The Secret Garden

Role: Graduate of Architecture 
Location: South Melbourne, Victoria
Year: 2018
Area (GFA): 30,000m2
Cost: $90,000,000
Stages: Concept Design / Design Development

Project description:

The Cecil Street project introduces a commercial office development spanning approximately 30,000 m2 in South Melbourne. Spread across 10 levels, including two basement car park levels and two ground levels featuring retail and office spaces above. The design showcases tapering tubular slices within the terraced built form, facilitating natural light penetration to the office levels and courtyard vegetation, ultimately leading to a lush central courtyard. The stormwater management strategy includes runoff from roofs directed to a rainwater harvesting system for reuse in toilet flushing, urinals, and landscape irrigation. Additionally, runoff from roof terraces and ground-level landscaped areas undergoes treatment in water-sensitive urban design measures to achieve optimal pollutant reduction and meet Green Star targets.

Role description:

Madina became involved in the project during its initial concept design phase, where she utilised foam models and Rhino software to explore various massing options. The QR code provided on the following page links to a video showcasing these different foam models created during the extensive concept design stage. Subsequently, due to a client-requested change in building typology from multi-residential to commercial, the concept stage was extended, necessitating further exploration of building mass and internal program configurations. In the final concept option, Madina extensively utilised Grasshopper software to analyse building form and light penetration into the centre of the floor plate in the expansive office building. Upon approval of the concept design, Madina transitioned to design development using Revit software, where she documented rationalised circular building voids in coordination with the structural engineer. While the project obtained a demolition permit, progress was postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains on hold pending further updates from the client.