Site Survey: Streets Beach, South Bank

This is a special place located in the middle of South Bank parkland. Streets Beach is an artificial beach with a pool, where people can swim under lifeguard watching.

Figure 1: Adult is swimming

Figure 2: The pool is closing

Observation time: 10 May, 2015 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Site Observation

• This place is an amazing playground for people. There is a beach and pool in the middle of the city and beside the Brisbane river. This location can give people a special feeling. Like figure 1, it gives a player or swimmer a visual illusion - infinite pool, where a nice experience is provided by some hotels in Bali. And the opposite bank is Brisbane City. A contrast has been created between the high building and peaceful beach.
• The pool has different depths. In the middle of the pool is deeper than both sides. So children can play water safely in the edge areas. Due to this, the whole place is filled by happiness (Kids laughing, running, and playing).
• The observation time was a little bit late, so the peak time was passing. There were less people stay in the beach for chatting and relax.
• The whole area has a lot of warning signs showing to people who are playing here for safety issue.
• There are two restaurants next to the beach and people like sit on the outside seat facing the beach and river.
• Also, there is grassland at the surrounding of the beach, on which people sit or lie for picnic. Whilst, some BBQ facilities are provided for people.
• A promenade called Clem Jones Promenade in the middle between the beach and river. walkers, runners and cyclists mixed together use this passageway.

Children are playing in the water

Warning signs is everywhere in this place

laying on the beach for relax

chatting and picnic on the beach

playing cards

seat facing the beach and river

eating on the grassland

BBQ facility

people observation
People on the beach

• more than 10 people, it should have more people in peak time.
• 15 children playing in the water, which means at least 15 parents stand around.

People on the grassland

• In one small piece of grassland has 10 pairs of people sitting on here chatting, fighting for playing  and playing computer.

People walking on the promenade

• This place is very busy on this time, there are more than 100 people passing from observation point. Some of them are walking, some of them are running and cycling. Perhaps, there always has been a lots of people passing here. 

People on the market next to the beach

• Normally, there are so many people hang on in this market. But, it closes at 4 p.m. in Sunday, so just few many people hang on at observation time and leaving crowds.

Conclusion
Here, it is a relax place for people. Child could play water with others safely. Young guys sat on the artificial beach to chat with each other, kill time, picnic and even play cards. Due to this feature, here, people is free and open to try something new. However, certain time, there are too many people in the whole area. Thus, we need to find a place with an enough space to avoid crowding.

Basically, this site is good for conducting an installation.

Site 1 survey: Queens Park Brisbane City

Site 1 survey: Queens Park Brisbane City

Site observation 1

Wednesday 06/05 12:45 AM

• Queens Park is a small park across the road from the Casino at the top of the city. Many people were stopped here in suits and business wear enjoying their lunch in the sun presumably on lunch from their work in the city.

• With the amount of palm trees and open space there is an opportunity for a potentially large installation. Perhaps a beach in the middle of the city or something to that extent. While this space helps challenge the idea that society has too few invitations the space itself was still not particularly social with most people eating alone.

• This lane way is just past the park. It is interesting in that there is nothing really in this lane and no real reason to go down it other than exploration. Perhaps there is always an invitation to explore and adventure that people can choose to engage with or not.

Site observation 2

Saturday 09/05 around 2 PM

• Queens Park is not very big and settled in middle of city.
• Buildings surrounded but still has wonderful Open space for installation.
• The park grass grows very well here and has been manicured comfortable to sit and play.
• The view is good in this park, this might be a reason people stay and rest here.
• Several path across the park and have benches beside for people having rest.
• Trees can be seen in middle of the park, but not provide a large shade, people can enjoy the sunshine and have great field of vision, this will helpful in attracting more people around to installation. Otherwise, less shade also need to be considered to a disadvantage for attract people if it is too hot outside.
• Park connects with a side road, people may cross it to bus station on the other side.
• Queens Park is just beside Casino and people work in city nearby might have rest after working time.

