Shutter, Leigh (3B)

Coastal Connections: Green bridges for Gold Coast east-west movement corridors

Associate Professor Leigh Shutter / Griffith University Sarah Briant / QUIRK ICTC 2012 Conference 17 October 2012

“Comparisons of the Gold Coast with California for its lifestyle and self-created imagery, and with Las Vegas for its expressions of excess are common and legitimate. But more striking historical and cultural resemblances can be seen between Australia’s Gold Coast and Florida’s east coast. Both regions were virtually uninhabited in mindset of their respective countries but with the emergence of tourism these places evolved as new territories born out of fantasy and speculations, designed for fun and profit”………………………………

“Both Cities represent new urban phenomena that, unlike traditional cities, are founded on resort and recreation.”

Tory Jones “Resembling Florida” January 2004

Night time Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast Rapid Transit vehicles

Flexity 2 – designed especially for the Gold Coast (includes surfboard storage) 43.5 m long 309 passengers

Gold Coast University Hospital northern end of GCRT Stage 1

Gold Coast Rapid Transit Stage 1 - 13km

Broadbeach southern end of GCRT Stage 1

The Brief: To address current east-west disconnects at key locations in the Gold Coast City • To design and detail a green bridge for pedestrians and bicycles • To demonstrate an ability to undertake a thorough contextual analysis • To propose appropriate architectural intentions about connection and integration • To present clear design intentions for place, culture and legacy

Sunken bridge,Netherlands

Bridge of Sighs, Venice Sydney Harbour bridge

4.Southport

2.Chevron Island

3.Surfers Paradise 1. Evandale Precinct 5.Isle of Capri

“I could tell you how many steps make up the streets rising like stairways, and the degree of the arcades’ curves, and what kind of zinc scales cover the roofs; but I already know this would be the same as telling you nothing. The city does not consist of this, but of relationships between the measurements of space and the events of its past…………”

Italo Calvino Invisible Cities