Southern Place tower

Location

Duration

Project Tutor

Melbourne, Victoria

Applied Architectural Technology, 2021 (Master of Architecture)

Hybrid High Rise Building in Melbourne CBD

Dr Giorgio Marfella

The proposed tower sits in a prominent location in Melbourne CBD, with its west and south facades being highly visible from afar. Sitting opposite Southern Cross Station, where there is high pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the tower’s site provides the opportunity to utilise its connection to the surrounding context to dictate the vertical strategy.

Beginning from the placement of the tower, the inclusion of a public open area was specified as a requirement for the site and hence the positioning of the tower towards the southern end of the site allows for this space to be opened for this purpose. This was also a direct response to sunpaths which would allow more daylight to reach the northern end of the site as opposed to placing the tower on the north and the public open space on the south which would suffer from overshadowing. A plot ratio (FAR) of 15:1 and minimum floor plate efficiency values were used to help our initial calculations of the number of floors, height and building footprint we should pursue. The buildings height was maximised to make use of the extensive views above the CBD, further informing our building design to create a tall and slender building mass. In addition, to extend views towards the Yarra River on the Southwest, the corresponding corner of the building was chamfered, also acting as an indication of the possible entrances to the building.

SITE

SCALE

Design Development

MASSING Using the FAR value to calculate the total GFA allowed and positioning our massing towards one end of the site allowed the introduction of a garden.

SITE RESPONSE To maximise views towards the Yarra River, the South West edge of the tower was chamfered. This new facade also faces Southern Cross Station, forming a relationship with the high traffic flow from that area.

CORE DESIGN To cater to the potential users of the site, the configuration and design of the core ensurs efficient and smooth circulation within the building while achieving highest possible floor plate efficiency.

FLOORPLATE DESIGN

Following the core design, leasing depth was considered. A maximum depth of 12m from the edge of the floorplate to the external wall of the core is implemented on all floors.

CROWN DESIGN The crown design follows the language of the tower, responding to the chamfered edge and contributing to Melbourne’s