Space for thought: the role of urban design on the Gallipoli Underpass

It may be fortuitous timing, because Australia has suffered from chronic public underinvestment in transport infrastructure over the last 3-4 decades. Adelaide is not immune to these fundamental shifts, and in how we live in a world increasingly worried about climate change and our ecological footprint. While governments chart their course through the rough seas of the downturn with the aim of keeping the economy going, without due planning and design we may face a series of ‘recession projects’ – the effects of which could outlast the economic circumstances, and our cities could ultimately suffer in ‘value management’.

The risks for design are significant – to enable easy procurement, government and consultant project managers may demand ‘off the shelf’ basic solutions, removing the opportunity for innovation and time to properly develop integrated and well resolved design solutions. What does this quick-spend approach mean for our cities, and further, how can the critical role landscape architects and architects perform positively influence the built outcome of these projects to avoid the inadvertent scarring of our cities?

The Gallipoli Underpass

The Gallipoli Underpass represents a new benchmark for infrastructure development in South Australia. Incised into the landscape, the bold and simple walls of the underpass represent the economic strength South Road provides for the state – now and in the future. Integrated within the existing suburban context, the design acknowledges the cultural and historic importance of ANZAC Highway as an ANZAC remembrance boulevard with a series of memorials to remember all those who never returned from conflict.

From the strong grid of Manchurian Pear trees planted in gravel to represent parading soldiers, the symbolic representation of the Lone Pine, the individual memorials to the Air Force, Navy and Army, as well as honouring the cultural and close relationship with New Zealand, the project showcases innovation in design and construction.

The project also represents a collaborative procurement model via an Early Contractor Involvement Alliance – co-locating a team of architects, engineers, community relations, contractors and the client in one location for over 12 months. Through collaborative and integrated design and construction methodologies, the project has been realised ahead of time and budget, and resolved complex traffic and engineering issues, creating a new and energised public domain for the benefit of the local and wider community.

Integrated design

While the project was fortunate to be procured using an alliance, it could have easily been a traditional design and construct, or other model. Regardless of procurement type, the role of integrated design is critical to the success of projects. More importantly, as more stimulus projects enter critical design phases, the opportunity exists for designers to meaningfully contribute, collaborate, integrate and stimulate the ‘right’ outcomes. The achievement of these objectives will be the real legacy for our cities.

The project credits are the ‘AdelaideConnect’ Consortium: Client – Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure; Contractor – Thiess Pty Ltd; Contractor – LEED Engineering and Construction; Urban Design, Landscape Architecture – HASSELL; Civil, structural, hydraulic, geotechnical, environmental engineering – Parsons Brinckerhoff; and Community Consultation – Kath Moore and Associates.