 69-suite boutique hotel.
Pro-development
Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor met Dr Abedian last week and was impressed by
what he saw.
“I think
it looks fabulous and personally I would back it all the way because it would
be an icon and landmark for the city,” he said. “There is a concern about the
height of the towers and how this will work out but when I spoke to Soheil, he
said ‘I am 66 years old and want to create something like the Sydney Opera
House or Eiffel Tower’.
“We will
give it full consideration when it goes before the committee but it has my
vote.”
Sunland
filed a development application with the Gold Coast City Council six weeks ago
after years of planning. It is one of two major developments earmarked for the
area, with Chinese billionaire Tony Fung also announcing plans for a casino and
integrated resort at the Sheraton Mirage.
It is
understood that ASF Consortium has also eyed off land at the southern end of
The Spit for its casino project.
While Mr
Fung’s project would likely require a State Government “call-in”, the Sunland
project will be in council’s hands. Area councillor Lex Bell met company
representatives last week and said he would be guided by constituents.
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