Vedat Bakish

The project focuses on readapting a section of the Jam Factory located in South Yarra Melbourne into a public space of inclusivity. The designer created the interior and the program following queerspace theories and disciplines of heterotopias. The interior has three layers to itself which are transparent, translucent and opaque. These layers were created through consideration of how the project acts as a transition and an extension of public space. The design also enables the visitors to activate the structure, creating a true queer heterotopia.

The diagrams show the surroundings of the historic Jam Factory located at the corner of Chapel Street and Garden Street. The site was chosen to be readapted due to its significant location for the LGBTQIA+ community both historically and currently.

The site was transformed through the application of queerspace theories. The three approaches were:

1-Sexualised spaces, which are environments created by the body for the goal of orgasm.

2-Political spaces, which are environments that are lesbian and feminism oriented. They aim to be visible and run with their set of rules.

3-Sexualised political spaces, which are environments taken over by minority LGBTQIA+ groups.

The diagram shows the complete form and materiality of the space. The readaptation was inspired by various architects and artists such as Arakawa + Madeline Gins and Henrique Oliveira.

The image shows the exterior view of the space from across the street. The space breaks the traditional boundaries between exterior and interior in multiple ways, which blurs the separation of public and private.

The image shows the interior view of the space from the transparent layer. The view gives an idea of the sort of activities that could take place within the first layer.