Having visited Japan in 2016, I was delighted to find these images in Pinterest. I drove past the Nagakin Capsule Tower (photo below) designed by Kisho Kurowaka and always wanted to know what it looked like inside. Some lessons to learn from this 1972 building on how to design micro, affordable housing for the masses.
Design work at Greenwood Plaza, was completed end of 2012 by Crone Partners Architects and Interiors. This involved a number of upgrades to the centre including; new respite seating, new ceiling treatments and new lighting designs. The new ceiling and lighting treatments cover 7 major zones in the centre, helping to rejuvenation the existing shopping Plaza, in need of modernisation.
Crone designed the ceilings to use environmentally friendly materials, such as, the plywood louvres that form a curving, directional spine at the centre. The ridge line of the vertical louvres is constantly changing, creating the idea of movement, ever prevalent in the daily movements of commuters from North Sydney Station through the concourse level.
The existing lights in the centre were replaced with highly energy efficient LED lights, providing improved LUX levels for shoppers and providing Energy Saving Certificates for the client. The futuristic lights are located at key entries to the mall and were developed to highlight the main entrancies to the concourse level. Construction of the ceilings was over a 3 month period.
The design of the upper level lighting, looked at creating an artificial atrium light, similar to the existing atriums at the centre. Through the existing atrium skylights you see the branches of large trees through the glass roof. The lighting is connected to a computer system allowing the light feature, termed the “birds nest” to change colour or work on a programmed loop of colours. The lighting system and design was developed through a collaborative design approach, with Crone Partners, Mirvac, Barrisol, Mainbrace and Philips Lighting.
Crone Partners Architects are upgrading the amenities at Broadway Shopping Centre. Broadway is Mirvac’s signature shopping complex and best performing retail outlet, in their impressive retail portfolio.
A strong colour association principle was developed, early in the design process. The colours in the amenities and corridors, change on the various floors, to help navigate the shopper through the centre, integral to the way finding and signage strategy. In keeping with the centres strong branding theme “be you”, the amenities upgrade is the first stage in a series of projects for Broadway, seeking to rejuvenate the centre, in an eclectic mix of artwork, colour and individuality.
I don’t know about you but I am a huge fan of the design of the Apple store in George Street Sydney. Time and effort has been spent on the detailing of not only the entry facade but the glass feature stair that connects the floors at the back of the building. It is a beautiful stair. The treads span from wall to wall made from 50mm thick solid glass spanning approximately 2.4m. The treads are connected to the wall by minuscule stainless steel patch fittings removing the need for stringers. The open risers add to the transparency of the stair allowing light to filter through the incredibly lightweight structure and create soft shadows on the stark aluminium composite walls. The stair not only looks good but it encourages the visitor to use the stair rather than riding the lift to the other levels. Nice work by the architect! Does anyone know who designed it?
