Park Beach Harbour Plaza, Coffs Harbour

Park Beach Plaza redevelopment involves the extension of existing retail functions and provision of associated carparking. As part of the development there is an intention to invigorate the existing centre and provide additional retail and social facilities for the Coffs Harbour community.

The design intent of the form was to create a building that layers complexity and subtlety over an inherently bold form. The play of light and shadow via the 'bi-directional' screening to the western facade of the building will be a constantly changing feature to the highway. Illuminated openings and the transparency of the screening will offer an entirely different character in the evening. The scale of the precinct diminishes as the level of detail intensifies to respond to greater pedestrian access and residential context at the building's northern edge. A warmer materiality, finer palette of textures and architectural detailing has also been incorporated into the design.

The northern edge precinct is defined by the Arthur Street entry and an outdoor dining area / marketplace which is shaded by a generous canopy roof. This edge is highly faceted with the line of enclosure to the main centre recessed in order to give over more space to the outdoor plaza and to soften the transition between indoors and out and to the residential context to the north.

The proposed extension will be distinct from yet coherent with the existing centre. The intention is to reference the palette of materials and colours, which exist and/or may be contextually specific. Whilst significantly increasing the existing building's scale, the redevelopment will incorporate architectural elements to moderate its visual impact.