VISION 44 — GRAND STAND
Is there a highlight , or signature parts of the project that not only speak about the client but about your practice ? The main one was trying to create something that was completely different , uniquely Geelong . I think the Geelong community in general prides themselves on being uniquely Geelong . We basically took that brief to try and create something different . It was not your normal stadium . We ’ ve got function rooms , cafés and retail merchandise that come together to form a really cohesive , interesting experience .
A couple of generations ago this sort of ambitious glass usage would have been problematic – hot in summer , cold winter , but glass technology has really revolutionised how closeted space can be liberated . A glass façade such as this is becoming more common in stadiums . You ’ re right , the technology in glass now allows us to do that . We did a whole series of engineering models to study the ESD and make sure we could get high performing glass that would allow good permeability and excellent viewing . Also from the playing pitch side , we wanted the glass as clear as possible . That ability to use performance glass and the technology that ’ s been developed for these types of facilities has been fantastic and a great outcome .
In the process of gaining the new you presumably risk losing something with the demise of the old ? We had to make some very fundamental decisions early on in terms of back of house areas . Where were all the loading areas going in order to not block this great view ? That view from the old stand looking out towards the beautiful heritage cottage area , fantastic St . Mary ’ s , the park and the hills in the background . We don ’ t want to lose this . We don ’ t want to be putting all of our back of house area to this back section here . We want to be able to really celebrate that . But it did come as a bit of a trade off . We had to push all of our amenities and services down one end . Working with the design team on site and with the client group as well we ’ ve managed to overcome a lot of those issues through design .
“ We literally want to make you feel when you ’ re standi inside the social club , or standing inside the Membe bar , that it ’ s seamless .”
BRAYDEN GOODWIN , ARCHITECT