F5

The site is isolated by a quirk or mis-step in the planners’ masterplan, a supposed icon or set piece of architecture that never fulfilled its promise of attractor and destination. Our intervention seeks to refocus this peripheral location and revitalize it as destination once more. To do so requires a radical approach and rethink of the night economy entertainment venue.

Isolated from the CBD by a concrete collar of highways, vast plazas and greenspace, this is destination architecture without the substantive attractor.

A reimagined facade anchors the corner of the main building with architectural scale artwork, planting and an activated facade.

Within, vast cavernous halls with large column spans allowed for freedom of planning. Yet this vast space was still not-sufficient, so we excavated a further 1.5m beneath the slab to give adequate height for the main event space.

Our point of departure was also driven by a desire to drive engagement and surprise, suppress the dopamine addiction of the distraction / attention economy and create real presence with intentional spaces for engagement and social participation...to counter the typological trope of the east Asian nightclub, a tired formulaic approach that whilst packs in content derives little or no emotional impact, a wash with a stadium of banal ideas and no punctum in sight.

The vast internal space required not only a typological reimaging during the planning phase, but then an application of master planning approach driven by user experience of journey, procession, anticipation and surprise. Spatial delight at each corner.  The journey comprises a series of discrete spaces with somewhat flexible use intent.

F5 - social condenser

A key central space termed the social condenser is a meeting place, a bisection of 4 four routes to reach four areas of the plan, a grand ante room accessed by long VIP corridor daytime event space and restaurant / bar space.  Defined as a village green, or public square it’s a central space that acts as ante room to peripheral spaces and as function space for events and during its night-time function defined by its music typology - Hip Hop.

A cavernous space with central focus, central bar and DJ - an event hosted place where even a car can be placed, with already launch events hosted by Hong Qi, Mercedes and Lincoln to name a few.

F5 - corridor

Leading from the "Social condenser" a connecting space leads visitors down an exclusive corridor towards the main event space, the ceiling expands yet the walls constrict creating a narrow spatial trick to bring focus to the pre-dominant art-work we created for the site. "1440"

Mechanical manumission to finally lie flat - or self-flagellation via 996 ? you choose

The positioning of this piece within a nightclub setting speaks to the notion of letting go, freeing oneself in the music, and place of hedonism to escape the realities of the daily grind.

We believe art should provoke thought and be imbued with meaning, this is one such example.

F5 - "main room"

The cavernous "main room" is a true spatial transformer, augmented by the implementation of technology this 800sqm space can serve multiple entertainment purposes. A vast operable mirrored ceiling complements wrap around walls of changeable mirror, lighting and LED screens, lasers, moving head lights and smoke machines complete the visual array.

Light, sound and magic.   Operable walls rotate to alternate between LED display screens, mirror panels, or moving head lights and lasers - a technological triumph.  

Central movable DJ platform anchors the space bringing focus to the artist performers.

800sqm mechanical ceiling allows for large changes in atmosphere, from expansive, to compressed, with rotating mirrored panels that give the impression of doubling the height of the space.  We devoted a great deal of technical development time, to ensure the mirrored panels could remain as planar as possible retaining the illusion of perfect reflectivity.  The technical study below shows exploration in carbon composite panel technology that exists predominantly in the aerospace industry.  At just 15mm thick with a low dead weight of 50kg per panel the deflection across 12m would have amounted to just 4mm with only 4 anchor points ensuring a perfectly flat mirror surface.

The entire space is programmed to facilitate spatial changes at large scale, walls ceiling and reconfigurable or removable furniture allows for maximum flexibility for dramatic nighttime shows, or event-based launches. stages terminate either end of the central space, whilst a movable DJ table hovers above the crowd in the very center of the main room, drama, theatrics and focus. Distinctive VOID DJ monitors flank the DJ platform completing the futuristic scene.

Aural as well as visual complements the sensory experience with 3D directional sound system that places three-dimensional sound experience, directing sound to any part of the space.

The location has already hosted a number of events other than the default 'nightclub mode', with the automotive industry launches, harnessing the full multimedia potential and event space sequencing.

F5 – restroom

The restroom serves practical "comfort" purposes, yet also seeks to shift the expectations by placing DJ and dancefloor within the central part of the stalls, unique stall doors ensure privacy.  The central space inspired by M.C. Escher drawing work in Anamorphosis. here central cylindrical drum.

Geometry and optical illusion serve to surprise and delight.  We always seek to draw inspiration from what has gone before, nothing comes from nothing.

F5 can be considered as a discrete set of experiences yet strung along a journey with the focus on user experience.  Read as a whole in this diagram it is viewed as a complex jig saw puzzle that fit together in harmony.  To arrive at this complete picture was a complex and long process of iteration, from initial idea through to technical resolution.   Without the bravery and vision of our clients this vison may not have materialized as it has done.