Image Credit : Brett Boardman Photography
Project Overview
Conversion of the seating pagoda in Dixon Street to an information kiosk to service Chinatown called for a sympathetic and contextual design. The design approach is to treat the new enclosure as a patterned red lantern by day which is illuminated by night.
The Pagoda roof and lantern sit on a plinth that resolves the steeply sloping Goulburn Street footpath. The lantern is inserted inside the existing pagoda structure and is clearly understood as a new volume. It consists of 2 semi-circular halves that are clad with patterned, curved glass; the pattern was created by paper-cut artist Pamela Mei-Leng See with cultural reference to the Chinese community including flowers, fish and birds. The sliding semi-circle of glass screens open to reveal a hot red interior that houses a wall of shelving for brochures, pamphlets and tourist information. The lantern sits to the side of pedestrianised Dixon Street and is experienced in the round. The internal program for the information kiosk is to provide a comfortable space that functions well as a place from which to distribute tourist information.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Frost* Design/Lacoste + Stevenson Architects
Team
Thierry Lacoste, David Stevenson, Angela Rowson: L+S
Vince Frost, Joanna Mackenzie, Kate Bevan: Frost* Design
Pamela Mei-Leng See: Artist
Andrew Simpson (Structural), Simpson Design Assoc
Peter Maclean: Lighting Art & Science
Peter Smilie: (BCA) Philip Chun & Assoc
David Goding (Access): Morris Goding
Project Brief
While a seemingly simple brief to convert a seating pagoda into an information kiosk that provides customer service and distributes pamphlets, the project was laden with expectation once the design direction of interpreting a Chinese lantern was decided.
While quite small, the well-being of the staff was paramount. They are protected from westerly sun and enjoy good cross ventilation. The circular joinery within the lantern houses pamphlet storage, computer equipment, switchboard and a small fridge; every available space is utilised. The joinery aspect of this project maximised every available square millimetre.
Project Innovation / Need
The City of Sydney is making a difference to the public domain of Sydney streets by instigating improvements such as this lantern/information kiosk. It responds to the Chinese community by integrating an artwork onto the red lantern concept done by a well-known Chinese artist. The community's identity is expressed in an exuberant way and is a popular meeting point already in Dixon Street.
It goes beyond the generic solution for kiosks installed throughout the city to add a richness to the experience of the public domain.
Design Challenge
The challenge and subsequent success of this project is the result of a combined effort by both the consultant team and the many contractors: while a small-scale project it has high ambition. The level of co-ordination required to achieve the desired illumination from within the light boxes is a testament to prototyping, effort and the will to achieve the outcome. We will be forever grateful to the team for the effort made by each participant which went beyond the usual scope of work for a project of this modest scale.
Sustainability
Sustainability measures for this modest project relied on mostly low-tech solutions include natural ventilation, day-lighting and recyclable materials. The selection of the type of lighting to achieve intense illumination in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way lead to the use of LED light fittings quite quickly.
The orientation of the fixed screens to the west prevents late summer sun causing discomfort for the operators of the kiosk. This was a fortunate outcome as the kiosk needed to open to Dixon Street on the east.
Tags
Urban Design
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