The landmark Parliament Square development covers an entire city block in central Hobart, overlooking the harbour at Sullivan’s Cove. Bounded by Murray and Davey Streets, and Salamanca Place, it is situated directly behind Parliament House. Parliament Square forms a mixed-use development comprising government office space, retail, cafes and restaurants, and a luxury hotel, all of which surround an open, and engaging public square, providing a new energetic public domain. Originally containing a mix of significant heritage listed buildings and low quality, unsympathetic additions, the site was congested, deteriorating, and blocked to public access.
Parliament Square provided a unique opportunity to transform an important city precinct into a more active, permeable and vibrant space where the unique heritage of the site is celebrated and equitably shared amongst the public, private and government users. The wonderful sandstone and masonry buildings that frame the new public space of Parliament Square are like a timeline for the post- colonial history of the site. Our challenge was to reveal and enhance, not cover and diminish. Projects of this scale are rare for Hobart and commercial success a driving factor.
The $100M Parliament Square ‘Salamanca Building’ involves the construction of a new contemporary office building for the State Public Service in Hobart’s busy Salamanca precinct. The 5-Star Green Star Building, the first in Tasmania, delivers premium grade commercial office services. The building’s entry foyer features five custom built Y-shaped columns creating a striking feature at the building’s main entry. The dramatic Y columns rise 14m, and allow the building to cantilever over a 130 year old sandstone retaining wall, while simultaneously creating a 2 level sunken light well that brings natural daylight into the lower office levels.