Project 3: Wk 1 First Attempt

Just went for a quick site visit after work to become familiar with the sites and the immediate area, to start considering which site could offer the most opportunities for playing with ideas of organisation of circulation and manipulating interesting lighting qualities. Site 1 was the longest and narrowest envelope and has a number of interesting contextual qualities: the strong presence of Aboriginal art round the back; the unrestricted access to the Lennox St backstreet and Camperdown Memorial Rest Park; and the neighboring icons of student culture such as the Dendy Cinemas and small restaurants; and the almost maligning presence of the church.

Site 2 was very intriguing in terms on the shape of the envelope of the corner site, more like a blob that a long slug, and the potential openness it offers- not to mention the opportunity to experiment with integrating the direction of the surrounding streets with the form and using them to determine the openings. What was unfortunate was the lack of any distinctive cultural symbols in the immediate proximity at the back of the site around Wilson St and Erskineville Rd, with just some housing and anonymous commercial buildings. However it is so close to Site 1 that it could arguably still respond to the Dendy and small resteraunts across King St. Would be interesting if the Varga Bar could be maintained as part of the gallery.

Site 3 was the least appealing to me in the sense that it is not only sandwiched in like Site 1, but it lacks an interesting envelope and does not penetrate though to Lennox St to open out to the park. However it is surrounded by public art influences, which encourage free collaboration in the sense of just being able to post up sheets of scribble with chalk, without ruining the heritage art. From the point of view of an art dealer it is also strategically placed on the King St Enmore Rd intersection, maximising exposure. There is a small alley off Eliza St for off street access, but it is not big enough to really engage with the public like it is in Sites 1+2.

From this point I just want to start thinking of the narrative for my dealer and a quick parti organisation, and which site sparks the most interesting ideas.