PROJECT STATEMENT
The most enduring urban environments are shaped by both climate and culture. This project explores how sub-tropical design principles and a mixed use approach can be combined within a single architectural vision, creating a place where living, working, shopping, and wellbeing are woven into everyday life.
Diagram
CHAPTER
01
01.1
The architecture endeavours to integrate a myriad of uses, including health & wellness, retail, food and drink, and the 13 bespoke residences, over four levels. The units were tailoured to meet the individual needs of the purchasers.
How each use is accessed and how it responds and connects to the suburban street interface is what brings this building to life and form part of the local village atmosphere and charismatic community of Ascot.
01.2A
Orientation
The site is situated prominently on the corner of Racecourse Road and Beatrice Terrace.
A quaint treelined street leads passersby admidst shops, cafes and local eateries and up to a large jacaranda tree that was decided early on as an integral part of the site to be maintained.
A core concept of the residences was to embrace the village lifestyle, the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane and the Queenslander home that are hallmarks of the Ascot neighbourhood and its heritage.
01.2B
Orientation
A concept diagram of the level 1 offices and how they area orientated towards the street.
01.2C
Neighbourhood
Views from the western edge of the site, looking out over the neighbourhood.
01.2C
Neighbourhood
A walkable neighbourhood of cafés, boutiques, wellness, and local favourites, woven into the established character of Ascot and the everyday rhythm of Racecourse Road.
01.3A
Sub-tropical Design
The community aspect is reflected in the usage of the building where it encompasses places for living, working and health services. An interesting interplay is created between these uses and how they are shared between the public and residents.
A dedicated residents access (noticeably encompassed by greenery, landscaping and green walls) from Beatrice Tce helps to buffer and provide a journey thru a secluded oasis. Where as the commercial usages feed directly from racecourse rd around the corner, with specific waiting and meeting points integrated into the ground floor to provide placemaking and wayfinding for the public.
01.3B
Sub-tropical Design
A visual connection is maintained in the central atrium, with separately dedicated link bridges interconnecting commercial uses and from walkways up to the residences serving as private access ways to each unit.
01.3C
Sub-tropical Design
A large sculptured stair case through the central atrium provides additional access for residents, and a nod to the former three-storey walk-ups, that were a recognised typology synonymous with Queensland architecture and common throughout the area.
01.3D
Sub-tropical Design
The completed atrium and staircase.
01.4A
Stacking
From the street, the types and uses are differentiated through the strongly articulated façade. A strong recessed horizontal band is established to delineate the commercial from the residential above and to give the illusion that the residences are floating on a plane above the street amongst the treetops.
A concept sketch shown identifys the 4-storeys and ways to articulate through horizontal bands.
01.4B
Stacking
A street elevation drawing prepared for the proposed building and considering the neighbouring heights adjacent and heritage adjacency across the street.
01.5A
Outlook
Life among the treetops was a key concept for the design.
01.5B
Outlook
Apertures are created that direct the outlook of the bedrooms, balconies and living areas of the residences. Framing particular views and providing an elevated outlook to the quite neighbourhood street below.
01.5C
Outlook
Additional screens are provided and integrated into the overall façade design that provides ample shading, and a modernised take on the dappled light that penetrates the treelined canopy of the street below.
01.5D
Outlook
The expansive roof canopy that covers most of the site takes its cues from the tree-lined canopies below as well. The choice of green was made to reflect health and wellness and the individual folds in the pattern are all entirely hand made to reflect the dappled leaves of the jacaranda tree.
01.6A
Integrated Art
Bespoke artworks by artist and metal workerJeremy Herbert (sculpture, greenwalls, public furniture, landscaping elements) adorn the development at various points and help curate the experience for visitors and residents to the building.
01.6B
Integrated Art
Bespoke lobby sculpture adorns the walls to the buildings commercial entry.
01.6C
Integrated Art
Residents enter via bespoke gates inspired by the process of silk weaving. Gates offer glimpses through to the central atrium providing connection and security for the residences, and help to establish a neighbourhood within the building itself.
01.6D
Integrated Art
Handmade by Jeremy Herbert, residential entry gates and letterboxes are adorned with the developments logo.
01.6E
Integrated Art
Each residence had its own numbered plaque, designed by Loucas Zahos, reflecting the bespoke pressed metal soffit panels used throughout the development.
Space
CHAPTER
02
02.1A
Streetscape
Developing the site and giving back to the local community was a key driving force determining the success of the project.
