Thursday 16 June 2011
CONTEXTURALISM
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE
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Form and Scale: Regular in shape and scale to integrate into the surrounding area. The number of floors and overall height of the building was chosen for several reasons. To create unity between the residential towers on the western boundary as well as connect the top of the cliff to the Howard Smith Wharves through the building. The top floor lines up with the existing pedestrian pathway cutting underneath bridge. This was important in connecting the surrounding community especially the school at the top of the cliff and the public transport of Fortitude Valley. The shape was deliberately chosen to challange stereotypes about appropriate material for multi level buildings. Challanging the glass facades considered ideal in cities. Is that really appropriate for our climate?
Security: Due to both the 24 hour nature of the site and the close proximity to the Fortitude and CBD night districts security was an important consideration. The two reception points acts as security points at both access points. User are required to register to be able to use the structure by establishing identity and agreeing to the terms and conditions of use of the facilities. Casual users are giver guest passes enabling access to the top cinema/lecture hall and short term use of the other facilities. Areas such as the workshop, safety labs and staff rooms are designed for long term users only due to security, safety and privacy issues. Short term and long term key cards are designed to allow for a secure facility, 24 hour access and establishing respect from users. By signing a contract and paying a small fee for the key card itself it’s hoped that users will respect other users and the facilities. It also gives free access to a late night bus that runs between the building and Roma Street Station after dark.
Physical Permeability: Open café and welcoming reception area on the ground floor allow for both casual users and easy introduction to the program. Tickets to movies or lectures, short term and long term passes can be brought at the reception desks placed at opposite ends of the structure. Designed to be free the building has to deal with security issues outline above.
Social and Cultural Permeability: Access for community to interact with the structure on a casual basis as well as on a more involved level. The ground floor of the enclosed structure was deliberately restricted to a small footprint while integrating the bike path and the existing heritage structures. The bike path cuts through the new and the old developments allowing for permeability through the site. The heritage buildings are used for display of users work, advertising for the programs of the site and selling of scraps in a program modelled after Reverse Garbage at West End
Form and Scale: Regular in shape and scale to integrate into the surrounding area. The number of floors and overall height of the building was chosen for several reasons. To create unity between the residential towers on the western boundary as well as connect the top of the cliff to the Howard Smith Wharves through the building. The top floor lines up with the existing pedestrian pathway cutting underneath bridge. This was important in connecting the surrounding community especially the school at the top of the cliff and the public transport of Fortitude Valley. The shape was deliberately chosen to challange stereotypes about appropriate material for multi level buildings. Challanging the glass facades considered ideal in cities. Is that really appropriate for our climate?
Security: Due to both the 24 hour nature of the site and the close proximity to the Fortitude and CBD night districts security was an important consideration. The two reception points acts as security points at both access points. User are required to register to be able to use the structure by establishing identity and agreeing to the terms and conditions of use of the facilities. Casual users are giver guest passes enabling access to the top cinema/lecture hall and short term use of the other facilities. Areas such as the workshop, safety labs and staff rooms are designed for long term users only due to security, safety and privacy issues. Short term and long term key cards are designed to allow for a secure facility, 24 hour access and establishing respect from users. By signing a contract and paying a small fee for the key card itself it’s hoped that users will respect other users and the facilities. It also gives free access to a late night bus that runs between the building and Roma Street Station after dark.
Physical Permeability: Open café and welcoming reception area on the ground floor allow for both casual users and easy introduction to the program. Tickets to movies or lectures, short term and long term passes can be brought at the reception desks placed at opposite ends of the structure. Designed to be free the building has to deal with security issues outline above.
Social and Cultural Permeability: Access for community to interact with the structure on a casual basis as well as on a more involved level. The ground floor of the enclosed structure was deliberately restricted to a small footprint while integrating the bike path and the existing heritage structures. The bike path cuts through the new and the old developments allowing for permeability through the site. The heritage buildings are used for display of users work, advertising for the programs of the site and selling of scraps in a program modelled after Reverse Garbage at West End
Sunday 12 June 2011
BIOMIMICRY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Rather than slap on a conceptual biomimicry analogy I'm using sustainable systems that have been influenced strongly by biomimicry. These systems will be used to provide a space that uses sustainable energy,
maximises resources and minimised waste all in a cost effective manor which would allow the community to be as self sustaining as possible much like processes in nature.
