When advertising the Northshore gardens, the popularity of the neighbouring Eatstreet markets would quickly spread the name of the gardens with traditional word of mouth marketing. For example, those who attend Eatstreet markets would be exposed to the gardens and pass the knowledge on. The Northshore gardens can also participate in digital word of mouth marketing through social media, the most common method of this is via hashtags on popular social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook. These methods of advertisement would promote popularity and give visitors a sense of participation, by joining into the publicity of the facility.

The current Northshore site has an identity for reusing old materials that have been recycled from the shipyards around the Brisbane city area; such as Eatstreet and its use of shipping containers, and the Deck being built from old boardwalk materials. I propose that the Northshore gardens follow this concept and incorporate recycled materials when constructing facilities or potentially the gardens features and artworks.

Repurposed materials that I have found to be used commonly from shipyards include:

Shipping containers

Boardwalk planks

Ship parts

Lifeboats and oars

The Northshore garden would be able to hold many activities for the younger audiences such as the possibilities of children’s events being held on the site as mentioned earlier. However, the gardens would be required to host permanent interactive activities to ensure younger audiences are kept entertained. I propose a ‘picture game’ where the children are given a small camera that they have to return on exiting the garden and a list of plants within the garden for them to find and take photos of. Activities which utilize AR or VR technology to educate the younger audience on certain topics is an additional activity that could be explored for the Northshore garden.

Services such as cafes, gift stores and alternative venues can be developed within the Northshore garden area to provide services that the current layout is missing. These venues will encourage visitors to stay for longer periods of time and provide them with food and beverages. Additionally, these services appeal to the more mature side of the gardens target audience, offering a calm relaxing place to engage with the facilities.

To keep to the Northshore brand identity the facilities constructed should follow similar architectural and design codes to ensure that the stores remain true to the branding that Northshore is wanting to sell.

The Northshore gardens would be a prime destination to house events and other means of entertainment. The site would benefit from providing a stage, and other facilities that can cater for events for a wide range of audiences. Regular events would encourage regular visits to the Northshore gardens, rather than limiting the facility to a one-time use.

Examples of some of the events that the gardens could provide include:

Aboriginal culture exhibits

Musical performances

Plays and musicals

Arts and crafts workshops

Information panels

As discussed in the Northshore brand identity document provided, Northshore is located in a key destination for people traveling. The Northshore gardens will become a prime destination for newcomers to Brisbane for information on the city, and its history. As a potential tourist attraction, Northshore could invest in providing information centres to advertise alternative destinations and events around Northshore and Brisbane.

In addition to artistic displays, water features would play a key part within the Northshore garden as they would play into both a visual and practical fashion. The water features could be incorporated in a way to use the river water to hydrate the plants within the garden and provide water to the water features around the Northshore garden.

The display gardens would incorporate a collection of features and artworks created by Brisbane artists. This act would promote creative work within Brisbane, while also providing the location with imaginative art that promotes the Brisbane lifestyle and community.

Practical art, such as the already existing Northshore Pavilion named “The Deck” designed by the Brisbane architect Anna O’Gorman, would additionally benefit the gardens as they offer not only a visual element, but something practical as well.

The Northshore area currently does not utilise its location on the Brisbane River, therefore I believe implementing a board walk is essential to the Northshore area, as this attracts people to visit so that they can interact with the river. A board walk comes with many benefits for the area such as:

 Improved accessibility for visitors.

 Provides a means for visitors to take in the river.

Incorporating shade and seating would encourage lengthy visits to the area as well as providing rest areas.

The walkway offers other uses as well. For example, various information stations may be incorporated to provide visitors with information regarding the surrounding area, or Brisbane city histories.

Text:

My concept Is a display garden that homes primarily native australian plants and incorporates a sustainable water feature that utilizes the brisbane river to provide water to the garden.

The facility will provide a haven for all ages. So that we as a community can celebrate Australia’s exotic flora.

Notes:

The facility will be able to house cafes, gift stores and an Australian history facility that will provide information such as aboriginal, colonial, WWll history and general information on the flora within the garden.

These facilities will open new job opportunities for locals, and provide a bountiful garden that aren’t limited to a one time use.