<p>Adjacent to the southern entrance of Chadstone Shopping Centre, lies a free-standing structure acting as a continuation of the Fresh Food Precinct. Decibel Architecture were approached by Vicinity Group to propose an alternative design that reimagined and reinvigorated the site into a fine dining attraction, transforming Chadstone’s current southern entry into an iconic landmark.</p>
<p>Taking inspiration from the radial symmetry of a shell, the pavilion’s design (a nod to the Fibonacci sequence), was influenced by Japanese forms and shapes, referencing the folded and pleated structures found in the presentation of food and traditional crafts. The thin layers of the building’s segmented envelope delicately pinch and fold under itself along a curve not unlike origami, creating movement in both plan and elevation. The shell-like exterior also allows the structure to form a protective boundary between busy roads and the pedestrian entrance to the mall, wrapping patrons in its enclosure. The materiality builds on the idea of layering and protection, with round tiles stacked to form a scale-like membrane on the pavilion’s surface.</p>
<p>Designed to house Chadstone’s finest Japanese restaurant, the Fresh Food Iconic Pavilion envisioned a sublime new dining experience for shoppers and visitors to enjoy, elevated by architectural craftsmanship to create a building that is itself a piece of art.</p>
<h6>Site</h6>
<p>Responding to a complex, dense and multi-faceted context, the proposed site would form a free-standing ‘island’ building that negotiated several antithetical interfaces in close proximity. The proposed pavilion location would generate high-traffic pedestrian routes to nearby busy food and beverage tenancies, as well as the extended mall facilities. Additionally, site challenges created by heavy vehicular traffic as well as additional pedestrians in the vicinity, raised the issue of an impact barrier to protect both the building and pedestrians.</p>
<p>The pavilion’s design responds to this context in the duality of the building’s form – being open and permeable to the north while creating a series of solid and secure protective shells to the south. These shells are nested within one another, creating opportunities for natural light, as well as vistas to the prominent southern gateway. The primary point of entry is pinched into the centre of the pavilion, creating a sense of entry and bringing pedestrian flow and external ground plane inside.</p>
<h6>Integrated Fit-out</h6>
<p>In lieu of a traditional tenancy procurement method, defined by a cold shell base build with separate fit-out by the tenant, the pavilions’ fit-out, services, and back of house were purpose designed and integrated into the structure and form. </p>
<p>The fit-out concept expanded on the design intent of the pavilion form. The floor plan layout and programs were arranged as a series of discrete yet integrated pods sitting on a continued external ground plane treatment of bluestone pavers – bringing the outside in, integrating plantings in between seating. The process suggests the careful arrangement and assembly of hand-crafted food on exquisite Japanese ceramic plates.</p>
<p>The folding and stacking of forms created openings and gaps between each layer of the enclosure which would allow for sunlight to be tracked and captured, animating the interior throughout the day.</p>
<h6>Computational Design</h6>
<p>Advanced computational design was deployed to rationalise the structure of the double curvature forms without compromise of design intent. By utilising parametric programs, the constructability of the pavilion was simplified, with the structure conforming to traditional construction methodologies and processes.</p>
<p>The shells were covered with a rainscreen consisting of round solid aluminium powder coated discs. Individual discs were to be treated like pixels that could be powder coated in different colours, converting the pavilion envelope into a blank canvas. An engagement and collaboration with a First Nation’s artist would drive the colour treatment of the discs.</p>


Traditional Custodians of the Land

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Ensuite shower and entrance. Project: Ensuite at Roberts Street by Decibel Architecture