Karrinyup is a coastal suburb 12km north of Perth’s CBD, uniquely positioned with Perth’s beloved beaches to the west, Lake Gwelup to the east, and biodiverse Bush Forever reserves across the road. The latest stage in the centre’s evolution sought not just to expand its retail offering from 54,400sqm to 109,000sqm, but to reimagine the big-box typology entirely.
Co-design firms Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick and Hames Sharley (TRHS) worked closely with the client to identify three principles critical to the project’s successful delivery: authenticity, connectivity and diversity. The team sought to create a town centre with a unique genius loci — a destination epitomising ‘coastal cool’ and ‘casual sophistication’ that would become the heart of the Karrinyup community.
To instill the centre with an authentic Karrinyup sensibility, an investigation was undertaken of the area’s contexts and characteristics. This inspired a layered design language of organic forms, natural textures and coastal colours across both the exterior and interior. The design narrative recalls beach paths, boat hulls, local flora and landscapes, which are expressed with nuance, not grandiose gesture. The result is aspirational yet also innately familiar, encouraging a natural sense of comfort.
Connectivity with the immediate environs was realised via two strategies. The first was accessibility: the centre now incorporates large, bold, sweeping facades that emphasise the pedestrian access at the east, west and south entrances—the latter providing immediate access to Karrinyup Bus Port, the locale’s major public transport interchange.
The second strategy was outlook: large internal volumes, the glazing of major entries and sinuous rolling skylights summon the trademark airiness and abundant natural light that typifies Perth beaches—at once deepening the centre’s connection to place, and further eschewing the ‘big box’ trope. As shoppers move throughout the premises, view corridors open up to the surrounding streets, with upper levels offering both near and distant aspects toward the CBD, hills, coastline and Lake Gwelup.
The diversity of uses proposed for the expanded centre required detailed consideration of visitation drivers and frequency, so everyday and occasional shoppers alike could navigate the centre with the same ease and enjoyment. The retail masterplan responds to these needs with a number of intimately-scaled precincts. While the precincts have diverse and distinct characteristics, they are linked by common design threads and present a unified and cohesive narrative.
The result is an architectural design that sets new global benchmarks for retail experiences, attracts cutting-edge international brands and provides a new community hub. The project’s success, evident in its leasing outcomes, can be attributed to the highly collaborative working relationships TRHS established and maintained over many years with our client (AMP), asset owner (Unisuper), builder (Multiplex), consultant team and subcontractors.
