Domain - Downtown - Commune

Full description

BACKGROUND
Commissioned by MINI, MINI Living (brand pillars of the BMW Group) and Green Press to conduct research and produce three large format physical models for a public exhibition demonstrating conceptual and prototypical works engaging with high density urban living in the tower and high-rise typology. The public exhibition from 17-26 October 2017 was curated by Tamsin O’Neill and Tom Bodycomb, in the MPavilion at the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne, partnered with the City of Melbourne. The research was featured alongside esteemed architectural practices. There is a lack of design and research into the internal diversity of living environments and cross programming in high rise towers.

CONTRIBUTION
Innovation in the domain of contextual urban analysis and high-rise architecture, and the tower typology investigating how the design of environments catalyses urban communities. Research contributed to the discourse of diversity in architectural type through differentiation in formal characteristics within the tower, programmatic adjacency and intensity of program and spatial experience. The knowledge produced was in the domain of urban architecture and urban design focusing on small scale high impact public, shared and private spaces. The research has benefits for the profession (architecture, urban design, urban planning), city councils, developers as well as other stakeholders and inhabitants of hyper density.

SIGNIFICANCE
Prof. Rob Adams AM opened the proceedings, and acknowledged the contribution made by the project to understanding behaviour rather than facades.