Pub, The Basin, Victoria
1:10000 SIte map exploring fire and flooding in the region, and the development area.
Studio E [Intensive] 2023
This project, called Public House, re-interprets the pub typology as a democratic space. Located at the foot of the Dandenongs, The Basin is a village on the urban-rural fringe. The pub will anchor future growth and extend the town centre. The Basin is precariously positioned, subject to both fire and flood; as such, the scheme carries a strong water-based consciousness.
The steep site contained many check dams. These were used to slow down water velocity and increase infiltration, preventing toxic runoff into waterways and prevent soil erosion. This infrastructural language became an integral part of the designIn response to the context, a pavilion called “The Light Bunker” was proposed. It is a larger retaining wall-style structure designed to filter water through bio-infiltration and provide a means to extinguish a campfire. The bunker is covered in EMF Blocking Fabric, and its design directs users' attention towards the vista of the Basin.
In Between Fire and Flood:
Sprinklers on the roof for fire, perhaps also for when days get hot.
On wet days, the windows become heavy with rain and shut.
The rain falls,
and falls,
and falls,
in between the deck into the bio-infiltration pond.