Case Studies

The Aranda Shops

Design Feature

Type of project
Placemaking
State
Australian Capital Territory
Location
Urban
The Aranda Shopping Centre was designed by Dutch-born architect Dirk Bolt in the 1960s, as the first houses were being built in the bushy suburb. The Centre’s most recognised feature, a huge pitched roof which faces the street, has been panned over the years as "ugly" or even "brutal". Due to the Shops being opposite a school, Bolt was not allowed to build a two-story building, as it would overlook the school.
A vibrant community hub
For many years, the Aranda Shops were unoccupied and considered a blight on a very busy road through the suburb. However, Chris Dennis (a former public servant) revitalised the building into an activity hub, boasting restaurants, shopping and health facilities, surrounded by a fresh produce garden. The precinct now is a vibrant destination, associated with good eating and meeting up with locals and friends.
The project commenced in 2014, and continued over six years. The final garden instalment was completed in 2019. Initially, the project team engaged the Aranda Residents Group, gaining support for, and input into, the proposed revitalisation. The third-year class of the University of Canberra Architecture and Design school was invited to collaborate on the design, with the project offered as an assessment piece. This project included a broad community consultation process. The spirit of many of these designs were implemented within project budget constraints, and some of the final assessment designs are still exhibited in the building today.
The internal floorplan was driven by practicality and budget. Initially the project has almost no funding, so it was necessary to open as fast as possible, in order to pay for construction bills. The existing spaces and the project team’s equipment were used to expedite the opening.
The site now features Two Before Ten (café and roastery), Bolt Bar, Meet Gather Collect (a niche concept furniture and accessory store) and Illeso (yoga, Pilates, dance and massage studio). Outside, both sides of the building feature vibrant hubs of activity, specifically fresh produce gardens.
The Aranda Shops is a community hub, encouraging social connection and community engagement
Vegetable garden beds and planters have also been erected around many of Bolt Bar’s outside seating areas, creating a distinct aroma and ambience of tilled soil and growing vegetables. The gardens offer a variety of produce that is used for the daily menu. The addition of a garden was driven by the desire to grow fresh produce for use in the commercial kitchens.
Evaluation is constant with regard to aesthetic and functionality. The project team are continually adjusting to meet operational and environmental goals. Recent additions to the site include mushroom growing rooms (built in early 2020), with a commercial composter coming on site in late 2020.
Project team
  • Chris Dennis
  • Aranda Residents Group
  • University of Canberra Architecture and Design school students

Project Cost
To date, approximately $500,000
Health Value
  • Two Before Ten offers access to fresh, healthy and locally produced food. This limits food miles and supports healthy eating behaviours.
  • Connected footpaths and shared pathways lead to the Shops within the suburb, either from the city, Jamison Shopping Centre, Calvary Hospital or Canberra Institute of Technology. Additionally, bus stops are directly outside the building (on both sides of the road). This enables pedestrians and cyclists to access the site via active modes of transport.

Economic Value
  • Local Real Estate Agents noted that Two Before Ten increased the value of surrounding house prices by 10-15% within the first six months of operation. It is a common feature in real estate advertising.
  • Although not quantified, the value of tourism/visitation is considered significant. People travel across Canberra to visit Two Before Ten, and the site is becoming a destination for interstate visitors.
  • From a business point of view, the project has very much defined Two Before Ten’s brand and provided significant access to further sites/projects.
  • The ability to attract quality chefs is greatly enhanced by the gardens. Two Before Ten is frequently approached by chefs, rather than having to recruit them through job advertisements.

Environmenal Value
  • With Black Mountain Reserve to the east and the Pinnacle Nature Reserve to the west, the precinct is surrounded by houses and 100 hectares of eucalypt forest. The building has been retrofitted to ease into the natural and built environment.
  • The site features a native garden, showcasing local species, created together with Greening Australia. There is also a native ‘flowering plants’ garden at the eastern end of the block, where the beehives are located.
  • As of late 2020, the site will house a commercial composter, which can compost 60 kilograms of product every day, including food scraps, garden waste, coffee cups and retail coffee bags.
  • Grants for a solar power solution and rainwater harvesting are currently (2020) being investigated.

Social Value
  • Two Before Ten is a destination for many local residents and other Canberrans or tourists, enabling people to enjoy a thriving social and cultural life.
  • The space operates as a community hub; it facilitates social connection and community engagement and is a place of solace for many locals.

Use Value
  • The Aranda Shopping Centre is a mixed-use facility for all people who come and enjoy it.
  • It is a ‘meeting point’ for all sorts of activities, including dog walking, running groups, hikes into the Aranda bushland, after school catchups and pre-game dinners for major sporting events.
  • Through active engagement with the local schools, Two Before Ten offers use value as a location to host after school activities, and some holiday activities.

References

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