Kinetic Community
With community at the core of the manifesto, the project aims to revitalise the city block by creating numerous opportunities for the local public to get involved and benefit from the building. Socially the building aims to improve wellbeing through the use of natural materials, the encouragement of person interactions and the inclusion of community-based areas. Economically the building provides ways for local businesses to earn an income by offering an Indoor Street Market to house local food stalls and an Urban Design Strategy which integrates successes of the local Granby Street Market. Environmentally the project looks to reduce its carbon footprint by utilising a natural ventilation strategy, incorporating natural light, and using sustainable materials wherever possible.
In terms of massing the scheme proposes two rectangular blocks, distinguished by height and materiality. The taller block is cladded in polycarbonate and sizes up to address the church opposite. The smaller block uses a combination of green walls and larch slats to create a modern façade which pays homage to the surrounding context and evokes the building’s core themes of sustainability.
Internally the building sets out a plan which attempts to address significant regional issues such as the lack of high-quality, inner-city skateparks and signs of health deprivation in the local area, especially in young people. So, at ground floor level the building provides an unheated indoor skatepark and a 24/7 pharmacy which are both accessible from the street and can operate independently from the rest of the building.
Opening up to the street are various sliding and rotating doors which work with the Urban Design Strategy to enhance the experience in and around the building. The rotating doors, inspired by architecture firm Olson Kundig, are designed to add an element of fun to the Indoor Street Market. Sliding doors of the Main Hall are devised so that events and performances can spill out onto the street and encourage passers-by to stop and interact with the building.
