The original vision statement for the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct was to "create a cultural centre of gravity... a new, distinctly Gold Coast and distinctly 21st century platform to express ourselves and our pride in our city” - City of Gold Coast.

Cusp was engaged to collaborate with Topotek1 and ARM and develop a landscape design suitable for the climate and context, a coordinated external works package, and construction supervision of the delivery. In 2018, this project was praised by industry leaders, awarded in the Civic and Tourism categories of Landscape Architecture Design Excellence at state and national levels.

The design vision for HOTA's Outdoor Stage focused on integrating built form with the landscape, providing new and exciting opportunities for visitors to engage with public space. Contrary to a stand-alone building, the stage and ancillary areas are enveloped by a lush subtropical landscape, forming a substantial green roof over the facility. A prominent 600 square meter shade structure floats above the stage and landscape.

CUSP designed a public Adventure Trail on the ‘roof’ of the stage facility, which forms an exciting journey to the summit, rewarding visitors with views of the wider cultural precinct, Evandale Lake and Surfers Paradise. Themed landscaped zones suitable to the Gold Coasts sub-tropical climate provide a botanical garden experience within the design. On ground level, grassed terraces, lawns and access paths defined by structured planting cater to the needs of the large events space.

"The community have absolutely embraced this space... you sit on this amazing grass and look at this beautiful sub-tropical landscape, you have a glass of wine, surfers paradise lights up, and it's just this incredible arts experience that they're having." - CEO, HOTA