Kalgoorlie’s new city centre revitalisation project reflects the city’s people and history through a unique blend of open space, indigenous arts and stimulating lighting,  celebrating the unique heritage of the Goldfields-Esperance region.

Designed by ASPECT Studios in collaboration with IPH architects, lighting designers ETC and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the city centre is aimed at revitalising Kalgoorlie by creating a lively, civic-minded destination for locals and visitors alike. The project was conceived as an opportunity to celebrate Kalgoorlie’s unique environmental character and  its Indigenous history, says ASPECT Studios Perth studio director Tom Griffiths.

“It was about the city and the state investing in the heart of the city because much of the new development tends to go into the peripheries, but the square itself is a key space in the heart of Kalgoorlie,” Griffiths says. “As lead consultants, we took a deep dive into this project, spending a bit of time reflecting on all the different characteristics and qualities of the region and created a template of ideas that we could celebrate in the project through a variety of media.”

Anchoring the elements of the design is a stunning hovering canopy that serves as  both a visual centrepiece and a source of essential shade for the square. The structure, balanced on a single, steel-scaffolded column, is organically shaped to emulate a “hovering earth” as a nod to the mining history of the city.

“It’s like a lifting of the earth, almost an inversion of the mining pit” Griffiths explains. “Once we had that idea, we were able to wrap a narrative around the project through the lighting.”

Elements of energy and character

To complement the experience of the canopy, integrated water misters and a sound system within the canopy were included to add a playful and dynamic energy throughout the day.  At night, the structure comes alive with vibrantly coloured lighting in rich hues emulating the colours of Country that pulsate and breathe with the mist and sounds, which Griffith says adds to the narrative. 

“All of these elements work together to activate and cool the space but also layer the storytelling,” he says. “There’s a narrative of the daily explosions from the mine site and the natural lightning from the weather patterns experienced in those areas. So, in the square, you get this explosion of mist and lighting and sound that trigger off at the same time, just like in nature.”

He says misting in a public space of this scale isn’t found much in Australia. “I’m not sure there are many examples of that in Australia; certainly not in WA. But having seen it on a grand scale in the Middle East and the benefits that structured shade offers, it gave us the confidence to try it in Western Australia as well.”

With a community-centric mindset, the square’s design augments a pedestrian-focused network of streets, laneways and plazas with alfresco and breakout spaces that connect historic buildings with future development sites. It showcases Kalgoorlie’s distinctive identity through 15 artworks by Indigenous artists displayed across the city centre, highlighting its rich history. 

Inviting both adults and children, the project also incorporates a new playground for families to come and enjoy the vibrant, new city centre.

Lighting that elevates human experience

ASPECT collaborated with ETC lighting design, engaging in roundtable discussions on how to animate the space with the use of mist and light to embed a dynamic environment and enliven a city centre formerly defined by its mining site.

 “The light is a great feature in this project because it gives you dynamic perspectives. We’ve got lighting set into the canopy, and we also throw lighting up at the canopy. So once you start to work with light mist and water reflection, it creates quite an interesting and dynamic play on those elements,” Griffiths notes.

Before its renewal, Kalgoorlie city centre was “tired and dilapidated”.  Stuck in a 1980s colour palette of browns and tans with Astroturf all around, it was in desperate need of a facelift. With its new injection of colour, open space and inviting walking paths, Griffiths says it has given the locals an optimistic view of what Kalgoorlie could be in the future.

“This project reflects the energy and character of Kalgoorlie,” Griffiths says. “We’ve focused on capturing the stories that make this place special while creating a new platform for public life that welcomes everyone.

“It’s also remarkable to see a regional capital invest in its urban centre in this way. It’s a real sign of confidence in Kalgoorlie’s future.”

Images supplied

Learn about another city centre project that merged landscape architecture with urban design.