The CH2 in Melbourne had some really excellent images to explain many of the processes to be used in Brisbane including, solar power, mining of sewage for cooling and much more. http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Environment/CH2/Pages/CH2Ourgreenbuilding.aspx
BIOMIMICRY
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Dermis and Bark: the inner layers of skin or the space between layers of bark create a sub layer between the external skin and the structure which is inhabitable and passively allows regulation of the space. Demonstrated in the external corridors which create an intermediate zone between the inner glass rooms dominated by glass facades and the outer skin.
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Termite mounds: Thermal mass created by Brick veneer walls with steel frames provide thermal mass, keeping the inside cool during the hottest hours of the day and warm at night.
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Roots and Osmosis: Connection to the soil, water and the society at large. Osmosis is part of the process used to recycle liquid from the sewer mains into useable water for cooling a building using convection currents as apposed to energy intense radiation which in Brisbane translates to air conditioning units
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maximises resources and minimised waste all in a cost effective manor which would allow the community to be as self sustaining as possible much like processes in nature.
The CH2 in Melbourne had some really excellent images to explain many of the processes to be used in Brisbane including, solar power, mining of sewage for cooling and much more. http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Environment/CH2/Pages/CH2Ourgreenbuilding.aspx
The Biomimicry presidents behind my building had a hug influence over the tectonic requirements of my building. Initially I had focused on biological systems like caves and other sensitive ecosystem as they are incredibly sustainable which was something I believed vital to keep down costs in a community project which would most likely be funded by taxpayers. I developed this further, finding Biomimicry examples which could be used to reduce energy consumption and reduce wastes. The layers of skin (dermis and epidermis), leaf structure, osmosis, roots and bark all impacted the tectonic aspects of my design.
Epidermis & Leaf Structure: in nature the epidermis forms a protective outer layer while the structure of a leaf regulates the quality of air, dissipates heat and collects energy. The outer skin in this building is formed by the vertical green walls modelled of the CH2 Melbourne building. The thickness necessary to support the planter boxes shades the external corridor within the skin. While the plant increase the quality of the air as well as aesthetically integrating the structure with the Cliffside and parklands.
Dermis and Bark: the inner layers of skin or the space between layers of bark create a sub layer between the external skin and the structure which is inhabitable and passively allows regulation of the space. Demonstrated in the external corridors which create an intermediate zone between the inner glass rooms dominated by glass facades and the outer skin.
Termite mounds: Thermal mass created by Brick veneer walls with steel frames provide thermal mass, keeping the inside cool during the hottest hours of the day and warm at night.
Roots and Osmosis: Connection to the soil, water and the society at large. Osmosis is part of the process used to recycle liquid from the sewer mains into useable water for cooling a building using convection currents as apposed to energy intense radiation which in Brisbane translates to air conditioning units
ELABORATED PROGRAM
PUBLICATION: Reverse garbage style outfit, display areas and function space
Services: Reception, card production, it services, lab technicians staff rooms, outdoor eatery, disabled and staff parking as well as provision for bike security.
Basement with provisions for recycling water from sewer mains for control of buildings temperature
- Reception, eatery and display rooms in existing building
INFORMATION ABSORBING: Reception desk, Library, Lecture hall which also acts as a cinema for the wider public LECTURE/ CINEMA, LIBRARY AND RECEPTION
- GREEN ROOF FOR THERMAL VALUES, CONTROBUTION T AIR QUALITY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND OUT DOOR AREA FOR USERS
- Section showing the density of the building as well as the layers of skin.
THE NEW PROGRAM: COMMUNITY LAB
Initially I was inspired by the difficulty residents and users of a space have in influencing the zoning and development of land owned by council. The Howard Smith Wharves was set aside as public parklands but recent council zoning changes and development proposals did not honour this. Involvement in protesting developments is often see outside government buildings such us Parliament House but no where in the city is there a place for the community to gather to submit there opinions, discuss their thoughts and lodge petitions without being in the public eye. My follie was an adaptive, interactive monument to this process of free speak without judgement or commitment.
