My spatial intervention in Fort Lane aims to connect people through shared experiences and encounters. I want to reinvigorate the space with a modern, eccentric addition that juts out from the existing industrial buildings lining the lane. I project a place where people can take a few minutes to reflect, be present in the moment and appreciate their surroundings. We live in a fast-paced world, constantly moving, interacting and socializing. But after a while being in a place where those interactions don’t seem as meaningful, the demand to create spaces where we can slow down and have meaningful interactions, becomes more apparent. This concept gives the opportunity for people to have meaningful, engaging and interactive spatial experiences that ultimately connects people together.
Project description:
Interconnected is about creating a space where people can take a few minutes to reflect, be present in the moment and appreciate the surrounding areas. A place where connection and appreciation of shared spatial experiences are at the foremost. From a spatial design perspective, creating a new urban itinerary and expressing the interrelationship between people and the environment become very important.
The three main lines of inquiry I explored in this concept are, firstly; to have a design that will entice and enthuse people to engage in the site, explored through materiality and surface design. Secondly; to create important and memorable spatial experiences through movement, that ultimately connects people together. And thirdly; to give the opportunity for people to slow down and have an appreciation for surrounding areas, through a sequence of spaces.
Located in the centre of the laneway, the new structure provides an exhibition space for contemporary art. An elevator takes you up to the rooftop, where a café, bar, and viewing platforms allow people to slow down, appreciate their surroundings and connect themselves with the present.
The inspiration for this structure came from surface design explorations. I simulated, (through model making and photography), triangulated glass structures to see how light and reflection could contribute to the atmosphere of the space. Each glass pane is attached to steel framing through a ‘spider’ fitting system. This system creates a sleek and easy way to present the maximum glass surface and amplify reflections and transparency.
Spatial designers shape the spaces we interact with, but it’s ultimately the users who make the spaces active and alive. My addition to Fort lane provides a place for people to connect with each other and activate a shared world.
