old treasury building office tower Artist brief GROUNDPLANE artwork police court cells March 2013 The Foundation of Perth, 1829, GEORGE PITT MORRISON
INVITATION TO ARTIST/S FORM have been contracted by Mirvac to act as the public art consultant for the Old Treasury Building Office Tower development. Public art and design, cohesively integrated into the landscape design, will play a vital role in shaping the experience of spaces in the facility. FORM have created a Public Art Strategy for Mirvac, which provides a blueprint for how public art can act as a mechanism for community engagement, cultural exchange, creative expression and place enhancement for the development. Through developing the Public Art Strategy, FORM have identified four opportunities for artwork throughout the precinct, these include: - Iconic Artwork main entry statement sculpture - Embedded ground-plane artwork site entrance - Ephemeral artwork lighting/projection entrance installation - Embedded groundplane artwork Old Police Court Cells (this opportunity) Artists are encouraged to consider applying for more than one opportunity. Please contact FORM to see the Artist Briefs for the other three opportunities. Artists will be required to work in consultation with FORM, Mirvac and the architect, Kerry Hill Architects and the Landscape design team. Artists for each artwork opportunity will be procured through a two stage commission process to all Australian artists: Stage 1: Expression of Interest Stage 2: Concept Design Proposal FORM would like to invite artists or groups of artists to put forward an Expressions of Interest (EOI) for an Embedded Groundplane Artwork - Police Court Cells, located off the Barrack Street Entrance, within the main public landscaped area. This groundplane opportunity is located on the police court prisoner cells from the original Old Treasury Building. Due to the close proximity of all artwork opportunities, it is important that they work in harmony together. FORM encourages the artist/s to review all artwork briefs and notes that the artist/s may engage with more than one opportunity or work in collaboration with other artists if they choose, to encourage seamless artwork integration into the precinct. This document outlines: The Project + Site Context - An outline of the broader opportunity presented by the Old Treasury Building Development; The Historical Context; The Curatorial Framework, motivations and conceptual approach for artworks; An Indicative Artwork Location; and The Artwork Opportunity Brief- An outline of the artwork opportunity, the objectives + considerations and the materials + fabrication requirements; The Commissioning Approach, Evaluation Criteria and submission details for both Stage 1 + Stage 2; and FORM s Contact Details. Architectural rendering PAGE : 2
old treasury building OFFICE TOWER PROJECT + SITE CONTEXT Perth s Old Treasury Buildings are an important part of the city s historical landscape, and one of the finest surviving examples of Free Classical style architecture in the CBD. Designed by GT Poole and RR Jewell, the Old Treasury Buildings opened in 1874 and over a 120 year State Government occupancy contained Perth s first General Post Office (1889) and Western Australia s original Treasury Department (1874), Lands Department (1893), and Titles Office (1897). Bounded by Hay Street, Barrack Street and St Georges Terrace, and adjacent to the Perth Town Hall, St George s Cathedral and Council House, the Old Treasury Buildings have lain dormant since 1996. A world-class redevelopment is currently underway involving the State Government, the City of Perth, the Public Trustee, Perth s Anglican diocese, FJM and Mirvac. In 2012 work commenced on the conservation and adaptive re-use of the Old Treasury Building site. A 46-room six-star boutique hotel will be created within the Treasury Buildings themselves with the ground floor open to the public. A 33-level office tower, designed by Kerry Hill Architects, will be developed at the centre of the site, surrounded by a public plaza, known as Foundation Place, which will feature public artworks, lighting, and a range of hard and soft landscaped elements. Due for completion in 2014, this landmark development will bring to life one of Perth s most important historical assets. By combining premium hotel accommodation with an attractive mix of retail, hospitality and public spaces the Old Treasury Building development will revitalise the eastern edge of the CBD and provide a high level of civic interaction with the city s architectural and cultural heritage. HAY STREET OFFICE TOWER DEVELOPMENT site Cathedral ave OLD TREASURY BUILDING ST GEORGES TCE Barrack Street PAGE : 3
HISTORICAL CONTEXT The Old Treasury Buildings and the surrounding precinct are of great historical significance. The site s cultural and social histories tell the story of Perth, and Western Australia more broadly. There is archaeological evidence that suggests that Noongar people have lived in the Perth area for the last 45,000 years. In the few decades prior to official settlement numerous Dutch and French explorers had visited the Perth area. In 1829 the location for the city of Perth was decided by British explorer Captain James Stirling and his surveyor General John Septimus Roe located behind a hill, beside a river and near low-lying swampy ground. Official foundation was marked by the felling of a tree on 12 August, 1829. This took place on the site where the Treasury Buildings now stand. British colonisation and settlement greatly disrupted the life, culture and customs of the Aboriginal People. At foundation James Stirling noted that the Noongar people seemed angry at the invasion of their territory. Yagan, an influential Noongar man during the period of