Boxes, lanes, and frames

BOXES
Architecture and Design, in its Breaking News section, last week profiled the Bates Smart design for 735 Collins Street, Docklands. The architects say it was inspired by shipping containers and the site’s industrial past.

These four buildings, originally to be constructed in 2008, continue the recent commercial trend in rather squat glazed boxes . BVN + Marchese’s original 2002 masterplan for the site was replaced in 2007 by Bates Smart’s more commercially loaded scheme.

LANES
At the time, Walker Corporation described the pedestrian experience:

“The project will be anchored by an innovative “Laneway-esque” podium featuring an expansive transparent light-weight roof offering patrons year-round weather protection. The concept design will focus on an enlivened and activated space reminiscent of Melbourne’s much-loved laneways with a 21st Century twist.”

The only photo I can find of this twist was in the A&D article:

This bears a resemblance to Wood Bagots rather sterile and monochromatic pedestrian lane between SX1 and SX2 on Bourke Street. (Note to self: find my pic of this).

FRAMES
While we’re looking at it, the Docklands complex unsuprisingly shares another trait with 2000s Bates Smart buildings, the protruding frame. I’ve never quite understood what this is about, and have assumed it was just their way to jauntily express the podium. But it appears not just in the podium… Here’s some previous Bates Smart frames.

181 Williams Street

The Age Bourke Street

Alfred Centre Stage 2, Prahran

Mercer Exhibition Street, which “folds up to frame a section of sky”.

In a random and unruly sunday evening effort to trace the origins of this frame, I found these siblings and ancestors. I’ve probably missed some obvious ones, so please suggest more below if you can be bothered.

Draughtman’s contract. Peter Greenaway in 2003 : “The notion of the frame as a filmic device, and also as a drawing device, is related very significantly to the notion of a frame-up. Though we imagine the draughtsman rules the roost and governs the action, he’s in fact slowly, scene by scene, being framed.”

Grande Arch, La Defense, by Johann Otto von Spreckelsen.

The Frame Hotel Dubai, by IAD ~2008. “The first step for this project consisted of defining a visual and constructive frame for the building. This frame would determine not only the exterior facade of the hotel but the physical limits of built-up areas. The response to such a simple formal approach was to create a complex dialogue between each separate architectural or landscaping element. “ ( WAN )

The Dubai Frame, Fernando Donis 2008
“Dubai is a city full of emblems, Rather than adding another one, we propose to frame them all: to frame the city. Rather than building a massive structure, the purpose of this project is to build a void. This void of 150 meters by 105 meters will continuously frame the development of the current and future Dubai.” ( bustler )

Rick Joy, Arizona

ML Museum Liaunig by Querkraft Architects

Eames and Saarinen House

RHS

and… of course there are many protruding frames by Sean Godsell and Lo-tek. But I’m getting tired and a tad bored with boxes and frames.

lastly…

Total House, Melbourne. Framed to perfection. Dang, who was the architect?

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Posted by Peter on 17.01.10 in buildings