COMPETITION BACKGROUND

The design competition was announced by the City of Greater Geelong and called for submissions to 'beautify' the facade of a multi-storey concrete carpark located within the arts and cultural precinct of Geelong, opposite the town hall. An extremely limited budget of $10000 was provided for the project.

SURVEILLANCE + PUBLIC SPACE

In recent years there has been an increased move towards the implementation of surveillance systems within public space. This condition has escalated dramatically with the rise of information technology. The proposal investigated the potential to exploit this condition and subvert the idea of surveillance, allowing the public to experience a 'conscious surveillance'.

TRANSFORMATION [DESIGNING WITH THE CARPARK]

The design proposal seeks to accept rather than resist the existing functional use of the carpark, implementing a solution that allows a transformation of conditions to occur. During the hours of operation, the facade remains unchanged, continuing to reveal the daily movement of traffic. After operating hours, light transforms the facade into another condition.

INTERACTIVITY + VARIANT POSSIBILITIES

Blue neon lights, a colour synonymous with Geelong, are installed within each bay of the facade and highlight the existing structural system within the carpark. The lights are linked to movement sensors, triggering the lights in response to pedestrian and vehicular activities. The facade becomes interactive and allows for variations to occur within the lighting system depending on movements within the surrounding environment. Rather than providing a dominant and static response, the proposal allows for a changing experience of the building.

PRAGMATIC CONSIDERATIONS

The neon lights would be installed in straight runs, reducing the costs involved in bending. The lights would then be fastened with brackets to the bays of the facade and protected with plastic covers. The sensors are of the type used in domestic housing and have a detection range of up to 18m. Filters can be installed within the sensors to control detection within specific zones.