Creating a Landmark

Whilst the building has aged badly in its half century of existence, from the competition stage it was felt that the existing structure basically had 'good bones' and proportions. Hence the design does not seek to deny or contrast the existing proportions, but seeks to utilize and enhance the buildings best features as the basis of the design, whilst updating it for the 21st century.

At the ground floor level the existing cantilevered canopy, which gives generously on to the street, providing shade and shelter is retained and refurbished, and extended at the comer of Bridge Street and the Boulevard. The glass display boxes along Bridge Street are retained and updated, whilst along the Boulevard, a new frameless glazed facade to the shops, large door panels to the cafe allowing it to open to the street, and refurbished entry steps, will give this level a fresh look. 

Above, the body of the building is to be clad with a colour coated aluminium rainscreen system, providing a durable low maintenance solution to the elevations, and it is the details of the design that will bring the building to life. In keeping with the cohesive design strategy, where the aesthetics are part of the functional design of the building, and V.v., the solution to solar heat gain, daylighting, and passive ventilation becomes one of the buildings' signature features. 

Along Bridge Street the existing cellular concrete block screen in the large opening on the east facade will be replaced with a series of perforated anodised aluminium screens, with the glazing retained behind. The screens are designed to provide shade and protection to the windows of the facade, preventing direct solar penetration and excess heat gain to the building, whilst facilitating light and ventilation. The screens will be installed in a series of panels, where each panel will be individually operable and allow adjustment to match the track of the sun through the year. Between the screens, the merchandise behind glazed shop fronts will be visible - something that was not possible with the original building. The operable screens will also be able to be shut to protect the glazing from hurricanes. 

Aesthetically, the vertical emphasis of the screens creates a rhythm along Bridge Street, whilst the perforations of the screens create a visual lightness - the screens become a series of diaphanous veils along Bridge Street that change in translucency, sheen, and fonn as one moves along the street. 

The existing north facade facing the Boulevard has an almost classical rhythm created by the vertical openings of the first and second floors. The new design emphasizes this feature by stripping out the existing windows and redesigning the fenestration to create double height 'vertical display strips'. On either side of these 'display strips' will be full height, perforated anodized aluminium screens, similar in construction to those along Bridge Street. Again these are designed to shade the glass 'display strips' from excess solar heat gain, and also to provide a dramatic emphasis to the facade, enhancing the classical sensibility, and creating a strong presence for the building from the street. Whilst the new screens hark back to the Caribbean jalousie shutters of the past, they are finnlyrooted in the 21st Century, with the design, materials and durability.

Despite the aforementioned classical rhythm, the existing building lacks a crowning element - a cornice or pediment. Here the louvred canopy of the new fourth story Skygarden restaurant will create a dramatic floating plane over the comer of the building at Bridge Street and the Boulevard, completing the building proportionally and, in giving visual emphasis and prominence to the Boulevard / Bridge Street comer, it cements the buildings status as both a landmark and a destination in Castries, finally announcing its presence as the hub of Castries.

During the day, the innovative architectural design will create a unique landmark for Castries. At night the building is transformed by light - the perforated screens of the building glow with the illuminated 'display strips' and glazing behind, adding drama to the building, and the canopy of the skygarden becomes a glowing plane of light hovering over the building. The seductive curving form of the Vortex becomes clearly visible through the double story glazing to Bridge Street, and one can see the 'live theatre' of people rising up to the cinema level on the escalators, and milling in the foyer. An integrated lighting scheme for the building will be designed to create a unique display on days of celebration such as Independence Day, Christmas, Festival of Lights etc. ingraining the building into the general consciousness, and further integrating it into the urban and social fabric.