GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY SOUTHBANK

FORECOURT PROJECT PROPOSAL

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CONTENTS

PROJECT OVERVIEW……………………3

CLIENT BRIEF…………………………….….4

SITE ANALYSIS …………………………….5

PROJECT BRIEF…………………………….7

SUMMARY OF WORK ……..………….11

BUILDING SITE. ………….…………….…12

MOOD BOARD ………………………………13

DESIGN VISUALS ……………………….14

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 The Griffith University
Queensland College of Art
are pursuing the redesign
of the centrally located
forecourt on the
Southbank campus. The

PROJECT
reconditioning of this
space must conciliate the
needs of the existing

OVERVIEW creative community on

campus together with the
various requirements of
daily guests and
attendees of major events
being both Graduations
and Orientations. The end
goal of this project is to
create an inviting entry
and hospitality service
that encourages student
socialisation whilst
remaining on campus
grounds

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 Griffith University has three campus facilities present in Southbank including The Queensland Conservatorium of Music, the Griffith
CLIENT

Film School, and the Queensland College of Art. Explicit needs have been identified by the QCA specifically over the timeframe of
the past 20 years of occupation. Essential elements include an attractive walkthrough entryway with distinct signage and a
presentation display for student work. This project must be undertaken with ecological and sustainable design ethics and present
a clear acknowledgement of Australia’s first people, as aligned with the values of Griffith University

The ingress to be redesigned serves as the junction between QCA studios, offices and lecture theatres as well as the library, student

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services, and the Griffith University Art Museum
SITE ANALYSIS
Located in the suburb of South Brisbane and on
the southern bank of the Brisbane River,
Southbank is Brisbane’s premier lifestyle and
cultural destination, boasting the title as the
city’s cultural, social, educational and
recreational precinct. A number of Brisbane’s
most popular world class restaurants and
fashion boutiques are located on Grey Street
and Little Stanley Street set against the
landscape of 17 hectares of parklands and
picturesque river views

The suburb of South Brisbane has a total

permanent population of approximately 7200,
with an additional 3500 separate students and
staff members attending the Griffith Campus
intermittently for classes and study. The
majority of individuals that are found along
Grey Street are therefore at a university
education level. With equal statistics of male
and female residents, the median age is 30
years and sees an average of two people per
household. With these demographics and the
opportunity to study in Southbank brings
accordingly vast cultural and linguistical
diversity which is reflected in the surrounding
entertainment and hospitality areas

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 Neighbouring eateries are abundant along Grey With their current high-quality menus and
Street in Southbank with variants in cafes, appealing atmospheres, the redesign at the
restaurants and grocers. Casual eateries that are Griffith campus must work with their prime
direct competition to the current offerings on the location and unremitting customer flow to meet

SOUTHBANK
Griffith campus include Pourboy, Ariake on Grey, the transcendence of the rivalling
Belle Epoque, and the Stone Artisian Bakery establishments

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PROJECT
BRIEF
To meet the brief a whole reconstruct of the current landscape of
bare concrete and green space is proposed. The domineering
contrast of the flat lawn area and dull built structures oppresses
the atmosphere to a certain degree and determines the need to
break the divide between the two.

Lawns are outdated in regard to both style and maintenance. With

sustainability at the head of the project introducing individual
ecosystems into the space through grassed area alternatives such
as moss is highly recommended. Moss grounds provide the same
usage and are infinitely more self-sustained and unique and are the
future of environmentally friendly landscaping.

Infusing lush gardens, fishponds and water features with

interweaving pathways between them will not only be drastically
more visually appealing but will aid in natural temperature control
to combat inner city heat. Focusing on geometric landscaping and
designing with clean straight lines the combination of these
elements will reinforce the desired calming ambiance to reinforce
study and relaxation.

In an effort to preserve locality of the environment all vegetation

within the garden space will be native to Queensland specifically
and will be able to host the ever-increasing number of endangered
flora species.

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Acknowledging the true custodians of the land is a priority within the
space and as the campus is focused on the arts this will be the focus
for installing recognition of the culture. Indigenous paintings of the
Kurilpa people will be recreated in mosaic pathways with rock pools
and symbolism incorporated throughout both built and greenspaces
as reminders of the vibrant artistic culture of Australia’s first people.
With reference to the creative community at Griffith the redesigned
paths out skirting the central garden will be enclosed and lined with
hanging greenery. This will serve as a feature backdrop to showcase
the students artistic work in an elegant and professional set up and
can be viewed when walking between locations.
The new hospitality area may need to consider current opening to
keep up with nightlife in Southbank. It is envisioned that the style of
the café will be appealing at any time of day and will remain open to
cater for students studying or attending classes throughout the
evening. Creating an attractive space that is recognised specifically
for student and university members is essential for marking the
eatery as a meeting point and maintaining consistent business.
Structurally, the café will be extended from the flat wall surface it is
currently in to provide a 360-degree view of the serving bar with
further expansive seating. Aesthetically, the design will incorporate
the vast greenery surrounds but will play as sort of an urban
intervention utilising strongly accented materials of timber and steel.
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Regarding general improvements of the project
certain pertaining elements within the space will
be modernised and refurbished on a surface
level where needed. While some larger scale
permanent structures have been considered
within the design in an attempt to synthesize and
lessen the division, the majority of elements will
be updated and cleaned to fit the new space. As
sustainability is an essential influence in the
client’s requests integrating a portion of the
extant concrete surfaces into the design will
reinforce this ideal immensely.

Upon arrival, the entrance of the site is flawed in

the sense of unclear direction. This is
unequivocally linked to the horizontal entryway
along Grey Street and the lack of physical
guidance that is normally found through signage
and routed pathways. User friendly
improvements have been identified with regards
to these and will serve as a defining feature
within the access remodelling.

The transitioning between differing areas within

the location will also require ample
consideration as the current layout will be
overhauled. Complex designs of wayfinding are
unnecessary and will hinder the usability of this
central multi use hub. Despite heavy foot traffic
on an everyday basis a large sum of guests
during occasions not limited to orientation and
graduations will not be familiar with the space
and will influence the strategic plan of creating a
safe, connected, and welcoming entry where

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visitors can easily circulate to and from locations
The new design will work with Griffiths branding in terms of their
emblematic colour scheme and school logo. Alongside the hero shade
of red used across all Griffith’s campuses, the pre-existing concrete
of the entryway will be contrasted with subtle touches of lighter
shades of turquoise and blue.
In terms of placemaking, the area will be wellness focused and
provide spaces for a mix of the current specified uses as well as offer
a range of new potential routines.
To ensure quality of space and obtain the chief objective of the project,
promotion of civic engagement and the facilitation of a physical fabric
that is altogether accessible, comfortable, and sociable will be
prioritised. Achieved through the basis of cleanliness, simple
circulation and charming facades and landscaping, this physical form
in combination with the previously stated functions leads to positive
activities and thus a strong sense of place
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SUMMARY OF
WORK
Cooperate new design with
Transform current lawn into certain inflexible permanent
landscaped moss-based features
native garden and seating
Improve consistency
regarding access and
Combine artistic elements
simple wayfinding between
of the local Kurilpa people
locations
within green and built space

Incorporate Griffith
Incorporate gallery inspired University branding within
walkways bordering the signing and colour schemes
existing building

Create a congenial place

Physically centralise eatery that meets student and
to create recognisable visitor needs in a campus
social atmosphere setting

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 BUILDING SITE
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MOOD BOARD 13
DESIGN VISUALS 14