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.

Thesis Statement--Vertical stream

Thesis Statement

VERTICAL STREAM by WHSS GROUP

(Water-Health-Sociality-Sustainability)

william Chen 393509, Sheng Helen Guo 327470, Sudong PARK 576803 Shihan Loo 341658,

BACKGROUND

Melbourne's population is forecast to double by 2050 with a rapid increasing of population. A demand for more and more housing, shops and offices will be created and built within urban centers. Therefore the amount of green and recreational spaces needs to be increased at the same time to provide sustainable city growth.

This project seeks to address the need for a balanced urban condition in combination with social, economy and environment. Create a new, hybrid typology which provides better living quality within urban centers.

VISION

We believe that by changing the way we design, it is possible to create a sustainable high density urban environment. The project aims to sustain high density urban living and make positive contributions not only for our site, but also surrounding buildings and environments. We have identified water as a fundamental aspect of urban living and production. Therefore by designing for this precious resource to be well managed, we can create a project that becomes a valuable asset to our site and its surrounding community.

SITE

On the junction of Melbourne's city gird with the inner suburban grid beyond, there are number of small triangular land parcels that not used or used as a transitional place. This design research will investigate possible program or typology that can be designed to reoccupy the existing space. How to transform a transitional site into an attractive and active site which draws people in and make people slow down in a busy city life as well as use the site for recreation purpose?

STRATEGY

The presence of tall apartment blocks around our site, and our proposed vertical project, contributes to a high density urban character that defines our site. Because of this, a large concentration of water volume is circulated at close proximity to our site for daily use. This presents opportunities for our project to collect and recycle the grey water generated. There is also the opportunity to harvest rainwater that would otherwise be dirtied and drained off-site. There is also an underground stream near our site which can be integrated into the project.

Parametric and generative design techniques will be integrated into our design methods in order to help us resolve the complexities associated with organising our hybrid programs generated by water and its properties. The many aspects of water to be used as a generator for our design project such as water volume, sound, speed and purity.

Workshop 3B, Material Systems STUDIOCODE V8