Project [X]

With the rapid growth of population combined with the market demand for high density cities the current trend of living typologies have evolved into high density vertical communities. With these building typologies becoming more and more common and essential to the urban fabric of the city, we begin questioning what the architectural impact and significance these buildings have on our society and as architects what are our responsibilities in producin1g a better response.

The definition of the tower typology has varied throughout history with the earliest conceptions of “towers” in the forms of monumental gestures suggesting immortality with the likes of the Pyramids, however throughout history it is evident that the progression of these iconic structures have begun taking up new identities and symbolisms of power, technology, religion or more recent economic and financial success.

With the current ongoing internationally hyped tower competition, by "Beulah" we see this as a great opportunity to question what the current tower typology identity is/should be. As a very major live development project to the city of Melbourne, this brief creates an interesting 1proposition that questions the mindset of major developments with what a "responsible" architectural solution should be for such an iconic building in the Melbourne City's Skyline and identity. Using the competition brief as a reference point, the key focus will be on the outlined so called program "X". Outside of clear guidelines for a development component, hotel component and some communal programs the brief also provides the freedom for the participants to nominate/suggest an additional program that they feel would benefit the precinct, project and general public. The studio intends on exploring all the essential components to the tower before experimenting with "Program X" and questioning the potential these components could have in disrupting/challenging the conventional perceptions of the model and in defining the new Tower identity.