Chapters 1 to 11 Combined - Century City

The following section provides anoverview of the major developmentsand development initiatives in thenorthern sector. Some of these havealready been implemented while otherinitiatives are still in the planningstage.The Holiday Inn ExpressHoliday Inn Express is a 175 roomhotel, situated next to Canal Walkshopping centre. and has beenpositioned and designed to overlookthe Grand Canal with views towardsTable Mountain from the upper floors.The design reflects a fairly ornatearchitectural style with a face brickfaçade, plaster infill panels and quoinsto certain features.No 1 North BankThis development comprises a fivestorey building incorporating retailactivity, parking, offices and someresidential apartments. The built formalongside the canal is permeable andpedestrian friendly, with openterraces, doors windows and theshops encouraging human activitynext to the canal.A pedestrian bridge spans the GrandCanal and links up with the shoppingcentre. Part of the building is curvedto acknowledge this important featureand provide sufficient space for apiazza. The piazza is a public spaceand local focal point in the area thathelps to link various parts of thepedestrian system and channelmovement from one side of the canalto the other.The Island ClubThe Island Club is centrally located inthe Northern Sector and is a definingelement of this precinct. It includesstriking buildings and landscaping andintroduces a significant residentialcomponent into Century City.The Island Club is a relatively highdensity, but high quality, residentialenvironment, overlooking a system ofinternal open spaces and canals. Acentral feature is a landscaped islandsurrounded by water. The island hasbeen intensively landscaped withclassical design features, providing arecreation amenity and attractivesetting.wraps around Half Moon Bay andextends along the Grand Canal.Particular attention has been given tothe interface of buildings with thepublic promenade alongside the canal.Doorways, windows, studioapartments and mixed use activitiesfront on to this promenade, and helpto create vitality and interest alongthis important public space.The main entrance to the project isfrom the existing Via Rialto roadthrough a controlled access point.Vehicles enter a landscaped parkingcourt, and a system of pedestrian andjogging paths winds its way throughthe site. Residential apartments thatface on to the internal water body willhave private gardens at the groundlevel leading up to the water, but allresidents will have access alongcommon pathways to the island, foruse as an open space and recreationamenity.The hotel appears as a 6 storeybuilding, but there is a lower groundfloor level incorporating the catacombsfor retail or similar uses. Access to thehotel is off Century Boulevard, along aservice road that is also used to reachthe south western end of the shoppingcentre.A second building is planned adjacentto No. 1 North Bank and will have asimilar appearance. This will be knownas No.2 North Bank.The apartments range in height from 4to 10 storeys, and the controlled butvariable form responds to the flowingshape of the Grand Canal andlandscaped island. The buildingscomplement the front façade of theshopping centre and provide a visualaxis from one of the main entrancesinto Century City. The developmentParking occurs as a combination ofsurface bays in parking courts andbasement or semi-basement parkingunder the apartment buildings.Particular design attention is given tothe landscape treatment at the groundlevel of these buildings. This isimportant within the scheme to ensurethat the environment is attractive anduser friendly for residents, but it isalso particularly important at theedges of the scheme where theinterface occurs between public andprivate components.PLANNING PARTNERS: CENTURY CITY URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK October 2005 37 REVISION 1