[interview] the project story
Image Credit : Fraser Marsden, Peter Bennett
Project Overview
The wayfinding and environmental graphics for the UOMFoAB aims to respond to the notion of a living building by providing a responsive, shifting aesthetic. The signage system is highly integrated into the architecture of the building
Project Commissioner
University of Melbourne, Faculty of Architecture
Project Creator
Project Brief
Briefed for the future faculty of architecture building. The signage therefore needed to be highly integrated into the building fabric. A major requirement of the brief was to have signage that is visible only when required by the user.
Project Innovation/Need
The client wanted the signage to be prominent when users required assistance, but invisible to regular users. These two competing agendas required an innovative solution, which included clear acrylic signage to allow for the signage structure to recede yet still deliver information. We developed a series of patterns for the facade design, which create a range of moray effects as the user moves past the signage.
Design Challenge
The main challenges existed in making the signage system and the fixings 'invisible' and as recessive as possible while still being able to deliver information when required. To deliver a signage system in such a highly architectural environment was also a challenge, requiring us to be constantly aware of honouring the architecture and not having the signage system competing for attention.
Sustainability
Through thorough planning and strategy we were able to reduce the number of total signs used on average in Australian Universities by approximately 30%. This resulted in lower production costs and emissions. The signage system incorporated a flexible system for information delivery which accounted for future changes to messaging.
Tags
Wayfinding
This award celebrates creative and innovative design in the ways people orient themselves in physical space, and navigate from place to place. Consideration given to signage and other graphic communication, clues in the building's spatial grammar, logical space planning, audible communication, tactile elements and provision for special-needs users.
More Details