ROSS OATES DESIGN

FINAL PROJECT

TIDES

CONTENTS
BACKGROUND
Site Context
Precedents
Site Qualities
Design Development
Vision
Design Principles

02
02
02
03
04
05

FINAL DESIGN

03

07

Master Plan - CAD

Master Plan
Site Movement
Site Structure
Commercial/Mixed Use Precinct
Open Space Precinct
Residential Precinct
Site & Precinct Sections
Moving Landscapes

06
07
08
09
10
12
14
16
17

PLANTING
Planting Plan
Terrestrial Planting
Marine Planting

19
20
21

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Tidal Impact
Materiality
Tide Levels

21
24
25

MODELS

12

26

Experimental Model
Physical Model

26
27

01

DESIGN BACKGROUND
Site Context

Precedents

Site Qualities

Residential

Com

To Se
m

merc

apho

ial

re

Industrial

Site

Residential

Pirrama Park

Barangaroo

PORT ADELAIDE
Commercial

del

A
To

Commercial

Recreational

Residential

Industrial

Fletchers Slip

East Perth

aid

Recreational

0m 100 200

West 8

500
N

It is very important to consider the broader context of a site before coming up

with a design. Looking at the location of Fletchers Slip, there appear to be
three main issues which relate closely to the site

Prior to commencing the design process, if was necessary to look at a number

of successful waterfront precedents. The four which I looked at in the closest
detail include;

- Zoning (mixed between Commercial and Residential)

- Close Proximity to Semaphore
- Lack of public open space in the general area.

- Pirrama Park (Sydney)

- Barangaroo (Sydney)
- East Perth
- West 8 (Amsterdam)

In order to create a successful project, it is necessary to address these

external impacts. Given the site is situated amongst a mixture of Commercial
and Residential space, it is only logical to continue this same type of usage
on the site.
The sites close proximity to Semaphore is also substantial in the sense that
both sides may be competing for visitor numbers. It is therefore necessary
to create a design which offers visitors a different experience to Semaphore.
Perhaps, the two sites could even be linked using the Commercial same
which links them along Semaphore Road.

All of these sites are great examples of how clever design has re-established
that crucial link between the land and the water, a design principle which would
be very important at Fletchers Slip.
Each site also has a varying use based on its surroundings, for example
Pirrama Park which works as a public park, East Perth which functions as a
mixed use space and West 8 which is purely residential. These three uses are
what I intend to introduce to the Fletchers Slip site.

As these images show, the Fletchers Slip site has many distinctive site
qualities. Those which are most apparent to me include;
- Close proximity to waters edge
- Historical context
- Decay
- Pre-existing Architecture
- Range of existing materiality
- Proximity to Port Adelaide, Semaphore
- Views (to Harts Mill, Hills etc.)
- Open Space
Each of these qualities provide a great opportunity when redeveloping this
site.

02

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

03

VISION
The redevelopment of the Fletchers
Slip site at Port Adelaide offers a very
exciting opportunity to rejuvenate
and reinvent one of the most beautiful
and underused sites in Adelaide.
Fletchers Slip was once used
as a shipping slip where visiting
ships would receive any repairs
or maintenance that was required
after their long journey to South
Australia. Changing trade practices
however made the site redundant,
and since the site was effectively
abandoned in the 1980s, it has been
left to decay and weather. Decay is
a process which is occurring almost
everywhere at Fletchers Slip. The
concrete is cracking, the timber
is weathering, the steel is rusting
and the vegetation is growing
out of control. It is currently a site
completely run by mother nature.
The portrayal of decay in landscape
architecture is almost unequivocally
negative, however, would it be
possible to create a design which
brings out the positive aspects
of decay? A site which uses this
naturally applied finish to enhance
the quality and feel of a design.
It is this principle of using decay
to enhance which has driven this
design, entitled Tides.

Decay in landscape architecture

essentially comes down to three
things; change in shape, colour
and condition. Tides, as its name
suggests, achieves these three
influences by using the varying ocean
tides to change the site throughout
the day. As the tides come in and
out, the shape, colour and condition
of the site are forever changing,
replicating the natural process of
decay. At certain times of the day,
some parts of the site are inundated
and at others they are dry, creating
a variable atmosphere throughout
the site. The tides will also bring
in natural marine vegetation such
as marine algae which will cover
many parts of the site, displaying the
notion of mother nature applying its
own finish to the site.
From a planning perspective, the
site will be separated into three
main precincts, which include a
Commercial/Mixed Use Precinct, an
Open Pace Precinct and a Residential
Precinct. It is the inclusion of these
three site uses which will mean that
Tides caters for all members of
the local community, and become
one of the most exciting and vibrant
locations in Greater Adelaide.

