Javen Mao

Reimaging Festival Hall

This project is an exploration of the synergy and dualities between Making and Living whilst providing the necessary density without compromising the quality of amenities provided. The design is artfully referenced from the existing cultural heritage - the Festival Hall, with the intention to not only preserve and adaptive reuse the structure, but also celebrating it with a new model of “co-working/living” space that contribute to the creative life of the city.

The key questions the project interrogate involves:

Given the cultural and social significance of Festival Hall to Melburnians, how can the new making+living proposal contribute/add positively to these aspects for life of Melburnians?
In the current situation of Covid-19, people are forced to work/make from home. How can the new making+living proposal design for adaptive uses and changing times - within a large urban block with expensive land value?
With the current poor Architectural value, how can Festival Hall be selectively reused, and experience be recreated and emulated in the new making+living proposal?