CAVE ECOSYSTEMS

Studying the differences and similarities of the Brisbane communities and surrounding suburbs illuminated some strong connections. While there are many different building typologies common to each suburb the motivations behind them are based on the same key instincts shared by humanity.

The CBD is dominated by sky high office buildings, monolithic commercial complexes and smaller old fashioned shops.
West End- residential houses, churches, alternative stores and shops.
Kangaroo Point-  riverside, activity centres, high end residential complexes mixed with less wealthy houses.
South Brisbane cultural centres, universities, parklands, public pools, shops, movies, museums
Fortitude Valley shopping districts, cultural centres, clubs, pubs intersected with main roads and highways. Small city allotments, With residential complexes built within it
New Farm scattered parks, residential houses of one or two stories and typical Queensland houses.

The main connection between all these building typologies, functions and programs was the people using them and the human need for community, gathering in a place of safety to Studying the differences and similarities of the Brisbane communities and surrounding suburbs illuminated some strong connections. While there are many different building typologies common to each suburb the motivations behind them are based on the same key instincts shared by humanity.

share. Regardless if it was ideas, food, wealth, culture, music, movies, natural treasures and reso

This gathering of people in a place of safety has been around as long as civilisation. We could argue that these gatherings have created civilisation, community is reliant on the sharing or resources, technology but most of all the sharing of ideas. The places we inhabit can help or hinder this facilitation of ideas. Spaces need to be accessible, safe from the elements and other dangers, suitable lighting, access to drinking water and food.

From caves, huts, tents to domestic houses, residential apartments and sky riCaves are a biological haven with complex ecosystems and food chains. There is safety, a hierarchy and no waste.

Even in the deepest and darkest of caves there is a sustainable community


This food chain can be likened to the hierarchy of our cities and its rulers. Politicians are the top predators, corporations and members of Parliament the omnivores and herbivores with the ordinary Australian, the general public microorganisms and decomposers. The biggest difference is the huge amount of waste generated by all we do compared to a cave food web which is sustainable with negligible waste. Waste in terms of time and resources wasted getting information out to the public or to the government (paperwork, brochures and other expensive methods).  This building is to reduce that waste of time and resources while showing a more sustainable way of building. An example of this would be modular architecture made of sustainable materials, adaptable to a changing city, new technologies and changes to the people of Brisbane and their needs.

New resources (food or information) can enter through natural event like floods or brought in artificially. In Brisbane, and all over the world, community involvement sparks after natural disasters, changes in government and policies. On a smaller scale community involvement often spikes when the government announced changes that will affect our environment, the way we live and the use of shared resources.

The Speakers Shelter from my first project is part of allowing members of the lower food chain to communicate with each level of the food chain, especially the government ruling us. In effect making this food chain into a food web. Instead of food information flows both up and down in a web. Politicians, government and corporations can deliver information to the public, be open and honest about changes in policy, zoning of public land and development to come. In the same way the general public can used the space for personal needs, group activities, community interactions as well as sending messages to government be it cries for help or protest.

The programs of the Speakers Cave:

Speaker’s Podium- space for addressing large numbers of people in one room
Amenities- toilets, cafe, Wi-Fi, projector and screen
Listening Lounge- space to sit outdoors, watching the screen hooked up to the room below, also views out to the surrounding space.
Display Level- space for displaying community information, government announcements and commercial development proposals. Both digital and poster/stand format.
Circulation- wheelchair assessable, ramp and lift connecting all the levels, as well and the main bike and pedestrian movement through the site.

Biomimicry:
Facilitation of sustainable communication
Minimalist of waste through careful selection of materials, modular design
Safe environment through the use of materials, human scale, enclosure and perspective views.
http://arc103.cala.arizona.edu/trad103/tutorials/fundamentals/aesthetics/problem_sets/balance/05t.html