West Village

CLIENT | St Hilliers + The Spotlight Property Group

TYPE | Architecture, Interior Design, Documentation

SECTOR | MIXED USE

STATUS | Design Development

LOCATION | Newcastle, NSW

HEIGHT | 90 m, 26 Storeys

SCALE | GFA 25,982 SQM, Site 4,724 sqm, 257 apartments

COST | $110+ M

RENDERS | ATCHAIN

Landmark design for Newcastle towers unveiled.

Plus Architecture has won a competition to transform Newcastle’s West End with a two-tower mixed-use redevelopment. The concept aims to create an iconic landmark building and place that will stand the test of time.

The redevelopment approximately 90m high, will combine up to 257 dwellings and 1,400 square metres of commercial floor space and 322 parking spaces, at an estimated construction cost of $100 million.

The design competition launched by the City of Newcastle together with property developers St Hilliers and The Spotlight Property Group was coordinated by an independent jury process under the governance of the City of Newcastle and the NSW Government Architect’s Office.

A three-member independent jury unanimously selected the innovative design by Plus Architecture for the proposed redevelopment of West Village, Newcastle West, which extends from Hunter Street to King Street and along the northern side of National Park Street.

The competition’s jury said the Plus Architecture entry was selected for stand out design elements including the ‘meeting place’ concept - a public domain to facilitate and encourage people to meet, and the visual link between National Park Street to the Army Drill Hall, with jury members also supporting the design’s warm tonal palette and horizontal stacked layers.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the architectural design competition had delivered design excellence for the redevelopment of West Village which will lead to positive outcomes for the city.

“Newcastle’s city skyline is set to be further transformed when this significant redevelopment in the West End comes to life,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle congratulates Plus Architecture on their winning design and commends the joint venture partners, St Hilliers and The Spotlight Group, for their commitment to the ongoing revitalisation of Newcastle's West End.

“The construction associated with a redevelopment of this size will generate jobs and help buoy Newcastle’s economy which is a positive as we come up against the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and look to the future.”

Manager Regulatory, Planning and Assessment, Michelle Bisson said the competition will raise the benchmark of architectural design excellence in Newcastle.

“Ongoing revitalisation and development is continuing to transform Newcastle particularly in the West End, and 2022 is shaping up to be another exciting and busy year for our city," Ms Bisson said.

“Once constructed, West Village will boast a hallmark building that will stand the test of time for future generations to admire."

St Hilliers Property Project Director Paul Smith said the design competition has been a great way to bring the best architectural talent and ideas to the fore for this prominent site in Newcastle’s West End.

“The quality of architectural design presented by Plus Architecture is really impressive and we look forward to further refining the design by incorporating the jury’s recommendations before proceeding to the next phase,” Mr Smith said.

“With a development of this significance, we will work closely with Plus Architecture to set sustainability targets and quality design outcomes during the more detailed development application phase, including a focus on thermal comfort, energy, waste and water.”

The development application to transform Newcastle’s West End secured development approval from City of Newcastle in October 2023.