Gold Coast City Council conducted an ideas competition for a new civic precinct that would activate an area of the city some distance inland from the famous beach strip.

The site requires new connections to the established city areas and a venue that could complement and compete with the attraction of the beach.

The program includes a broad range of services, including council offices, library, cinemas and other entertainment venues. The opportunity was taken to combine all of these programs into one iconic building, forming a single circular roof with a large central void accommodating parkland and outdoor entertainment venues. Cantilevering over the canal, the building is supported by a new high density commercial and residential precinct to the west. New transportation links would be established across the canals to the strip, including a cable car linking Q1 (Australia’s tallest residential skyscraper) directly to the site, with the mix of program ensuring that some part of the building is constantly activated.

With a sea of waving solar panels on the roof providing sustainable energy for the site, the ‘Golden Circle’ would become a new iconic form to rival the skyscraper city.

Location: Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast QLD, Australia 28°0’6.77″S, 153°24’58.24″E
Date: 2009
Design team: Thierry Lacoste, David Stevenson, Craig Allchin, Angela Rowson
Photography / images: Lacoste + Stevenson Architects