Federation Square
Client: Federation Square Management Ltd.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Architect: LAB Architecture Studio
Date: 1998 - 2001
Comments:
Andrew Watts of Newtecnic undertook the detailed design of the external envelope in association with structural engineers Atelier One.
The project comprises an art gallery with related media facilities and covered public spaces. The façade systems were generated from scratch to provide a distinctive language of fractal-based triangles. Folds in the façade were achieved with rotating joints that took inspiration from the trailer towing ball found on the back of many Australian cars. This inexpensive casting generated a solution of folds across the joint lines between triangular panels.
The visual abstraction in the façades was generated by fixing sheets of sandstone, opaque glass, zinc and perforated metal in panels that were set behind the materials in a semi concealed grid. The use of large scale openings in the façade grid revealed the complexity of the supporting structure.
