Woolworths Group to redevelop Neutral Bay site with residential apartments
The ASX-listed Woolworths Group, has lodged plans for a mixed-use redevelopment across Rangers Road in Neutral Bay.
The supermarket giant's development arm, Fabcot, has submitted the plans to reinvigorate the already existing retail space, along with an activated pedestrian laneway and plaza, as well as residential apartments.
The project will provide a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, starting from 65 sqm for the one-beds to the largest offering at 398 sqm, all adjoining to landscaped balconies.
Artist Impression, Central Plaza View. Credit: Ivolve Studios
Designed by renowned Sydney-based architects, Koichi Takada, the $6 million project will be visually connected to Military Road, with open corners to Rangers Road and a large open entry plaza.
The building form has been broken into distinct forms to break down the mass and create articulation between the podium, and upper floors.
The public plaza design plays an integral role in the precinct, with a highly active retail and dining, office and residential space existing throughout new green spaces, designed by Arcadia, as well as community facilities.
“The principal design approach was to create an intrinsic relationship between architecture and nature while promoting a variety of retail activation, integrated outdoor seating, and good pedestrian connectivity from Rangers Road to Yeo Street,” Koichi Takada Architects noted in their design application.
Artist Impression, Yeo Street Facade. Credit: Ivolve Studios
“The public plaza combines substantial planters to promote canopy trees growth as well as water fountains to promote children’s play.”
The architectural design incorporates façade planters to the setback and terrace floors, with a residential communal open space allocated on the rooftop with a plunge pool, seating, and barbecue facilities.
The feature façade concept integrates modular planters on slabs to provide both the commercial and residential residents a connection to landscape.
The perimeter retail to the plaza expresses a double height volume to enhance the layers of activation both at the ground floor and level one, with the site link visually connecting the plaza to Yeo Street, activating the side streets, while the anchor tenant, Woolworths, will ensure constant foot traffic across the ground floor.
The outdoor dining space will be covered and protected by the feature awning, allowing the spill out of retail and cafe tenants to engage with the public domain, while providing a protected path of travel for pedestrians.
The feature awning is supported with organic columns reminiscent of the branches of a tree, with greenery spilling over the awning effectively continuing the landscape character from the public domain up onto the building façade.
Artist Impression, View of Plaza. Credit: Ivolve Studios
“Inspired by the naturally occurring landscape character of Neutral Bay, the design integrates public activation with a natural and refined aesthetic, providing an activated, unique and integrated public domain.”
“The gentle curves of the sandstone gully’s and Angophora Trees that have existed in Neutral Bay’s natural context, inspired an architectural language that is organic, curved, and sophisticated. The natural facade ties into Neutral Bay’s past and aims to invigorate Rangers Road with community facilities and public domain activation.”
The high-quality retail with a focus on food and beverage offerings, activating the precinct with community amenity during both the night and day.
