davidteoh.com | architecture + life

I wanted a Rem, produced a Libeskind... but tutors think its a Calatrava + Mies!!

I have 3 weeks to go to finalise my design on the extension to Flinders Street Station. Today was the preliminary, 1/2 way crit. Nervous? That was an understatement! I stayed up for 2 days trying to figure out how to best do the design. Actually, to be honest, its notingenious at all... it just turned out that the tutors thought so.

*phew*

The task

I was given this project to design an extension to the landmark Flinders Street Station. The requirements are to provide at least 4000 sq m of new area which would improve the current station and add to the heritage value of the existing building at the same time creating a place which Melbournians won't bitch about. I mean, the Federation Square project is still under hot debate. Majority of Melbournians can't decide if its Ugly or Fugly. I think its awesome.

Pity about the current Flinders Station... its a half finished design. One one side, they have this bloody brilliant neoclassical building which was the the most grandest building in Melbourne (until the Royal Exhibition). Not only does it have a large copper dome, it has a large Sultan Abdul Samad like clock tower!

One half of it is grand and beautiful, but then they put this shed to cover the station concourse and platform. This was due to the fact that in those days, across the river was this heavy polluting factory district... why put at nice facade for all the insignificant workers to admire, they thought. So they left it like that for over 100 years.

Until...

Studio 3a... not quite as productive...

Yes, unfortunately I had been slacking in studio, as always. This character flaw is neutralised by my penchant of saving my ass at the 11th hour. It is a skill. It is insanity. At least it is temporary. I have to outgrow this insanity, I hope to make progress in the next 3 weeks... I only have 3 weeks left in the project.

Okay. Rambling stops here. Images begin.

The roof - sci-fi architecture to the rescue! (to be read as Calatrava)

Ever seen one of those 'portal-like' gateways spaceships enter?

Haven't been watching Star Trek, have you?

This is the structure in which starships in Star Trek are assembled or repaired in. I liked the idea of passing through this structure.

Imagine sitting in a train, and going past this portal-like thing outside your window. Architecture as an experience in motion. Fascinating.

Here is what I came up with.

I imagined this to be a gateway for the people who travel by train to the city. The site of Flinders Street Station is just next to Federation Square which is just practically shouting out 'LOOK AT ME. I'm THE FUTURE'. Okay... too dramatic a description... but why not create a gateway like in Star Trek? Futurism with a twist!

Shopping... we can't live without shopping.

I had to put in at least 4000 sq m, as I mentioned. What do I do with 4000 sq m? SHOPPING! Yes, Rem Koolhaas was right. Shopping is this global phenomenon that defines our architecture. Cities are becoming huge shopping malls. In Singapore, you literally stop noticing buildings on Orchard Road. You can go from Sommerset to Orchard MRT stations through this 'shopping tunnel'. Another one is at Citylink... you can be walking for the entire day burning all your excess fat while shopping and not realise you have traversed half of Singapore.

Sorry. Terpesong.

Ahem.

So I tore the back half of the historical building, and made it a display piece - GLASS.

The curtain wall.. a wonder of modern architecture. My tutor thinks I pulled off a Mies.

"This is so 60s, the contrast is amazing. Amazing." -direct quote from the tutor =P

Here are the 'ribs' and the extended shopping space together. Now putting the two together, it seems like we matched up Calatrava and Mies. Looks slightly out of place, and I will definitely work on it.

Here's the twist: Imagine how people at the platform feel looking at the 'transparent' shopping building in front of them. It's distracting! You want to leave but you want to stay. The evil architect temps you! To go or to stay? Hmm...

The grand concourse

Lastly, I address my biggest interest in this project is the design of the concourse. The shopping part developed very much by accident. The concourse offers me the opportunity to address Federation Square. How do I justify putting a entirely new type of building attached to the old one? I try to do some decon-like building to pretend for a while that I am high-tech. But how do I tell the idea when it is next to a handsome old building?

Context!

I tell an elaborate lie: 'the irregular floor planes correspond to different landmarks around the site. I am merely framing the context in architecture.'

It worked, even without the roof!

More posts in the coming weeks I hope. =)

Please comment. Thanks. =D

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Photos from:
http://nobeliefs.com/death&timetravel.htm
http://members.iinet.net.au/~glenn.crouch/wallpapers/RD2003%20-%20Akira%20in%20spacedock.jpg