SOM is working with Gurner Group and Costa Property Group to transform Cunningham Pier in Geelong, Victoria’s second-largest city, southwest of Melbourne. The proposal, featured in The Australian Financial Review, would bring new public spaces, residences, a hotel, and recreation areas to the historic pier on Corio Bay.
The design reimagines the pier as a pedestrian waterfront destination, with more than 10,000 square meters of public space connecting shops, restaurants, and places for leisure and recreation. A 34-story tower at the end of the pier would become Geelong’s tallest building, establishing a new landmark on the bay.
“The architectural design takes inspiration from marine forms and the water itself, culminating in the undulating landmark tower that will shimmer across the open bay,” says SOM Design Partner Scott Duncan.
Rounded buildings with layered terraces would line an elevated public promenade, preserving the historic pier structure below and positioning new construction alongside it. Where the pier meets the city, an interactive aquatic plaza would create a gathering place for families, while floating platforms would extend recreational activities onto the water.
The proposed development includes approximately 280 residences, a 200-room hotel, and 12 waterfront villas with individual yacht berths. The design would also create new marine habitats around the pier, supporting the bay’s biodiversity while offering new ways for people to gather and experience the waterfront.
