Plan Showing Location of the New Section

Exemplar Sections- Foster & Partners

Foster & Partners
Chesa Futura Appartments
St Moritz, Switzerland

Why the building was chosen as an exemplar section relevant to my solution to the HSW:

Why the building was chosen (relevance)- The Chesa Futura apartments created an environmentally benign and sustainable form of building which is why it was chosen as number five of the exemplar sections. For my building I had modelled it off the Melbourne CH2 Building in terms of heat flow generated from the workings of a termite mound, thermal mass and green walls and roof to increase the sustainability of the building. The apartments used timber construction in a novel way as it is one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable methods of building.  The overall form responds to the site, which was similar to HSW, in that it is set on a slope above the water. The curves of the building  allow unobstructed views down and up from the building as well as allowing for windows to circle the structure facilitating panoramic views of the water below.

Drawing techniques (how the buildings work and key aspects)- The sections show clear paths of movement through the two central cores of curving stairs coiled around lift cores. While the figures show the interactions between spaces and between the inhabitants and the artifacts. The textural qualities of the sloping site is also cleverly and simply illustrated in the landscape slopes, ground line and depth of materials.

What i hope to incorporate into my redrawn section- Clearer illustration of how my spaces are used through figures and artefects as well as how my structure fits into the context.

Exemplar Sections- Ityo Ito & Associates

Ityo Ito & Associates
Meiso No Mori Municipal Funeral Hall
Kakamigahara, Japan

Why the building was chosen as an exemplar section relevant to my solution to the HSW:

Why the building was chosen (relevance)- Toyo Ito's buildings create living spaces that go beyond the modern consumerism to impart emotions and rejecting or questioning  box-like buildings seen in our consumer societies. This building I chose not because of its physical similarities to my own work but the idea behind the architects works which were clearly communicated in the built form and sections. I wished to challenge the built forms of our city through a building designed for the very students who drive social and cultural changes by questioning what exists. I did not take this far enough, the Meiso No Mori Municipal Funeral Hall consisted of fluid spaces organic in nature which impart the dynamic forces of energy flow. Conductive to quiet and reflection the overall structure is very unobstructive allowing maximum light and eliminating the distinction between the exterior and interior opening out to the water. The natural curves of the roof challenge our notions of what a building should look like, something i wished to do as part of encouraging student to question and learn.

Drawing techniques (how the buildings work and key aspects)- The figures of the car and person clearly shown not only the scale but the interaction of the building with the surroundings. The artefact's of the cremation chamber, ventilation and interaction between where the last farewells take place and where the bodies are cremated was clearly shown in the section. Done using thin lines, shading and subtle illustration of materials it is easy to see the qualities of the space, be it the enclosed rooms of the service spaces or the open waiting areas.  

What i hope to incorporate into my redrawn section-  The use of figures to illustrate the use of my building and how it might feel to experience.

Exemplar Sections- Steven Holl Architects

Steven Holl Architects
Simmons Hall
MIT Cambridge USA

Why the building was chosen as an exemplar section relevant to my solution to the HSW:

Why the building was chosen (relevance)- Another alternative educational program, Simmons Hall, provided residential living for students. Inspirational spaces to live and study are created by a porous membrane of five different buildings in which materials, light and transparency are the key aspects. A matrix of square windows is part of the visual idea of the residential student apartments as being a slice of the city. My visual idea was a visual slice of Brisbane altered to question the suitability of fully glass facades in our subtropical climate. Similar to the idea of a porous membrane I created a permeable walk way between the walls of the structure and the outer green skin joined by wooden screens. Student control was also important in both the Simmons Hall and my own student center. The hall's dormitory rooms have nine operable windows that students can use to open or close the space depending on their desires for light, ventilation and privacy. So too my student center had areas of windows and doors which opened out to the permeable walkway for maximum control of light, ventilation and access.

Drawing techniques (how the buildings work and key aspects)- The sections of this building were drawn to illustrate the key aspects, that of light, the materials and transparency. The longitudinal section shows the "vertical cavities, it's lungs, which facilitates natural light and air circulating in key corridors, entrances, terraces and circulation areas". The Cross Sections clearly show the porous nature of the outermembrane.

What i hope to incorporate into my redrawn section- A cleared illustration of how light permeates and  interacts with the individual spaces, more public areas and the corridors that connect them.

Exemplar Sections- Morphosis (Thom Mayn)

Morphosis (Thom Mayn)
Campus Recreation Center
University of Cincinnati, USA

Why the building was chosen as an exemplar section relevant to my solution to the HSW:

Why the building was chosen (relevance)- The New Recreation Center is another multi purpose facility with a strong program centered around students. With a sports complex , reading room, covered refreshment areas, canteen, dormitories and student accomidation. While my building did not deal with the overnight housing of students it shared many common programs with the Recreation Center.  The Recreation Centre forms a crossroad, connecting the surrounding buildings, serving as a focal point and epitomizing the university experience. One way it was acheived was through the variety of form and function and our interpretation of it.

Drawing techniques (how the buildings work and key apects)- The drawings clearly show the structural elements, the connection between floors, materials and the use of the spaces. The thickness of the floors, roof and walls are clearly shown to illustrate the structural systems and the acoustic and sensual feel of the spaces. The materials, the concrete, screens and glass are clearly shown in the y-y section and increase the understanding of how the structure, external skin and spaces intergrate together.

What i hope to encoropate into my redrawn section- The clear illustration of materials and the use of the spaces in relation to the key apects of the building

Exemplar Sections- OMA (Rem Koolhaas)

OMA (Rem Koolhaas)
Casa Da Musica
Porto, Portugal

Why the building was chosen as an exemplar section relevant to my solution to the HSW:

Why the building was chosen (relevance)- As a concert hall, Casa da Musica has a very similar program and context. Contextually both my program and that of the concert hall dealt with proximity to a city centre, proximity to what should be a public area, integration with older buildings and a purpose within the greater context which dealt with public, shared and private spacial segregation's. The concert hall contained an auditorium, teaching spaces, musical and multimedia areas, workshop spaces with supporting restaurants, bars and shops. In both buildings provisions are made for areas for the public to interact, view or be separated from the more individual spaces. For example the concert hall has areas for interactive exhibits, concert halls for viewing and smaller practise areas. In my student centre the public had access to the products produces by students and outdoor cafe and eatery area, lesser access through the building itself with access to the lecture halls, and controlled access to students in certain areas for example the metal working and laser cutting. The concert hall dealt with its older neighbours "by means of windows exposing functions across its boundaries" while my student center Incorporated the heritage buildings as display and sales areas for works produced in the center.

Drawing techniques (how the buildings work and key aspects)- The shading in both the sections clearly illustrated the heroic (more public feature areas) as well as the more humble service spaces.The overall shape of the building clearly demonstrated the scale of the building as a public draw card while communicating the modern contemporary character of the space. The journey through the building is also clearly illustrated as a journey, open and impressive.

What I hope to incorporate into my redrawn section- The clear illustration of the separate levels of use by the public, especially concerning the more public areas that give the building its character and wow factor.