Soul’s transformation within the heart of surfer’s paradise is well underway. Click below for the latest news on construction , retail tenancies and soul in the media.
23 Aug 2009QUEENSLAND MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK
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ICONIC QUEENSLAND DESIGNERS EASTON PEARSON AND WORLD-RENOWNED NATIONAL DESIGNER AKIRA ISAGOWA BOTH DEBUTED THEIR NEWEST SPRING/SUMMER 09/10 COLLECTIONS TO AUSTRALIA LAST NIGHT TO RAPTUROUS ACCLAIM AT THE FIRST OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL BRISBANE GROUP SHOWS TO BE HELD AT CITY HALL.
CRUISE COLLECTION FEATURED A RIOT OF COLOUR DOMINATED BY AFRICAN AND TRIBAL INFLUENCES WITH THEIR SIGNATURE TEXTURES AND VIBRANT TEXTILES EXPLODING ONTO THE RUNWAY IN A STUNNING DISPLAY OF KAFTANS, LEGGINGS, SMOCKS AND UNIQUE SHAPES.
EXQUISITELY FRINGED AND BEADED NECKLACES, INTRICATELY BEADED SCARVES AND SPECTACULAR HANDMADE FLOWERS HIGHLIGHTED THE BEAUTIFUL LAYERING OF COLOURS IN AKIRA'S SPRING SUMMER RESORT COLLECTION, WHICH WERE HIGHLIGHTED ON MULTI-LAYERED GARMENTS FEATURING SHADES OF RED, ORANGE AND TURQUOISE.
BRISBANE BOUTIQUE CAMARGUE DELIVERED A VISUAL FEAST FROM INTERNATIONAL LABELS DRIES VAN NOTEN, MARTIN MARGIELA, RUNDHOLZ, SARA LANZI AND PEACHOO & FREJBERG INCLUDING RAFFIA SKIRTS, HANDBAGS KNITTED BY NUNS AND AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF TONAL AND QUIRKY SILHOUETTES.
WITH SPECIAL VIP GUEST NAPOLEON PERDIS SITTING FRONT ROW AND ADDRESSES GIVEN BY LORD MAYOR CAMPBELL NEWMAN AND QUEENSLAND TREASURER ANDREW FRASER, THE SOUL BY JUNIPER GROUP SHOW WAS THE SECOND EVENT IN A VERY EXCITING WEEK-LONG PROGRAM FOR THE 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL – BRISBANE, HOSTED BY CITY HALL
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR LINDSAY BENNETT SAID THE SUPPORT SHOWN FOR THE FESTIVAL VIA TICKET SALES HAD BEEN INCREDIBLE WITH MORE TICKETS ALREADY SOLD THIS YEAR THAN WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE WHOLE OF LAST YEAR, ALLOWING UP TO 20,000 PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE RANGE OF TICKETED AND FREE EVENTS OVER THE SIX DAYS.
WE ANSWERED DEMAND AND CHANGED OUR VENUE TO CITY HALL TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TICKETS AVAILABLE AND OUR SUPPORTERS – FROM MERCEDES-BENZ, CITY HALL, QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT, BRISBANE MARKETING AND ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, TO THE DESIGNERS, MEDIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HAVE RESPONDED WITH OVERWHELMING POSITIVITY, HE SAID.
IN JUST FOUR SHORT YEARS, THE MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL - BRISBANE, HOSTED BY CITY HALL HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS FASHION EVENT IN THIS STATE AND GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS BEING THE LOCATION FOR LAUNCHING SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTIONS TO THE COUNTRY. THE CALIBRE OF TONIGHT'S EXQUISITE FASHION HAS CONFIRMED THIS AND THE EXCITEMENT GENERATED BY THE FESTIVAL WILL ONLY INCREASE TOMORROW WHEN KRISTY HINZE FLIES INTO BRISBANE TO ATTEND EXCLUSIVELY AS A SPECIAL GUEST.
TREASURER AND MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANDREW FRASER SAID THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT WAS ONCE AGAIN PROUD TO PARTNER THE MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL.
THE FASHION SECTOR IS AN INCREASINGLY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE QUEENSLAND ECONOMY, NOW EARNING MORE THAN $143 MILLION EACH YEAR IN EXPORTS AND EMPLOYING SOME 23,000 IN DESIGN, RETAIL AND MANUFACTURING," HE SAID.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PLANK OF THE STATE'S CREATIVE INDUSTRIES WHICH ARE WORTH $3.4 BILLION ANNUALLY AND EMPLOY 74,000 PEOPLE.
