ROAD TRAUMA MEMORIALTHE JOURNEYThe journey is a set of strategies and design approaches, which can be applied to both Road Trauma memorial sites. Building upon the previously designed “Stitches” concept, the strategy adapts the metaphor and key aspirations of this concept to both sites and in addition celebrates the uniqueness and beauty of the two individual freeway rest areas. The concept has been developed as a technique to promote the existing site conditions and concurrently translate the notion into the much-anticipated need for a memorial.

The proposition is to provide a unique and personalized visitor experience, based on intimate choices made throughout an experiential journey. The journey hosts a series of site responsive small scale ‘reflective’ and large scale ‘communal’ spaces for visitors to embrace.The concept is defined through the incorporation of site defined journey pathways, terraced seating amongst massed vegetation, upgrades to the existing sun shelters as well as the planting of native trees, sweeping meadows and whistling grasses.

DESIGN ELEMENT: JOURNEY PATHWAYS The proposed journey pathways compliment the existing site topography and vegetation to create 2 lengths of journeys (short and long) experienced by time spent within the rest area. The pathways are composed of significant volumes of circular tiles ranging in scale and position, determined by the surrounding conditions of the meandering pathway. For example, the pathway circular tiles may become smaller in scale and denser as a terraced seat emerges from the corner. This approach could be utilized as a journey way finder. The pathway widths expand and contract (2-8m) to allow for simultaneous activities (walking, riding, sitting and contemplating etc.) to occur. The pathway edge invites vegetation to grow and emerge between the circular tile elements. Further adapting the metaphor of the previously designed ‘Stitches’ concept, the path becomes a personalized story and journey for visitors, resembling the various healing processes and duration. We suggest that to create a variety of light, specular and thermal effects, concrete tiles could have various finishes and or colours added.

DESIGN ELEMENT:TERRACED SEATINGThe proposed terraced seating provides visitors with multiple possibilities to personalize their journey experience. Seats are placed along the journey pathways celebrating and utilizing the existing site conditions. Positioning of the terraced seats frame internal and external views, utilize natural shade and warmth and determine contemplative individual and communal reflective spaces through their curved shapes. The existing topography is modified to allow for a terraced seat, lined with corten. The depths of the terraced seats vary depending on site conditions, presenting opportunities for multifunctional activities (picnics, relaxation) on the extended vegetated platforms.

DESIGN ELEMENT:EXISTING SHELTERS UPGRADEAs the existing shelters are in prime positions within the rest areas, there is no need to relocate them. The upgrade to the existing shelters and amenities would incorporate elements found within the journey experience. The circular tile pathway elements would form the roofing structure upgrade to the shelters. The spaces between the fixed circular tile elements would allow natural sunlight to move through the shelter, concocting a variety of dynamic internal light, shade, specular and thermal effects experienced throughout the day.

DESIGN ELEMENT:VEGETATION: TREESAdditional native and appropriate trees are planted to provide natural shade, noise protection from the road, and frame views to reflective spaces. As time plays a significant role within the healing process, this concept emerges through the maturing landscape. Upon return to the Road Trauma Memorial, visitors record the significant growth of the trees, providing a reflective experience throughout their journey.

DESIGN ELEMENT:VEGETATION: MEADOW PLANTSThe sweeping meadows, composed of indigenous flowering plants, shrubs and ground covers, line the pathways along the site’s open spaces. As the meadow plants are shallow, visitors can experience vast external surrounding landscape vistas as they are guided along the pathway. The meadows also provide a natural buffer, resulting in opportunities for visitors to view and experience wildlife without encroaching on their natural habitat. Throughout the seasonal changes, the sweeping meadows transform and bloom into the ornamental zones along the journey pathway, contributing to a dynamic visual experience.

DESIGN ELEMENT:VEGETATION: GRASSESThe proposed whistling grasses, composed of indigenous and appropriate grasses are planted within areas exposed to high wind conditions on site. The grasses utlise the wind and act as a natural buffer, generating and enhancing slight whispering sound effects as the foliage tousle against one another. This provides visitors with natural music, also resulting in a noise buffer from external vehicle noise.

DESIGN APPROACH

The traditional, static memorial plaque is reconsidered through journey pathways which are composed of significant volumes of circular tile elements, dynamically ‘scaled’ not only by natural forces of wind and sunlight but also used as journey way finders by the memorial’s visitors as part of their journey. Materiality, positioning and site conditions creates a variety of dynamic light, shade, specular and thermal effects into the memorial’s niches, pathways and open spaces.

In allegory of the healing process stages, the visual and sensual experience of the journey intensifies as vegetation boundaries grow, morph and blur throughout the journey threads.

Overall, the components of the journey pathway and vegetation work in tandem to enhance, frame and focus site elements in consistent yet slightly different ways. Local materials will be used throughout the memorial to uphold the identity and cultural character of the surrounding context. The significance of over 185,000 lives in memoriam is represented through the circular tile pathway elements and the diversity of experience.

JOURNEY MOMENTS

F

A Journey entrance G External look out points

B Whistling grass walk H Sweeping meadow walk

C Extended journey entrance I Communal gathering and event spaceD Shorter journey entranceE Internal look out points

J Upgraded existing shelterK Journey exit

Celebration of onsite existing elements: reflective dam & granite outcrops

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B

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D

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E

E

E

F

F

F

G

G

G

H

H

H

H

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K

SITE CONTEXT

05 10 15 20SCALE OF METRES: N

DESIGN TEAM:Karolina Bartkowicz, Brock Hogan and Prof. SueAnne WareREVIEWED BY:VICROADS and ROAD TRAUMA SUPPORT SERVICES

ROAD TRAUMA MEMORIALSCHEMATIC DESIGN: HUME HIGHWAYCOACH ROAD REST AREA

ILLUSTRATIVE CONCEPT PLAN

DATE: April 2013

0

JOURNEY MOMENTS

F

A Journey entrance G External look out points

B Whistling grass walk H Sweeping meadow walk

C Extended journey entrance I Communal gathering and event spaceD Shorter journey entranceE Internal look out points

J Upgraded existing shelterK Journey exit

Celebration of onsite existing elements: Grass trees

A

B

B

B

B

C

D

E

E

E

EE

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

G

G

G

H

H

H

H

I

J

J

K

SITE CONTEXT

05 10 15 20SCALE OF METRES: N

DESIGN TEAM:Karolina Bartkowicz, Brock Hogan and Prof. SueAnne WareREVIEWED BY:VICROADS and ROAD TRAUMA SUPPORT SERVICES

ROAD TRAUMA MEMORIALSCHEMATIC DESIGN: HUME HIGHWAYGRASS TREE REST AREA

ILLUSTRATIVE CONCEPT PLAN

DATE: April 2013

0

Coach Road Rest AreaPanorama view of the journey pathway.

WHISTLING GRASSESWILDLIFE SWEEPING MEADOWSMULTIFUNCTIONAL PATHWAY

Grass Tree Rest AreaView of grass tree reflective space with communal seating.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL PATHWAY

TERRACED MULTI PERSONSEAT, POSITIONED ALONG PATHWAY TO CELEBRATE EXISTING GRASS TREE

EXISTING GRASS TREE