Grant Associates behind landscape concept for Penang’s new waterfront park Gurney Wharf
07 MARCH 2016, BATH, UK, PENANG, MALAYSIA
Summary
UK and Singapore based Grant Associates is lead landscape architect behind newly announced proposals for a waterfront public park, including a man-made beach, on Penang’s Gurney Drive in Malaysia.UK and Singapore based Grant Associates is lead landscape architect behind newly announced proposals for a waterfront public park, including a man-made beach, on Penang’s Gurney Drive in Malaysia.
The major new waterfront public park known as Gurney Wharf, is a Penang State Government initiative, which will extend the waterfront of Gurney Drive and be created on reclaimed land totalling over 50 hectares.
The landscape masterplan for Gurney Wharf has been designed by Grant Associates in association with GDP Architects. Divided into four main character areas, the proposed waterfront park features a series of coastal water gardens, a destination retail and restaurant hub, a forest grove and a new 400m long, man-made beach. The aim is to create a new waterfront destination for Malaysia’s peninsular state, building on the ‘park-in-a-city’ design concept.
Gurney Wharf’s water gardens area will feature lush tropical gardens, boardwalks, filter ponds and wetlands that incorporate visually striking and innovative storm water filtration systems.
The retail and restaurant zone will include a terraced waterfront public promenade, seafront dining facilities and a destination pier for events and activities.
A stretch of sandy beach will support a range of water based recreational activities, while the coastal forest grove area will house play facilities and a skate park close to Gurney Drive’s signature row of mature Casuarina trees.
Plans for the land reclamation work have already been approved with proposals for the concept masterplan now on exhibition to the public in Penang’s Gurney Plaza mall. The exhibition was launched on 23rd February 2016 at a high profile event led by Penang Chief Minister Y.A.B. Lim Guan Eng.
The land reclamation work will start in late March 2016 and be carried out by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd (TPD), a subsidiary of Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O), which also appointed the project design team.
If approved, Phase One of Gurney Wharf is expected to be completed by the middle of 2018. The scheme’s extensive water gardens will feature systems similar to those used at Singapore’s highly acclaimed Gardens by the Bay, which was masterplanned by Grant Associates.
Keith French, Director at Grant Associates, commented: “Every aspect of the design concept for Gurney Wharf is about inspiring a sense of place, where people can fully benefit from Penang’s sea frontage.
“Based on the idea of a park-in-a-city, the aim is to create a destination in which communities can gather and enjoy a choice of four distinct areas, each with its own character.
“From tranquil water gardens and wetlands, to vibrant seaside restaurants, and a contemporary play areas and skate park, Gurney Wharf is an ambitious project that will create a new landmark for Penang. We’re hugely excited to be a part of the team delivering this vision.”
Quotes
"Every aspect of the design concept for Gurney Wharf is about inspiring a sense of place, where people can fully benefit from Penang’s sea frontage. Based on the idea of a park-in-a-city, the aim is to create a destination in which communities can gather and enjoy a choice of four distinct areas, each with its own character. From tranquil water gardens and wetlands, to vibrant seaside restaurants, and a contemporary play areas and skate park, Gurney Wharf is an ambitious project that will create a new landmark for Penang. We’re hugely excited to be a part of the team delivering this vision." Keith French, Director at Grant Associates
Images
Download PDF
Download PDFAbout Grant Associates
Grant Associates is a pioneering international landscape architecture practice. Our work reconnects people with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways whilst addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction.
Our design process is underpinned by a knowledge of human behaviour, nature and ecological science combined with innovative design technology. We bring original thinking, creative collaboration and are exploring what regenerative design and the circular economy means to landscape architecture.
Our varied portfolio includes ambitious large-scale, landmark projects through to small, local ventures.