Enhancing and Activating the Iconic Qualities of the Howard Smith Wharves

Before I begin to think about designing an iconic functional building for the space, it is important to understand what already exists within the Howard Smith Wharves site. Particularly, analysing and observing the heroic features of the site, which may help to develop and enhance the iconic status and appearance of the finalised design. It is important to know what already exists so as to form a greater relationship between structure and site context/surrounding environment.

From observations it established that the site is very much heroic in its existence. There are several large scale features within the site which will positively integrate with the building design. These include;

• The Story Bridge - this feature is already at iconic status locally for the Brisbane population. As a gigantic and structurally expressive structure it spans a great distance over the Brisbane River below. The bridge envelopes the Howard Smith Wharves in the process, establishing itself currently as a prominent and overwhelming feature of the site. In my design I must be wary as to not disturb and interrupt the natural beauty this structure already displays for both the site and Brisbane. Consequently, it seems that I must either create the building separate from the bridge so as to develop a distinct difference between the structures, or make the building grow neatly from the existing element.

• The Kangaroo Point Cliffs - The towering cliffs which enclose the site, act as a towering and overwhelming feature when coupled with the spanning Story Bridge. The cliffs offer themselves as the feature which is natural beautiful to the site, with the existence of vegetation upon them. Although very steep in its appearance they present themselves as a plane which can be experimented with. Unlike the Story Bridge, the cliffs can be interrupted in its natural form, to allow for the developed design to interact effectively within the site context.

• The large vacant space - it is clear that this is a very large space which engulfs the entire site, underneath the bridge. It is but a memory, standing still in time, ignored by the sprawling city which surrounds it. This site is unclear and undefined by any physical mass or architectural element, and therefore offers itself as a perfect canvas for an iconic structure installation. I feel this space needs to be activated successfully for the site to have a function and meaning of existence, and this belief will be enhanced through the relationship my proposed structure has with it.