FASHION DESIGN, LIKE ARCHITECTURE, LIKE MUSIC, LIKE WRITING, IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE INGENUITY, THE INNOVATION AND THE CREATIVE FLAIR THAT PERMEATES SO MUCH OF QUEENSLAND LIFE. AND OUR LOCAL TALENTS ARE WORTH CELEBRATING," HE SAID.
EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF DESIGNERS FEATURED IN THE SHOW THAT REFLECTED THE DIRECTIONAL AND LUXURIOUS CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUL SURFERS PARADISE BEACH, DEVELOPERS JUNIPER SAID THE SOUL DEVELOPMENT WILL FEATURE A $100 MILLION RETAIL PRECINCT WITH THE FIRST STAGE OPENING IN DECEMBER.
JUNIPER GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR SHAUN JUNIPER SAID SOUL WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT ERA FOR THE GOLD COAST AND WOULD DEVELOP THE SURFERS PARADISE FORESHORE INTO A WORLD-CLASS TOURISM AND RETAIL DESTINATION RIVALLING RIO DE JANEIRO OR SOUTH BEACH IN MIAMI.
THE REJUVENATION OF THE ESPLANADE AT SURFERS PARADISE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUL TOWER AND RETAIL PRECINCT WILL FAR BETTER REFLECT WHAT THE GOLD COAST IS ALL ABOUT, MR JUNIPER SAID.
OUR AIM IS TO CREATE A PUBLIC SPACE THAT FEATURES THE BEST ELEMENTS OF WORLD CLASS BEACHSIDE PRECINCTS SUCH AS COCOCABANA BEACH IN RIO OR VENICE BEACH IN CALIFORNIA.
MR JUNIPER SAID QUEENSLAND-OWNED JUNIPER GROUP WAS PROUD TO BE A PARTNER IN THE FESTIVAL AND WAS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN FASHION INDUSTRY.
RUNNING UNTIL THIS FRIDAY AUGUST 28, THE 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL – BRISBANE, HOSTED BY CITY HALL CELEBRATES THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTIONS WITH NINE GROUP SHOWS SHOWCASING 66 LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DESIGNERS, INCLUDING EASTON PEARSON, JULI GRBAC, CHELSEA DE LUCA, PISTOLS AT DAWN AND PAUL HUNT, AKIRA, LISA HO, KIRRILY JOHNSTON, FLAMINGO SANDS, NICOLA FINETTI, JEAN BROWN, SAMANTHA OGILVIE, CAMARGUE, FROCKSHOP.COM.AU AND MORE.
DESIGNED TO OFFER THE PUBLIC A BROAD SELECTION OF ACCESSIBLE EVENTS, THE PROGRAM ALSO BOASTS THE V AUSTRALIA FASHION FORUM AND BREAKFAST, A SERIES OF FASHIONABLE HIGH TEAS, THE TELSTRA NEXT G AUSTRALIAN FASHION GRADUATE OF THE YEAR AWARD AND AN EXPANDED PROGRAM OF FREE EVENTS AND PARADES IN THE QUEEN STREET MALL.
CONTINUING ITS TRADITION OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, THE FESTIVAL IS PROUD TO DONATE $1 FROM EVERY TICKET SOLD TO ITS CHOSEN CHARITY, AUTISM QUEENSLAND.
25 Feb 2009SOUL FORESHORE
A community space to rival Brisbane's King George Square will be the centerpiece of the long-delayed second stage of the $89.5 million Surfers Paradise foreshore redevelopment, which is expected to begin within months. The Gold Coast City Council has approved $25 million of funding to fast track the project.
The council endorsed the funding as part of a $100 million infrastructure stimulus package, which will be funded through a long-term treasury loan to be paid off with developer contributions. The project has been in limbo since August last year when the embattled Raptis Group pulled out of the $750 million Iluka Development. It will follow stage one of the foreshore upgrade, featuring the juniper Group's $850 million Soul development, a retail precinct which is expected to almost double the number of shops and restaurants in the area. It is expected to be completed by Christmas.
Area councillor Susie Douglas said the project would bring jobs to the Gold Coast's building industry, which has been shaken by the global economic crisis. "I am very happy this project is happening," she said. "Now is a good time to do this project because we can stimulate the economy by creating more jobs and building a new tourist product which we will be able to use to promote ourselves.” This will drive more tourism and bring people back here because everyone likes to see change and it is a long time since we have had any on the Esplanade."
