VERTICAL STREAM by WHSS Group

Waterways have long held importance for urban settlements. This is especially true for the city of Melbourne, which is now experiencing rapid population growth. Our site which straddles the periphery of the CBD, is poised to increase in urban density, which applies a strain on its resources. Therefore our tower proposal utilises the idea of designing for localised supply of water through rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. The concept of the Vertical Stream is our response to the above considerations. We developed a couple of formal outcomes which realise this concept. In urban design terms, this is a development of the historical canal settlement - its adaptation to a vertical disposition. The benefits thus procured are (as mentioned) localised management of water as a valuable resource, as well as a wealth of functions and activities which may take place. This leads to its architectural qualities, which enables a flexible suite of programmatic requirements to be maintained, generating a long-term relevance to the community at large and driving a positive growth in the CBD periphery, while becoming an aesthetically pleasing icon of the city itself.