Therefore early investigation was made into how this could be achieved, which trees and existing site features along the peripheral edges could be retained and enhanced to help activate the area, and what were the key vantage points for the community.
02.1B
Streetscape
Early concept sketches explored the retention of the existing tree and the possibility of a café or eatery opening to the intersection.
02.1C
Streetscape
An LZ exemplar that was considered early on in the design process that features a project where semi-translucent sheeting on exposed battens was used on the awning to provide light and protection to the shopfronts
02.1D
Streetscape
Presentation drawings prepared for council explain some design ideology behind the awning and streetscape interface.
02.1E
Streetscape
Presentation drawing prepared for council to present how users might activate the corner as a café or shop
02.2A
Landscaping & Atrium & Back Pod
Landscaping was used to soften the interface at key entry and access points through the site and also to create an appealing privacy buffer around the site towards its existing neighbours.
02.2B
Landscaping & Atrium & Back Pod
A series of 3 diagrams explaining design process to physically detach the back corner apartments minimizing the footprint and providing more access to natural light and cross ventilation to all units
Detail
CHAPTER
03
Facade Detail
03.1A
Facade Detail
An early design sketch of the balustrade system developed for the project
03.1B
Facade Detail
An early design sketch of the front awning and the cladding articulation of the boundary wall on the Racecourse Road approach.
03.1C
Facade Detail
A detail sketch of the custom folded corner balustrade panel.
03.1D
Facade Detail
A 3D exploration of the folded corner balustrade detail.
03.1E
Facade Detail
Some early sketches of the street awning and the tree at the corner. Various cladding options were considered for the level 1 balustrade such as a standing seam roof sheet profile. In the end rendered blockwork was chosen.
03.1F
Facade Detail
More sketches of the standing seam balustrade profile.
03.1G
Facade Detail
Further detail sketching of the perforated metal balustrade type. Exploration of various perforation sizes were made with differing configurations of stanchions.
03.1H
Facade Detail
A detail sketch exploring simplified options that were considered for the stanchion.
03.1I
Facade Detail
3D sketch of the proposed screening to the open stair near the boundary of the site.
03_2A
Soffit Detail
Early design studies exploring the botanical inspiration behind the soffit panel design.
03_2B
Soffit Detail
Photograph of soffit panel productions before painting.
03_2C
Soffit Detail
Photograph of soffit panel installation
03.3A
Ballustrade Detail
A sectional design sketch thru the typical edge fixed glass balustrade, window and ceiling recess to apartment below.
03.3B
Ballustrade Detail
A plan detail sketch of the balustrade and fins combination as they wrap around the front corner of the building.
03.3B
Ballustrade Detail
Balustrade stanchions in production.
03.4A
Awning Detail
A section detail sketch of some of the metal work to the awning.
03.4B
Awning Detail
Custom made cone shaped colonnade columns supporting the retail awning.
03.4B
Awning Detail
Steelwork connecting back to blockwork.
03.4C
Awning Detail
A series of sketch section of the retail canopy.
03.4D
Awning Detail
A sketch section of the pergola
03.4E
Awning Detail
A sample of documentation drawings for the canopy.
03.4F
Awning Detail
A 3D documented image of the column connection.
03.5A
Central Atrium Detail
Early design studies exploring material selections for the internal walkways, including the use of brickwork to add warmth and character.
03.5B
Central Atrium Detail
A sketch of the concourse, brickwork and main gallery.
03.5C
Central Atrium Detail
Various brick colours were considered in situ
03.5D
Central Atrium Detail
A sketch of some of the planters and green walls throughout the central atrium.
03.5E
Central Atrium Detail
Other green wall types were considered including grow wires, hanging pots and integrated planters.
03.5F
Central Atrium Detail
Further design development sketches explored planting ideas throughout the development.
03.6A
Services Detail
Sketches of a sump and drainage connection with overflow down pipes. Ways to integrate into the buildings cladding system to conceal services were considered throughout.
03.6B
Services Detail
Concealed services resolved sketch.
03.7A
Interior Detail
Interior study exploring high level glazing to introduce natural light into deeper apartment spaces.
03.7B
Interior Detail
Interiors sketches and cabinetry development.
03.7C
Interior Detail
Entry door jamb and architrave treatment
03.7D
Interior Detail
Markups were prepared of joinery amendments as the project developed.
03.7E
Interior Detail
Further detailed markups.
03.7F
Interior Detail
Kitchen island bench development.
03.7G
Interior Detail
Finished kitchen island bench.