People observation

• People rest on grassland

3 female talking (seems on 20 age)

1 female with 1 male together (seems on 30 age)

4 female, 2 male with 3 children (seems to be families play and rest on grass)

1 female with 2 male (having lunch)

2 male and 1 female (individual siting)

• People sitting on benches

2 female siting together (seems on 40 group wearing formal)

1 male siting individual (wearing suit)

1 male siting individual (eating something and use computer)

1 female siting individual (wearing dress)

1 female just leave individual (on phone call)

• People walk through (in 5 minutes)

9 male (7 of them wearing casual, 2 of them wearing suit)

6 female (all wearing casual or dress)

1 group of students with 3 boys.

Conclusion

The park is a convenient pass way for people, in weekend observing, 18 people walk through the park in 5 minutes in afternoon, none of them seems to be hurry and none of them running cross the park, furthermore, one male use the path across the park and walking on the grass and seems enjoyable. It seems have enough walkers having time to look at installation in weekend.

People resting in the park mostly enjoy their time, most of them do not have particular things to do by observing, and they might be easy attracted by installation.

On weekend, People enjoy their time may more interesting in “Society has too many prohibitions and too few invitations” installation here. Otherwise, on weekdays, people working beside hand having lunch hear may more interested in“Our modern built environment drains joy from our lives” installation. However, walkers may be attracted by any theme installation by people surrounded.

Site survey QUT GP Ferry Station

Observation Round 1

Fri 8/May/2015 3-4:00pm

l  The current ferry station is brand new design by Brisbane city council with same design language comparing with other ferry stations. It has original as major color and asymmetric design gives it a futuristic looking and provide more space and comfortable environment for passengers.

l  The pathway is from QUT S/Z block, cross the bridge and extent to over the river. All pathway are design for pedestrians’ priority purpose and almost all pathway are under covered.

l  For security reason, the 24hours camera deployed around ferry station and bicycle lane.

Observation Round 2

10/May/2015 7-9:00pm

l  Ferry Station itself has large space for our project installation, however, we should take consider about our equipment should be water-proof and with high capability of stabilization as its consist of half concrete and half float.   

l  The view is extremely beautiful as its can see the panorama of Southbank.

l  The surround area has lots of tree and undercover area, the light may require reset.

People observation

For round 1

During peak time of after-school and after work, it had heavy people flow from university or CBD companies to get ferry to back to home:

l  1 Group of students kept talking with joyful (QUT IT students, age between 18-25, male and female);

l  2 male businessman kept conversation with business suit (Telstra, age between 40-45, to Kangaroo point and Sydney road);

l  Several individual sitting around waiting seats and reject to talk (seems on 20 group with Asia face);

l  Several business man wearing suit from age group 30-50 said to take ferry easily avoid congestion on M3 & M5.

For round 2

Group of Elder Australia coupe from age 50 to have an evening exercise on Southbank parkland as well as bicycle rider and young couples (Totally around 20 people);

Two young couples finished shopping and on the way back to home located in the South Brisbane；

Group of young teenagers planned to watch the movie Avengers (asked school and got anticipated answer – UQ/just finished mid-term exam/accouter student);

One female on the way to work (nurse, St Vincent’s aged care, night Shift)

Conclusion

Thanks to the government, the ferry station is brand- new and design for friendly and comfortable public environment. Enough camera and lighting system attracted lots of people to do exercises and feel confident about their safety. Based on my observation, passenger normally choose ferry as its conveniences and did not affected by traffic jam. In weekend, people will take ferry to relax and enjoy beautiful viewing of riverside.

Besides looked around rive, people had nothing to do and easily created awkward silent which provide an opportunity for place installation to attract their attention.

Weekend, passenger is easier to have interested in the installation which create curiosity (invitations) for them. Project should focus on breach the prohibitions of ferry station and against the theory of “drains joy from our lives”. In small and close environment, if project successfully attract few people attention and create stirs, then will have every one’s interests. However, the project must be short and fun as time limited.

Site Evaluaton: King George Bus station 2nd Visit and analysis

Second Site Visit. Observation start Friday 3:20PM

Immediately noticed that large groups of high school students arriving into the city. The would take the escalator up from the bus terminal before taking the escalator in the picture below to exit on to the street.  Most likely relaxing after school / starting the weekend early with school not due back until Monday. These groups were the loudest of users passing through the bus station at this time, talking and sometimes yelling back and forth among the group.

