Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Southbank - the wider context
This is what I got from Peter Richards lecture (how do you attack a design problem, what is the purpose of doing site analysis)
The purpose of conducting a site analysis is to understand the problem, and if you don'y understand the problem your solution will more or less be an uninformed one. There are different ways of approaching site analysis also. There is what you see and feel when you are at the site, and then there is the more deeper understanding that is only gained by asking why, how, what and when the site is the way it is.
Q. How has the site evolved from its original state to its current condition?
A. The Southbank site (prior to expo 88) was not considered a cultural hub. The rivers edge was all grassed parkland and the street scape was set back from this. According to Shaun Walsh in his lecture 'South Bank Evolution' this area was derelict and the main point of interest being the plough inn. The culture of the site revolved around bar fights and prostitution, and was mainly considered as the red light district of Brisbane.
In 1987 the Southbank site was cleared (bar the Plough inn) and its location was used for expo 88 pavilions.
In 1989 the site was given a 999 year lease to the south bank corporation, who were and are responsible for the development of a 42 hectare mixed use precinct which included 17 hectares of parklands. The south bank corporation supersedes the local government on the political hierarchy and answers only to the premier.
The Southbank master plan has gone through a number of reiterations including ones where the key focus has been an artificial water park covering the entire site (later reduced fake beach we see today.) Its key focus though has always been to establish a cultural hub described as 'the best new urban precinct in the world.' Walsh 2013
The predominant land use has always been for parklands and leisure activities, that is to include areas for residence, arts and entertainment, retail outlets, restaurants, educational areas and to be highly accessible to public transport.
The precinct to this day in undergoing continual development and density of its built environments and many international examplars are being used as precedence such as Hyde park, London; and Times square, New York.
The Southbank corporation has 975 years left on its lease.
Reference List:
Walsh, S. 2013. QUT Presentation - South Bank Evolution. [Powerpoint Slides] Retrieved from: http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_4_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2FcourseMain%3Fcourse_id%3D_101824_1
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