CONTEXTURALISM

CULTURAL AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE

Form and Scale: Regular in shape and scale to integrate into the surrounding area. The number of floors and overall height of the building was chosen for several reasons. To create unity between the residential towers on the western boundary as well as connect the top of the cliff to the Howard Smith Wharves through the building. The top floor lines up with the existing pedestrian pathway cutting underneath bridge. This was important in connecting the surrounding community especially the school at the top of the cliff and the public transport of Fortitude Valley. The shape was deliberately chosen to challange stereotypes about appropriate material for multi level buildings. Challanging the glass facades considered ideal in cities. Is that really appropriate for our climate?

Security: Due to both the 24 hour nature of the site and the close proximity to the Fortitude and CBD night districts security was an important consideration. The two reception points acts as security points at both access points. User are required to register to be able to use the structure by establishing identity and agreeing to the terms and conditions of use of the facilities. Casual users are giver guest passes enabling access to the top cinema/lecture hall and short term use of the other facilities. Areas such as the workshop, safety labs and staff rooms are designed for long term users only due to security, safety and privacy issues. Short term and long term key cards are designed to allow for a secure facility, 24 hour access and establishing respect from users. By signing a contract and paying a small fee for the key card itself it’s hoped that users will respect other users and the facilities. It also gives free access to a late night bus that runs between the building and Roma Street Station after dark.

Physical Permeability: Open café and welcoming reception area on the ground floor allow for both casual users and easy introduction to the program. Tickets to movies or lectures, short term and long term passes can be brought at the reception desks placed at opposite ends of the structure. Designed to be free the building has to deal with security issues outline above.

Social and Cultural Permeability: Access for community to interact with the structure on a casual basis as well as on a more involved level. The ground floor of the enclosed structure was deliberately restricted to a small footprint while integrating the bike path and the existing heritage structures. The bike path cuts through the new and the old developments allowing for permeability through the site. The heritage buildings are used for display of users work, advertising for the programs of the site and selling of scraps in a program modelled after Reverse Garbage at West End