From the outset and throughout the design process, the design team sought engagement with the Local Authority and Design Review Panel (DRP). Scheme iterations were presented on three occasions from early concept through the to final design.
The proposals now result in an extremely clear and strong conceptual approach, resulting in contemporary, playful, exciting, sculptural building; a fractured/broken wall in the landscape that is sensitive to its immediate surroundings and wider setting. It is considered that the proposals respond extremely well to the site contours, solar orientation and prevailing wind, as well as the wider visual impact considerations. The Panel now considers that the proposals have demonstrated that they result in proposals that do link to, and form part of, an integrated landscape and ecological proposal, resulting in an enhancement on the existing situation. The Panel also considers that the proposals result in an enhancement to long range views towards the site.
Site Analysis
This existing figure ground map showing neighbouring properties illustrates the nature of the populated ridge surrounding the proposal site.
The existing topography can also be seen characterised by a slope from south to north across the site.
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- Hux Shard Site Analysis.
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- Hux Shard Site Analysis.
Inhabiting a Sculpture
In depth concepts were envisioned from an early appreciation of the landscape contour and the proposed building’s crucial relationship with the immediate and distant landscape.
Sculptural studies revealed a unique design language that had many practical benefits including building angle and landscape integration, sunlight penetration, planting schemes and energy capture.
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- Design Concept: Sunken Landscape. Previous designs that anticipated a building sunken into the landscape had offset fractured walls to reduce light emission.
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- Design Concept: Fractured Walls. The design team adopted the principle of the offset fractured walls and sloped the sides to enable views out from the building and a connection with the landscape.
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- Design Inspiration. The design team studied angular sculptural panels and their shadow and light dynamics.
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- Hux Shard Panel Angles. Panels can be angled to permit sunlight penetration or be positioned on an east-west axis for energy capture.
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- Design Inspiration. Sculptural panel overlays increase depth perception.
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- Fractured Wall Panels. Infill between fractured wall panels starts to form and wall panels start to follow a linear arrangement depicted by the entrance level contour.
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- Design Inspiration. Although very contemporary, this sculpture integrates into its surroundings and almost blends into the landscape.
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- Integrated Planting. Variations in the infill alignment allow landscaping and planting to integrate into the building structure.
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- Room Configuration. Positioning of rooms and their interrelationship start to form the shape of the building.
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- Natural Sunlight & Energy Capture Study. Orientation of the fractured wall panels aligned in relation to room function and sunlight/energy capture, form the footprint of the building.
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- Deep Light Penetration & Temperature Regulation. The clerestory formed by variations in roof panel height allows natural light deep into the building. The angle of the clerestory permits the cooler morning sun to enter and reduces the solar gain from the south.
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