The Quay, Sky Precinct is a high-end luxury residential and retail site located in Newstead, Brisbane developed by Mirvac. Cultural Capital was responsible for producing a public art strategy, leading artist selection and implementing a collaborative design process.

The Quay, Sky Precinct has a strong biophilic architectural vision, so public art for the site needed to be integrated appropriately. Cultural Capital strategically implemented a collaborative approach between artist and architect to create a complimentary public domain integration.

Cultural Capital’s curatorial vision, ‘a park within the park’ identified the opportunity to develop an installation of sculpture and artist-designed shade structures for the outdoor pond to create a watering hole for community to rest, come together and feel connected to nature.

Cultural Capital ran a limited tender competition with an interview component to select the artist. Kenji Uranishi was awarded the project for his work ‘Under the Lilypads’, which presented a vision of shade structures inspired by lily pads, a feature of Newstead ecology translated into a canopy structure for gathering and shelter.

A series of meetings and workshops were facilitated by Cultural Capital between Uranishi and Mirvac’s design team to develop the artist’s design into functioning shade canopies.

Mirvac managed the fabrication and installation of the works, meaning a seamless integration of the artwork into the construction program and budget. The artist was engaged consistently through detailed design development and fabrication to ensure the work was made in line with the artist’s vision.