The new Wintergarden facade, Brisbane

11105 Views 30 Replies 19 Participants Last post by nathandavid88, Jun 18, 2012

nathandavid88

Discussion Starter · May 7, 2012

For anyone who doesn't know Brisbane or hasn't been for a while (and doesn't check the Qld threads), the Wintergarden Shopping Centre on the Queen Street Mall has just finished the latest stage of a multimillion dollar redevelopment. Part of this redevelopment involved installing a 85m long, illuminated facade along the Queen Street frontage, and a smaller one on Edward Street (another one along the Elizabeth Street frontage is still to come).

It was activated Thursday night for the first time, and I took photos! These can also be seen in the Regent/Wintergarden thread.

The only thing I can say is WOW! I had some pretty high expectations, but this filled them all and then some! I got some good photos, but you've got to see it in person to really appreciate it.

P5030459 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P5030456 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

Finally, a use for the big, ugly, blank Hilton side wall!

P5030455 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

Something that doesn't come across is in the photos is just how varied the colours, shapes and moving footage the facade can display is. I saw a girl swinging, butterflies fluttering across, fish swimming through water (seen in the image directly below), a march of flamingoes and silhouettes of people walking past, not to mention the big "THANK YOU BRISBANE" that streamed across it. Far too many variations to capture all of them.

P5030444 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P5030412 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P5030411 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P5030400 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P5030403 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

The Edward Street side, while not as impressive as the Queen Street side as it appeared to only be backlit, didn't look too bad either. I had issues trying to get it to look as "real" as I could on my camera (the nearby street lights didn't help) so here's one brighter photo and one darker one. You should get the idea!

No animations here that I could see, but there was the standard cycling colour change used, so it's not completely boring. The section of the facade nearest Tattersalls is a bit too heavy on the top layers, so it doesn't illuminate quite as much, which is a bit of a shame I think.

P5030439 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P5030440 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

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nathandavid88

Discussion Starter · #2 · May 7, 2012

And as a final bonus, someone has put up some footage of much of the opening display on youtube, which shows just how great this new piece of public artwork looks! I strongly encourage everyone to watch this clip, as it shows the animations this facade can perform a lot better than my photos do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmb65OXULSk

Fabian

· #3 · May 7, 2012

Thats what I call a living facade - 10/10.

SO143

· #4 · May 7, 2012

amazing :bow:

AllifialhL

· #5 · May 8, 2012

That is very impressive. The video shows just how amazing it is!!
Do you know how the animation works? I am sure this has probably been asked before, but can it be changed so it can be themed for certain things, say for chrissy or NYE etc?

Mornnb

· #6 · May 8, 2012

Pretty!

stopandstare

· #7 · May 8, 2012

same youtube user posted another video of the brisbane wintergarden facade lighting effects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAVCzYRCbZ8&feature=relmfu

Fyver

· #8 · May 8, 2012

AllifialhL said:
That is very impressive. The video shows just how amazing it is!!
Do you know how the animation works? I am sure this has probably been asked before, but can it be changed so it can be themed for certain things, say for chrissy or NYE etc?

Anything, it's basically a low res video screen, so limitations is that and imagination.

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SoulvisionQ1

· #9 · May 8, 2012

I love it! So so so happy with the final outcome!

Video shows it off really well

AUboy

· #10 · May 8, 2012

Stunning by night, awful by day.

Fabian

· #11 · May 9, 2012

But still looks better in the day when compared to its past facade.

asdfg

· #12 · May 10, 2012

AUboy said:
Stunning by night, awful by day.

You are perfectly entitled to hold a wrong opinion.

It looks great during the day.

tic

· #13 · May 10, 2012

asdfg said:
You are perfectly entitled to hold a wrong opinion.

It looks great during the day.

+ 1

Modernaux

· #14 · May 12, 2012

Designed by studio505, facade experts. There is a great write-up detailing the composition on their website.
http://www.studio505.com.au/work/project/category/1/urban-art/wintergarden-facade/60

Aussie Bhoy

· #15 · May 13, 2012

AUboy said:
Stunning by night, awful by day.

I agree, it looks like crap in the day time, but the colours are good at night.

tic

· #16 · May 13, 2012 (Edited)

^^**** some people are hard to please. Do you want a blank wall?

The thing is marvellous.

nathandavid88

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 13, 2012

Just for argument's sake, here are some photos of it in the day time:

P4290381 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P4290380 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

P4290379 by Nathan Murray, on Flickr

And here are a couple from Soul's Brisbane Developments website.

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Giorgio

· #18 · May 14, 2012

I visited wintergarden yesterday, I thought the facade looked excellent during the day.

tic

· #19 · May 14, 2012

The only criticism I have is that its a shame that it sits directly next to the beautiful old facade of the Tattersalls Club. It is a stark contrast of old and new (maybe that is a good thing, but its not for me).

It is simply stunning day or night and an adventurous step forward in urban design.

nathandavid88

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 14, 2012

^^ The same on the otherside too, sitting next to the Regent Building facade. What they have done, which I think was a good idea, is that next to the heritage facades, the Wintergarden's incorporates a stylised reflection of the heritage facade, as if the building continued further but has now been "overgrown". You can see it in some of my night time photos and in the last two of Soul's photos.

I think the only real thing I don't like about it is that it protrudes far enough out to partially block the Regent sign when you look from further down Queen Street.

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