MOBILE PHONE LIGHTS

For the NYE 2030 celebrations, newspaper and radio advertisements will inform the people of Sydney well in advanced to bring a torch along to the event for the celebrations.

 "NYE 2030 BYO TORCH"

This will result in mass participation, with all the 1 million people contributing their torch as the major source of light. As more people arrive to circular quay, the number of lights will grow, creating suspense and a build up.

This is a similar concept to many concerts, by artists such as U2 and Coldplay. The photo below shows a U2 concert, where all the lights were turned off and the area was lit solely by the mobile phone lights of the audience. The result appears like a dark sky with bright stars.

ABOVE: U2 playing to the mobile phone lights of the audience.

The YouTube Video below demonstrates the same mobile phone light tactic at a Coldplay concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_lPj05cKEc&feature=related

MORE INSPIRATION FOR OUR PROPOSED FOOT BRIDGE

This project was created by Bjarke Ingels Group from Denmark. The aim was to construct an inhabitable bridge by using apartments and office space as bridge piers. 


This complex yet simple and original idea employs a number of concepts that would suit our proposed footbridge. One of the main ones, is the idea of placing man maid ecological islands that run from the bottom of the various bridge piers. With the direct sunlight from the harbour and the use of the abundant water available these little islands could act as mini fresh food markets or social gathering spots with incredible views!


The arc divides allow water transport to travel in out of Circular Quay. 

STEPHEN VITIELLO

Stephen Vitiello is a talented sound artist from the USA who is currently working in Sydney.  His works show ways sound can be integrated with visual installations. He has worked with MoMa and released a number of albums showcasing his work.


To listen to his creations, go to  http://www.stephenvitiello.com/

A BRIDGE IS JUST NOT A BRIDGE...

"The function of bridges extends beyond mere utility, and they have an inherent significance and symbolism as connectors and conduits, gateways and meeting places, landmarks and icons."


 - Contemporary Architecture, Ireland by Wilkinson Eyre Architects

ECO FRIENDLY BRIDGES

The bridges below all contain sustainable architectural features that will be similar to our proposed 2030 Footbridge!   

Designed by the Australian firm Cox Architects, the Kurilpa Bridge is said to be the longest footbridge of its kind. Spanning 470 meters, the footbridge features a LED lighting system that is powered almost completely by 84 integrated solar panels which produce and average of 100KWh a day. And because it is connected to the grid, the bridge can get power when needed or give power back to the grid when a surplus is generated.

Another great example of treading lightly on the land, the Langkawi Sky Bridge’s six foot wide deck rises 2000 feet above sea level on the top of Mount Mat Cincang. A marvel of modern engineering, the curving bridge deck allows visitors an intimate experience of the forest canopy and wildlife. And from the built-in triangular lookout decks visitors get panoramic views of Langkawi, an archipelago of 99 islands.

A stunning example of solar bridge-making on a large scale, the Copenhagen Harbor LM Project by Steven Holl Architects combines a host of sustainable technologies like photovoltaic-sheathed skyscrapers, a wind turbine-studded skybridge, sea water heating and cooling systems, and radiant floor heating.

Situated 120 feet above the forest in Telok Blangah Hill Park outside Singapore, this network of pedestrian bridges and suspended walkways gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of the park’s breathtaking forest canopy. Rather than disturb the delicate landscape of the park below, engineers designed this network of pathways for visitors to get as close as possible to the ecosystem without disturbing the delicate balance below.

MONITOR MERRIMAC BRIDGE

It is a 4.6 miles long, four-lane bridge-tunnel composed of bridges, trestles, man-made islands, and tunnels where the James, Nansemond, and Elizabeth Rivers come together in the southeastern Virginia. It connects the cities of Newport News and Suffolk.


This concept offers an alternative look to our proposed footbridge. In a real basic way, you could apply this to the circular quay area and submerge part of the proposed footbridge allowing tourists and locals access to views of the old circular quay which is hidden below the sea line!

OFFICIAL BRIDGE OPENING

Our NYE 2030 celebrations will involve the official opening of The Cove Footbridge. This means that all NYE revellers will become a part of history, similar to people that were present at the opening of The Harbour Bridge or The Opera House.


The opening of the Sydney Harbor Bridge occurred on the 19th March 1932, and was very controversial. Francis de Groot, a member of the right wing New Guard gatecrashed the ceremony on horseback and slashes the ribbon ahead of Premier Lang, proclaiming the bridge open for the people of NSW. Hundreds of thousands of people walk over the Bridge on this day. De Groot is later fined £5 for damaging public property.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Francis De Groot opening the Harbor Bridge; people walking on the Harbor Bridge on its opening day; the construction of the bridge during the 1920s.