The general flow of traffic was into the city at this time. There were also some young adults, potentially uni students or casual shop workings, heading out of the city and to the departure platforms below. The departures board drew the attention of most users leaving the city, prompting some to hurry or even run to the platform below. While most people were walking lackadaisically the departures board offered a sense of urgency for people.

Traffic flow became more even in terms of arrivals and departures which the arrival of more young professionals at 3:40PM. Presumably these people were heading home after a lazy Friday at work. The station itself was quiet, the clunking of the escalators and the bings and dings of the GoCard top up machine could easier be heard.

The area in the picture above could be good for an installation. There is power provided and it is easy to see when users enter the station as seen in the image below.

Alternatively in the area near the GoCard machines as these were relatively well used.

The station does have a staff member to assist users making their way through the station. She informed me that the station power points are not for public use and I would need to inquire with the department of public transport and main roads if we wanted to place an installation.

site survey @ QUT GP Ferry Station

Time: morning 6/May/2015

The ferry station was re-developed by city council. It provided large waiting area even include disability spot. However, for some reason, all i see is people willing to sit separately and, for young people, they willing to do their own thing such as play mobile phone etc. The ferry station was filled with awkward atmosphere and almost all people avoid eye connection and have a conversation. 

Site Survey: King George Square Bus Station

King George Square Bus Station, Wednesday 06/05 1:45pm

Most people will enter and exit the bus station via the escalator or the stairs. But I also noticed that there is a small door which is hidden out of the main thoroughfare. I am guessing it is intended for cleaners and other security types so they can exit when the stations main gates are closed. Sure enough if you press the button you can open and use the door. 

This is another neat little space in the bus center. It is right near the elevator which I have never actually seen anyone use. What could invite someone to this space? why would they need to be or want to be? Also good to know that there is a power point on this wall which seems to be usable by anyone (saw a girl using it to charge her phone).

Site Survey: Queens Park

Queens Park Wednesday 06/05 12:45AM

Queens park is a small park across the road from the Casino at the top of the city. Many people were stopped here in suits and business wear enjoying their lunch in the sun presumably on lunch from their work in the city. 

With the amount of palm trees and open space there is an opportunity for a potentially large installation. Perhaps a beach in the middle of the city or something to that extent. While this space helps challenge the idea that society has too few invitations the space itself was still not particularly social with most people eating alone.

This lane way is just past the park. It is interesting in that there is nothing really in this lane and no real reason to go down it other than exploration. Perhaps there is always an invitation to explore and adventure that people can choose to engage with or not.

Site Survey: Central Station

Central Train Station 12:30AM Wednesday 06/05

The train platforms themselves at very busy and very narrow and would probably not be suited to any sort of installation as it could create traffic problems.

Once you exit the platforms the area above is much more open yet still has a large amount of traffic passing through. Everyone seems to be taking a certain exit rather than the other. While there is nothing that stops them from taking the other exit there is also nothing to explicitly draw their attention to it.

This last space as you leave the train station and look back is interesting. People coming up the ramp will be able to see it but it is something that people would often miss. It could potentially be a good place for some type of installation. It looks like it would get some natural sun light at a different time of day also.

Site Survey: China Town Mall

China Town Mall: Wednesday 06/05 12:00AM
This 'Fun Zone' only seems to have a few people sitting by themselves doing their own thing. All are male while some are younger and some are older there is not a clear demographic at this time.

They may be working or using the payed computers for entertainment. If it is for entertainment then it is odd that no one is using the actual arcade games. There is also a pool table and a 2 player car racer which they could be interacting with.

This pictures above show the walkway itself to the fun zone and the other side of the China Town mall. Both are open spaces with plenty of room to place an installation.

Site Survey: Bakery Lane Brisbane Valley

Bakery Lane, Wednesday 11:30AM

Two young adult males sitting down drinking coffee were observed in this space, presumed to be talking about work.

This area of the valley is relatively new and undiscovered, should be popular with people of this demographic. There are a variety of different shops in the lane way which you would not expect from the street. You need to take the effort to explore to find this lane.

These sorts of spaces help to challenge the idea that society has too many prohibitions and too few invitations. Perhaps there are too many invitations and not the will to explore them.