BALDASSO CORTESE

RIverview HouseWork/Play/Live

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Like the human body, buildings and cities are in a constant state of flux evolving and adapting to changing environments in order to be sustainable. These changes have many implications and impacts on the lives of those who use the buildings or the city. The current thinking is to invigorate our cities by bringing people back into them and making them 24/7 places to ‘Work, Play, and Live’.

Riverview House is located on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Streets, a major transport node in the heart of Melbourne CBD where trams, trains and pedestrians intersect. The site has the potential to become a multi-layered vertical city that is a ‘City within a City’.

Part One – ‘Work’ was to remediate concrete cancer from the existing tower facade and rebrand the building subdividing the floor plates from a single tenancy to multiple tenancies.

Part Two – ‘Play’ sees the transformation of the podium and canopy to engage the immediate urban context and bring the retail and hospitality components to the site.

Part Three – ‘Live’ sees the realisation of a second tower on top of the existing podium. The challenge here was to design a building that is harmoniously sited to not interrupt daylight and view access to the existing tower whilst maximising the floor area. The main facade to the tower faces west and a series of layers add texture and interest to the building and control the sun. The greening and activation of the roof with a terrace provides an opportunity for social and environmental engagement.

Case StudyRiverview House Work/Play/Live

5

Single tenancy

Multiple tenancy

Regeneration 1

Work

The existing tower was remediated of concrete cancer and rebranded as a multi-tenanted workplace environment.

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The existing tower was remediated of concrete cancer and rebranded as a multitenanted workplace environment.

Single tenancy

Multiple tenancy

Regeneration 2

Play

The aim is for the podium to be transformed into an active retail centre that engages with the city.

64

Opening up the corner provides higher visibility and pedestrian traffic to upper level retail and food outlets.

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The aim is for the podium to be transformed into an active retail centre that engages with the city.

Opening up the corner provides higher visibility and pedestrian traffic to upper level retail and food outlets.

Secondary sunshadingOperable louvres

Primary sunshadingHorizontal and vertical blades

GlazingLow-e transparent glass and spandrel glass

Repetitive building structureColumns, beams and slabs

Façade

Regeneration 3

Live

The second tower provides residential accommodation and deals with its western orientation by providing shading, texture and articulation to the façade.

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The second tower provides residential accommodation and deals with its western orientation by providing shading, texture and articulation to the façade.

Façade

Repetitive buildingstructureColumns, beamsand slabs

GlazingLow-e transparent glassand spandrel glass

SecondarysunshadingOperable louvres

Primary sunshadingHorizontal andvertical blades

Regeneration 3

Live

A city within a city

Work/Play/Live

1

3

4

5

6

1 Rooftop terrace

2 Light court

3 Residential apartments

4 Health & fitness

5 Food & entertainment

6 Retail

7 Commercial offices

8 Penthouse apartments

2 7

8

1 Rooftop terrace2 Light court3 Residential apartments4 Health & fitness5 Food & entertainment6 Retail7 Commercial offices8 Penthouse apartments

BALDASSO CORTESE

www.bcarch.netFollow us on Twitter @BaldassoCortese