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INTERNATIONAL & INTERSTELLAR SQUARES PLAN scale 1.500 Final LEGEND
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1. Gallery [from Fed Square] 2. Arts Square [entrance] 3. Hotel 4. Cafe/Restaurant 5. Hostel 6. Bar 7. America Square [market] 8. Africa Square [market] 9. Europe Square [market] 10. Asia Square [market] 11. Oceania Square [market] 12. Amusement Park 13. Constellation Playground 14. Astronomy School 15. Gallery 16. Planetarium
The inspiration for the project came from the surroundings consideration that includes Federation Square and the new project for Flinders St Station. This relation allowed the partition of the site in two different themes: an International Square that represents the Multiculturalism hugely present in Melbourne and an Interstellar Square which includes a planetarium and a thematic amusement park. The organic circulation was inspired by the Olympic symbol (5 continents) and by the galaxies and the universe.
Despite the relation between the neighbour sites, the site visit to Federation Square during a Festival inspired me about what the new square needs: a new space that is big enough to arrange a big Culture Festival, but that could be used for another purpose in other days, like a market that sells products from all the continents. Moreover, the project aims to be used during different times of the day and night, giving life to the city through a night market, a planetarium and a hotel, for instance.
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Flinders Federation International Interstellar
INTERNATIONAL & INTERSTELLAR SQUARE sabrina kurmann 706297
>DETAIL1 >interaction >art 3.0
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DETAIL GRAFFITI WALL PLAN scale 1.200
The main entrance will have 6 big walls with different heights available for “free art” such as graffiti. The idea is a changeable space that is always different, like an extension of what already happens in the lane ways, such as Hosier Lane, but now as a highlight in an open space and with available workshops fo the beginners and children.
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The first detail represents the artistic and interactive aspects of the new square that can be noticed already in the main entrance. The corner of Russell St and Flinders St was carefully designed in order be inviting and attractive. It was possible due the extension of the third level of Federation Square [already studied by Fed Square’s architects] that will connect the International Square through a gallery that ends in the Art Square [an open space with workshops and exposition that changes all the time]. The internal road for touristic buses will be maintained and will be also an access for the underground car parking. Another interesting feature presented in the new square is the interactive Constellation Playground next to the Amusement Park. The ground will have the constellation drawing and a system that lights up when something touches it: when all the stars that correspond a constellation are being activated, a big screen in the Ferris wheel will light up the constellation and its corresponding name. This game will be a source of fun and astronomic knowledge for the children and also for adults.
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CONSTELLATION PLAYGROUND PLAN scale 1.500
The hotel and the hostel will have the ground floor as an open space supported by concrete portals that will also be a place for art expression: the largest column is reserved for graffiti and the straightest one to vegetation.
DETAIL PORTAL ELEVATION scale 1.200
INTERNATIONAL & INTERSTELLAR SQUARE sabrina kurmann 706297
SITE PLAN
scale 1.1250
Car parking The International and Interstellar Squares will keep the road that continues Russell St because it will also be access to the underground car parking. It can also be accessed through Federation Square and from the existing road that passes behind Batman Avenue. The idea of a market is also sustainable because it will decrease the traffic during the rush hour. Instead of using Flinders St Station just as a connection to other trains and trams, the people will take the opportunity of buying groceries, for instance, before coming back home.
Skylight openings [inspired by Piano’s California Academy of Sciences]
The sustainable strategies used in the new project basically come from two sources of energy/material: the sun and the rain. The sunlight is transformed into electricity by the photovoltaic solar panels in the roof of the Planetarium Complex that are facing north and are exactly at the right angle for the maximum efficiency in Melbourne: a pitch of 30 degrees. Moreover, the buildings use natural light which reduces the consume of electricity and the circulation allows the good wind flow that can be important for natural cooling during the hot days. Furthermore, the Planetarium Complex includes an amphitheater that can be used as a rainwater storage when the buildings’ green roof are not enough for a huge amount of water.
Green Roof accessible for people [vistas: yarra river, arts precinct, birrarung marr & fed square]
PLANETARIUM COMPLEX PLAN scale 1.500
Solar Panels [facing north at right angulation]
PLANETARIUM COMPLEX LONGITUDINAL SECTION scale 1.500
UNDERGROUND CAR PARKING ACCESS
BRIDGE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLE
>DETAIL2 >sustainability >access
Car parking expansion
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INTERNATIONAL & INTERSTELLAR SQUARE
OCEANIA SQUARE PLAN scale 1.200
The Oceania Square will have the interactive path that shows the train movement underneath in real time [explained and demonstrated below] and deciduous trees, such as Oak, that has different behavior depending on the season in order to represent the Melbourne’s weather characteristics. The trees’ choice will be the same for the whole area. The ground of the Oceania Square also references the train tracks underneath as a proof that we cannot ignore the previously existing condition. The train lines are “deconstructed” by different materials in order to create a new design that includes the interactive path and the grass areas.
The materials used in International and Interstellar Square are basically tiles, concrete, water, grass, photovoltaic panels and glass. The site will be more well shaded than Federation Square through the great use of trees. Moreover, the new project has a more “green approach” than its neighbour that is considered and Urban Square.
The site will have 3 ponds that harmonizes the ambience and cools down the temperature during the hot summer. It also has fountains in the main entrance. The two ponds inside the market complex represents the two largest oceans: the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The Oceania Square, characterised by Australian products and culture will have a pond with the Australian map design.
The Oceania Square will have a special interaction with the train tracks: there will be a 50cm path crossing the square exactly above the original train track that will light up in real time when the train passes by. Despite the light, the Australian pond will also have fountains through the linear train path that will “dance” according to the trains' movement underneath. The system will contain sensors that allows the creation of this innovative and interactive path that makes allusion at the importance of the train in the Australian and Melbourne history.
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sabrina kurmann 706297
>DETAIL3 >culture >train
The Oceania Square is one of the most important spaces in the International Square and because of that, is bigger than the squares of the other continents. As the rest of the complex, the Oceania Square will have a daily market that will close in special occasions such as a Culture Festival [it will use the space of all the continents square, representing the junction of all the nations in one]. The market structure can be moved and stored in the underground which allows the flexibility aimed by the project. The market can also have a different organisation, depending on the season for example.
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