kingston arts precinct canberra

a scheme for an arts-focussed precinct in canberra, incorporating community arts organisations bounded by a mixed use precinct, centred on significant heritage buildings. it started in 2015 with a two stage design + development competition held by the territory government. after winning that competition, the project was formally awarded in 2017 and worked on until 2022.

a drawing providing a visual summary of the scheme. the heritage buildings (orange colour) bounded by a series of building for community arts groups (purple colour). the "street" between the heritage buildings and the arts buildings is a public circulation and exhibition space linking the different groups. beyond the arts buildings are new mixed use buildings housing a variety of living, working, recreational and destination uses. "hidden" within those is a new large structured public carpark. the coloured extensions out from the precinct indicate key public viewing corridors into the heritage buildings.

the very first drawing, in 2015, done on the aircraft when travelling home from a brainstorming session in canberra, showing the underlying structure of the scheme, maintained and refined for the next seven years.

the initial location of the arts buildings around the heritage buildings

since the aircraft was now in a holding pattern, i started to explore possible structuring of the bounding multi-use buildings.

moving new buildings away from the heritage buildings creates public spaces that are too large and divorces the older buildings from their context. better built form relationship and public spaces are created when the newer buildings are much closer to the older buildings

creating tantalising "peek" views to the heritage buildings betwen the newer buildings creates intrigue and interest, naturally drawing the viewer to the older building#1

creating tantalising "peek" views to the heritage buildings betwen the newer buildings creates intrigue and interest, naturally drawing the viewer to the older building#2

creating tantalising "peek" views to the heritage buildings betwen the newer buildings creates intrigue and interest, naturally drawing the viewer to the older building#3

creating tantalising "peek" views to the heritage buildings betwen the newer buildings creates intrigue and interest, naturally drawing the viewer to the older building#4

creating tantalising "peek" views to the heritage buildings betwen the newer buildings creates intrigue and interest, naturally drawing the viewer to the older building#5

creating tantalising "peek" views to the heritage buildings betwen the newer buildings creates intrigue and interest, naturally drawing the viewer to the older building#6

the strong built form of the heritage buildings looming over the newer buildings and drawing teh viewer closer.

creating tantalising "peek" views to the heritage buildings betwen the newer buildings creates intrigue and interest, naturally drawing the viewer to the older building#8

the broader context of the kingston arts precinct. the axis of the heritage buildings is responsive to the alignment of the historic rail lines serving the power station rather than the griffin alignment that informs the rest of that locale.

zooming in on the previous drawing

the underlying formation of the scheme: the arts hub buildings bounding hte heritage buildings and creating an integrated internal/ external environment focussed on arts and heritage public activities.

zooming in on the previous drawing

a typical arts hub building with public and private spaces, intergation with bounding public "canvas".

the heritage buildings in ther broader context

the arts hub buildings bounding the heritage buildings

the disposition of the arts hub buildings promotes views into the heritage buildings from key locations

the private development surrounding the arts hub buildings conforms to and reinforces those view corridors

an early view from outside looking past private development and arts hub buildings to the heritage buildings

an early program of activities

considering built form and views in at NE edge

work to be done to progress from competition winning scheme...

work to be done...(over drawing by oculus)

considering built form and views in at NE edge

arts hub buildings highlighted

arts hub buildings highlighte

presentation storyboard

urban qualities of view link

wentworth avenue interface exploration

looking at opportunities

bounding buildings exploration

arts hub built form explorations

power house plaza exploration

epxloring heritage curtilages

views to heritage (overlaid on drawing by bob earl of oculus)

the power station heritage building clearly visible from the east basin of lake burley griffin

more exploration of view connections (overlaid on drawing by bob earl of oculus)

public circulation around the heritage buildings (overlaid on drawing by bob earl of oculus)

service laneways/ boundary between arts hub and bounding mixed use precinct (overlaid on drawing by bob earl of oculus)

the public canvas (overlaid on drawing by bob earl of oculus)

wentworth square, creating a forecourt on wentworth avenue to the heritage power station (overlaid on drawing by bob earl of oculus)