Canberra’s newest city precinct, by way of New York
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The massive redevelopment of the corner of London Circuit and Constitution Avenue is on the homeward stretch———allowing Canberrans to appreciate what looks very much like our own version of the Flat Iron building in New York.
The $300 million project, undertaken by Terry Snow’s Capital Property Group, includes two large buildings. You can’t miss them if you look for a giant 5-metre statue of co-author of the Australian Constitution, Andrew Ingliss Clarke, out the front.
The Flat Iron-inspired 12-story building will house law firm Minter Ellison, auditing giant KPMG, and a new premium brand hotel, A by Adina.
Andrew Ingliss Clarke statute. Credit: Rohan Thomson.
The smaller 5-storey block will accommodate 1700 ACT public servants. Ground floor space will be commercially tenanted and promises a new food district in the city.
Already, coffee is being poured at the very swanky new Redbrick Coffee venue, ARC, which showcases local creators, with furniture designed by Tom Skeehan and an interior concept developed by Capezio Copeland.
It offers customers a seat at the dramatic curved street frontage as well as a brew from the La Marzocco KB90 coffee machine, only the second of its kind in the world. It is open seven days.
ARC. Credit: Rohan Thomson.
Meanwhile, a cavernous restaurant, Meat and Wine Co, is under construction with an April opening date. This is a place which promises to be the scene of many a business lunch and a favourite of those with carnivorous tendencies.
Other venues heading to that corner and due to open in the next two months include Club Lime, Fuel (from the same owners that have own Farmers Daughter in Yarralumla), Hero Sushi, Mu Omakase & Cicada Bar (the latest offering from the Chairman Group), an as-yet-unnamed ramen bar.
Saloon Blow Dry Bar also has a spot to complement its Braddon flagship.
The food offerings are likely to keep hungry ACT Government and corporate types satisfied, as well as being located conveniently for guests at the new hotel.
ARC. Credit: Ashley St George.
A by Adina is a new premium brand experience from the TFE Hotels group, and the concept is to balance a hotel and apartment-style experience.
It will operate across four levels, offering 130 apartments, a gymnasium plus a 24/7 service concierge. This precinct also features its own Melburnian-style laneway connecting to Canberra Theatre Centre.
A by Adina. Credit: Rohan Thomson.
Admittedly it is still very much a construction site down one side of the laneway, but with the amount of building work taking place each day, the precinct promises plenty of new experiences as we head into cooler months.
Watch this space.
Feature image: Rohan Thomson
