Denton Corker Marshall's Grand Arbour (South Bank Parkland…

The award-winning South Bank Grand Arbour is a kilometre long arbour located in the South Bank Parklands in Brisbane, Australia. The greening structure functions as a pedestrian walkway which connects the Griffith Film School and Vulture Street to the Cultural Forecourt adjacent to QPAC, as well as the rest of the South Bank Parklands through which it runs. The vertical gardens of the arbour have become a defining symbol of South Bank with its 443 curling, tendril-like columns of steel, each covered with a train of vibrant magenta bougainvillea plants. The creative design of the arbour, by Melbourne-based architectural firm Denton Corker Marshall, glows with colour and atmospheric mood lighting in the evening. Dedicated staff trim the living walls of the bougainvillea weekly, to ensure the stunning architectural vertical garden weaves lush and vibrant through the parklands. Denton Corker Marshall was commissioned to prepare a new urban masterplan for the former 20 hectare site of Brisbane Expo ’88, located on the south bank of the Brisbane River, looking north towards the city centre. The objective was to integrate South Bank as a living part of the city and to re-engender its internal coherence. The masterplan focussed on the removal of its existing negative features to provide a large revitalised area including approximately 15 hectares of parklands and 5 hectares of street space and development parcels. The linear site divides naturally into three spines: a river spine, a park spine and a street spine. The strategy was to fill in an existing canal and replace it with a grand arbour running the length of the site; reinstate Grey Street as a functional two-way street; build Little Stanley Street overlooking the parklands; open up other streets and vistas; and build a pedestrian bridge across the river. Ronstan refined the specification with engineer, Aurecon, supplied the product and componentry and worked with our installers to realize the complex design. The client knew they could rely on our service and assistance accompanying materials. Not only did Ronstan supply material for this job, but we assisted with the design and specification of the arbour. A modified version of Ronstan’s AGSH single cable trellis system was chosen for its structural performance, refined aesthetics and longevity. Source: Ronstan & Denton Corker Marshall.

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The Grand Arbour featuring bougainvillaea, at South Bank Parklands