BRISBANE FERRY TERMINALS DESIGN COMPETITION

The recent flood damage to ferry infrastructure provides an opportunity to
re-assess the nature of the support infrastructure which was rudimentary. Since
public transport along the river has become integral to the city and an
identifier for Brisbane -an attribute of city life that sets us apart from other
cities- the next phase in the evolution of its support infrastructure is
justifiable and necessary.


Our entry in this “Ideas  Competition” illustrates our main objective,  which is to highlight and enhance  the character of the system’s
various terminals. A key finding which defines our proposal,  is  the fact  that each ferry landing location has its own unique contextual attributes and will need to handle differing intensities of passenger movement.  Therefore “adaptability” and “flexibility” are essential to our proposed strategy.   Our vision contemplates dynamic and movable  terminals where physical and cultural variances will manifest in unexpected and changing ways.

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Additionally, much of the early infrastructure can be characterized by a lack of integration of buildings (architectural elements) and water-based infrastructure (engineering elements).  Achieving  a functional and safe design outcome, integrating architectural engineering requirements, is also central to this proposal.

DESIGN OBJECTIVES  –  “…in case of flood – tow away…”

__Build on the success of Brisbane’s water-born public transportation

__Celebrate the role of the Brisbane River as an integral element of our urban fabric

__Develop an adaptable facility

__Design an instantly recognizable facility

__Flood resilient

__Meritorious design

Vision and Intent

__Implementation: THE NO-LAND SOLUTION

__Buildability: MODULAR STRUCTURAL SKELETON

__Character: CULTURAL DISPLAY HUB

Approach

__Existing Conditions

            __Use of parkland for terminal building                                       

            __Poor integration of structural & architectural elements

            __Inarticulate assembly of building components

            __Inundation of terminal building during floods

            __No flood resilience and limited durability

            __Serious safety issues during natural disasters

_Proposed Configuration

            __No land-based construction other than entry portals & signage

            __Water-based terminal building & ferry landing moored to pylon system

            __Cohesive integration of components (terminal-drawbridge-landing)

            __Connection to shoreline via built-in drawbridges

            __Manoeuvrable terminal to be tugged away during floods or as required fully flood resistant with increased durability

            __Improved operability as spares can be built