The Nautilus Project

T H E

N A U T I L U S

Architectural Design Studio 4 - Construction Swinburne University, 2019 Charlotte M 1

Design Brief | INTRODUCTION

Located in Victoria Harbour, Melbourne, the Nautilus project will become the Docklands centre for exhibitions, marine research and boat building.

The proposal addresses the need for a multi-use commercial building, that provides significant public amenity.

The design consists of a boat building warehouse, education facilities, a marine exhibition and research centre, a ferry transport hub, an art gallery and function space, a cafĂŠ and a seafood restaurant and bar.

2

A large percentage of the site area is dedicated to open green spaces. The aim of this is to encourage community engagement by providing areas for outdoor exhibitions, cinemas, festivals and other similar events.

These spaces for gathering intend to re-establish the connection between the waterfront area and the community.

The Nautilus project will serve Melbourne City and its residents and visitors, as the place to work, exhibit, make and experience.

Design Brief | RESPONSE

‘A journey through a tunnel can be long, short, winding or straight, a series of directed steps or movement that leads to a sometimes known or unknown destination.’

- Noun., Journey.

The Nautilus is a mollusc with a spiral-shaped shell. The natural spiral of movement both in form and function of this shell was a point of inspiration through the design process.

The design intends to capture and direct movement so that the user experience is a constant journey of discovery.

The internal layout is organised into a series of exhibition, fabrication and social spaces, accessible via a central pathway.

Then, externally the facade points towards the existing site features, such as the waterfront and the tower.

Key goals: •

To encourage pedestrian access and provide spaces for gathering.

•

Provide suitable facilities for the existing boat building industry.

•

Enhance the waterfront skyline and create visual impact.

- Site study acrylic model and collage 3

Design Proposal |3D PERSPECTIVE

Northern Facade view 4

Design Proposal | SITE PLAN

Site Plan 1:5000 at A3 5

Design Proposal | FLOOR PLAN GROUND FLOOR HARBOUR

PROMENADE

lift

Lobby

Assembly - hire

Lockers & Bike Stora ge work stations

Assembly - hire Assembly - hire Office

Retail

Retail

Retail

work stations

Workshop Assembly

Storage

Storage

Cafe

Restaura

nt

Kitchen Bakery

work stations

Storage

& Holding &

Storage Lift

Open Lobby

Transport Terminal Office

Open Lobby 1 2 3

Boat Display & Storage

Storage Area

UP

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Fabrication & Finishing Zone

18

Atrium

17 16 15 14 13

13

Gallery Exh

ibition

14 15 16 17 18

12 11 10 9 8 7

UP 1

Classroom

3

4

5

6

Gallery

Classroom Open Lobby Workshop Protoyping Lab

Classroom

2

Lift

RIVER

Storage

Kitchen

& Bar

Storage

Storage Area

6

Retail

Office

Workshop Alma Doepel

Floor Plan 1:300 at A1

Retail

W aiting Lounge

Design Proposal | FLOOR PLATE FIRST FLOOR

Floor Plan 1:300 at A1 7

Design Proposal | DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Roof Top

Photovoltaic array for solar energy.

Roof form for water collection.

Building Skin

Shading fins to large glazed facade.

Create interest at pedestrian level and at elevated levels (the tower).

Form & Orientation

Program layout according to internal circulation.

Oriented toward both sides of harbour to capture views and natural light.

Circulation & Movement

Multiple entry and exit points.

Internal access via the central spine.

Allows foot traffic along waterfront.

8

Design Proposal | INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES

Interior perspective : Ferry terminal waiting area, facing the waterfront.

Interior perspective : Atrium and corridor with internal ‘rain’ garden.

9

APPENDIX

10

|

T H E

N A U T I L U S

A1.1 Existing Context Analysis: Heritage of the Site A history of Docklands and Victoria harbor and their transformation from a swamp land to a modern waterfront.

1860

1880

1910

1930

1945

2019

Original Harbour area mostly swamp land,

As the main port facility from 1924 to1970, the dock features several large cargo sheds and railway tracks.

Victoria Dock is a 96 acre basin built between 1887 and 1892 to accommodate large ships of trade.

The dock remains the largest wharf of its kind still existing.

The design of the Harbour was the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

Victoria Dock is historically significant, for its design and key role in Victoria’s trade and transport history.

11

A1.2 Existing Context Analysis: Environmental Factors

- Winter & Summer sun paths

- Prevailing wind patterns

The site is affected by increased solar access, being an open and unshaded area on the waterfront.

