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Wk 4: Mind Map/Table 3: Estimated Costs for 'The Serpent' (S. Curtis, 2023)

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Wk 4: Key Criteria - Feasibility, Sustainability & Enduring Significance

My project, 'The Serpent,' meets all required criteria for this task. The concept reactivates the Workshops precinct and offers a unique and memorable experience. The site itself is very returnable and encourages visitation outside of the weekend. There are currently no parkour precincts in the Northshore area so this destination is site-specific. Furthermore, the set-up and build of the project is very cost effective and minimal, meaning it can be implemented in the next 1-3 years.

The project has adopted a rare perspective of the histories of Northshore, and pays homage to the site's First Nations and nautical histories. Through First Nations dreamtime story symbolism, the figure of the serpent represents both the rich Indigenous history and the nautical history of the precinct.

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Wk 4: Key Criteria - Engagement, Ethics & Diversity

My project is aimed at a younger audience, specifically ages 14-25. It will engage people interested in physical activity. There is potential for this destination to incorporate organised sport, as some visitors might be interested in forming parkour groups and clubs with like-minded individuals.

This project might also appeal to children, so I have accommodated for this by providing a rock-climbing wall built into the side of a shipping container that is safe for children.

Furthermore, the First Nations artwork and dreamtime figure of the serpent featured within the destination exhibits and celebrates diversity and cultural heritage.

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Wk 4: Key Criteria - Originality

Currently, there is no parkour precinct at this scale and size in Brisbane, let alone Northshore itself. Additionally, the figure of the serpent that will feature in the precinct has a strong connection to the rich First Nations and nautical histories of the area. The Rainbow Serpent is a very famous First Nations Dreamtime story. The rainbow serpent itself is the giver of life and protector of water. No other destination in Brisbane has a feature like this, thus making it unique to the Northshore area.

The parkour park itself will feature many different little obstacles and platforms for people to use. Some examples of these are a rope swinging obstacle, pallet run obstacle and a rock climbing obstacle. No other parkour park in Brisbane offers experiences such as these.

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Figure 12: Example of parkour destination (Sourced from HAGS UK, 2023)

The Serpent - Parkour Destination

The Serpent will be Brisbane’s newest and most exciting addition! Characterised by a large wooden serpent body that runs through the precinct, The Serpent is the ultimate parkour destination. This site appeals to a younger community and will utiilse the Workshops space in an exciting and innovative way.

I need a team with the following skills:

Visual design/artistry skills

Awareness of construction/building

Budgeting/effective financial skills

Skills in technology

A team with an enthusiastic, can-do attitude!

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Wk 4: Key Criteria - Meeting the Client Brief

'The Serpent' activates the Workshops precinct in a fun and innovative way. Using creative placemaking techniques, I have successfully combined the rich First Nations and nautical histories of the site with the urban, industrial area we see today to create a returnable and engaging destination. Furthermore, this site will also encourage visitation outside of weekend hours and compliment the other businesses in the Northshore area, ensuring it doesn't interfere with their established set-ups and existing customers and visitors.

Northshore lacks a space that combines recreation and fitness and also appeals to young people. 'The Serpent' is going to fill this gap, while also appealing to the athletes staying in the area for the 2032 Olympic Games.

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Wk 4: Addressing Challenges

This destination addresses challenge 1, option C. I am looking to reinvent and reactivate the Workshops space with a unique and exciting new destination. Parkour parks are often built with urbanisation in mind as the philosophy of parkour itself is about fighting the status quo. According to Lieven Ameel and Sirpa Tani, parkour " challenges the perception and the experience of public space" (2012). The parkour precinct I intend to build certainly challenges classic perception of space in Brisbane.

Furthermore, this site could also potentially respond to challenge 2, as it offers a unique experience to Brisbane and therefore will leave a legacy after the 2032 Olympic Games.

