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.