The Bank Street Parklet project is a significant development contributing to the laneway links of Adelaide recognised by Jan Gehl between the River Torrens / Adelaide Oval and Central Market/ Victoria Square precinct. With over 12,000 pedestrians a day and vibrant activity in the evenings and early mornings, the project dreamed of an innovative solution with new public amenities inherent of high urban design values. The design would be robust, durable, and flexible in its application to meet a difficult sloping topographic context. As a revitalised shared street it would unify a complex array of contradicting standards and approval guidelines.
The project began with extensive consultation which informed modular and durable Parklets were designed to effectively provide kerb extensions minimising the modification of existing infrastructure. The Parklets themselves provide access from either footpath, a mixture of seat and bar configurations requirements, advanced tree plantings for amenity, shade and privacy, soft lighting in the evening and above all a sense of spaciousness. The change of the roadway corridor to a one way chicane based road with contraflow bike lane, raised crossover and road supergraphic at a key pedestrian crossing transformed the street into a vibrant, activated, pedestrian-friendly environment.