white settlement later commented: You came to our country; you have driven us from our haunts, and disturbed us in our occupations: as we walk in our country we are fired upon by the white men; why should the white men treat us so? The Treasury Buildings were built from 1875 and they were located, along with Perth Town Hall, in the Old Domain on the corner of Barrack Street and St Georges Terrace. In the mid to late 1800s this hub included the administrative, political, business and military centre of Perth. The eastern corners of the Treasury Building, on St. Georges Terrace, is the formal location of Perth, it is from this site that distances between Perth and the rest the country and world are measured. The Foundation of Perth 1829 Art Gallery of Western Australia GEORGE PITT MORRISON Major alterations and additions were made to the building on this site in the 1950s and 1960s and by 1996, with government activities dispersed across greater Perth, the site was vacated by government. In 1999 the historic buildings on this site were heritage listed for preservation. And, now in 2013 have new life again with this redevelopment. Artists are encouraged to partake in further self-led historical, environmental and social research to inform their artwork proposals. Treasury Buildings,Perth (C) Battye Library PAGE : 4
Curatorial Framework The four artwork opportunities lie within a broad curatorial framework, that provides a context for this site and it historical significance for Perth. Three of these opportunities relate specifically to this site as the place where the tree was felled to mark the foundation of Perth (see below), however this specific opportunity has a different historical context. This groundplane artwork should observe the location of the police court cells that were located in the original Treasury Building. This ground plane artwork will acknowledge the physical history of this site, whilst considering the context of the site s contemporary function and use. The inclusion of this artwork will contribute to the overall recognition of the multiple layers of history that make this site a rich and fascinating place in Western Australia s history. The artwork will need to sensitively consider the role of law and justice throughout the states history. The justice system, by its name, seeks fairness, equality and impartiality, while the history of this very system evokes notions of enforcement and punishment. This work along with the iconic and ephemeral works should thoughtfully acknowledge our past, whilst looking forward to the future as a time for renewal and regeneration. HumanNature craig walsh For applicants reference, the remaining three artwork opportunities on this site will respond to the following curatorial framework: Artists approached to develop concepts for Old Treasury Building Office Tower entrance artworks are asked to consider in a broad context the tree that was felled at this site in 1829. The tree should not necessarily be treated literally but rather reflect the cycle of destruction, new beginnings and growth that make up the social and cultural history of this particular site. Foundation Place View from Barrack Street Architectural rendering In particular the artworks could consider one or more of the following: Revitalisation and new life through growth and development Felling the tree as a marker of settlement and federation Cyclic patterns of destruction and regeneration Nurturing and enrichment through knowledge of Perth s cultural and social history Antiquity and strength through knowledge of our history Regrowth through community contribution and collaboration The tree as a source of knowledge of Perth s shared cultural and historical identity Regeneration of things lost in our collective past The tree is symbolic of the complex histories of Perth and the Old Treasury Building site in particular. The artwork should simultaneously reference and contribute to the rich cultural and social history of this place. PAGE : 5
artwork site plan Barrack Street ICONIC EPHEMERAL Embedded ST GEORGES TERRACE HAY STREET CATHEDRAL AVENUE PAGE : 6
old treasury building Office tower the BRIEF EMBEDDED Groundplane Artwork - POLICE COURT CELLS The Opportunity The site of the original police court prisoner cells (to the right of the precinct, once entering from Barrack Street), offers a groundplane artwork opportunity. The objectives of this artwork are to: Provide an additional historical interpretive element to the site; Recognise and represent the original location of the police court prisoner cells in the Old Treasury Building; Provide an element of discovery which allows for a more intimate, exploratory experience; Engage audiences during the day; and Build profile and interest in the precinct. Key considerations for this artwork opportunity include: Artwork to be respectful of the nature of this site; The role of law and justice throughout the history of Western Australia; Artworks to be engaging and encourage the public s engagement with the precinct. Artworks to be easily maintained; Artworks to be memorable but not controversial; and How the artwork will interact with the surrounding architecture, material palate and artworks. Interactive Material There will be an interactive mobile web-based application that will act as a guide to the site. This will provide historical and artwork information to visitors. Artists are required to consider how their artwork will be represented and described in this medium. Artists are to consult with FORM on this as required. Materials + Fabrication Materials are not specified but must be selected based on their resilience in the public realm. This Artwork can be cast, sandblasted or inlaid into the groundplane. Maintenance requirements should be kept to a minimum. Further specifications, dimensions, etc. will be provided to the artist in Stage 2. Artists will be offered the technical and fabrication assistance of public art fabricator, Urban Art Projects, if required. Artists will work in close collaboration with the Landscape architects for the development of this artwork. Budget The budget for this Embedded Groundplane Artwork commission is $50,000 + GST. This budget is inclusive of all artist s fees, design development, documentation, fabrication, freight, insurances and excludes the Stage 2: Concept Design Proposal Artist fees and installation fees. PAGE : 7
