Case Studies
Todd Mall Redevelopment

Design Feature

Type of project
Infrastructure
State
Northern Territory
Location
Urban
The Todd Mall Redevelopment reopened the northern end of Todd Mall to promote increased activity, and established a strong connection between the Central Business District (CBD) and the Todd River. Sustainable social design was key to this project. Introverted commercial development in part of Todd Mall had created a poor social and retail space with an antisocial and unsafe atmosphere. These problems were addressed by increasing activity in the site, providing a parking bay for buses to deliver tourists, creation of spaces for young people, and de-cluttering decades of ad-hoc urban development.

Initiated by the Northern Territory Government and Alice Springs Town Council, the project was developed and implemented from 2010 to 2013. The project was the first stage of the Alice Springs CBD Revitalisation program.

Cultural influences invoking a sense of place
The east-west connection to the river is enhanced and informed by a specially commissioned bi-cultural framework called the Biodiversity Corridor. Sight lines between a significant sacred river redgum and a stand of sister trees at the river’s edge were re-established by demolishing a 30-year-old sail shade structure and rotunda. Endemic planting, wide pedestrian paving and Moth Shade Structures that reference three of the sacred caterpillars of Mparntwe (Alice Springs) form a linear pedestrian space leading to the river. Sentinel-like brick benches provide an edge to the landscape beds, with the jewel-like colours of their glazed brick inserts derived from the paintings of contemporary Aboriginal artists from the region. This is an important feature in instilling a strong sense of place. 
The northern end of Todd Street links through to the Alice Springs Cinema and Youth Hub and creates opportunities for teenagers and young adults to participate in the CBD, by challenging the view that they are a problem and a likely source of ‘anti-social behaviour’. To achieve this, the northern end of the street is intentionally inclusive and supportive of youth gatherings and activity. 
Water is a key feature of the Biodiversity Corridor. Beneath the sacred river red gum a Rainwater Reflection Pan represents the ephemeral presence of water in the desert, and the Parson Street plantings are irrigated via the gravity-fed Cascade Feature, inspired by a centuries-old urban watering system used in Isfahan in Iran.

The design demonstrates the precious nature of water in the desert, particularly in the use of endemic planting and flood irrigation in garden beds. This gravity-fed water feature provides an infrequent cascade of water as a celebratory event. The delivery of large amounts of deeply soaking water mimics the natural delivery of water in the desert and encourages plants to lay deep and robust root systems increasing their life span and decreasing the amount of water required to support them. 
Project team
  • Client for concepts: Northern Territory Government
  • Client for design & construction: Alice Springs Town Council
  • Architect & Head Consultant: Susan Dugdale and Associates
  • Architect and Town Planner: Design Urban
  • Cultural Consultant: Mike Gillam
  • Artists: Pip McManus, Elliatt Rich, Ben Ward, AT Steel Workshop
  • Landscape Consultant: Clarsen and Clarsen
  • Civil Consultant: Greenhill Engineering
  • Electrical Consultant: BCA Engineers
  • Structural Consultant: NJA Consulting
  • Irrigation Consultant: Hydroplan
  • Traffic Engineers: MFY
  • Project manager: CAT Projects
  • Construction Contractor: Asbuild (NT) Pty Ltd

Project cost
$5 Million
Health value
  • The Riverbank Garden provides both a destination point for pedestrians arriving at the river’s edge from the CBD, and a place of rest and recreation for pedestrians and cyclists using the paths along the river corridor.
  • The shady grassed area is a cooling spot to stop and rest, meet friends and family, and decide which direction to take next.
  • The existing mature river red gums are the most important feature and provide cultural depth and visual amenity to this area.

Economic value
Revitalising part of the CBD that was showing clear signs of economic downturn – since the work was completed, multiple cafes have opened in the project area. Other economic values include:
  • Boosting tourism/visitation to area
  • Increasing Indigenous employment (on bench seat project)
  • Providing opportunities for local artists

Environmental value
  • The Biodiversity Corridor cultural framework contributed to social and environmental sustainability by re-establishing the important visual and cultural links between the large sacred river redgum and the river corridor, replacing poorly performing non-local street trees with endemic planting, and referencing the culturally important fauna of the region.
  • Materials salvaged from the demolition stage have been re-used: existing clay brick pavers, the named pavers, and cut sandstone blocks. This has created visual continuity with the unrenovated parts of the Mall, and continuity with the past by honouring the endeavours of past residents. The re-use of some older materials has enriched the material palette and supported recycling efforts in the town. Crushed glass from the Alice Springs Town Council’s crushing plant was used for bedding service pipes. The selection of locally available natural materials contributed to the economy of the overall project, which used $3 million of a total budget of $5 million to rationalise old and unmapped underground services.

Social value
  • The Caterpillar Seats in the area are another reference to the dreamtime beings who formed the Mparntwe landscape, and are designed to encourage skateboarding and play by pre-school age children. The lighting, including a programmable light sculpture by local artist Ben Ward, has been especially considered to support the night activity around the cinema.

Use value
  • This project reopened the northern end of Todd Mall to promote increased activity, and established a strong connection between the CBD and Todd River.

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