The developers of a new $270 million retail development in Western Australia say they have ‘thrown out the rule book’ to create an experience that cannot be found anywhere else in Australia.
Construction has commenced on Kings Square in Fremantle, which will see the former Myer and Queensgate buildings transformed into a borderless retail, food and dining destination.
The redevelopment is a joint project between developer Sirona Capital and the City of Fremantle, and has been years in the making.
Sirona Capital managing director Matthew McNeilly said the precinct, dubbed ‘FOMO’, will challenge conventional thinking.
“FOMO will be a complete game changer for the industry,” he said. “We saw a once in a generation opportunity to harness the unique personality of Fremantle to create a retail environment where the journey will be as important as the destination.
“FOMO will create bold, daring connections for people to sit in, walk through and engage with as they wander and explore. The traditional delineation between retail offerings will be replaced with open planes of sight and an organic and free-flowing experience.”
The precinct will encompass Street Alley, Tidal Lane, Newman Court and emporium. Newman Court will blend together a mix of slow food, fast and fresh food before morphing into stores selling homewares, fashion and handmade items.
Retail architect and HDR principal Susanne Pini, who designed the precinct, said the architectural intent behind the project was to invite dialogue with the surrounding places and spaces of Fremantle.
“The double storey emporium will be the centrepiece, where FOMO becomes a cool container for an eclectic mix of organic and free-flowing retail concepts with a borderless experience,” she said.
There will also be The Daily, which will be part workspace, part gallery and part retail space.
Sitting above FOMO will be office space leased to the WA state government, which will house more than 1,500 state government employees.
City of Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the precinct will provide an economic boost to the city.
“Created in many ways by the community for the community, FOMO will be a hub of art, architecture, culture, retail, and food experiences unique to Fremantle’s identity,” he said.
“This ambitious redevelopment will be a trigger for renewal and will provide a massive economic boost for surrounding areas.”
The project is expected to be completed in late 2019 and will also delver a new City of Fremantle civic administration centre and library as well as enhanced public spaces.
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