Project One - Folie Posters

Site Plan

The site originally known as the Brisbane Central Wharves were constructed in conjunction with the Story Bridge during the 1930s. The locale was subsequently leased to the shipping company Howard Smith Co. Ltd, which lead to the eventual name of the site as we now know it, the Howard Smith Wharves.

The storage sheds that were constructed during the running of the shipping company, as well as the air raid shelters, which were erected along the cliff face to provide a safezone during world war two are regarded as providing significant evidence of pre 1940 port of Brisbane facilites and being one of the most intact air raid shelters within Brisbane. The site is recognized as being a culturally important heritage site and is now registered in the Queensland Heritage Register.

Objective and Response

The proposed site offers three key elements that serve as the primary focus for the project, these components are namely, the Story Bridge, the cliff and the wharf area (the sheds, air raid shelters and river).
The folie responds to these elements through two ways. The first method is through the abstraction of form from the elements and the incorpration of materials that the elements are composed of in construction.
The second method is the use of visual, auditory and tactile cues that enagages users within the space and during the approach towards the space. The folie design consists of three main members, 2metres
high and 5 metres wide which represents each of the key elements.

The overall form of the members draws inspiration from the rectangular structure of the air raid shelters.While each segment has similar form, the segments are aligned on different axis parallel to the element they represent while beingconnected by a central point. Each individual section is constructed with materials that are associated with the element they represent. While the external facade is fashioned to reflect the relationship between the folie space and their respective elements. Interactive components incorporated within the architecture allow users to learn and discover the materials and the essence of the site while making it a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

Design Overview

The story bridge element is located on the top floor with steel and glass being its major construction material. The form of the steel frame is an abstraction of shapes perceived from observing the storybridge trusses, while the voids on the sides of the segment allow a play of shadow and light. The main element of interest are the vantage point that allows views of the city and the bridge and a feature wall with asphalt extrusions that allows users to feel the texture of the motorway as well as the contours of the abstracted form of the story bridge.

The wharf area segment makes use of similar materials used in the construction of the shipping warehouse
sheds of the howard smith, such as hardwood timber and corrugated iron. The walls and floor are constructed
with hardwood while the ceiling consist of both hardwood and corrugated iron. The main elements of interest
are the vantage point that allows views of the wharf area and the sound fins. The sound fins are constructed from sonorous metal slats arranged in a row with a fixed point on top to allow the fins to be strummed or if wished struck to produce an interesting melody.

The cliff element is constructed from concrete as pictured above. While the open face side is attached to the cliff face via steel hooks. The main elements of interest are the experience of touching and climbing up the cliff face and the sensation of floating as the flooris constructed of thick glass.