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Tidal

Part 1 Project 2015
Alexander Galego
 University of New South Wales | Australia
In response to an existing cultural meeting place and pedestrian spine, ‘Tidal’ seeks to organise the café, pools, and amenities within the form of a bridge. The deliberate linear progression carefully pierces through the landscape searching for diverse social opportunities existing along the inter-tidal zone and dunes.

The bridge’s western façade overlooks an untouched landscape and is experienced as a series of fractured openings enabling a series of framed moments. Contrastingly, the public character of the eastern façade as it connects back to South West Rocks becomes a frame animated with people. This is achieved through an operable façade system responding to wind and sunlight; and tempering between a space of refuge and one of complete transparency, referencing Pallasmaa’s ecological functionalist view of architecture.
The procession down to the semi-buoyant pools, which are protected by a curved pier wall, redirects tidal energy for use on the site.

Rising tidal levels for the year 2100 dictates the height and form of the structure. As the elevated walkway gently wraps to meet the dunes, local basalt rocks from the engineered coast are re-purposed, creating seating interventions nestled in the landscape realising another “room” naturally existing within the site.

Tutor(s)
Ian Martin
2015
This view of the eastern façade explores the public relationship the bridge has the to the township of South West Rocks as it is conceived as an animated series of frames responding to wind, light and habitation.
Axonometric of the scheme as it sits within the site.
Plans and longitudinal section with accompanying legend.
Series of cross sections exhibiting the varied conditions along the deliberate line fractured by moments with nature.
Detail axonometric section outlining the programmatic and climatic factors, which dictate the form of the bridge.
The resolution of the bridge as it wraps into the landscape of dunes, using local basalt rock from the engineered coast to create seating interventions which begin to realise ‘rooms’ within the landscape.
The main dining space for the café situated on the lower platform of the bridge. It distinctly exhibits the dual conditions of refuge and openness as recurring rhythms along the bridge.
The transition point between the upper pedestrian walk way and the lower platform.
The semi-buoyant pools provide a climatic resolution to the slow procession down to the water.
Construction models 1:20
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