Acclaimed Perth visual artist Rick Vermey has been announced as the successful candidate to design an exciting new public artwork for Defence Housing Australia’s Liv Apartments in Fremantle, WA.
Mr Vermey was commissioned to design the permanent installation in Liv’s entrance as part of the City of Fremantle Percent for Art scheme, that specifies local developers contribute to the city’s public art. As part of the creative process Mr Vermey partnered with emerging computational design specialist and architect, Daniel Giuffre to come up with the winning design.
The tunnel-like structure will be visible from the Queen Victoria and Quarry Street entrances and will be illuminated from within, creating a vibrant space for Liv’s residents and the wider Fremantle community to enjoy.
The striking geometric design concept has a distinctly ‘Freo feel’, taking inspiration from the city’s rich shipping port history, weather elements such as the ‘Freo Doctor’ and contemporary elements that reflect the colourful and edgy Fremantle of today.
The after-dark presence created by the wind-animated dynamic lighting will become a terrific local attraction, and will provide a focal point for night-time visitors to the precinct.
In line with Liv Apartment’s prestigious One Planet Living accreditation, the proposed design also meets a range of important sustainability criteria, including the use of natural wood fibres and bio-renewable cladding material.
DHA Managing Director, Jan Mason, said the announcement of Mr Vermey’s successful design concept represented another significant milestone for the landmark Liv Apartment development.
‘Our aim from the very beginning was for Liv Apartments to be a positive and progressive part of Fremantle’s community,’ Ms Mason said.
‘In addition to employing local builders and tradespeople to boost the local economy, we are proud to be engaging such a well-regarded Perth artist to add a distinctly Western Australian look and feel to the project.
‘We hope this new public artwork will be yet another way we can communicate Liv’s vision and style as well as its unique contribution to the thriving Freo arts precinct.’
Born and bred in Perth, Mr Vermey is an artist whose practice embraces painting, drawing, sculpture/ installations, design and public art commissions. His winning design was just one of many considered by the selection committee, which consisted of representatives from DHA, Liv architects Hassell and a member of the City of Fremantle’s Public Art Advisory Panel.
Liv features 166 apartments and approximately 1,300m2 of commercial space as well as landscaped courtyards with edible gardens for the residents plus cafes and restaurants for locals and residents alike.
The new permanent public artwork is due to be installed by August 2018.