Week 14 - Presentation and Critique

Presentation
Presentation by using powerpoint and A1 poster.


Critique Feedback:
Overall feedback was quite good we had two guests there as well, they asked some interesting questions.


The idea that was proposed was received well. The shape of the building could really work - having the courtyard (outdoor exhibition space) where it was and there were multiple views to it.
Lady guest said that it kind of works as an  external shell with the functions inside is interesting and could see that happening. Renderings and photo-montages were done really well, really got a sense of the spaces.


Communicate ideas through drawings more. For example, weight lines to outline specific spaces (or even color blocks)Contextual information ie if it's next to the river or cliff, mark it on the drawing so context is known. Also to introduce the programs earlier, it wasn't until the end until they knew what was in which space.

Week 13 - Final processes

Final updates

These are extra process renders

The immateriality of the building was not the final choice. 

A big problem I had was trying to get a more detailed render, even though I had the setting at 'best' (render option) the detail and quality just doesn't seem up to par. Photoshop was a good tool to use in making the image more realistic. 

Below are some interior renders of the underground exhibition space.

Initial render. Camera angle just after exhibit space2. Hallway can lead to the outdoor exhibit space(left), straight ahead to the cafe or tothe right to the splay space (I got rid of the chairs and tables - they were too boring). 

The rendered image of the space place turned out a lot like the other exhibition space, but the spatial quality of the space really comes through when further digital edits are done.

Week 13 - Progress: Drawings

New drawings developed over the last day or so

Basic Elevation genrated. need to add material and tidy up the liens

Week 13 - Process: Re-Sketching+Diagramming

Re-Sketching-Diagramming

I now have to reconsider what I want/feel is particularly evoking and do a general brainstorm.
the following below images are taking at a fair distance away from the work so not all sketches are visible. 

I was no longer at a loss even after all these brainstorming sketching. Where would this be applied? how is it relevant?? 

I took a room ie.. Exhibition room and listed out it's Spatial quality by first naming emotional words and then how would you achieve it?

I had rather just gone straight into describing the room instead looking how people should feel init. If I think of spatial quality, this will guide in the design and development of room (and then buildings).

So:
Re-Do Site Analysis

The emphasis here is on what can't you see at the sight.
Rather Bubble diagram to identify spatial relationships/importance etc

Storyboard of how people would move throughout the spaces

 Forming a basic form of the spaces

 which developed into the floor plan

From this a whole new floor plan was developed. It's nearly due date so I will have a lot to be doing. I plan on using Revit as the main program to generate all my drawings and models.

Week 13: Progress - Reassessing

Progress

This week progress was made via discussion. I was at uni and asked my friends what they thought of the design etc etc. Many liked however didn't know the brief  behind it. Some knew the brief and said it will do, but the ones who said that they couldn't see the concepts in the building form were the ones that got me worried.

Fair enough to have a functional building and spaces inside, but without the drive behind it being the core concepts, and not being able to see it in the final design was worrisome.

I also some some other students work and they were all really impressing.


The following questions were summaries of what were talked about.

Q: What is your concept?
Q: How do you think this shows in the form?
Q: Why or how did you come up with this form?

The problem is that my concept: SCALE and VIEWS are more of an architectural function rather than plain theme, ie: Sustainability or Water. Therefore I really need to look at this further than the generic stuff I've been talking about.

Q: What about your site? What does it tell you? 

concept broad (scale and views)

My friends made me really aware that:

views could be any site at anywhere, what is so special about Howard Smith Wharves or KP? 

Scale: must be something in contrast. 

ie: Providing a room, even though it’s got hardly any interior walls, the views to the outside is narrow down by site analysis

Q: what is different about the site?

Q: what do people see when ppl walk?

Q: what people don’t see-> discover it ->and show.

Just that one point makes HSW different.

Quality about the site that carries through to the building.

At that moment, I knew I had to re-do the process all over again! I find it really hard to let go of the ideas in my head. But it is necessary to do in order to get a better form. 


I think I just don't ask myself these questions enough, or never seem to find them crucial. But having these questions asked over and over again, I can see how some people in the design process gets really down into the details about (ie) how a form came to be, the colour etc. 


Exemplars

WF (2011)

The Jewish Museum: ells a story about the Holocaust.. The slight of light is really famous all over the world. It's certainly lovely and very poetic. Simple but with a lot of intent and  meaning that they want to translate to the users of the space. 

WF (2011)

NA 2012

I thought this one is quite nice because you just see enough to satisfy your morning curiosity. 

WF (2011)

Homework:
sketch out some pictures and diagrams.
look at your program and explain their spatial quality.

Week 12: Progress

Progress

Since the program has been finalised, I moved on to developing the floor plans.

So far I have used AutoCad to cad up the floor plans and sections. I have a 3dsMax file of the site massing ready to have  my building massed into it. From there I can render the building and or form of the site together. Problem with this is regarding the format of each of the programs. Merging the file type will be a problem. The images below are jpeg's of the CAD files.

Floor plan

Walls at the rear end of the building. Partition curved wall to separate the spaces. Extra partition wall to guide users to navigate the space. leading to the presentation space at the bottom.

