The ACT is planning on building a “national first” arts precinct to transform the Kingston Foreshore’s “huge blank canvas” and they plan on featuring underground parking, a public square linked by undercover walkways, and most interestingly, a basement music venue.

As the Canberra Times reports, three design options have been pitched for the 5.4 hectare site in a $300,000 feasibility study for the precinct presented by the ACT government on Saturday night.

While heritage buildings such as the Kingston Glassworks and Fitters’ Workshop would be retained on the site, several new buildings have been proposed, including an amenities building behind the Fitters’ Workshop, which could be home to a “below ground” music venue.

ArtsACT Director David Whitney said the underground music venue could emulate other venues around the country. “The joy of that is the sound doesn’t go anywhere… you’re not going to disturb people living out and about,” he said.

“There is a real challenge between wanting to activate an area and have a night time economy and being respectful to people living in the same area.” Mr Whitney said visitors would be “spoilt for choice” by the new development.

He detailed a 3,500 square metre open-air public quadrangle between the markets and glassworks, a central focus of the precinct which could potentially act as a venue for performances and festivals.

“Other opportunities for more ‘grunge type’ uses, not dissimilar to the popular burger store, Brodburger, should inhabit this part of the precinct and could include uses such as craft beer breweries and coffee shops,” the feasibility study read.

Meanwhile, Mr Whitney said planners envision an all-round arts hub. “Braddon has a particular style, but there’s no reason why those spaces in any of the buildings that feed on to the central courtyard area… couldn’t become… gallery spaces or artists’ workshop spaces,” he said.

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“The joy of the project… is that it’s not just building an arts bit in the corner and the rest is all accommodation and apartments, its juggling that stuff around.” A major priority for the planners is mitigating potential noise complaints from nearby residents.

Instead of earlier plans for a “salt and peppered” mixed-use approach with arts workshops and venues scattered among residential and commercial properties, the study recommended centralising the arts outlets to avoid potential noise complaints and to encourage artist collaboration.

Indeed, Mr Whitney said bringing more arts organisations to the area, particularly in the wake of the success of the glassworks and Megalo Print Studio, would allow them to “spark off each other”.

The study recommended the precinct be managed by an independent entity at arms-length from the government, which Mr Whitney said could reuse,b;e existing models such as the South Bank Corporation in Brisbane, Federation Square in Melbourne, and Carriageworks in Sydney.

Image: House of Vans, a popular underground venue in London

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