The South Bank Grand Arbour was designed by a Melbourne-based firm Denton Corker Marshall in 1997 and completed in 1999 in Brisbane, Australia. It earned a lot of architecture

Architecture

Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...

 awards.

The kilometre-long Arbour is a pedestrian pathway through the South Bank precinct and it separates the Brisbane River

Brisbane River

The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...

side from Grey Street. The snake-shaped structure, consisting of 443 steel tendrils, runs through the site. It divides the South Bank Parklands into various sized circular spaces which serve different functions, such as open space for shops, a beach, a lawn, a pond and so on.

The main feature of the Arbour is the armature of the tendrils forming the continuous contortions. The yellow lighting panels are also hung on the tendrils to create fantastic effect at night.

Adding colour to the green environment of South Bank, the planting of the Arbour plays a significant role. Nine horizontal stainless steel cables pierce each tendril to support the Arbour structure and provide support for bougainvillea. The Arbour provides shade for pedestrians and the bougainvillea provides wonderful colour.

The Arbour has become a place of growing importance to local people and visitors. Joggers like running in the pathways. Mothers lead their children to play in the Parklands and enjoy the walk. The Arbour is also a venue for different running races. As the tourism in Brisbane grows, more and more tourists flock in and the Grand Arbour is one of the attractions that they will not miss. From the Arbour, walkers have a fantastic view of the Brisbane CBD and, at the same time, they can feel close to nature.

Sources

• Beck, H. & Cooper, J. (2000). Denton corker marshall: Rule playing and the ratbag element. Basel: Birkhauser - Publishers for Architecture.