Symbi(oasis) is a waterfront development ( including student housing as the brief outlined ) locating in Docklands that demonstrates the opportunity of form finding in architecture which was focused in the first half of Studio 4. Symbi(oasis) goals are
1. Creating connection between people and water which is being avoided due to the pollution of water
2. Preserve and foster the growth of communities which is shrinking as lands are being taken for profitable developments
3. Bringing greenery to the site where lands are being exploited for profit
Site collage Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
The site is located at the top of North Wharf in Docklands which attracts a lot attention from different direction and also the meeting point of Yarra river and Docklands. We began our journey in front of Marvel stadium after getting off at the tram station. During the journey toward the site, textures, materiality, activities, objects and shades of water are captured as it gave us an impression of the site.
During the trip, we bumped into a local boat builder, Nick who has been inheriting his grandfather boat workshop for a long while. We learned a lot about Docklands history and its development since its rustic age and we even got to see heritage pier and steel bar from the past that got tagged. Through his conversation and observation, we knew that the site is packed with profitable developments that are deemed as luxury amenities for a very thin class of citizen. As a consequent, communities are shrinking and lands of local people are being exploited, Nick told us that he was going to close down his business due to rent increment. The site also stood out with a lack of greenery and water being polluted.
The design took inspiration from the morphology of the boating construction with space being carved out for boat cinema and greenery. Slime geometry was generated from a computational technique called agent-based modelling which creates a connection in between the towers, transports water and it is also the habitat for vegetation.
Bridge Circulation
Lift Circulation
Stair Circulation
Private
Public
Greenery
GF
Mezzanine
1F
2F
3F
4F
5F
Site plan
Diagrams and technical drawingsCr. Yu Chien Lin
Unit Types Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
The project consists of 72 student housing units with 3 different types. Single unit could house 1 student, duplex 2-3 students and double 2 to 4 residents. As these module are morphed from the single unit massing, a variety of organisation could be made to match certain scenarios.
Final massing on site
Massing study Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen (Massing), Yu Chien Lin (Site model)
Peak tower section Cr.Khanh Quan Nguyen
Twin tower section Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
Co Working
Co Working
Units exterior
Skypark
Glasshouse Exterior
Restaurant
Render Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
Water fountain view from the bridge Cr.Khanh QUan Nguyen
Boat cinema Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
Water filtration system harvesting from Docklands water and electricity generating system from wave oscillation. Slime bridge tectonic and meditation lake in the middle Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
Hero view Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
Section model Cr. Khanh Quan Nguyen
