Le Architectura:DAB510: Do Architecture Boldly

The final design has ended up having it's own identity, different to the inital idea. It still has a certain 'chaoticness' about it, but not as much as the original idea.

In keeping to the '7 Principles of Learning Space Design', to re-iterate:

Comfort: a space which creates a physical and mental sense of ease and well-being.
Aesthetics: pleasure which includes the recognition of symmetry, harmony, simplicity and fitness for purpose..
Flow: the state of mind felt by the learner when totally involved in the learning experience.
Equity: consideration of the needs of cultural and physical differences.
Blending: a mixture of technological and face-to-face pedagogical resources.
Affordances: the “action possibilities” the learning environment provides the users, including such things as kitchens, natural light, wifi, private spaces, writing surfaces, sofas, and so on.

Affordances are the aspects or qualities of a space that allow actions or experiences. Donald Norman refers to ‘perceived affordances’ (1999) to emphasize the fact that it is not just the actual facilities or action possibilities of a space, but the users’ perceptions that matter.

Repurposing: the potential for multiple usage of a space

While, most of these principles don't fit too well with our future learning space, I distilled them down to the following:

Comfortable
Interesting
Has good flow through
Possesses “action possibilities”
Looks good - has most or all of these qualities; symmetry, harmony, simplicity, is fit for the purpose
Equity - caters for age, ability, mobility

Using these guidelines, the learning space/library came together rather well using the more simple design. I don't think it would have worked so well with the more complicated idea, even though it would have lent itself rather well to one or two of the 'learning principles'.
In particular, 'affordances: the action possibilites' with all the strange shaped spaces, the 'nooks and crannies', but not so well where flow-through was concerned, because of these strange shaped spaces.
Mobility for the disabled would be difficult, if not impossible and it must be addressed being a public space, therefore, the more simple design.

Having said that, even though it didn't have a lot of the planned 'kinks' I would have liked, the final design came together rather well.

Presentation:

Panel:

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Floor Plans:

Ground Level:

First Level:

Second Level:

Third Level:

Fourth Level:

Fifth Level:

Sixth Level:

Roof Outline:

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Materials and fitout:

Harking back to the original folie of a crashed workers cottage against the Kangaroo Point cliffs, materials used in the final construction to include chamfer board walls, corrugated iron roofing, along with glass paneling and concrete slab floors.
Internal fittings and furniture have been somewhat inspired by the fitout of the Sendai Multimedia Library, such as the 'pods' designed for individual listening or viewing:

* http://www.archdaily.com/118627/ad-classics-sendai-mediatheque-toyo-ito/

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Elevations:
South