An Urban An Urban An Urban An Urban An Urban An Urban An Urban An Urban An Urban Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:Courtyard:KINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREKINGS SQUAREThe existing scale, built form and city plan of Fremantle is likened to that of a ‘courtyard house’. Kings Square exists as the urban courtyard for the city.

Kings Square is centrally located within the existing urban fabric as a large public open space bound by four defined edges. The proposed demolition of the existing council offices and library building offers Kings Square the potential to actively re-engage the city via the four edges that define the urban courtyard. This offers an opportunity to draw life and activity back into the square, reactivating it as a central hub for the community of Fremantle.

Our approach for Kings Square is to simply provide this urban courtyard with a shade structure.

This new shade structure creates a sheltered outdoor room, immediately defining a relationship between the site and the rest of the square by developing a dichotomy between what is shaded and what is not. It not only improves the amenity of the square as a social communal space but also allows permeability throughout the

site to be maintained so the square can be accessed intuitively and with greater ease via the four edges and corners of this urban courtyard.

It is important that Kings Square establishes a balance between the built form, public open space and the urban terrain. Reminiscent of the cranes that line the working ports of the inner harbour on Swan River, sizable columns and beams support the roof of the new shade structure. They are designed to house the internal spaces for the new council offices, library and retail outlets. As a result the ground floor plane is left open for the public open space and urban terrain to continuously flow throughout the square.

The size and height of the new shade structure allows opportunities for public open space to leave the confinements of the ground floor plane and explore the vertical dimension. Elevated streets and parklands are provided at various heights, offering unique spatial experiences and improving the variety and flexibility of Kings Square’s public open space and urban terrain.

At ground level, the public open space

and urban terrain offer malleable spaces

that adapt to varying social conditions and

activities. Sculpted as a playful landscape

with undulating hills, terracing lawns, open

air auditoriums and adjustable public

seating, the urban terrain is an open playing

field that extends out to blanket the entire

Kings Square site, shaping the entire urban

courtyard for impromptu urban living.

This proposal seeks to re-establish

Kings Square as a primary urban space,

reinvigorating this Urban Courtyard as

the heart of the city of Fremantle. With

the rejuvenation of the urban terrain and

public open spaces, new council offices, new

library and new retail outlets, the square is

activated day and night. It becomes a place

where the city can share ideas and access

information; a place where people can go

to meet friends, socialise and particpate in

communal events and festivities.

the city of Fremantle can be likened to that of a ‘courtyard house’

Kings Square is centrally located within the city existing as an urban courtyard

the demolition of the existing building opens up Kings Square and provides the opportunity to improve access and permeability through the site

an opportunity to provide shade to the urban courtyard and develop a relationship between the site and the whole of Kings Square

introducing habitable columns and beams for a new shade structure whilst acheiving adequate access and permeability

adding a roof structure to provide shade and dappled light into the site and creating a relationship with the whole of Kings Square

grass hill

garden park

garden park

grass hill

civic

void

open air stage

retail/cafeunder

signage pole and PA/sound system

library and bookshop underquick access borrowing and return

sculpture and public seating

dashed line indicates space for markets

retail space above shown dashed

retail and pop up store under

grass hill

adjustable seating

sliding movable wall

elevated lawn

projector and PA/sound systemimages and movies projected on to movable and sliding wall next to outdoor stage

urban room

council

void

terraced lawn/ auditorium

elevated lawn

library

void

grass hill

terraced lawn/ auditorium

grass hill

lift and stairs24hr access to elevated retail streets

lift and stairs24hr access to elevated retail streets

lift and stairs24hr access to elevated parkland

light pole - wi-fi and power

library 172m2

after hoursaccess to amenities

after hoursaccess to amenities

planning & development 256m2

corporateservices127m2

retail openair street 362m2

offices/studio192m2

offices/studio 171m2

access to parkland

corporate services 1490m2

access to parkland

elevated parkland

library 172m2

technicalservices 466m2

civic space council chamber & breakfastspace 375m2

management 115m2

library 700m2 roof plant

void over libraryreading room below

accessible roof terrace 803m2

roof plant

void over councilchamber below

roof plant

LEVEL ONE 1:1000

LEVEL THREE 1:1000

GROUND LEVEL1:1000

LEVEL FIVE 1:1000

MEZZANINE 1:1000 LEVEL TWO 1:1000

VIEW FROM QUEEN STREET INTO URBAN ROOM

VIEW FROM WILLIAM STREET & NEWMAN COURT CORNER

LEVEL FOUR 1:1000 ROOF TERRACE 1:1000

library 103m2

civic 209m2

(gallery/exhibition area)

community development 89m2

void

void

stair access to stage

lawn terrace

library 172m2

171m2

planning & development 255m2

community development 127m2

retail openair street 362m2

library 172m2

after hoursaccess to amenities

after hoursaccess to amenities

planning & development 256m2

community development 127m2

retail openair street 362m2

commercialretail 192m2

commercialretail 171m2

forecourt

library 172m2

public amenitiesunder stage

civic 440m2

(foyer & visitor centre)

civic (main foyer)

retail 194m2

planning &development131m2

vehicular accessto basementgarage/loading

library

retail/cafe/pop-up store

sculpture area and adjustablepublic seating

elevated parklanda place for sightseeing, reading and a picnic, accessible 24 hours from the library

elevated streetswith retail, bars, restaurants and cafes

terraced lawn & auditoriumopen air communal space with an elevated lawn, doubling as an auditorium for communal gatherings, meetings & festivities.

council & civic council

signage polePA/sound system

grass hill

urban room

grass hill

retail/cafe light poles with wi-fi and powerspaced out for marketsgarden parkadjustable public seating

that can be set at various heights to create impromptustages, tables and seats

garden park