04

DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Decay

Rectilinearity

Environmental Sustainability

Given the amount of decay which is currently occurring on the Fletchers Slip
site, it is only natural that a new design would embrace this site quality.

The design principle of rectilinearity is inspired by the sites former usage as

a shipping slip. Given that the site was purely used for the purpose of getting
as many ships in and out as quickly as possible, the site ended up being little
more than a series of parallel slips and sheds, all facing directly to the waters
edge.

The final design principle relates to Environmental sustainability. This will be

achieved using numerous green infrastructure initiatives throughout the site,
such as bio-retention swales and water tanks which will effectively be used to
irrigate all on site vegetation.

This design therefore seeks to emulate and enhance the natural decay which
is already occurring on throughout the site. Using a series of level changes,
the site will constantly evolve as the tides come in and out, changing the
shape, colour and condition of the site. Special material and planting
palettes will also be carefully selected in order to replicate the process of
decay throughout the terrestrial areas of the design.

It is this presence of linear and rectangular forms throughout the former site,
along with the intention of creating vistas facing the water which have been a
particular driving force for this design.

A strong planting palette consisting entirely of drought tolerant indigenous

species will also be used throughout the site in order to reduce the need for
excess irrigation during the dryer months.

05

MASTER PLAN - CAD

d

ore Roa

Semaph

Str
son
Nel

eet

BELOW
CAD Master Plan - Scale 1:2000 @A3

06

MASTER PLAN
SITE FEATURES
re Road

1 - Pedestrian Footbridge
2 - Open Lawn
3 - Moving Land Platform
4 - Public Pool
5 - Pedestrian Footbridge
6 - Elevated Playspace
7 - Commercial + Mixed Use Precinct
8 - Public Carpark
9 - Residential Precinct
10 - Shared Promenade
11 - Marina
12 - Open Lawn + Playspace

Nel

son

Str
ee

Semapho

10

12

8
3

11

ABOVE
Master Plan - Scale 1:2000 @A3

07

SITE MOVEMENT
TRANSPORT LEGEND
re Road

Semapho

son

Str
ee

One Way

Nel

Site Entrance

One Way

This design is primarily focussed on pedestrian

movement, with vehicle and bicycle movement
generally being directed around the site.
One exception to this policy occurs in the residential
precinct, which uses shared One Way streets in
order to provide vehicle and service access to all
apartments.
ABOVE
Site Movement - Scale 1:2000 @ A3

08

SITE STRUCTURE
PRECINCT BREAKDOWN
re Road

Semapho

Commercial/Mixed Use
Public Open Space

ial

ed Use

Resident

Nel

son

Str
ee

Residential

cial/Mix
Commer

pen Spac

Public O

ABOVE
Site Structure - Scale 1:2000 @ A3

09

COMMERCIAL + MIXED USE PRECINCT

2
1

COMMERCIAL/MIXED USE PRECINCT

FEATURES;
1 - Site Entry (1)
2 - Commercial/Mixed Use Building
3 - Outdoor Eating Area
4 - Drooping Sheoak Corridor
5 - Site Entry (2)

5
4

ABOVE
Commercial + Mixed Use Precinct Plan

0m

10

20

50
N

10

11

OPEN SPACE PRECINCT

3
4
OPEN SPACE PRECINCT FEATURES;

5
2

1 - Pedestrian Footbridge
2 - Scenic Promenade
3 - Elevated Playspace
4 - Pedestrian Footbridge
5 - Drooping Sheoak Gardens
6 - Open Lawn
7 - Moving Landscape Platform (1)
8 - Mangrove/Marine Gardens
9 - Public Pool
10 - Moving Landscape Platform (2)

8
7
9

10

ABOVE
Open Space Precinct Plan

0m

10

20

50
N

12

13

RESIDENTIAL PRECINCT

2
3
8

RESIDENTIAL PRECINCT FEATURES;

1 - Public Park (1)

2 - Access Road (Northern Apartments)
3 - Public Park (2)
4 - Pedestrian Footbridge
5 - Shared Promenade
6 - Waterfront Promenade
7 - Mangrove/Marine Gardens
8 - Outdoor Eating Area

4
7

6
ABOVE
Residential Precinct Plan

0m

10

20

50
N

14

15

SITE & PRECINCT SECTIONS

Open Space + Commercial Precinct Section

Residential Precinct Section

ABOVE
Site Section

Open Space + Commercial Precinct

Residential Precinct

16

MOVING LANDSCAPES

1
2

MOVING LANDSCAPE FEATURES;

1 - Access Path/Steps (1)
2 - Moving Landscape Platform (High Tide)
3 - Slip
4 - Moving Landscape Platform (Low Tide)
5 - Access Path/Steps (2)
6 - Moving Landscape Platform (2)

One of the designs most intriguing features will

be two moving landscape platforms. The first
landscape platform (left) will effectively use one of
the sites old shipping slips, and will come in and
out of the site as the tide rises and falls. This shift
in position will include both vertical and horizontal
movement and will constantly change how
visitors to the platform perceive the surrounding
environment.

