Week Fifteen: Project Two Summarising Statement

In a city of advancing technology, increasing population and its establishment of itself on a global scale as a conference centre, the building is focused on responding to the social condition that exists within the future scenario. The Brisbane CBD has become centralised, with a dramatic increase of citizens living in the Brisbane CBD, where educational facilities, housing, workplaces, community facilities, transport systems and recreational areas have all seen the need to become integrated into the urban fabric. Brisbane will also attract an influx of tourists to the city with its expansion and establishment of itself on an international scale and thus requires more destinations for tourists to visit and learn about the Brisbane culture. The proposed Cultural Centre aims to service the community and international visitors in order to meet their needs both culturally and socially, thus emphasising the importance of these aspects in the future scenario. Currently, there are limited cultural nodes within the CBD itself and those that exist are quite minor. Cultural nodes are a major attraction within cities, both to locals and tourists. The transformation of the site into a Cultural Centre will draw a diverse range of people to the proposed building where this will act as a platform where tourists and locals may meet and interact in their exposure to culture.

With increased residential density and population living in the CBD in 2025, the proposed scheme aims to strengthen urban community involvement amongst locals and tourists in a densified environment with restricted open space for recreation and pedestrian activity. This will be achieved through increased open spaces, new streetscapes, providing community facilities, improved infrastructure and more efficient movement. This will create a network of social nodes to encourage an active community lifestyle. The new cultural centre will contribute to this proposed network the new cultural centre will create an integral link between these two public spaces, thus strengthening their relationship. Furthermore, I have proposed the development of a network of greenways surrounding the site in Adelaide, Queen and Albert Streets following the drastic reduction of vehicular activity within the CBD due to the introduction of the congestion charge. These greenways will strengthen the connectivity of public spaces and create pedestrian friendly zones. The greenways will still allow limited vehicular access as well as providing adequate access for cyclists along these paths.

The building imposes its presence on the streetscape, not through its form but through its Ground Level functions. The Cultural Centre’s second function as a public thoroughfare bordered by retail outlets creates a direct connection between Adelaide Street and Burnett Lane, attracting an influx of pedestrian flow in the area. The building blends in with the existing streetscape with its incorporation of the existing facade in the design. Being a cultural building, it was important to preserve this historic facade, in order to preserve the Brisbane identity and traditional vernacular architecture. 

The building form reflects the interactive nature of the building’s function in its establishment as a new social node for the Brisbane CBD. The building form will be conducive of social gathering, learning and collaborating. The building will also lend itself to the various sights of Brisbane that can be seen from this site; the urban grit of Burnett Lane, the magnificent City Hall and King George Square beyond. The building aims to create a relaxing, urban environment. It is a place for social interaction, educational classes, events, entertainment and exhibitions. It functions as a tourist attraction, bringing a diverse crowd of tourists and locals to the site. The building will incorporate cultural facilities that encourage the appreciation of cultural diversity, as well as serve as entertainment purposes. It is my vision that the expression of culture, through the arts, will attract the community and tourists to come together to be entertained and intrigued. The Cultural Centre will form the beginning of the growth of a network of proposed social nodes dispersed throughout the CBD to strengthen urban community involvement.

The Cultural Centre combines retail, small informal gathering spaces, exhibition spaces, a cafe and bar, educational facilities and a small performing space. Against these functions, the courtyard communicates with the public realm. The naturally-ventilated, flexible and informal balcony spaces bordering the southern edges of the building are designed to overlook the urban short-cut, thereby allowing the public to see the activities within the building. These balconies, along with the rooftop area allow access to the surrounding city views in a variety of new and interesting ways.

The Cultural Centre contains simple, flexible spaces. The four levels are visually connected from all the circulation spaces, to the public areas below. This environment is simple, practical, bright, allows airflow and is designed for maximum flexibility and sustainability. Classrooms, studios and circulation are all naturally ventilated, through windows on the facade and through to the curtain walls on the opposite. The green façades within the site are environmental filters, preventing glare entering the building and keeps the various rooms cool. The design creates two visually connected components, a space for public communication below, and a space for safe, controlled interaction above. This design achieves porosity and communication with the public and the wider arts community in the public spaces, and a secure and safe learning environment in the more private spaces.