Concept 01: THE TIME CAPSULE
At this hub of the CBD – St Paul’s stands as a ‘timeless’ heritage icon. Whilst the urban fabric changes around it – it stands true. Upon restoration of the cathedral, a time capsule was found in one of the spires documenting the construction of St Pauls. Hence, to pay homage to this - on the close – a “living time capsule museum” would be constructed. This built form would act as a place constructed by the people – for the people. It would house an interactive instillation of Melbourne through its people’s eyes.
As discussed in week 2 – I loved seeing Melbourne through ‘mad’s’ eyes. Originally I proposed that people bring an ‘object’ to the time capsule – but I have now changed this to an image – either a photo or an onsite sketch. The museum - the large defacto would house this ever changing – interactive instillation. Whilst the small defacto would be people’s images and stories associated with them. They would be collected onsite and also through an accessible website – which could also project the growing collection. People will post their images and associated stories. This ‘new-age’ museum would become a destination place not only for tourists but residence of Melbourne to share their stories and ‘see Melbourne through new eyes.” It will be an invaluable addition to Melbourne- and a new ‘icon’.
Concept 02: CALM IN THE CHAOS
I began to map sounds onsite – and it quickly became clear that the cathedral is a place of calm in the chaos of the CBD. As soon as you walk through the doors – the threshold – you are calm, and suddenly quiet. I was lucky enough to walk in with the choir singing – and it was beautiful and I was drawn into the space. The acoustics of the church add to the ‘beautiful calm.’ Hence I started to think – how I could project this sound out – so people in the street like me – would be drawn in.
Richard explained that in the acoustic of the church meant that there’s a delay from the front to the back of 2.3s. Hence, by using this relationship I would project my small defacto (tiny speakers) by 2.3s x the speed of sound out. This means there are tiny speakers at the base of fed square, flinders st and the city square. Music would be projected these – and people would stop – be like ‘where’s that coming from?’ and want to follow it into the church.
The large scale defacto would then be a breakout amphitheatre space, for what’s happening in the church to be experienced outside – so there could be large scale performances, of song and dance etc. Hence this relationship explores what is internal – becoming external to bring people back into the space – a reflexive defacto.
Concept 03: (OPEN)ING UP THE CLOSE
From the 4 icons at the corners of Flinders and Swanston st – a clear relationship of transparency/open to opaque/closed can be drawn and the correlating number of people that inhabit these spaces. Federation square is one end of the spectrum – it is open, transparent – and hence lots of people inhabit the space. Whilst St Paul’s is ‘closed, it’s windows are opaque and there a not as many people who inhabit the space within.
Hence, this proposal deals with making St Pauls and the Close site – into one that is more ‘open and transparent’ – hence drawing more people to it. The small scale defacto would take form of an observation tower added to the roof of St Pauls. Opening up the church – and giving a unique look at the CBD. The large scale defacto would involve re-landscaping the close – to something like a sister fed square to make ‘a habital landcape’ where people want to sit, enjoy and come – a new destination place/icon/draw card for the city.
Concept 04: THE MODERN DAY MEETING PLACE
Intersection = strong connection to PLACE (icon) and PEOPLE (meeting)
Young and Jacksons = social meeting place
Fed Square = civic meeting place
Flinders St Station = destination meeting place
St Pauls = spiritual meeting place
The new civic center/meeting place will be a place of congregation and cultural recognition. This new ‘meeting place’ would pay homage to the Kulin Nation and particularly the Wurundjeri people - but also be a ‘modern day meeting place for all.’ CBD is lacking a monument/built form recognition for its indigenous people.
The small defacto would be a displaced statue. The statue is derived from the Kulin Nation’s map - the Wurundjeri people’s portion of the map is extruded into a statue. This statue is painted with the Wurundjeri people’s main dream time story and placed on the banks of the river as a symbol of the people and their displacement. Dreamtime story = Bunjil & Pallian Creation Story: The indigenous people tell the story of Bunjil the creator, the Eagle Man from the heavens, who came down to Earth to create all that we see and then returned to his place in the milky way.
Concept 05: THE SECRET GARDEN SANCTUARY
The central cbd is lacking the green space we so desperately love, need, and desire. Hence, this proposal looks at turning the close into a ‘secret’ garden - an inner city green retreat.
The church is a symbol of sanctuary – yet with its impervious walls – it is often not seen as inviting/welcoming to all. Hence, by blurring the lines between the internal/external environs – more people will come and inhabit the space.
The large scale defacto is the transformation of the close into this ‘green sanctuary.’ This combined with the re-ordering of the church, would see the crossing will be transformed into an ‘internal’ hanging garden. A site to be seen by all... It will unify the relationship of the interior and exterior of the church. A symbol that represents all are welcome within the walls of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral and its secret garden will be transformed into a ‘new age’ sanctuary for the city.