Senia Lawyers’ Andrew Senia visits a Gold Coast icon.
THE NUMBER of entries to the Icon for Geelong competition is ramping up with the deadline fast approaching.
Constant calls, emails and letters about the Icon for Geelong competition have flowed in from top architects to architectural students and local families.
The competition is seeking a landmark of artistic merit and beauty to promote Geelong around the world – and Senia Lawyers is offering $10,000 to the winning design.
Principal Andrew Senia said he was extremely pleased the competition was drawing a high calibre entries from architects, including Melbourne’s Simon Hill.
Mr Hill has worked on significant projects including a $4 million multi purpose community facility in Daylesford, extensions to global agribusiness Rijk Zwaan Australia’s property near Daylesford, concept work for a proposed $6m to $10m Cycle Gallery, a proposed Eco Tourist Development and a marine research centre tourist development.
Mr Senia visited the Gold Coast during the Christmas break to check out Broadbeach’s iconic twin Oracle apartment buildings.
He said the design of the buildings, by leading architects DBI, “echoed the changing coastline with its elliptical lines”.
The two 40- and 50-storey Oracle towers have 505 apartments, a five-star hotel, shops and commercial office space and are among the tallest on the Gold Coast.
Leading businessman Frank Costa earlier threw his support behind Geelong’s icon being a significant new building.
Mr Costa suggested an iconic building providing both an attraction for tourists while serving a practical purpose.
“Balfours corner could host a 10-storey building with fantastic views over the bay,” Mr Costa suggested.
Prospective entrants have until January 28 to lodge their designs, with the winner announced on March 11.
The head of Deakin University’s school of architecture and building, Professor Hisham Elkadi, produced a design brief for competition entries.
The Icon competition is sponsored by the Independent.
The design brief is available at geelongindependent.com.au/iconbrief.
Entries can be sent via email to icon@geelongindependent.com.au or by post to Icon for Geelong, PO Box 407, Geelong, 3220.
