Pascall+Watson were approached by Skyportz Australia to work on a brief scheme for a vertiport on the Yarra River at Batman Park in central Melbourne. The proposal was to transform an existing Microflite helicopter facility situated on the site, engaging with a more city-friendly form of flight that is effectively pollution fee and far less noisy. The scheme was proposed as a spur to further engagement with the Mayor of Melbourne, the Melbourne City Council, and Victorian State Government and designed to work alongside their existing Greenline Masterplan for this section of the Yarra River as it passes through the central business district and beyond.

The facility offers ideal transfers to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Yarra Valley wine region, as well as between the CBD and local airports. P+W outlined a series of options for the airfield, testing different layouts and capacities, as well as approach and take-off paths, and stand/FATO technical requirements.

The scheme works with the spatial constraints surrounding buildings (as aerial obstacles), and the local ambitions for Batman Park and the riverfront walk. The terminal aims to be a modest facility that is could be both manufactured off-site and repeatable, whilst offering a vision of the future that can inspire interest in this new form of flight. The functional layout is simple, transparent and welcomes public engagement, whilst the structure is designed as a modular solution that can be barged and craned into position.

The facility offers ideal transfers to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Yarra Valley wine region, as well as between the CBD and local airports. P+W outlined a series of options for the airfield, testing different layouts and capacities, as well as approach and take-off paths, and stand/FATO technical requirements.

The scheme works with the spatial constraints surrounding buildings (as aerial obstacles), and the local ambitions for Batman Park and the riverfront walk. The terminal aims to be a modest facility that is affordable, whilst offering a vision of the future that can inspire interest in this new form of flight. The functional layout is simple, transparent and welcomes public engagement, whilst the structure is designed as a modular solution that can be barged and craned into position. 

CGIs by Minmud