Gosford Alive

CLIENT | UNIVERSAL PROPERTY GROUP

TYPE | MASTERPLANNING, URBAN DESIGn, Architecture

SECTOR | MIXED USE, Residential, HOSPITALITY

STATUS | Design Development

LOCATION | sydney, nsw

HEIGHT | 82 m, 25 Storeys

SCALE | GFA: 72,782 sqm, Site 14,194 sqm, 647 apartments

Collaboration | Architecture AND + CHROFI

RENDERS | doug & wolf

Reimagining a place for people at the edge of the city.

A design team comprising Plus Architecture, Architecture AND and CHROFI have come together to realise a combined vision for the Gosford Alive development, a regionally significant site occupying an entire city block in the civic heart of the city.

The design is the winning concept of a design excellence competition process intended to facilitate a compelling mixed use vision for the former Kibbleplex shopping centre site, one that not only will provide for a significant uplift in the provision of high quality homes within the city, but also contribute to the life of the city by providing a mix of public and communal spaces at the ground plane.

The approach the team used as the framework of the design response was the consideration of how the design responded at the scale of the city, the scale of the neighbourhood and at the scale of the home.

At the scale of the city, we wanted to create a project that contributed positively to the urban quality of Gosford City.

At the scale of the neighbourhood, the desire was for the establishment of a new neighbourhood where people felt connected to their city and were able to find their own sense of home within a large-scale development.

Finally, at the scale of the home, the primary drive was to offer homes that are individual, and efficient in their use of resources, while at the same time bringing people closer to living in tune with nature and the beautiful surroundings of Gosford

The transformation of the 1.4-hectare site envisages the provision of around 650 dwellings, an activated public realm at the ground level that extends from Kibble Park through the site and around 5,000 sq.m. of retail and commercial uses.

Amit Julka, Director at Plus Architecture, noted the strength of the design was underpinned by the nature of the design team, with three firms collaborating, alongside Arcadia as landscape partners.  “The multi-stage design of Gosford Alive is a significant endeavour, and the very first principle we established was the idea of diversity as being the right response to the scale of the project.  We wanted our proposal to reflect the way cities naturally accrete over time, with diverse hands shaping the output and expression of the buildings.”

CHROFI led the design of the civic plaza and ground plane, with tower 1 serving as a focal point overlooking Kibble Park. Residential towers 2 and 3, envisioned by Plus Architecture, define inviting public spaces at ground level, contributing to the overall coherence of the master plan. Residential towers 4 and 5, designed by Architecture AND, engage with the newly established east-west link and the serene Rumbalara Reserve.

Clear wayfinding from all buildings through well-proportioned and activated open spaces provides connectivity to the city and transport links. This richness of experience for residents, extending beyond just the physical limits of their apartment, has been a prime driver for the design team.

Sustainability initiatives for future-proofing include passive heating and cooling, biophilic green roofs, responsibly sourced materials, solar access, rainwater harvesting, native planting and generous ground plane landscaping to minimise the heat island effect.

Driven by a desire to provide a design solution that can contribute positively to the life of the city and its occupants, Gosford Alive will become the lifeblood of this burgeoning community.