Wk 7: Lecture and Tutorial

Had a guest lecturer today, Ruwan Fernando, a PhD student who is also a tutor. He gave me lots to think about, especially considering a concept and thinking that through before even attempting a design. Ruwan also brought up a few things to look at and read, such as Einstein's Tomb by Lebbeus Woods, something called TEDX Talks.
The Rhino and Grasshopper demo I will have to look into and have a play with, because it looks to be a bit of fun.

My tutor, Brett Hudson, gave us ideas of what is expected in the next assignment, in two weeks:

• All diagrams, very little text
• Don't worry about colour or materials, just shading and textures
• Black, white and shades of gray
• Show volumes and spaces and how they are used
• Diagrams to show space relationships, use relationships
• Look at showing how light penetrates and bounces around within the building
• Shadows and how they affect the spaces, inside and out
• Put in a fair amount of detail
• Preferably hand-drawn, but some CAD stuff OK
• Maybe show other options for the building or parts of it
• Presentation:
• Digital, such as PowerPoint
• Nothing printed is needed
• Aim for 5 minutes or so
• No restriction on the slide numbers
• Each one must show clearly the content and be able to be seen from the other side of the table

As for my own design, Brett suggested I look at keeping the 'crashed house' look of the Folie, as in boxes, crashed up against the cliff as the beginnings of the building; different angles, box bits, how to navigate these 'box bits'.

Lots to think about and lots to draw. In other words, scrap what I have done and start again.

Building location in site

Potential building area on the site.

Closer view of the site.

Further design musings.....

First, ground floor idea, showing 'wavy' walls, (a).

First floor - initial thought (b)

First floor - shortened (c)

Realised that the first plan was too long at 52 mtrs, (a) and (b) above; therefore, shortened the length to 36 mtrs, (c). Will work on this for the moment and see where it goes.

Initial, design musings

Water movement, word play, doodle

Floor plan doodles

Elevation doodles

External wall shape doodles

Random Musings: before Assignment 1

Note: This blog needs to be read at the start of the March blogs.

My first “mind’s eye” image was of a kindly old grandfather watching over the young children while they play and learn in their backyard. The age of the site, the bridge and the old existing buildings represented the grandfather. The children are not just enjoying the site, but learning to appreciate this heritage area, what it represents to Brisbane and to care for it in the future.

A couple of ideas came to mind when first thinking about this project, initially, a children’s learning space, maybe some sort of play equipment that resonates with the site’s history, e.g. in the shape of a ship or bridge or a combination of both. The other idea was more basic and aimed at the public in general, a tunnel of sorts with spaces in the walls and roof, or maybe an arbour, that folks can walk through and read text and look at images from the past.

After a brainstorming session with the other group members, these two ideas took a backseat to many ideas, but the one we settled on was the concept of a worker's cottage, washed from its foundations, carried downriver where it is 'smashed' against the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, near the far south end.

The idea behind this was to remember and experience the flooding of the site, the power of the water, the damage it can do. Along with this experience, the remembrance of how Brisbane was and how the environment still reminds us that we do not control it, but it controls us.

Week 2; Abstraction, Metaphor and Scale(ing)

Note: This blog needs to be read within the March blogs.

When looking for some duirection about "learning spaces", I came across a project that outlines the Seven Principles of Learning Space Design.

http://www.skgproject.com/learning-spaces-toolkit/design-principles/

Directly from the website:

• 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” - something to do or look at
• Looks good - has most or all of these qualities; symmetry, harmony, simplicity, is fit for the purpose.
• Equity - caters for age, ability, mobility

This gives me something to gauge my designs against, from an education point of view.

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Initially, my thoughts were for a quite structured Folie, aimed specifically at young children. Designed to create a play space that stimulated their imagination, as well as teaching them something.

The first ideas and doodles:

Site musings......

Thinking about the site in general and where to site the library/learning space.

Previously, the BCC proposal to redevelop this site, divided the area into three precincts, whether these three precincts will be part of the "redeveloped" redevelopment, I have no idea.

Precinct 1 - hotel and tourism

Located on the western side of the site and included the area under the Story Bridge. Existing sheds, buildings and wharves were to be retained as part of development. A new building was to be constructed under the Story Bridge.

Uses were to include:

• short term accommodation
• restaurants
• shops
• tourism boat operators
• visitor centre
• offices
• indoor sport/gymnasium
• recreational facilities

Precinct 2 - restaurant, retail, gallery, entertainment and commercial

Located in the centre of the site and would have offered a combination of new buildings (which are no more than three to four storeys in height) and public open space.

Uses were to include:

• restaurants
• retail
• galleries
• commercial opportunities

Precinct 3 - active outdoor recreation, entertainment and community facilities

Located on the eastern side of the site and would be primarily used for public open space. The existing heritage listed buildings in this area were to be retained and re-used for community purposes. This precinct was expected to host cultural events and activities.

Uses were to include:

• park
• community facilities  <<< This is where the library will fit.
• boat landing facilities
• conference centre facilities
• restaurants/cafes
• indoor sport and recreation
  

Reference:

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/current-planning-projects/urban-design-projects/howard-smith-wharves/proposed-plan/precincts/index.htm