Adelaide’s Central Market Arcade to be reborn in $400m redevelopment

In a plan designed by Woods Bagot, a number of historic arches in Adelaide that were lost for decades will be reinstated in a $400 million redevelopment of the city’s Central Market Arcade.

The shopping centre, adjacent to Adelaide Central Market, will become a 35-storey mixed-use tower in a council-led project to rejuvenate the site.

Woods Bagot’s design proposal for the site will complete the exterior of the market with a red brick facade, as well as bringing back the arches that once stood on Grote Street before it was partially demolished in the 1960s.

City of Adelaide assumed control of the shopping centre in September 2018 following 50-years of private ownership. Following a two-year expressions of interest process, it has appointed ICD Property as its development partner, which is working with Woods Bagot on the design.

“The project will seek to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the district and the heritage buildings, places and cultural attachment that have been created,” said ICD Property managing director Matthew Khoo.

Adelaide's Central Market Arcade redevelopment designed by Woods Bagot will include a public hall.

Adelaide’s Central Market Arcade redevelopment designed by Woods Bagot will include a public hall.

Image: Courtesy Woods Bagot

Woods Bagot associate principal and the project’s design director Alex Hall said, “This is a design exploration of the market’s heritage beyond just a facade treatment and makes its brick arches – which have always been emblematic of the market – part of the whole experience.”

The design will integrate the redeveloped arcade with the existing Adelaide Central Market and create a continuous connection between them.

The proposed 35-storey building will also include offices, a 249-room hotel, 210 residential units with 15 percent affordable housing, car parking, childcare and specialty retail, food and beverage, a central public hall and a public roof top.

Historic arches lost for decades will be reinstated in the redevelopment of Adelaide's Central Market Arcade designed by Woods Bagot.

Historic arches lost for decades will be reinstated in the redevelopment of Adelaide’s Central Market Arcade designed by Woods Bagot.

Image: Courtesy Woods Bagot

“The Adelaide market dates back to 1869, when a group of local gardeners sold their wares without any structure other than gas lights and a fence. A century and a half on, we’re looking to sensitively create a space that can carry that local entrepreneurial spirit forward,” Hall said.

City of Adelaide will retain ownership and control of 6,000 square metres of retail space including market activities, specialty retail, supermarket, basement loading and 260 public car parking spaces.

“This Council-led project will create a food and wine destination of international repute; building on the Central Market’s importance as a South Australian icon and provide better connections to Victoria Square and the surrounding streets,” said Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor.

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