"SERICUM" emerged as a second-year project with the goal of reimagining a public space that seamlessly transitions between public and private domains. The assignment envisioned the creation of an educational and training centre dedicated to sericulture, the art of silk-making, leveraging the minimal resources and devices required for such an endeavour.
Designed to be inclusive for students of all ages and the general public, "SERICUM" offers a comprehensive learning experience about silkworm breeding and silk production. The project, aptly named after the Latin word for silk, seeks to integrate the educational centre with the site's natural attributes, encouraging activities such as resting, exercising, city observation, and communal gatherings.
"SERICUM" occupies the site's landform and a significant portion of the water body. The landform is designated for a planting scheme featuring white mulberry trees (Morus alba), as their leaves constitute the primary diet for silkworms. Elevated on a 6-meter platform above the Brisbane River, the centre adopts a biophilic form reminiscent of a silkworm cocoon and the white mulberry fruit.
A central feature of the project is the striking 18-meter-tall iridescent statue portraying the wings of Bombyx mori, the silkworm, positioned on the deck adjacent to the centre. This statue serves as a prominent landmark visible from Kangaroo Point in the opposite direction.
Drawing inspiration from a precedent study, the project incorporates a "star-filled-floor" on the deck, illuminated at night to enhance safety and provide users with a captivating experience.
