Over two million people live in the city of Perth on Australia's western coast. Perth is quite remote when compared to other large Australian urban centres, although this does not seem to interfere with the city's growth. Boosted by a dynamic economy related to the energy sector, Perth's population has been steadily increasing for several decades. As a result, the downtown neighbourhoods are experiencing substantial growth, with office towers and residential buildings gradually densifying and transforming the area. Currently, 13.5 hectares of land are being reclaimed just north of the financial district, thanks to the urban renewal project known as City Link.

Perth, Australia, image by JJ Harrison via Creative Commons

City Link involves the redevelopment of former railway yards which came into disuse in the late 1990s, through the sinking of the Fremantle railway line as well as the Wellington Street Bus Station. The reclaimed land is now being transformed into a brand new mixed-use neighbourhood, connecting the business district in the south to Northbridge in the north. Woods Bagot's design principal Alf Seeling, who is known for his work in the Middle East and for Perth's International Airport, is about to make another contribution to the city's architectural landscape with two residential towers that Seven Group Holdings plans to build in the heart of City Link. 

Aerial view of Kings Square, image courtesy of Woods Bagot

Kings Square is composed of two towers soaring 42 and 48 levels above a podium that is four to six floors tall, rising up to 162 metres above ground level. Adjacent to a park, the podium's curves intend to help the building flow into its surroundings and create a sense of human scale that contrasts with the height, while also creating a rupture with the other adjacent hard-angled buildings. To further integrate the project as part of the city landscape, the undulating structure will be covered in limestone, which is found deep underneath Perth, constituting its geological base.

The podium will feature retail spaces, image courtesy of Woods Bagot

Wood will be used to cover the outdoor ceilings on the base, and bring additional warmth to a glass-dominated neighbourhood. A pool deck and a series of hanging gardens and outdoor patios dotting the complex will be used to elevate the park's greenery to the upper floors.

Many green spaces will dot the tower, image courtesy of Woods Bagot

Eventually, Kings Square will add 563 residences ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, and retail spaces will populate the base of the towers with shops and restaurants. Parking will be included in the centre of the podium section, but it will be hidden by street-facing units. The multi-purpose nature of this development aims to create and promote a vibrant urban atmosphere for this part of the city, amplified by the connectivity provided by public transit with nearby business, cultural, and entertainment areas. This is a major milestone for Perth, which suffers from extensive urban sprawl and a lack of downtown vitality after traditional office hours, and Woods Bagot hopes it will start a new era in its development as a living city.

Kings Square intends to promote urban living, image courtesy of Woods Bagot