Victoria
Altona Pier is a much-loved community landmark that has played a vital role in the growth of the suburb since the 1800s, enjoyed for promenading, swimming, fishing, boating and socialising.
In 2020, Parks Victoria with government stakeholders highlighted the need for a new pier. Community engagement informed a project vision underpinned by multiple objectives.
A key design move realigns the new pier to strengthen the axis and relationship with Pier St and the Altona commercial precinct. The geometry is crafted to provide an experiential quality and fulfill the functional brief, including recycling timber from the original pier.
The design tackles the competing requirements of a high impact public realm in a marine environment to mitigate wave overtopping, resolve robust detailing and prefabricated components to reduce environmental impact, and achieve a pier of civic generosity and accessibility that supports multiple community activities to elevate Altona Pier as an iconic destination.
JCBA’s Altona Pier design has breathed new life into this maritime structure. Delivering on much more than functionality and durability, the new design is better integrated into the surrounding community, having been newly aligned to historic Pier St.
The pier includes beautiful timber features, is elegantly curved and enhances this community facility while attracting more visitation to the area. With communal seating comprised of recycled pier timber, the new pier contains a valuable connection to the past, an important element for this community. Altona Pier’s vehicle turning access also means easier maintenance for operational teams and emergency access.
Graham Burrows, Design Director
Veryan Curnow, Project Director
Saba Komarzynski, Project Architect
Malissa Phey, Architect
AW Maritime, Maritime Engineer (Design Partner)
Bryce Raworth, Historical Heritage Advisor
CEE, Marine Ecology Advisor
du Chateau Chun, Universal Access Advisor
Ecology and Heritage Partners, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisor
Electrolight, Lighting Consultant
EnviroME, Statutory Approvals + Town Planning Advisor
FJP Safety Advisors, Safety In Design Advisor
Geotesta, Geotechnical Assessment
Gertzel, Bathymetric & Feature/Level Survey
North Projects, Cost Planning & Risk Management
Peter Bennetts, Heritage Record Photography
Site Office, Landscape Architect (Design Partner)
Traffix Group, Traffic Engineer
WSP, Structural & Services Engineer
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