Further development into a more informal and intermediate method of interactions between government and the public lead to the creation of a space that allowed for easy broadcasting of ideas, with lecture theatres adaptive to community programs, display areas and a lounge with a tag wall and wi-fi access. At this stage the issues of the suitability for this political program became obvious the surrounding area had no roots in government and without a close connection to the physical symbols of our government the program would be less successful than the protests outside Parliament House.
My research had illustrated the value in a less formal program for the community to learn about developments being embarked upon as well as the need for free speak and exposure to new influences. A large proportion of involvement in community drives for social and cultural change was made up by students, university students in particular. From this I crafted a program providing free access to services usually reserved for tertiary students.
ANALYTICAL MAPS
DAY USE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
NIGHT USE OF EDCUCATIONA PROGRAMS
COST RELATED TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF BRISBANE
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These are some of the analysis maps I constructed to demonstrate both the services and character of the surrounding suburbs and the lack of free services that are available 24/7.
NIGHT USE OF EDCUCATIONA PROGRAMS
COST RELATED TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF BRISBANE
THE DISCONNECTION OF CONNECTION CAVE
During the our second presentation all my research continually lead me back to the fact that providing an intermediate space for the public to communicate, discuss and organise protests at the Howard Smith Wharves was just not as successful a program as the impromptu gatherings in front of Parliament House.
I had unsuccessfully attempted to go ahead with the program anyway but it was difficult to create a contextual understanding of the site in relation to the surrounds that was appropriate given the distance between the parliamentary buildings and the HSW site.
The activities in my project were understood but by the time for the second presentation i had realised just how inappropriate the direction I was taking was for the potential users of the site. The likelihood of the public utilising the site strongly for discussion over changes in policy, land use and other public initiatives was not likely. The site under an intermediary protest space program would more likely to have been underused and utilised for the secondary programs, free Internet access and public flexible space.
The social and cultural relevance was lacking there was no connection to the specific communities local to the site. The HSW are surrounded by schools, clubs, shops and residential units not Parliament and Government buildings. Society in general would only have been benefited if there was a large media circus to bring attention to the site, a cost that could be avoided with the right program.
Biomimicry was hard to match, the cave image was the best i could come up with but it was something that could be applied to any design, seemed slapstick and did not have many benefits except as an analogy of the process.
My communication is something i struggle with especially when i don't believe in what i'm saying .so i did not do the few merits of my program and all my hard work justice.
During my many diagrams, analysis mapping exercises and banging my head against a brick wall I'd started to be draw into the strong correlation between protest against government as well as changes in social and cultural ideologies which was the presence of students especially university students.
A program honoring the process of learning and exposure to new idea that drives students to organise and participate in protests would be both highly suitable for the local area around the HSW but greatly help the larger community immediately and in the future.
I had unsuccessfully attempted to go ahead with the program anyway but it was difficult to create a contextual understanding of the site in relation to the surrounds that was appropriate given the distance between the parliamentary buildings and the HSW site.
The activities in my project were understood but by the time for the second presentation i had realised just how inappropriate the direction I was taking was for the potential users of the site. The likelihood of the public utilising the site strongly for discussion over changes in policy, land use and other public initiatives was not likely. The site under an intermediary protest space program would more likely to have been underused and utilised for the secondary programs, free Internet access and public flexible space.
The social and cultural relevance was lacking there was no connection to the specific communities local to the site. The HSW are surrounded by schools, clubs, shops and residential units not Parliament and Government buildings. Society in general would only have been benefited if there was a large media circus to bring attention to the site, a cost that could be avoided with the right program.
Biomimicry was hard to match, the cave image was the best i could come up with but it was something that could be applied to any design, seemed slapstick and did not have many benefits except as an analogy of the process.
My communication is something i struggle with especially when i don't believe in what i'm saying .so i did not do the few merits of my program and all my hard work justice.
During my many diagrams, analysis mapping exercises and banging my head against a brick wall I'd started to be draw into the strong correlation between protest against government as well as changes in social and cultural ideologies which was the presence of students especially university students.
A program honoring the process of learning and exposure to new idea that drives students to organise and participate in protests would be both highly suitable for the local area around the HSW but greatly help the larger community immediately and in the future.
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