Urban Walkshop

All of the following images were completed as part of the urban walkshop studio conducted as part of DAB525 - Architecture and the City. It was included as part of my design journal for Howard Smith Wharves as it was our final destination and the series of pictures capture a path of travel to our site and identtifies links which can be made between the city and the site.

The three images below is an example of Gordon Cullen's serial vision. The series of advances sketches show the clear edge between the botanical gardens and the city and how the city becomes more defined the closer you get.

A line of sight is created between three landmarks via the axis of Albert Street, helping one to navigate through the city. This is shown below.

Although an obvious edge and change in condition is evident between the botanical gardens and the city, a transition of vegetation is applied to soften the edge

Altough low scale, the two built features within the gardens act as landmarks. The paths are organised around these features in a way reminiscent of one of Paris's town planning schema.

Using Lynch's theory, City Hall could probably not be classified as a modern day landmark. When it was built and was the highest tower in the Brisbane CBD, it was obviously a significant landmark. Now however, it has been overtaken by surrounding buildings and has therefore lost its visual significance.

When first looking at King George Square, it appears that it is edgeless on the 2 sides facing roma street and queen street. However when looking a little wider at the city layout, it appears that past Ann Street, the grid like orientation of the CBD changes to an angled projection. Therefore an interface between 2 different conditions (an edge) is created. It is likely that these two differences are due to seperate planning stages.

Like City Hall, Central Station was once a landmark of Brisbane, however is now overshadowed by the apartment building directly behind it as shown below. It can still be classified as a monument however due to its influence over city planning. It creates an axis running through the ANZAC memorial, through ANZAC Square, across the Old Post Office Square, along the laneway running through the Old Post Office and onto St Stephen's Cathedral.

Following Kevin Lynch's Theory, the ANZAC Monument is a memorial, helping people reconnect with their history and past relatives who have served.

Views of the Australian Flag through each side of the Memorial invokes a sense of patriotism

Edges in ANZAC Square are clearly defined due to the split level layout

As the square is offset from the cathedral, it cannot be said, based on Lynch's theory, that the Cathedral is a landmark or monument. It is no longer an outstanding landmark of the city and hasn't changed any of the adjacent spatialities.

It is difficult to define the edges of the square with vegetation blending in with vegetation outside of the square.

Cathedral Square doesn't really work as a convential CBD square due to being surrounded by busy streets on 2 sides with offices on another. The final side is bordered by the cathedral which is typically only busy on weekends

Which brings us to HOWARD SMITH WHARVES

Initial Thoughts on Howard Smith Wharves

• Restricted Access


• Easily Defined Edges - water and cliffs


• Lack of Interaction and Connection


• No infrastructure to enjoy one of the best views in brisbane