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Client: Darwin Cove and Babcock & Brown
Location: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Situation: Crawford Architects was invited to join ABN Amro’s development consortium for bidding on Darwin’s massive waterfront development project. We were invited to assist in master planning the development as well as to lend our expertise in the design of the convention center component. Our development team, the Darwin Cove Consortium, was the winning bidder.
Solution: We specifically master planned the centerpiece of the development, the Darwin Convention and Exhibition Center (DCEC), to be the focus of the development by placing it in the water. This gesture, along with the mussel shell-inspired form to the roof, sets the DCEC apart as a unique and forward-looking form while relating culturally and historically to the original inhabitants of Darwin. Placing the building on the water also assists us in creating a protected harbor along with the use of extensive tidal control features that regulate the extremely large daily tidal variations, sometimes over 8 meters! Controlling the tide ensures that the protected harbor always has seawater and takes it from being a sometimes unusable mud flat to a waterfront urban playground that includes shaded boardwalks, community facilities, a wave pool, shopping, parklands, restaurants and living accommodations.
Quick Facts: The DCEC is the lynchpin of a $1.1 billion mixed-use redevelopment of Darwin’s previously underutilized waterfront. The DCEC includes 4,000 square meters of column-free exhibit space, a 1,500 delegate plenary hall, and meeting and break-out rooms that handle over 500 additional guests. In addition to the DCEC, 150 serviced apartments/hotel units and 135 apartments will be built along with boardwalks and the wave pool in the $102 million phase one of the project.
Closing Arguments: Click here to view the latest events and attractions at this spectacular venue. |
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