Proposal
The Oslo Opera House is an excellent example of waterfront urban design and architecture. The defining element, the sloping “carpet” - was specifically designed as common property - a sculpted landscape topography that gives free access for all and becomes a “democratic birthplace of experience.” The roof landscape is clad in stone that traditionally is used for public squares. The intention of the project is to return the site to the public and its natural surroundings. This quality is rarely seen in civic design, harking back to Le Corbusier’s famous five points of architecture. Le Corbusier’s theory emphasized the potential of restoring the area of ground covered by the house and bringing the landscape into the architecture. I hope to incorporate this openness and democratic movement in my idea of the “dérive” - wandering around the site with no fixed direction. The reclamation of site back to nature reflects my initial site studies into small scale reclamation both passive and aggressive.
Wynyard Quarter has brought life to a neglected industrial area, similar in many aspects to the current Bayswater site. The strong use of bright colours in contrast to the “dirtyâ€? waterfront textures is captivating and gives a recognizable personality to the site. The grand axis running through the site promotes informal planning and a focus on pedestrian circulation (drifting) over vehicular traffic. The axis is strong but too commanding in giving a direction, a true dĂŠrive would need several axis in order to create a labyrinthian space. Social activities are scattered throughout the site at folie esque attractions, weaving visitors through a colourful amusement park. This giant, vibrant playground scheme is what I intend to incorporate in my design.
The Pavilions in Britomart are designed as an “urban garden” – a luxury retail and hospitality development. Described as an “adult playground” with a fresh, edgy and stylish vibe, it has become a social mecca in the heart of the city. The buildings are not tall, they allow afternoon light to filter into a space of unpredictable depth. The concealed world within the statement bars and cafes reveals an extra layer to the site of hidden spaces in which to drift, stay and get lost in. The site is quite flashy, a style that is suitable to the CBD but if translated directly to Bayswater may lose the soft, gentle and quiet romance inherent in the site. The ability to sit and take in ones surroundings is essential to “suspend time” in transitory space such as Bayswater.
A strong focus on night time lighting makes the Britomart Pavilions a romantic location for evening activites. Because of the distinct lack of night life activities in Auckland, I intend for the Bayswater site to have a plethora of evening activities, a well designed lighting scheme will help this. Late night revelry is encouraged in the lanes, terraces and intimidate, romantic corners that weave between the anchor points that have become household names in the current NZ social vernacular The focus on high end goods and services is good, but the area is limited in the variety of services provided, perhaps a greater range would urge people to stay in this great space for longer, making it less transitory and captivating visitors for an entire day, not just as evening. The renaming of the Britomart Pavilions has served as an interesting drawcard to people in the CBD - perhaps Bayswater is in need of a high end rebranding similar to this.
DreamCenter is the leading design of the “West Bund Media Port” project, promoted as “a vibrant cultural hub that will inspire a new generation.” The master plan consists of 5 primary anchors of diverse entertainment which draw people throughout the site. Each anchor is its own niche – an attraction completely different architecturally, aesthetically and functionally to its neighbour, giving a massive variety of experience in one area. Like the DreamCenter, I intend for my “A” anchor to be a new ferry terminal on site, something that context investigations have deemed to be vital yet seemingly ignored throughout the years. The rest of these anchors will be dispersed through “smokers spots” investigated on site. This terminal will herald the strong energy and buzz emanating from a new cultural and lifestyle landmark on the Waitemata harbour.
The project at Venice Beach, California tells the story of a whole neighbourhood, not just emphasizing the architectural merits of any one structure. The turn of the century vision was for an “Italianate playland” filled with canals and rollercoasters. The aim was to build a sub-culture; young creative people could play with architecture, a discipline not usually treated in such a way. The revival of Venice Beach did not gloss over the grittier reality of its decline, but used it to inform the aesthetic and mood of the site. Aspects of Bayswater’s “grittier” nature can similarly be transformed and celebrated in the new intervention. Of the initial 10 second drawings taken on site, I have selected a range that best reflect unique elements of the site that can be transformed and celebrated.
The Burj al Arab is considered one of the world’s most opulent waterfront hotels. Designed as an iconic landmark, a building that would be synonymous with Dubai as well as standing out amongst world structures. The sail like shape of the building reflects Dubai’s seafaring heritage and symbolizes a movement towards the future. I hope to reference the nautical motifs found in Bayswater but modernized, nature turned into the manmade. A barnicle as a yacht. The hotel restaurants are designed as one of a kind experiences that entice people(such as the Al Mahara Seafood Undersea restaurant, located underwater). The “B” anchor point in my design will be a hotel restaurant (perhaps seafood) a place where those staying at the hotel can mix with visitors and locals who want a one of a kind experience unique to Bayswater.
Coney Island is well known as the entertainment peninsula in New York City. Due to it’s location— easily reached from Manhattan, yet distant enough to suggest a proper vacation—it began attracting holidaymakers in the 1830s. The original Coney Island Hotel was constructed in 1829, with other hotels opening soon after, each competing to provide an unsurpassed level of elegance. The glorification of the edge of the water, illuminated as a promenade will be utilized in the axis design in my proposal, emphasizing the close relationship to water unique to Bayswater. A retreat which is in contrast to functional city life will make the site an enticing escape for locals, tourists and visitors. To accommodate this, a boutique hotel will be designed as a further “B” anchor, creating a non permanent community, but a holiday-like community atmosphere.
Bayswater is in need of different, entertainment niches to create a labyrinthian space to slow visitors down through this transitory space. Rather than simply moving from A – B as is the current situation, the complex labyrinthian space will encourage a more adventurous route from A to B, perhaps never even reaching B. These high end anchors (a series of “A’s”), located at “smokers spots” will create a dérive – a drifting, undescribed route through the site, slowly and eventually reaching the “B” anchor - a boutique hotel and restaurant. The “A” anchor will be a new ferry terminal and headland - “Matarae” which cradles the peninsula, harking back to the Maori name and ethos of the site. The dérive is necessary to combat the increasingly predictable and monotonous experience of everyday life that can be seen in sites such as Bayswater where the experience is a strictly functional, transitory A to B route.
A social mecca in the heart of the Waitemata harbour will create a theatre for the routines of daily life, enhancing the human experience of drifting in leisure within a highly sophisticated yet distinctly laid back New Zealand vernacular. The proposed residential development will inhibit bustling night life. To build residential will forever change the ethos of the site, transforming it from an “everybodys” space to a “somebodys” space. A high end focus will create a rich, boutique atmosphere in services provided, appeasing the developer and giving the residents a luxurious Auckland experience. Social initiators such as cafes, bars, restaurants, outdoor cinemas, marketplaces, festival spaces and a boutique hotel will serve as the different entertainment niches (“A”s) scattered through the site as urban obstacles in the adult playground-esque environment of Bayswater. Nostalgia seen in the details of natural and historical site will be interwoven in the project to make the Bayswater Precinct a seamless, regional architectural progression of the marina’s history. A rebranding of site will be further explored as part of the proposal.