Key project dates Activity Estimated Delivery Date Expression of Interest Submission 11/04/2013 Shortlisted Artists notified 02/05/2013 Concept Design Proposal Submission 30/05/2013 Artist Commission Awarded + Contracted 20/06/2013 Design Development Phase (6 weeks) 01/08/2013 Construction Documentation (6 weeks) 03/10/2013 Artwork Fabrication (20 weeks) 01/05/2014 Artwork Installation (4 weeks) 29/05/2014 A view internally Architectural rendering PAGE : 8
commissioning approach - stage 1: expression of Interest Stage 1 - Expression of Interest Evaluation Criteria Weighting 1. Through an advertised national open call process artists are invited to respond to one or more of the artwork briefs with an initial Expression of Interest. 2. The Expression of Interest will be reviewed by the Evaluation Panel, comprised of representatives from Mirvac (Client and commissioner), Kerry Hill (Project Architect), Palassis Architects (Heritage Architect) and FORM (Public Art Consultant), following which a shortlist of three artists will be selected. 3. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to proceed to Stage 2. Artists or agents representing artists should supply the following material in the Expression of Interest: Contact details: name, postal address, email address, phone number. Concept: a brief description of initial concepts, themes, materials and proposed approach. Experience: a summary of relevant experience in response to the Evaluation Criteria, full curriculum vitae and biography Support material: selection of images of relevant work, including information on year, location, material, dimensions, etc. No payment is being offered for Stage 1: Expression of Interest. FORM will notify you in writing, if your artwork concept has been approved to progress to Stage 2: Concept Design. Stage 2 artists will be invited to attend a briefing session and site visit with Mirvac, Kerry Hill, Palassis Architects and FORM. Response to Brief: - brief concept, methodology, medium, etc. 50% Relevant Experience and Technical Capabilities: - other projects and public art commissions that the applicant has completed. 25% Quality of Previous Work: - as demonstrated by visual support material. 25% Submission Details Expressions of Interest to this commission brief are to be forwarded to: Beth Campbell Project Manager beth@form.net.au or FORM, Level 1 357 Murray Street Perth WA 6000 To be received by 5pm, Thursday 11 April, 2013 PAGE : 9
old treasury building commissioning approach - Stage 2: concept DESIGN proposal Artists shortlisted from Stage 1 will be put forward for Stage 2: Concept Design Proposal, during which: 1. Short-listed candidates will be invited to prepare a full Concept Design Proposal. 2. The Concept Design Proposal will be assessed by the Evaluation Panel comprised of representatives from Mirvac (Client and commissioner), Kerry Hill (Project Architect), Palassis Architects (Heritage Architect) and FORM (Public Art Consultant). 3. The commission will be awarded and the artist contracted. A fee of $1,500 will be offered to shortlisted artists to prepare a Concept Design Proposal. Artists will be now provided with architectural plans, dimensions of artwork area and any further information such as material palates for the site if required. Artists or agents representing artists should supply the following material in the Concept Design Proposal: Detailed sketches, renderings and/or a scale model of the proposed work and supporting text description, including details of the appropriate research undertaken for the project and demonstrating the relationship between the proposed artwork and the Artworks Commissioning Brief; A detailed description of materials, fabrication and installation, noting any specific technical requirements and indicating any potential risk management issues or ongoing maintenance requirements associated with the proposal Details of the design development, fabrication and installation timeline, and information regarding who will fabricate the work, fabrication contractors and supply relationships; An indication of the preferred approach to project management should the proposal be commissioned, including the approach to payment and administration of funds; A budget for the design development stage and an indicative project implementation budget, including contingencies, artist s fees, agent s fees (if applicable), materials, fabrication, insurances, travel and associated expenditure, delivery and installation expenditure. Evaluation Criteria Weighting Curatorial Merit 25% Design/Aesthetics 25% Fabrication Methodology 15% Demonstrated Understanding of the Brief 15% Budget 20% Submission Details Concept Design Proposals to this commission brief are to be forwarded to: Beth Campbell Project Manager beth@form.net.au or FORM, Level 1 357 Murray Street Perth WA 6000 To be received by 5pm, Thursday 30th May 2013 PAGE : 10
contact details For any queries regarding this document, please contact Beth Campbell of FORM 357 Murray Street Perth WA 6000 AUSTRALIA Phone: +618 9226 2799 FAX: +618 9226 2250 Email: beth@form.net.au www.form.net.au THANK YOU PAGE : 11