PICNIC ON THE BRIDGE

Below is an article that appeared in The Daily Telegraph, on page 23 of the August 8th 2010 edition. The article is about the Sydney Harbour Bridge being used for events such as picnics.

ABOVE: Photos from the 2009 Picnic on the Bridge event.

The Official website for the upcoming 2010 event is:  http://www.breakfastonthebridge.com/

DAINTREE RAINFOREST CANOPY WALKWAYS

The picture below is from the canopy walk in the Daintree Rainforest, QLD Australia. It is a similar concept to that of our footbridge that will extend through the remainder of the Botanical Gardens after the 5m sea level rise and continue to link up with the old Circular Quay train station.

THE FOOT-BRIDGE

Proposed foot-bridge:

Our foot-bridge design will loop around Circular Quay, linking the Harbor Bridge and Opera House with the mainland. The bridge will also provide a walk through the Botanical Gardens, similar to the Daintree Rainforest Canopy walk ways.

BIG FLOAT SMALL FLOAT

At the stroke of midnight, when 2029 becomes 2030, the centrepiece sculpture float will be completely illuminated by light beams coming from smaller “pod” versions of the largest float. The sketch below shows a rough idea of the placement of these “pods” and the main float in a circular formation in the water.

ABOVE: Birds-eye View of the floats in Circular Quay.

SUSTAINABLE SYDNEY 2030

Sustainable Sydney 2030 is a plan for the sustainable development of the City for the next 20 years and beyond. Sustainable development refers to the physical environment as well as the City's economy, society and cultures. We are addressing each with bold ideas and good governance. The results mean better outcomes now and in the future.



The Sustainable Sydney 2030 Vision is for a Green, Global, and Connected City.

• GREEN with a minimal environmental impact, green with trees, parks, gardens and linked open spaces, green by example and green by reputation.
  
• GLOBAL in economic orientation, global in links and knowledge exchange, global and open-minded in outlook and attitude.


• CONNECTED physically by walking, cycling and high quality public transport, connected ‘virtually’ by world–class telecommunications, connected to communities through a sense of belonging and social well being, and connected to other spheres of government and to those with an interest in the City.

ABOVE: The 2030 Sustainable Sydney Logo.

MODEL

This is a rough conceptual model, showing the curved sails that reflect light around Circular Quay, for the NYE celebrations. The proposed design would be made from Carbon Fibre and stainless steel, which is represented by aluminium, card and wire in the model.

BELOW: A video of the model reflecting the light of the torch.

BRIDGE IDEAS

Here are some sketches for the proposed new footbridge, that will enclose the new 2030 Circular Quay. The bridge design will have a curved, fluid form inspired by the surrounding water of the harbor. So far the below sketches have been made, but more progress and research is needed to develop the design better.

CONCEPT STATEMENT

NYE 2030

The Sails of Tomorrow

The Aim:

The philosophy behind our planned NYE 2030 event is based around the history and natural elements of Sydney Harbor. The event will combine modern, environmentally friendly materials powered by the natural elements of wind and water, with conceptual forms based on the history of Sydney Harbor. The history of Circular Quay is dates back to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. It is also home to some of our best-known landmarks; The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

The 2030 NYE event will therefore be a celebration of Sydney’s past, present and future.

  

The Program:
The 2030 NYE structure will comprise of two separate structures:

1.   The Sculptural Floats. On the waters of Circular Quay, there will be a series of sculptural floats, powered only by wind and water. These structures have “sails” that spin in the wind, reflecting light around Circular Quay and off the rippling water. This structure is temporary.

2.  The Cove Footbridge. Due to the original walkways of Circular Quay being engulfed by the 5m rise in ocean levels, a new footbridge will be in place that circles the area, linking the Harbor Bridge and Opera house back to the former train station area in a massive loop. This will be a permanent structure that makes Circular Quay accessible for pedestrians. The official opening of the permanent Cove footbridge takes place at midnight.

The Event:

As well as having two structures, there will be two events; the opening of The Cove Footbridge and the lighting of the Sculptural Floats.

Each person on the footbridge will be armed with a touch. Throughout the night as more and more people arrive in anticipation of midnight celebrations, the area will gradually become more lit up. This will build anticipation and excitement. At the stroke of midnight, the whole area of Circular Quay, which is enclosed by the footbridge, will be illuminated by lights coming from the sculptural forms floating on the water. The reflections of the lights will bounce around Circular Quay and look beautiful on the water.

