PASSAGE AS PLACE

LACH5422 Design Studio - Making Unit Coordinator: Gillian Rodoreda 2022 open spaces for gathering informal passage formal passage water as passage

Located on the east end of Perth, the Fire Station car park is an area characterised by its lack of native vegetation, context to its surrounding area and history, and inviting, safe spaces to pause and gather. In an area where cultural history and heritage is high, the potential for meaningful movement is underutilised. Exploring the idea of 'passage', this project aimed to create a green urban space that reflects elements of movement whilst also creating spaces that consider the ecological context and significance of the Derbal Yerrigan. Designed to reflect the organic movement of water, this passage was designed with three main strategies; the inclusion of a planted swale which forms the main element of the site; formal and informal pathways that snake around the swale to create a relationship and interaction between passages; and heavy vegetation between surrounding spaces to bring biodiversity into an urban setting.

The design incorporates 3 types of passage; informal passages which are designed to allow areas of pause and contemplation separate from the fast paced movement of the city environment; a formal passage acting as an area of swift urban movement to cater for the busy travel between Hay street and Murray Street; and water as a passage to reflect the environmental context of the site, bringing water back into the urbanised landscape as was once seen before the built city. The planted spaces are to have a mixture of existing trees that frame the formal passage and thoroughfare, and newly planted trees that increase canopy and act as a buffer to the harsh urban edge, reducing urban heat. The planting follows the form of the pathways, reflecting the moment of water and Perth's unique range of biodiversity, with the inclusion of waterwise planting that also aims to bring colour and more-than-human species back into the site.

Designed to reflect the organic movement of water, this passage has three main strategies; planted swale which is the main element within the site; formal and informal pathways snaking around the swale; and heavy vegetation in the between spaces to bring biodiversity. The planted spaces are to have a mixture of existing and newly planted trees, not wanting to remove the current canopy but in stead increasing it to reduce urban heat and to give shade to seated spaces. The site is to follow the natural slope of the existing contours, however the main communal space frames within the proposed mixed use built form is to be level, with stairs to be placed to create more seating and to counteract the change in contours.

A path that allows for areas of pause and contemplation, surrounding ones self with the proposed nattural and waterwise planting. Main path within the design, acting as an area of swift urban movement to those not wishing to linger.

This planted swale creates an area that reflects the environmental context of the site, bringing water back into the urbanised landscape.

Accessibility Sun Dial

Easy accessibility for cars and pedestrians, however not as safe for pedestrians due to lack of appropriate path.

Land Use

Large mix of land use, from hospitals, schools, hotels, apartments, heritage sites, offices, and Universtiy buildings. This means there are lots of stakeholders that have potential use of the area.

Water Movement Wind Rose

Sun diagram shows that it can be quite exposed in the middle of the day due to lack of tall buildings (except for the large hotel to the west of the site).

Ecosystem Mapping Water Analysis

Contours show that the site slopes at a south angle towards the river, making water flow head in a similar south direction.

Wind diagram shows majority of the wind coming from a north easterly direction.

Urban Mapping

SECTIONS & MATERIALS

The design encompassed and explored two sections; 'areas of movement' and 'areas of gathering'.

Areas of movement are characterised by continuious organic paths that encourage movement along the vegetated swale, primarily focused on ones place within the landscape and reflecting the ecological context of the site.

The area of gathering is characterised by a large open space within the centre of the site, encouraging people to pause and engage with the community, reflecting the urban context of the site itself.

Softscape Details

Hardscape Details