A Whirl Wind Redevelopment
Context
In collaboration with Urbis Landscape Architects, Street + Garden were engaged to develop a number of elements for the Airlie Beach Foreshore in North Queensland’s Whitsunday region. The general brief was to create a sophisticated, elegant and timeless furniture suite that was also unique in character and complementary to the natural environment of the location.
Considerations
Given the environmental conditions in Northern Queensland and the proximity of the site to the ocean, the general principle was to select aluminium as the main material palette which was robust enough to weather these severe conditions. The use of a heavily perforated pattern was applied to minimise the surface area exposed to the sun while also allowing maximum airflow. The pattern took inspiration from the unique coral forms found in the area. The other key consideration was for the design to allow for the surface material set within the furniture frames to be substituted for either aluminium, timber or plastics. This offered the opportunity for a number of finish and colour variations between these elements.
Opportunities
The furniture suite is very comprehensive, including: Bench Seating, Table Settings, Bin Surrounds, Bollards, Bike Racks, Drinking Fountains and Bar Stools. The overall vision for the project from Urbis was to develop the site as a focal point of the township and as a hub for community activity. The flow on effect has had a major impact on the social, environmental and economic benefits to the area.
