Close Over(p)lay #2: St Paul’s Cathedral 2011

I started mapping the history of Melbourne way back from 1800s up to the present day, as to find clues on my vision for St Paul's. What I found was that St Paul's cathedral was, is and always will be a static element, 'built to last' within the urban fabric of Melbourne  - whereas the city itself, is non static, forever transforming, expanding, changing all around. This gives the cathedral an interesting identity, on top of being the symbol of faith of melbourne city, it also acts like a paperweight to the city (diagram). As much as it exists in the collective consciousness of melbournians, the cathedral sits out of place in its current context (esp fed sq in front and the skyscrapers at the back) - a different timeline.

Hence my brief would be an attempt to transform the cathedral towards an open relationship with Melbourne city. Integrating part of the cathedral and part of melbourne city as my methodology (Interior richness of cathedral + urban experience of melb city). I've plotted the patterns of civic space and how it effects public interaction (movement)  within the precinct (knot means collective) and my vision is for the site to be part of a larger whole, the 'holy sanctum' end of public spaces. It will serve as the end point as one travels upwards from the yarra and filters into the CBD. It will offer Melbourne as place of rest and contemplation, an intimate public space in the light of the cathedral. 

A majority of my spaces are sunken underground, and it stretches under the cathedral linking Swanston St and the close. It also links to the crypt and the existing stairs and lift in the Chapter House to tie the internal to the underground, which allows the church to offer an indoor+'outdoor' program for hire?. I personally do not think building/mass will do justice to the richness of the ornamented facades, hence only a tiny bit of my intervention will pop up from under to further celebrate the enveloped space. I'll elaborate as a list? 

Spaces within my project:

1. Glass Chapel - A beautiful all-shades-of-white-stained glass 'jewel' in the middle of the close, slightly elevated as a 'the most pure' space. A crystal by day and a lantern by night to mediate its presence with its surrounding facade. Below it in the basement the light penetrating from the chapel is reflected by a pool of water with a platform for the public to stand right below the hovering glass chapel ..........

2. Events Space - to hire out for functions/ weddings, exhibitions, etc

3. Gathering Space - around the glass chapel in the basement - richly ornamented with mosaics (I'd imagine the walls to be textured as well) 

4. Gallery space - linking crypt to the gathering space, again with textured walls

5. Minor spaces: Admin, info desk, cafeteria + outdoor space, washrooms

6. Circulation spaces + transition spaces sculpted to deliver varied 'urban experiences' - still developing that one. 

Currently my project exceeds the cost, (why am I not surprised...) having 2700 sqm underground x $8000 = $ 21.6!!!!!! stressing out. 

Attached are also my iterations of my plan, with the last one being the latest. I'm planning to hand draw them in pencil, as I've always wanted to even for interim 1 but my time management has failed me and I always take longer than expected to really finish a hand drawing. So I'll see how I go now juggling group work too. 

Ammon+Tim, comments please... have I gone too far again? 

Jade