The Surfers Paradise Esplanade will be re-routed as part of the development's second stage, which will take place between Cavill Avenue and Hanlan Street. Cr Douglas said the overpass between the beach and Centro shopping centre would make way for an 'urban plaza'. "The beachfront plaza will be widened to create an event space like no other," she said. "It will be almost as big as King George Square and will be able to house several thousand people for events right on the beach."
It will be the Gold Coast’s civic square and we will see the work simultaneously begin with that in front of the Soul development. Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said he welcomed the development. "It will hopefully mean a rejuvenation of the precinct at the end of the mall which could be a world class entry to the beach," he said. "It would be great to have a huge entrance to the beach for people to mill around rather than the narrow area which funnels to the beach."
21 Jan 2009SOUL'S TRANSFORMATION OF SURFERS
Work on the long-awaited first stage of the Surfers Paradise foreshore upgrade is expected to begin within months. Area councillor Susie Douglas said the project, which will be built by Soul developer Juniper, would visually be based on the Sunshine Coast's Mooloolaba foreshore.
"The design of Mooloolaba's precinct has given us some ideas about what to do with Surfers Paradise's foreshore," she said.
"We have looked at their esplanade and specifically how they have incorporated outdoor dining into the wider footpaths, and this is what the Soul development will be doing. "The council is working to make sure developers can start construction and get it done swiftly and have minimum impact on residents."
The $850 million Soul development will be the centrepiece of the foreshore upgrade's first stage and will feature a retail precinct, which is expected to almost double the number of shops and restaurants in the area. It is expected to be completed by Christmas.
Cr Douglas said no decision had been made on the future of the second stage. "Stage two is in limbo and we are looking at funding proposals for it and whether the council should borrow the money needed so both stages can be done at once," she said.
"I might see if I can get Cavill Mall upgraded through a program to replace the footpaths as well as get local businesses involved to help pay for it." Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce president Laura Younger said a revitalised precinct would attract a new demographic of visitors to the area. " We have these beautiful beaches and you cannot sit down and look at them while eating," she said.
10 Jan 2009RETAIL & RESTAURANT PLANs UNVEILED
This is the exclusive first look at the new face of Surfers Paradise. The concept drawing shows the upmarket retail and restaurant precinct of Juniper group’s $850 million Soul development, which includes a beachfront 77-storey tower.
"We have had hundreds and hundreds of potential tenants write to us saying they would like to be a part of Soul's retail precinct," said David Kortlang, Juniper Group marketing manager.
The precinct, which will be open by Christmas, has been designed to `breathe life' back into Cavill Mall. It will feature exclusive brands and restaurants, reflecting Soul's upmarket image, said Mr Kortlang. "It is modern and young and it is going to revitalise Surfers Paradise. Soul will not just be a tower, it will be a destination," he said.
Juniper senior development manager John Curry said the grand development was being constructed in three parts – the basement, which is currently under construction, the start of the tower and the retail section, which has sprung up over the past three months. "Right now we're looking at about $130 million worth of work," said Mr Curry.
He said the retail precinct would `activate The Esplanade'. Juniper Group is also footing the cost of some of the work done to the public space along The Esplanade in front of its site, with the remainder being carried out by council. "Soul's retail precinct is a natural design which will send people through to The Esplanade. "We are going to recreate beachfront dining in Surfers Paradise which has been dormant for years. It is an evolution of urban design. "Chevron Renaissance started Surfers Paradise's urban renewal.
Mr Kortlang said more than 60 per cent of the tower - to be the second tallest on the Gold Coast, just short of Q1 - had sold unconditionally. The sales team has recorded more than $425 million. "We have had a very solid January. There have been lots of inquiries and we have had three sales, but they have not gone unconditional yet," he said. "There is a lot of interest around from people who are willing to spend. "When you have a prime location, you don't need to discount.
"We are in a classic position." Circle on Cavill took it up one more level and we are going to take it up another level. "Surfers Paradise is one of Australia's largest urban renewal projects, all being constructed by private developers." The retail precinct, which will almost double the number of shops and restaurants along Cavill Mall, will be launched for tender next month.
The tower up to floor 40 will be ready by late 2010, with the remainder set for a 2011 opening. Mr Curry said the structure of the building was unique, as all the floors had oceans views.
Mr Kortlang said more than 60 per cent of the tower - to be the second tallest on the Gold Coast, just short of Q1 - had sold unconditionally. The sales team has recorded more than $425 million. "We have had a very solid January. There have been lots of inquiries and we have had three sales, but they have not gone unconditional yet," he said. "There is a lot of interest around from people who are willing to spend. "When you have a prime location, you don't need to discount. "We are in a classic position."
