Queensland Sites
Aquativity at South Bank
introduction / overview / images / location / Qld-Projects
Landscape Architect: Cardno S.P.L.A.T.
Location: South Bank Parklands, Brisbane
Aquativity is the latest landmark development for South Bank, Brisbane’s preeminent urban park with over 6 million visitors annually. South Bank Corporation’s brief was to provide a world class play facility befitting Queensland’s major regional urban park.
Specifically the feature was to cater for a wide range of ages, provide maximum usability and functionality, both day and night, from summer though winter, while promoting cultural and environmental understanding.
The Brisbane River has been, and remains a fundamental force in our city. Everyday we interact with it, whether it be the immersive ferry experience or crossing its bridges. Yet our most basic and ubiquitous interaction comes from the reality that we live within its catchments. The founding design philosophy of Aquativity was to create a place of local distinctiveness that celebrates our connections to the river. Our multifaceted relationship with the river was explored through three themes: environmental interactions, Indigenous connections and European settlement patterns.
The design process included strong collaboration between Cardno S.P.L.A.T. and artist John Coleman and seeks to celebrate and make tangible the shared but often invisible aspects of our experiences with and memories of the river.
Aquativity is designed as an immersive and interactive landscape. Three key activity nodes were designed to generate distinct age appropriate activities and features. The core of each node is defined by a large glass reinforced concrete feature disc, patterned with strong, vibrant designs that are an expression and interpretation of the river in relation to one of three themes. The whole space is designed to be fully programmable, through sound, light and water features facilitating extended interaction between adjoining arts groups surrounding the cultural precinct.
A key tenet of Aquativity is responsible water usage. Aquativity was designed to operate within the existing volume available in South Bank’s pool system. In order to achieve the desired effects with limited water, Aquativity utilises sophisticated nozzles and jets with associated digital controls and drainage. Furthermore, the facility uses South Bank’s existing water filtration system which provides high quality, sanitized water furthering minimising water and chemical use. There was no net increase in the use of water.
Aquativity’s most important contribution to environmental sustainability is its dual function as an educational and play facility. Themes and elements carry messages of the Brisbane River’s endemic flora and fauna, its catchment and our influence on it and its wider connection with the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Through providing a broader awareness and understanding of our connections with the River, Aquativity aims to promote greater community care of freshwater and marine habitats.
introduction / overview / images / location / Qld-Projects
2008
