Reconnect
Avon to Latimer Square
Orion Site – Manchester – Armagh Street
Inspiration:
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Historical MED buildings on site to be retained;
The recreational, amenity, ecological and cultural values of the Avon corridor; and
The historic and cultural values of Latimer Square.
Key Drivers:
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Heritage buildings on site to be strengthened (to 67% of code).
RECONNECT the power company link to MED building.
RECONNECT with Avon corridor through Elsie Locke Park (Centennial Pool buildings due for demolition) giving connection with
waters edge (punt station relocated).
Active frontage to buildings facing Armagh Street., enhancing existing street trees and landscaping.
Visual and physical link through to Latimer Square.
Transition zone between City core and residential east quarters of the City.
Transport links, - Walking and cycling networks., links to public bus network.
Creating a high amenity urban public space, and sustainable built form.
Relevant site pictures -
Former MED Building to remain
(1937 Art Deco), Manchester Street
Existing Car park Building (to be
demolished)
Former MED Building to remain
(1932 Art Deco), Armagh Street
View toward site from Avon
corridor
View along Manchester toward
Avon corridor and Edmond Rotunda
Centre of site (demolished
building)
Neighbouring Context (North)
Neighbouring Context (East)
Reconnect
Spatial Plan
Latimer
Square
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3D Views
View One –
landscaped corridor linking
Manchester Street with green space
Access to ‘green space’ above carparking
Link between new ‘Orion’ office and existing MED building
(to house Orion corporate)
Use of laneway to link the different open spaces
Architectural linkage between new and old.
Scale continues from existing MED building
Vertical fins directing views from the
tenancies towards the Avon corridor (existign
Band Rotunda
Vertical fins become public artwork with the
use of ‘morse code’ to spell ‘Orion – Your
Network’ across the facade.
Voids in the facade create light wells and
open space at street level
View Two –
New building linking to
existing MED building via glazed link
Reconnect
Street sections
OXFORD TERRACE
ARMAGH STREET
RETAINED MED
BUILDINGS
8m
AVON
NEW
ORION
BUILDING
GLOUCESTER STREET
8m
RIVER
Reconnect
Streetscape plan
18m
MANCHESTER STREET
Widened footpaths
Bus stop along proposed public transport corridor
Glass link to give access through tenancies with detracting
from the historical form of the MED building
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Pillars of Sustainabilty
Rainwater harvesting system from roof of Office building (example
only) to feed local water fixtures and site wide irrigation system with
overflow to stormwater system. Envisaged that all buildings would
connect to this system.
District Building Services for heating,
cooling, rainwater harvesting and
stormwater disposal reticulated to all
buildings via underground service ducts.
Stormwater collection and disposal via
bugger tank, soakpits/swales along
stormwater channel for eventual
filtration and disposal to Avon.
Section through office building demonstrating
natural ventilation concept via opening louvres
and buffer facade to create cross ventilation
across office space, supplemented by
mechanical ventilation during Winter months.
Reconnect
Design journey
A new urban space
Former waterway recreated to enhance the open
space
Linking Latimer Square and the Avon River corridor
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Design journey
Creating a residential and business interface
across the site encouraging the newly formed
open space to form a CBD edge
Slowing /calming of the transportation
around the newly formed public spaces
Existing Orion transformer building to be
treated with natural materials sympathetic to
the natural environment it now borders. This is
to be in keeping with the form of the office
building that borders the carpark
Reconnect
Design journey
Swimming Pool complex moves away from the
river edge to create the open towards Avon
corridor
Facade shape of swimming pool complex to
lead people past and into the banks of the
‘rain garden’ open space
The glazed end of the building links the site
back through to Latimer Square as well as
creating a focal point for some street art
The complex includes such uses as gym and
related services giving the occupants of the
site (residential and commercial) the amenity
they require
As a stand alone structure the complex is able
to be Avant Garde in its form
Services for both residential and commercial
helps create the interface between the
‘zones’