The second moving landscape platform (right) will

remain in the same position horizontally, however
will move vertically based on the tides. The platform
will effectively have a constant level in relation to
the water, but will be constantly shifting upwards
and downwards in relation to the site.
ABOVE
Moving Landscape Plan

0m

10

20

50
N

17

18

PLANTING
PLANTING FEATURES
re Road

1 - Scenic Promenade
2 - Drooping Sheoak Gardens
3 - Slip Vegetation
4 - Mangrove/Marine Gardens
5 - Sheoak Promenade
6 - Norfolk Island Pine Boundary
7 - Planted Shared Street
8 - Planted Edges

Semapho

Nel

son

Str
ee

7
5

ABOVE
Planting Plan - Scale 1:2000 @ A3

2
3

19

Goodenia varia
(Sticky Goodenia)

Banksia integrifolia
(Coast Banksia)

Scaevola aemula
(Fairy Fan-Flower)

Callistemon citrinus
(Bottlebrush)

Leucopogon parviflorus
(Coast Beard Heath)

Chrysocephalum apiculatum
(Yellow Buttons)

Scaevola crassifolia
(Thick-leaved Fan Flower)

Allocasuarina striata
(Drooping Sheoak)

5
6

Araucaria heterophylla
(Norfolk Island Pine)

NOT PICTURED

Banksia marginata
(Silver Banksia)

Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea

(Red flowering Yellow Gum)

Eucalyptus utilis
(Coastal Moort)

TERRESTRIAL PLANTING
20

The design will feature numerous marine gardens

throughout. These gardens will primarily feature
Australian mangroves, but will also include various
native salt marsh species.

Over time, it is also hoped that a certain amount of

marine algae will also blanket parts of the site.
Chlorophyta
(Marine Green Algae)

Juncus acutus
(Spiny sea rush)

Sarcocornia quinqueflora
(Samphire)

Juncus kraussi
(Sea rush)

Avicennia marina
(Australian mangroves)

5
3

2
4

Baumea juncea
(Bare Twig Rush)

NOT PICTURED

Distichlis distichophylla
(Australian Salt Grass)

Samolus repens
(Creeping Brookweed)

Sporobolus virginicus
(Saltwater couch)

Suaeda australis
(Seabite)

MARINE PLANTING
21

TIDAL IMPACT

PHASE 1
Low tide

PHASE 2
Medium tide - Water begins to flow into the site

PHASE 3
High tide - Water reaches maximum level

PHASE 4
High tide - Over time, algae is deposited on site

PHASE 5
Medium tide - Algae deposited at high tide remains on site

PHASE 6
Low tide - Water drawn out of site, leaving algae and seaweed deposits

22

23

MATERIALITY

1
3

Given one of the main design principles of the design relates

to using decay to enhance, materials have been selected
based on how they will decay over time and how this may be
used as a positive design feature.
A blend of corten steel and existing recycled steel from the site
will be used throughout the design, due to their ability to rust in
a desirable fashion, displaying natures finish to the site.

Timber

Corten Steel

Recycled Steel

In-Situ Blasted Concrete

24

TIDE LEVELS

2.7m

2.2m

1.7m

1.2m

0.7m

0.2m
ABOVE
Tide Levels - Scale 1:2000 @A3

ABOVE
Tide Intervals

25

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL
This experimental features a few concrete steps,
simpler to what would be used on the site.
The experiment was conducted by placing the
concrete model into a container filled with salt
water containing an abundance of marine algae.
The container was then placed into the sun, in an
attempt to see if the algae would grow and attach
to the concrete.
It was hoped that this plus natural evaporation
would lead to the creation of a model which would
be comparatively clean at the top and covered with
algae at the bottom, replicating onsite conditions.
Here are the results...

ABOVE
The commencement of the process (top), two weeks later (bottom)

26

PHYSICAL MODEL
The final step of the process involved creating a
physical model of the whole design. Viewing this
model allows one to see how the site functions,
and how the three main precincts, as well as the
two moving landscapes, relate to each other and
the rest of the site.
The model also gives viewers a great perspective
regarding how the design interacts with the waters
edge, both along the canals through the site and
along the harbour frontage.
The verticality of the model has been exaggerated
on a scale of 3:1, in order to make the depth stand
out to the viewer.

ABOVE
Final Site Model

27