The site is also exposed to strong prevailing winds. This was described by one of the residents as ‘strong, gusty and unpleasant to be outside in.’

- Summer solar access 12

- Winter solar access

A1.3 Existing Context Analysis: Views and outlook

- Photographic survey of the site and its surrounds

Views from the site are predominantly of the surrounding waterfront buildings and wharf area.

Water itself is also a dominant feature.

In the same way, the surrounding waterfront buildings and wharf areas, including the

Melbourne Star and the Bolte Bridge will have significant views of the site and the proposal from a higher viewing point.

Also, people who will be in boats on the water will also view the site and the proposal from varying angles.

-Views from the site

- Views of the site 13

A2.1 Precedent Case Studies : 01

The New Sydney Fish Market Locality.............. Sydney, Australia Architect........... 3XN, BVN, Aspect Studios Completion..... 2023

Form allows visual connection between the market and waterfront, creating openness

A public open space wraps around the ground floor, providing a visual connection to the market and waterfront. External steps lead to the first floor, continuing that connection.

The roof’s triangular openings allow natural light into the building.

The fish scale roof has provides shading, collection of rainwater, and solar energy.

Image Courtesy BVN architecture

Main plaza and landscaping creates usable open space for gathering and events

14

Steps form an amphitheater

A2.2 Precedent Case Studies : 02

Sustainable Biodiverse Developments Locality.................... Fishermans Bend, Victoria, Australia Research Lead..... Dr G Garrard, Prof S Bekessy Published............... 2015

Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD) aims to provide and increase nature in the urban environment, where people can interact with it.

Building developments incorporate green walls and landscaping to reestablish biodiversity to sites.

Below is the summarised process of BSUD initiatives applied to a design proposal.

Images Courtesy ggarrardresearch

Site in vegetated state, undisturbed elements (indigenous heritage)

Site with building, reducing vegetated area and biodiversity

Building incorporates active green roof to increase vegetation

Building incorporates active green walls and landscaped areas to increase and re-establish biodiversity 15

A3.1 Design Development : Site Response

BUBBLE DIAGRAMS: Initial space planning ideas

- Public open waterfront space concept

- Public garden space concept

- Arrangement based on paths of movement

KEY DESIGN DRIVER: Movement and Open Space

- 1:1000 Site Model : Improve pedestrian access to the site and encourage movement towards the park and the tower.

16

- 1:1000 Site Model : Re-vegetate the area with green walls and roofs and native landscaping.

A3.2 Design Development : Concept and Strategies

Negative Space

Movement and access

Rhythm

- 1:1000 Site Model 01 : Exploring the relationship between openness and density.

- Site Model Sketch 02 : Applying the concept of voids and open spaces to a design.

- 1:1000 Site Model 01 : Isolating the main paths of horizontal and vertical movement between the required spaces.

- Site Model Sketch 02 : Exploring the relationship between the flow of movement and the waters edge.

- 1:1000 Site Model Sketch 01 : Applying the concept of tunnel and creating a journey.

- 1:1000 Site Model Sketch 02 : Incorporating curvature to create rhythm.

17

A3.3 Design Development : Program and Planning

1:1000 Site Model above is based on the floor plan iteration on the left.

-

---

TOWER

HARBOUR

CBD

PROMENADE Lobby Assembly - hire

work stations

Services

Assembly - hire

Assembly - hire

Office Office shp

Display Storage

shp

shp

shp

shp

shp Bar

Cafe

work stations

Storage

Bath

Assembly

work stations

Workshop Alma Doepel

Seating

Kitchen

Services

Gallery -Ex Storage

Classroom

Fabrication

Atrium Gallery Services

Lecture

Lab

Services

Office

Gallery

Lobby

Further development of the floor plan and site model with the required spaces.

PARK

RIVER

Ground Floor Scale

- Ground Floor Program & activities

18

Introduction of curvature in response to the concept idea of nautilus shell.

A3.4 Design Development : Building Form Development

a. Repetition of vertical curved pillars that echo the typical structural beams of a boat. Facade elements create a rhythmic pattern and acts as shading devices.

b. Translating the previous vertical divisions into horizontal curves. Influenced by floor plan iterations, this form gives the sense of flow and the rhythm of water.

c. The combination of skeletal and rhythmic elements that draw inspiration from the nautilus mollusc.

The curvature in plan and elevation, is interrupted by shell-like fins that act as shading devices.

19

20

E

N

D

.

* For details of concrete panel surface and texture design, please refer to Digital Design & Fabrication Journal available online.

Thank you.

21

22

End.