MCU14/0106 Appendix B - Architectural Plans and Design Statement

                                                                                             Architectural Design Report



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    Civic Street

    Accessed off the northern roundabout, this traffic calmed street is addressed by a multitude of activity
    in the forms of cafés, shops and restaurants with provision made for safe drop-off and taxi zones for
    ease of access. These active zones are also highlighted by an arbour that creates a friendly, more
    human scaled pedestrian environment alongside the street. The street which will be lined with an
    avenue of trees and the roadway will be treated with pedestrian friendly surfaces that reflect the
    materials used on the adjacent pedestrian pathways to create a continuous connection across the site.
    Convenient and safe parking is provided adjacent to this street in the on grade parking lined with
    existing vegetation to its edges.

    Car parking

    The bulk of car parking will be concealed in an under croft car park below the centre to ensure
    maximum retention of existing forest. Consideration to match the floor level of the new retail centre to
    the existing retail centre, permits the development to take advantage of existing site levels to construct
    the under croft parking level. Clear pedestrian paths are provided to vertical circulation nodes that are
    contained within light filled green shafts that define the retail entry points. The under croft also maintains
    a visual connection to the Covenant J forest due to its adjacency and existing site levels, which in turn
    also provides the car park with natural ventilation.

    Small pockets of surface parking have been provided for convenience and are screened by a generous
    8m setback band of vegetation which contains both retained existing native vegetation wherever
    possible with supplementary native planting to restore any disturbed areas. These car parks are
    provided in forest clearings and intermingled amongst feature trees / landscape elements providing a
    cool, shaded environment to increase public comfort and visual amenity. Minimising the building / car
    parking footprint and following the natural contours of the site allows the development to maximise
    existing forest retention.

    Pedestrian Amenity

    Pedestrian pathways are structured for ease of movement along contours forming a primary circulation
    network distinct from ring roads. New retail entries match the existing retail centre level encouraging
    equitable access, safety and ease of way-finding.

    Covenant J Pedestrian Link

    The overall design methodology of the Noosa Civic expansion embraces its context. In particular, the
    Pedestrian Link has been designed with the intent of showcasing the Covenant J forest as its
    uppermost priority. The built form immerses with and opens out to the natural surrounds rather than
    turning its back and underutilizing its context.

    The design allows full appreciation of the surrounding natural beauty through the creation of open,
    transparent areas for sitting and contemplation. Structural and material choices have also been carefully
    selected to minimize the impact on the vegetation and visual interference by using suspended floors
    with raw materials that will blend seamlessly into the forest. To maximise exposure to the link it has
    been anchored at either end with food tenants and is naturally ventilated from the civic street entry


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