Carlton United Brewery Site

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND: In 2007, ARM was one of five architects invited to redesign the Carlton United Brewery site. The design was selected by Creative Directors Felix_Giles_Anderson+Goad as one of eleven contemporary unbuilt projects for the Australian Pavilion at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale - a virtual exhibition where projects were shown using three-dimensional augmented models, images, voice-overs and animations. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: Based on the concept of a gateway building structure, ARM's design featured the pulling away of two buildings to create a sticky/elastic space of bridge links and tendril forms. The façade, predominantly geodesic glass, also shows a generated heat-map pattern, produced through the simulated action of a surface under tension/pressure as it is pulled apart. This project exemplifies ARM's radical contribution to the dissemination of ideas and development of an acute, experimental and critical architectural culture in Melbourne and, more broadly, Australia. It attests to the significance of ARM's practice, which was awarded the 2016 AIA Gold Medal - the highest award of the AIA to recognise distinguished service by Australian architects. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: The significance of the project is demonstrated by its selection for inclusion in the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale's 'Augmented Australia' exhibition. The Venice Biennale is the world's premier architecture exhibition and the 'Augmented' show was supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, Architecture Media and major industry partners. In 2013-2014, the project was published as part of the Venice Architecture Biennale coverage in Architecture Australia, Green magazine, Australian Design Review, Architecture and Design magazine, ArchDaily, and Australian Design Alliance.