Lvl 1

Cafe to the left of the building, lots of glass will enable natural lighting. Ramps were not doable to connect to the roof top garden, therefore a staircase was put in.

Roof

 I'm not particularly happy with the form of the building. Functionally I know all the spaces are there and they somewhat flow from one space to another. But it looks a little sparse and evenwhen rendered in 3dsmax, very bare and too simple.

section

On top of this, I had begun a physical model.
I am quite happy with the mock model. This really helps me understand the building and physically see how people move through. It was intended to have a atrium down the middle of the building, bringing daylight in. But scrapped that idea.

Flooring and assembling the walls

 \

 Level too short

Hmm... still needs to be resolved. A lot more.. kind of stuck at the moment.

Week 12 - Improving on Programs

Defining Programs

Defining the program spaces will then allow me to know which programs lead on to what.
The relationship between program and theme of the learning center as a whole.
Aim: A journey to allow users to see and learn from things (animals/environments) that are different in scale.

It was my goal to keep as many original programs from previous assessment.
I really needed to re-think my the animals that I incorporate into my building, so I started there. 

Digital Research about various animals:

(AD, 2012)

(Tangient, 2012)

(The online Anteater, 2012)

From image one, I saw an animal I didn't recognize... turns out it was an anteater. I wasn't interested in the anteater itself, but rather the ant. I had sketched out this linear diagram and started to do a brainstorm of ideas regarding the different elements (varying in size) of the environment. 

Image 1

Therefore, rather than coming up with an animal, and making it fit within the space, the search lead me to Ants. I think ants aren't regarded very highly because they're so common. Further research will be needed to develop this idea further. 

Land: Something that relates to land.
-At first I thought the relationship with land and water... which is site relevant as well.
-I thought of ... water... reserve, looking at water as a theme... but I thought that was too boring.
-Looking at the site, the cliff is so obvious... so Geology came to mind.
-How our land is formed over time. Whether it be from volcano, or natural resources?

Urban Dev:
-This would be for the historic play space for kids.
  urban: mobility? => trains was what I had earlier. but space allocation did not allow this.
  cars? busses? Buildings? .... made from blocks... lego.
-The activity for kids is a big lego building exercise. 

However, rather than having unlimited lego pieces to build with, they are able to request a specific set to build specific things. Therefore this caters for different age groups visiting the center. 

Sky:
- This was quite easy because I already had a program called "the space place". 

Image 2.

Conceptual sketch of diagram. An exploration and learning of things in various scales. 

New Program

Entry Plaza 10m x 10m

Lunch Area 10m x 10m

                   Utilizing the site to its potential, the lunch area will be on the second level facing the Story Bridge.

Presentation Space 20m x 20m
"Face of the Earth: Looking at Landform"

• Interior screening space
• split section. one half will be for digital presentation about how landform
• Guided workshop where presenter talks through and shows exemplars of different stages of land formation

Exhibition Hall (1) 10m x 20m
"Underground Colonies: Ants"

• Existing site reflects heavily on the restoration (land) and preservation (buildings)
• Looking at what is below the ground.
• Space will reflect the layout of ant colony therefore self guided spaces with partition walls (texturality reflecting underground ant-esk... earthly. etc)

Exhibition Hall (2)
"The Space Place"

• Standing at the site, one cannot miss the Story Bridge, it is inevitable that one will look toward the sky. Taking inspiration from this (sky as a space), exhibition hall 2 aims to focus on astronomy. 

Outdoor Exhibition Space 10m x 20m
"Rooftop Garden"

• Rejuvenation of the Howard Smith Wharves. Rejuvenation of what? -> life = plants
• The walkway to rooftop garden is walk through exhibition.
• Outdoor Space acts is a rooftop garden.
• Visitors are welcome to participate in watering the plants (certain times only)

Historical Learning Space 10m x 20m
"Urban Development: Build your own with lego" 

• engage in childrens creativity. 
• There will be a table filled with lego pieces and awesome lego made buildings as centerpiece.
• before children go inside, they request a specific building to build.
• caters to all ages. 

Next Step is Ordering the programs. From this, spatial arrangements within the floor plan can be made. 
how would a user walk through the programs? 

1. Entry plaza

2. Exhibit Hall 1: Underground Colonies

3. Presentation Space: Face of the Earth: Land-form

    upstairs to

4. Exhibit Hall 2:The Space Place

5. Cafe

6. Historic Play Space: Urb Dev: Build your own with lego

7. Walkway through to Outdoor Exhibit Space: Rooftop Garden

Week 12 - Re-Examining The Brief

Project 3: Attempt 2

Reflection

What is it?:

Children's Environmental Educational Learning Center

Target: 
Children, proposing 10-15ages, adults.

Concepts:
Scale and Views

Metaphor: 

"The processes of learning is a roller-coaster which everyone has to go through"

Strong association between roller coaster and views.

For example, imagine you are on a roller coaster with a camera, at a different spot on the ride, you capture an image that has a unique view. Concept Image and Sketch:

However, rather than a literal interpretation of the building being in the shape of a roller coaster and different physical views....

.... The flow of the building is more like a journey where the spaces allow people to view/learn things of different scales. 

This gives direction:
1. Programs
2. circulation of programs. 

I wanted to aim for something quite organic, similar to image below.

My progress: