Brooks Jetty Competition

2020

Competition entry for the Bring Back Brooke’s Jetty Campaign. 

Liquid Landscape embraces the community's intrinsic relationship with the water, embodying a beautiful continuation of the St Kilda greenspace, but within Port Phillip Bay. It embraces the curvilinear language of the Catani Gardens, the Foreshore Promenade and the geometry of Luna Park, to provide St Kilda with a 'wet greenspace'. 

Cleverly camouflaging the existing stormwater outlet a pedestrian access has reconnected the disjointed beach through a series of artificial rock shelves. The swimming circle has been pushed further out into the bay providing a safe and clean local swimming hole, whilst the continuation of central linear jetty pays homage to the historically slender Brookes Jetty. 

The iconic circle form encourages a gathering place for swimming, relaxing, lifesaving perhaps even religious ceremonies such as baptisms. Furthermore, the experience of a 360-degree circulation reveals both a playful interaction with the ocean surface as well as an evolving series of re-orientations to the St Kilda skyline and the ocean sunsets during both winter and summer solstice. 

There are two means of accessing the water, one a spiralling ramp to the centre of the swimming hole, the other a gradual descent into the bay ideal for scuba divers and the launching of watercraft. Both provide a dynamic relationship with the rise and fall of sea levels. 

Seeking to embrace the site, Liquid Landscape is built out of robust timber boards and composite grating within the zone of wind waves, to offer a unique destination and meeting place far into the future.