Week Twelve : Architectural Entity Access

Place is inherently bound up with its surroundings; to the extent that the urban fabric is either strengthened or weakened by its public space. In order for Paddington Exchange to deeply embed community ownership and participation, open and immediate access to the entity must be established as to nurture the diverse range and needs of its citizens. In achieving such an outcome the following strategies have emerged as prevailing considerations of access;

Main entrance: By placing the main entrance centrally; at a point where it can be seen immediately from avenues of approach and with a bold and visible presence it makes possible a natural  orientation of movement toward and within the entity.

Opening to the street: A glass connection creates relatively passive involvement while a facade open to the street allows a far more valuable and involving connection. When public space is open it is possible to hear, what is going on inside, to smell the inside, to exchange words and even to step in all along the opening.

Multiple points of interaction: Paddington Exchange by its nature can only prosper if it is not only accessible to the citizens of its own community but also receptive to channels of exchange with surrounding subcultures. While Latrobe Terrace is privileged to the main entrance the entity is also comprised of several additional points of entry in order to nurture deep and mutual participation with a range of users.