LOCATION:
Midland, Perth, Western Australia
COLLABORATORS:
Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, Eames and Associates
COMPLETED:
(Structurally) August 2009
AWARDS :
2011 Planning Institute of Australia Awards
National “Great Place” Award
2011 Urban Development Institute of Australia Awards
Excellence in Urban Renewal Award
Juniper Gardens is a public square in the heart of Midland City Centre. Once a neglected and unsafe area, bordered by poorly maintained buildings, Juniper Gardens is now a green urban square surrounded by retail and entertainment outlets and offices overlooked by Midland’s first inner city apartments. It now contains a café and barista school, micro-brewery, restaurant and community arts centre.
The four level development is effectively two buildings in one. Basement parking is beneath commercial and residential (3 levels) in one “half” of the development with 2 levels of office accommodation over the second section. The architecturally unified exterior gives way internally to structure appropriate to the occupancies being Reinforced Concrete framed construction for the office segment and load bearing brickwork in the remainder.
The car park retaining walls are constructed of cavity filled masonry with a reinforced concrete transfer slab to the residential section. Above this level are concrete slabs on load bearing masonry walls. The office floors are constructed of reinforced concrete beam and slab on concrete columns.
The concept design involved 3 options, precast, reinforced concrete and post-tensioned concrete to be assessed for economy and constructability. The in-situ reinforced concrete option was chosen, however several bands were post-tensioned to control beam depths. A detailed design and documentation of the recommended option followed with emphasis on a sheet piled retaining wall for the basement car park.
The roof construction is generally steel framed with some areas of timber truss framing supporting a Colourbond Custom Orb roof.
The development has generated local ownership and investment, and forged strong partnerships between the community, private enterprise and government.
KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS:
