BEN PEAKE ben@benpeake.com +61 432 656 838 11239516
CONTENTS Hybrid: Sussex Cut, 2012
With over 50% of the world’s population now living in cities we have delivered fresh air to the car, while we channel ourselves underground. The commuter as the machine of consumption is efficiently transported from home to the central business district on a daily basis. What enjoyment, what pleasure can be had of the city? What choice do we have? Above or below the 80km/h express way? To avoid being urban decorators Architects must challenge authority, we must destroy the tunnel and give the city back to people....
In a similar fashion that the Western Distributor was constructed through the site in the 1970’s the proposal suggests the removal or Margaret street to create an open air tunnel. The objective is to create a dramatic route for the morning commute, by removing cutting through urban fabric by removing Margaret Street. This is a challenge to the way urban infrastructure has been integrated into the city in the past, and it is a clear message, new infrastructure should respond to the needs of pedestrians. Furthermore, the cut assist the commuter in experiencing the city more like a local tourist. Moving from the compressive nature of the tunnel into the void encourages the pedestrian to look upwards. The verticality of the surrounding walls drives the gaze upwards to see the city towering above. Twelve metres below Margaret St ground level, the view forms an dynamic aperture that changes with daily weather conditions.
SUSSEX CUT View from the proposal pedestrian walkway following the removal of Margaret Street.
30,000m2
In the immediat, 500m radius, area surrounding the Sussex Street site over thiry thousands square metres is given to the Western Distributor.
5% Five Percent This equates to five percent of the available land surrounding the site being occupied by the Western Distributor. While there are numerous examples of buildings below this cut throught the city, the road prevents increases in density through vertical living.
230,300 People
If an additional 5% of land were was found within the city, and lead to an increasing in population of 5% this represents an increase of two hundred and thirty thousand residnets. What other opportunities are there to re-occupy the city, and place people above cars? 100m Western Distributor: 30,047 m2 1:10,000 Land Area: 604,213 m2
30,000m2
30,00 30,
5% Five Percent
5% 5% F
230,300 People
230,3 230
In the immediat, 500m radius, area surrounding the Sussex Street site over thiry thousands square metres is given to the Western Distributor.
This equates to five percent of the available land surrounding the site being occupied by the Western Distributor. While there are numerous examples of buildings below this cut throught the city, the road prevents increases in density through vertical living.
If an additional 5% of land were was found within the city, and lead to an increasing in population of 5% this represents an increase of two hundred and thirty thousand residnets. What other opportunities are there to re-occupy the city, and place people above cars?
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If anIf additi an a foundfound withi increasing increas represents represe and and thirtyth otherother opp re-occupy re-occu above above cars?
100m Western Distributor: 30,047 m2 1:10,000 Land Area: 604,213 m2
100m 1:10,0 1
RE-OCCUPY
In the immediate, 500m radius, area surrounding the Sussex Street site over thirty thousands square metres is given to the Western Distributor. This equates to five percent of the available land surrounding the site being occupied for the vehicle. While there are numerous examples of buildings below this cut through the city, the road prevents increases in density through vertical living. Re-occupying 5% of land in Sydney, and building at current density would provide homes for two hundred and thirty thousand new residents. What other opportunities are there to re-occupy the city, and place people above cars?
SECTION: BARRANGARROO TO WYNYARD Scale: 1:500
WATER EDGE The proposed cut and walkway terminate at the waters edge, providing a place for lunch-break contemplation & connection to nature.
SUSSEX STREET Pedestrian Priority Lights at Sussex Street Crossing
ART GALLERY The Art Gallery building form links Sussex Street and Kent Street, and provides a cultural attraction to daily commuters.
MARGARET STREET SECTION When a tunnel isn’t a tunnel. The Margaret Street section is an attraction in itself, and a reaction to Transport NSW goal of efficient commuter movement through the city.
CLARENCE STREET PORTAL Following the Art Gallery’s fenestration the Clarence Street portal provides an entry void to the Sussex Cut, and Wynyard Station.
Pedestrian Priority Lights at Sussex Street corssing
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS INTEGRATED WITH COMMUTER JOURNEY Using the changing levels between Kent and Sussex Streets the Art Gallery creates a pedestrian and bicycle link through the site, while offering the commuter a cultural, tourist like experience on their commute. During off-peek hours the area can be used by school groups or visiting tourists.
CommercialOffices
3 Bedroom Terrace
Commercial Offices
Housing
Circulation Spine
Golf Pro Shop
Nightclub Dance Floor
Nightclub Bar
Chapel
Sussex Hotel
Ramp to Kent Street
Art Gallery
Art Gallery
Foyer
Cafe
Art Gallery
Pedestrian Walkway
ELEVATED WORKING & LIVING AREA The proposed elevated sky park, residential apartments, and commercial offices are placed above the western distributor. An investigation into ways existing urban infrastructure can be re-occupied, the proposal is a statement - people over cars. Finding an additional 5% of new land in Sydney, and using this space to build at current density, could result in housing for an additional 230,000 residents.
7F
6F
Sky Park
Pro Shop
Golf Practice into Netts
5F 1:500
8-12F
7F
6F
5F
4F
3F
2F
1F
Private Program
Public Program
Program Distribution
Spatial Circulation
3 Bedroom
Art Gallery
Civic
2 Bedroom
Chapel
Residential
Sky Park & Public Circulation
1 Bedroom
Nightclub
Commercial
Private Circulation
Cafe
Vertical
PROGRAM & CIRCULATION
NIGHTCLUB The Nightclub, ‘tank’, is placed within the elevated sky park structure. Large steel trusses divide the space, and reinforced concrete plant boxes protrude from the sky park to create a nightspot floating above the western distributor.
Sussex Cut Walk-through
Hybrid tunnels the Western Distributor
SEQUENCE Inverting the car/pedestrain relationship by removal of Margaret Street, and covering the Western Distributor. By destroying the pedestraian tunnel the city has been given back to people.
Sussex Street Site
Iterative Models
Sketches & Diagrams
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
BEN PEAKE ben@benpeake.com +61 432 656 838