Backers of Cottesloe Beach redevelopment face unexpected response to design plans

A plan to redevelop the Indiana Teahouse on Perth’s Cottesloe Beach has been temporarily halted, with Minderoo Group announcing it will need more time to consider options for the site.

Owned by Perth-based mining industrialist Andrew Forrest, the Minderoo Group purchased the Cottesloe landmark last year and launched a competition among high-profile architects to redesign the beachside restaurant.

However, of the two finalists, the competition jury's preferred plan - submitted by Sydney-based firm Durbach Block Jaggers (DBJ) - was the least popular among the public.

As reported by the ABC, only 10% of people who voted during an extensive community consultation period supported the DBJ plan, while the majority (53%) were in favour of a concept from rival Kerry Hill Architects (KHA).

More than a third of the votes (37%) were in favour of retaining and refurbishing the Teahouse.

In a statement, Minderoo Group co-founder Nicola Forrest advised that the Group was "exploring other redevelopment options" following "mixed" feedback during eight community consultation sessions.

Nicola Forrest added “we want to consider the community feedback and explore a design that we're confident will be an improvement to the current site.

"We want to provide an Indiana all Western Australians can be proud of, but we also want to significantly improve the amenity for everyone visiting Cottesloe Beach."

Minderoo said while most attendees at the eight consultation sessions agreed an upgrade was required, there was concern about how the "new designs would integrate with the surrounding landscape".

The two final designs featured swimming pools and curved, multi-level buildings, representing a marked increase in scale relative to the Teahouse building.

While some residents were critical of the proposed redevelopment, others within the local business community were supportive.

Minderoo said it hoped to begin planning discussions with the Town of Cottesloe "in coming months".

Images: Kerry Hill Architects' redesign plan won the popular vote among the public for a new facility on Cottesloe Beach (top, courtesy of Kerry Hill Architects) and developer Minderoo Group's preferred design which the public largely rejected (below, courtesy of Durbach Block Jaggers).