OVERALL GREEN: WINNER | MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS: WINNER
Silo District, V&A Waterfront
The development commenced in 2010 when the V&A
was in the process of identifying its next growth node.
The area around the existing Grain Silo, historically called
the Clocktower Precinct, was identified as the most
opportune expansion zone for a number of reasons: the
area was not being effectively utilised and the land around
what was now a derelict grain silo was being used as a
car park. The other reason being the V&A’s long term
goal of integrating the Waterfront more with the urban
fabric of the City - ensuring that any visitor experience
when visiting the City and the Waterfront is a seamless
process. The Silo District was viewed as an area of growth
extending out from the heart of the Waterfront, from the
shopping centre, across the Clocktower area, past the
Silo District and into the Canal District.
Developer/Owner: V&A Waterfront
Project Manager: Mace Management Services
District Architects: VDMMA; CityThinkSpace
Architects: Heatherwick Studio; Jacobs Parker;
Rick Brown Associates; Makeka Design Lab;
Peerutin; DesignSpaceAfrica
Quantity Surveyor: MLC Quantity Surveyors
Civil Engineers: Sutherland Engineers; Gibb
Structural Engineers: Sutherland Engineers; Arup
Electrical Engineers: SolutionStation; Aurecon;
Gibb; Sutherland Engineers
Fire Engineers: SolutionStation;
Sutherland Engineers; Arup
Green: Arup
Mechanical Engineers: Arup; iX Engineers;
Worley Parsons; Aurecon; Sutherland Engineers
Main Contractors: WBHO Construction; NMC
Development Plan
The original plans the V&A inherited from the previous
owners viewed the Clocktower Precinct as being largely
retail led and had planning rights in place for ‘big box’
retail and podium parking extending right the way across
the precinct and wrapping around the Grain Silo. This plan
basically turned the focus of new development away from
the Silo. It was decided to scrap this plan and the V&A
held a workshop in 2010 where a number of respected
professionals met to pull the existing plan apart and put it
back together again. The site was reconceptualised as the
Silo District with the Grain Silo as the hero and with a focus
on developing a modern mixed use, pedestrianised and
sustainable precinct that should be lead by commercial
development but not overpowered by it. The V&A wanted
to ensure that they got the balance of the mix right so that
the District felt active throughout the week as well as
on weekends. Ensuring active shopfronts on the ground
floors, hotel and residential development would ensure
a sense of place and community. It was through this
successful workshop that the idea of the Silo Square was
first formulated – a circular space around the Grain Silo
building. The Silo District consists of six buildings arranged
in a horseshoe shape around the Grain Silo. Numbered
from 1 to 6, each individual Silo building has a distinct
design and use.
SAPOA Awards
67