PORTFOLIO
RYAN WONG
NOT AN ORDINARY PARK
Typology
Research
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Location
Melbourne, VIC
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Client
Potentially the Australian Government or a Private Developer
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Year
2019
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Status
Competition Proposal
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Event
Future Park Design Competition 2019 (University of Melbourne & Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
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I entered into the Future Park Design Ideas International Competition 2019 in July 2019 and titled my work as "Not an Ordinary Park".
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The competition challenges landscape architects, architects, young designers and students to speculate on new park possibilities for a future Melbourne in the year 2050 in two ways:
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1. Make the Space
Restricted to a 10km radius of Melbourne's city centre, designers must present a rationale (speculative or other) for the location and configuration of their proposed public open space/s.
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2. Design the Place
What is the role of the park in 2050? Designers must present the aesthetic, civic and ecological attributes of their scheme and highlight how these attributes respond to the challenges facing Melbourne in the mid twenty first century.
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"Not an Ordinary Park" is a conceptual design to repurpose, redefine and rezone the waterfront of Alexandra Avenue as a public open space. It is a strip of land located east from Queen Victoria Gardens along the Yarra River, just 1km from Federation Square, making it the perfect place for anyone to rejuvenate.
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I believe today's public parks serve the basic function of providing outdoor breathing space for people. However parks we have today may not meet population growth, aging population and urban heating, I would like to propose themes and concepts for a 2050 park which has the role of urban greening to create mutually beneficial relationships between city dwellers and their environments.
Urban greening can make contribution to the environment by lowering temperatures, intensifying relative humidity, filtering up pollution and reducing overall noise.
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"Not an Ordinary Park" with four key characteristics is designed to bring out attributes in art, social life, healthy living and environmental sustainability for psychological, sociological and aesthetic benefits in the city of Melbourne.
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1. Provide a green and sustainable environment
To adopt passive design approach (orientation of building structures, window placement, building materials, cross ventilation/free cooling in non-summer seasons) to reduce energy consumption. To use gym equipment to turn human energy into electricity through micro-inverter technology, people do exercise for their well-being while helping the environment.
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2. Provide accessibility to public and commercial spaces
The park can be easily accessible on foot and by car. Pick up and drop off points, electrical vehicle charging stations and parking spaces for:
(a) elderly and handicapped, (b) shuttle to & from offices and schools, (c) free shuttle service to & from CBD can encourage people to come for art gallery/exhibitions, community events, cafe (for healthy snacks/drinks etc.) and retail to bring economic and other benefits to the park and the city as a whole.
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3. Social hub
The park will contain handicapped/elderly friendly facilities, multi-use space, BBQ/picnic areas, etc. where people hold diversified social activities that aims to encourage more interaction.
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4. Develop gratefulness in life
The bright and uplifting atmosphere for self enjoyment, sport activities or social gatherings can help people to relax, rejuvenate, re-energise and improve their well-being physically, psychologically and sociologically.
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