VISION 44 — GRAND STAND
Apart from funds, what did the client bring to
this project?
We had a diverse client group of multiple stakeholders,
with multiple needs. Working through all the different
items to be achieved was really, really important –
and complicated. We’ve got a 5,000 sq.m football
department which sits underneath the stand with all
the broadcasting facilities on the upper levels as well.
How we incorporated the needs of the Kardinia Park
Stadium Trust, the Geelong Football Club and Geelong
Council as well as the State Government was integral
to how this whole building works as one big core.
Globalisation and technology tends to deliver
architecture and design off the same production
line. Do you guard against, or embrace that?
What we’ve tried to achieve here is to embrace a
generic approach for a portion of the building where
that’s required. What’s really key in the buildings
we design these days, is diversification. You need to
have the diversification of offerings and that can be
as simple as say, an outdoor area or a break-out space,
which connects with the park, which provides some
visual relief from the actual stadium itself.
And then there are those unique offerings…
We have the fan portal downstairs which is a glass
floor of 45 sq.m. It overlooks the players’ warm up
space. Being able to provide different experiences
allows our clients to commercialise and monetise
their buildings. That makes them obviously successful.
From an architectural perspective, it makes them really
interesting as well because we can provide tweaks and
twists and changes throughout the entire building.
Top A world-first fan portal through
Viridian DecorFloor™ glazing gives fans
a birds-eye view of players and coaches.
Right A 1,000 seat function centre
enjoys a sweeping vista of the ground.