Simultaneously, the new footbridge is declared open making all 1 million spectators a part of history.

5M SEA LEVEL RISE

If the water level in Circular Quay was to rise by 5 meters, here is what it would look like:

SITE MAP

After much analysis of the current layout of Circular Quay, and how it would be impacted in 2030 by a 5m rise in sea levels, we have come to a decision about what the area would look like for NYE 2030. 


The rise in the water height would turn the Opera House into an isolated island, no longer joined to the CBD by land. The ferry wharfs would no longer exist either as the water levels have risen way above their height.

TOP: Current map of Circular Quay
BOTTOM: Map of Circular Quay in 2030

PRECEDENT: BORNEO-SPORENBURG BRIDGES

Three bridges links the areas Borneo and Sporenburg in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. designed by the firm West 8 (2001), there are two road bridges and one foot-bridge. The foot-bridge is the most unique form, curving upwards in a dramatic manner. All three bridges are made from painted Steel, contrasting the organic forms with such an industrial material.

More information from: http://www.west8.nl/projects/infrastructure/bridges_borneo_sporenburg/ 

SAILS AND SAILS

The sails of the Floats compared to that of the first fleet and the Sydney Opera House.

PAINTING ABOVE: Sydney Cove 1788 by William Bradley. This painting portrays the first fleet entering Sydney Cove.

PRECEDENT: GOLZARI HOUSE, LA, 1996.

The Golzari Guest House, designed by Michele Saee in 1996. The design is described as being an;

“assembly of floating sculptural shapes and of materials interacting with light which are always connected to the external world.”

This description is amazingly close to our NYE 2030 Floats concept, and what we are aiming to achieve.

VISIT http://www.archilab.org/public/1999/artistes/saee01en.htm#exposition for more information.

BACK TO THE ARK

Now that the structure of the sails for the Sculptural Floats has been explored, the base is still missing from the equation. Here are some different ideas I have sketched out.

FORM AND FUNCTION

The large Sculptural Floats will have sails linked by a common pole that turn in the wind. The elegance of the design is how such a large piece of engineering has the ability to look light and whimsical, being blown in the wind and swayed by the current. The movement of these sails will capture and reflect the light onto the water and around Circular Quay.

BELOW: Skecthes of the curved sail structures and intended movement.

NEW IDEA

Our new, much more developed idea merges the initial ark concept, with a number of other ideas. Inspired by the sails of the Sydney Opera House, as well as the sails of ships that have passes by Circular Quay for years since the first fleet, our new idea is a large, focal sculptural float which has reflective qualities and its movement is dictated by the wind and water.

ABOVE: The Very First sketches of our New Idea.

Looping around Circular Quay, a new permanent footbridge structure will exist, that will act as an audience area for the NYE 2030 events. All the people on this footbridge will be armed with a torch, which will contribute to lighting up the sculptures and create moving reflections of light.

At midnight, the whole area will be filled with the lights of these spectators, and additional lights coming from smaller surrounding versions of the focal piece float.

SITE VISIT

Visiting the site of circular Quay, we took many photos, brochures and quick sketches to gain a better understanding of the area and its structure. The visit took place on Sunday the 1st of August, which happened to be a beautiful sunny day. The area was very busy with bustling tourists, restaurant-goers and people using the Ferries.

ABOVE: Site Drawings of the "Toaster" building and the Opera House.

ABOVE: A Brocure from the Sydney Opera House.

ABOVE: Some Photos taken at Circular Quay.

ABOVE: Photo of a Map of Circular Quay.

INITIAL CONCEPT

Our initial concept was based around the form of an ark, inspired by the Biblical story of Noah’s ark. This idea gave us a defined structure which could float on the water of Circular Quay.

ABOVE: Conceptual Ark Form Model.

ABOVE: Initial Concept Sketches.

SYDNEY SKIES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXQPbHjHk_c

BRIEF:

Its the year 2030 and your team is in charge of the design for New Year's Eve celebrations at Circular Quay. Fireworks have not been included in the event since 2017 because everyone just got s-o-o-o-o bored with the same old "flash-whizz-boom" every year. Also, as a result of global warming, sea levels have risen by 5 metres, and Circular Quay is no longer as circular as it used to be.
Your task is to design an event to excite, delight (or educate) one million revellers. Focussing on Circular Quay, document the infrastructure and its locations along with a program for the evening. To begin, you should draw a plan for the new foreshore. (Assume no changes to the built fabric of the city since 2009.)

ABOVE: Street Map and Satelite Map of Circular Quay, Sydney, Australia.