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Wk 4:

Figure 10: Example of Serpent Head Woodcarving (Sourced from Pinterest, uploaded by Владимир Смышляев, 2019)

Figure 11: Examples of Serpent Head Woodcarvings (Sourced from Pinterest, uploaded by Amy Curtis, 2011)

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Wk 4: 'The Serpent'

The parkour precinct that I am designing is going to be called 'The Serpent.' It is characterised by a serpent-shaped body made of wood from the old wharves that runs about two to three meters above the ground across the length of the Workshops precinct. It will be a zig-zag shape and will serve as a piece of functional, usable equipment for free-running and parkour activities. The Rainbow Serpent is a First Nations dreamtime story and the serpent itself "represents one of the great and powerful forces of nature and spirit" (Wroth, 2020). Furthermore, the symbol of the serpent is connected to water; it is the giver of life and protector of water, hence relating to Northshore's First Nations and nautical histories.

I am potentially going to make an enquiry to a woodcarver to see if I can get the upper end of the serpent's wooden body to be shaped into the head of a snake.

I am aware of cultural protocols, so I will be taking the following steps to ensure everything is above board:

Consult with an Indigenous elder in the area to ensure appropriate artwork is being used and to receive permission to use this particular dreamtime story as inspiration

Discuss different interpretations and cultural contexts with this individual

Make necessary changes if needed to make the project suitable

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Wk 3: Histories of Northshore

Northshore has rich First Nations, nautical and industrial histories.

In regard to the site's First Nations history, Northshore was most commonly used as a fishing site. As such, the area used to be filled with canoes and other various forms of boats.

The use of boats in the precinct did not change much when Western influence started taking over the area. The area was transformed and used as a port for large ships and cargo carriers. Being at the mouth of the river, this portion of the river is wider and deeper, making it the perfect docking area for ships of his caliber.

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Wk 3: What is Creative Placemaking?

Creative placemaking at it's core is the art of evaluating the human experience, such as histories, cultures etc. and creating a destination that resonates with that. It is very community focused and works to strengthen the connection between community members and the places they reside in and share.

Creative placemaking allows a place to become a 'destination.' When the local histories are explored, sentimental value is then placed upon the site.

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Wk 3: Mind Map/Table 2: Information about Target Audiences & Stakeholders (S. Curtis, 2023)

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Wk 2: Additional Research into Parkour

According to parkour instructor, Eliot Duffy who works with the Canberra Parkour Association, parkour "architecture is just random...every little hexagon that we jump on gives us a new angle to jump, a new opportunity to explore" (sourced from an interview with Kim Lester of ABC News, 2016).

Furthermore, Lester goes on to state that "Parkour is not a competitive sport and enthusiasts are protective of sticking to its creator's goal of developing the physical and mental ability to overcome obstacles" (2016).

Parkour is both a mental and physical challenge where people are pushed to reach their limits, face their fears and ultimately exceed their physical and mental expectations.

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Wk 2:

Figure 8: Example of parkour precinct in Germany (sourced from Camp Ramps, photographer unknown, 2023)

Figure 9: Example of parkour precinct in the USA (sourced from Parkour Visions, photographer unknown, 2023)

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Wk 2: Sunset Cinema Announced

With the announcement of 'Sunset Cinema' at the Maritime Green, I have had to rule out this idea. This means that the parkour precinct must go ahead instead.

I am going to start fleshing out my ideas for this concept

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Wk 1: Site Selected

THE WORKSHOPS PRECINCT

WHY?

My two concepts for this site link to both Challenge 1 (specifically "c") and Challenge 2, so depending on which concept I choose, both will respond to either challenge. The Workshops site is especially interesting as our cohort of KKB285 is the first cohort that has been given the opportunity to develop a concept that enhances this precinct. My ideas celebrate the First Nations, nautical and industrial histories of the site and offer a unique, memorable and purposeful experience. Furthermore, my concept for the parkour precinct concept, in particular, will attract people outside of the usual bustling weekend hours to the Northshore area as this site will be running 24/7.

Currently, I am leaning more towards this option out of the two I have proposed.

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Wk 1: Ideas narrowed down to 2 for each site

Maritime Green:

The playground that incorporates First Nations artwork

A performance space that celebrates culture and diversity

The Workshops:

Parkour precinct that incorporates First Nations artwork and nautical history into designs and equipment structure

Moonlight cinema that features First Nations artwork on the shipping containers surrounding the precinct