Challenge

Societies have always needed main gathering places carved into the Centre of the Community. In support of these places are the Social Fringe Spaces that provide an intimate connection to culture and context. This site, located in the heart of Koreatown and surrounded by a rich social, cultural and physical fabric, has the potential to become this much needed Social Fringe Space.

Solution

Strengthening this idea and informing the design itself is the identity, The Wilshire, a name derived from the site’s history. A key aspect of the proposal included Laneway creation, transforming the site into a social and cultural destination anchor. Equally key, the verticality and slenderness of the tower was accentuated though the pure expression of the internal plan and further emphasised with the creation of a large cascading sky lobby volume, dividing the threshold between the podium and tower massing. The inclusion of a terraced roof top bar and a vertical social spine expanded on the idea of an intimate destination place.

Overall, The Wilshire has the potential to positively contribute to the urban fabric of the precinct, to connect to its history, to the play on the global cultural threshold it sits within and encourage respect of a changing cultural landscape.