Tasmania
The landmark Parliament Square development covers an entire city block in central Hobart. The wonderful sandstone and masonry buildings that frame the new public space of Parliament Square represent a timeline for the post-colonial history of the site.
Parliament Square is a mixed-use quarter comprising government office space, retail, cafes, restaurant and hotel. The Salamanca Building features 5 unique Y-shaped columns that cantilever over a 130 year old sandstone retaining wall and two level sunken light well, affording daylight to lower workplace levels. The Tasman hotel is woven through heritage fabric and new additions, offering a layered and engaging visitor experience.
The project brings valued buildings back to public enjoyment. Reuse of sandstone, timber and brick in the new construction sustainability connects to the site’s history. Evolving over 12 years from 2009, the result is a carefully scaled, contemporary and lively mixed use quarter for Hobart.
Parliament Square is located behind the Tasmanian State Parliament on the rising topography of Sullivan’s Cove. It is a significant urban renewal project for central Hobart, focussed on revealing and repurposing valued heritage buildings, and opening and reconnecting the full city block to local streets and parks.
A new public space is created that works as a platform placed on the side of the hill, affording outlook to the River Derwent and offering a level space for community gathering and events.
The carefully scaled and detailed workplace building links directly to Parliament House through a glazed connection. Extending through the heritage fabric and new additions, the 152 suite hotel allows the preservation of the important Davey Street streetscape and provides a vital anchor to the activation of the new public space in the heart of the site.
From the design competition in 2009 to completion in late 2021, Citta and fjcstudio (formerly fjmtstudio) remained committed to our vision for Parliament Square as one of Australia’s most important urban renewal projects. This complex, long term masterplanned project comprising government offices, luxury hotel and retail, has regenerated an important city block, created exceptional public benefit and delivered design excellence to the state capital of Hobart. The design approach layers significant heritage buildings with fine contemporary architecture and thoughtful public open space to tell the story of the site over the past 180 years, while securing public access for the future.
Daniel Bourke, Design Architect – Heritage
David Haseler, Project Principal
Lina Sjogren, Head of Interiors
Michelle Ho, Project Architect
Phoebe Pape, Landscape Architect
Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director
Richard Tripolone, Landscape Architect
All Urban Planning, Town Planner
Arup, Acoustic Consultant
Arup, Electrical Consultant
Arup, ESD Consultant
Arup, Facade
Arup, Fire Engineering
Arup, Hydraulic Consultant
Arup, Lighting Consultant
Arup, Vertical Transport
Bligh Tanner, Facade
Design 5 Architects, Heritage Architect
Dreamtime Australia Design, Food & Beverage Consultant
Electrolight, Lighting Consultant
Electronic Technology Consulting, AV Consultant
fjcstudio (formerly fjmtstudio), Signage
GHD, Civil Consultant
GHD, Electrical Consultant
GHD, Hydraulic Consultant
GHD, Traffic
JMG Engineers & Planners, Mechanical
Joseph Pang Design Consultants, Interior Designer
Northrop, Structural Engineer
Pitt & Sherry, BCA Consultant
The Mack Group, Waste
Years Month Days, Signage
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
