Alcohol is the most widely used recreational drug in
Australia. Although widely accepted as a drink of enjoyment and sociability
this comes closely tied with concepts of both binge drinking and psychological
harm. Kings Cross undoubtedly represents the hub of drug, alcohol,
and domestic problems within the greater Sydney. The fact that these issues are so visible has
resulted in the view of them as an accepted part of the social fabric of ‘The
Cross’.
My design intent can be summarised as a one-stop-shop that
addresses the effects of alcohol abuse both on the level of dependence
treatment and on a more context specific level as a bar that is intended to act
as a model for the promotion of safer drinking behaviours.
As we can see from the section the
ground plane responds to the more context specific issues of binge drinking and
alcohol fuelled violence via the harm minimisation approach to the bar, while
we have a stack-like program of the treatment centre above.
The idea behind this ‘stack-like’ organisation of space is that
one is able to transition through their prescribed step-by-step rehabilitation program
from the ground up. As they progress from one stage to the next they are also
slowly moving up the glass encased staircase from floor to floor, which gives
them the chance to be reminded of their progress so far and thus also becomes
an important element of encouragement.
Following the initial screening process the first treatment
session of rehabilitation generally involves setting goals, and this
step-by-step organisation of spaces allowing for clients to start at the ground
floor and work their way up, then back down to the bar when they are able to resume
drinking but at a healthy level, and eventually to the station (which
represents a return home and to ‘normal’ life) presents a realistically achievable
set of goals in an architectural built form.
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