Blurring the lines between retail offering and civic amenity, Castle Towers is a lifestyle destination that unifies retail, dining and entertainment, providing a bustling urban town centre for the Hills District community and visitors.
Stage One provided a pedestrian link from Castle Hill Metro Station to Castle Towers’ new marketplace and food court, which celebrates the centrality of food in the local community’s daily lives. The revitalised space is abuzz with fresh-food retailers, specialty grocers, cafés and refurbished Coles supermarket.
Buchan collaborated with local interior design practice Luchetti Krelle, integrating their design to reimagine the food court as a welcoming space for people to eat, meet, work and unwind.
Ceilings and upholstery feature artwork by local artist Oliver Watts and are inspired by a forest environment. To enhance the sense of light and space, Buchan developed a dynamic ceiling system comprising colourful suspended blades that screen services and the building structure and give a sense of greater volume.
Alongside the convenience and fresh food market place is a remixed fashion and lifestyle retail offering set across level two and three of the centre, anchored by David Jones. Flooded with natural light from a skylight above, a large central void area promotes connectivity between each level, capitalising on view lines and providing visitors with a sense of place as they move through the centre. Each retail level applies a distinct design concept which complements the tenancy mix: level two is casual and contemporary, featuring warm tones and textural finishes which create a relaxed and natural environment; level three offers shoppers premium comfort, with a sophisticated design that features fluid forms and luxurious materials.
Castle Towers’ multi-year transformation included the significant renovation of The Piazza dining precinct which features a new transparent roof and a series of garden courtyards to protect patrons from the elements, enabling them to enjoy the popular precinct year-round.
A shared on-site studio enabled the project team to work closely with QIC GRE to realise its vision; while regular design workshops are resulting in a dynamic and interactive designer-client relationship, with the ability to investigate and verify existing conditions onsite.
