Thursday 26 April 2012

Bamboo Cell Structure:

Elodea Leaf Cell Structure
These images will not only inspire the form of the design, but will inform the structure, ensure it is lightweight and uses less and environmentally friendly materials and will be structurally stable as I will apply the same principles as plants use to create their strength.
In the following Images:

1. it begins will explorations of platforms (this is continued from previous posts).
2. I begin to explore alternative forms but decide they are too chaotic for a 'space of purification and reflection'.
3. I begin to explore verticality, metaphor and bamboo.
4. I do some small sketches with my initial idea for the bammboo --- bamboo encasing platforms and pods, pods and platforms made from perspex or opaque glass. This continues the idea of shadows and memories from the folie. The bamboo rods/strands will be black or will be golden and lit up, they will create shadows and lines and as people pass through the space you will only see flickers of their silhouettes and will get a similiar feeling of beautiful eeriness, shadows and memories - memories will be jolted by the ghostly shadows and the floating boxes, the floating platforms + the people inhabiting will be either seen as silhouettes or shadows - this triggers the overarching idea of the "invisible people". The invisible people being the peoples lives once lost.
The lives lost in the floods, in the war, suicides off the bridge. The beauty of life is to be brought to the front and people are to learn through reflection/mediation/relaxation and appreciation the people that have roamed the site, roamed Brisbane, made this the place that it is.

Please see progression below.












Current State of Project and Ideas for Proposal:


Why a space for meditation, relaxation and purification?
- the space will be used primarily for people interested in yoga, mediation, pilates, swimming, bathing.
- the cliffs at Kangaroo Point are used for a variety of physical activities - is using the knowledge that this has been a successful venture and applying it to HSW site
- New Farm (through observations) is an active suburb. Many people cycle, walk, exercise and read and run by the river. Am applying this understanding of the people of New Farm and surrounding areas are generally quite active people and/or people come to the site just to exercise within close proximity to the river as it may be more enjoyable than a gym environment
- Am utilising the fact that New Farm and surrounding inner city suburbs are quite expensive and exclusive areas and therefore the people using the space will be willing/be able to afford to use this space in the areas that are not for public use.
- Am working on the assumption that this is a respectable Brisbane area and the site will be generally well used and respected also.
- Utilising prime realestate - river side to be used in a calm way, emphasizing its beauty - emphasising the ability of a space to make you feel like you are far from the city despite being right within in it.
- Encouraging city go-ers to relax, to take some time to reflect and remember.

Why water?
I will use water as it literally cleanses the body but can affect the mind and cleanse it in a psychological sense.
Water is calming, I will utilise the sounds, like the ocean makes sounds that are calming, the heighten users awareness and activate their senses. Water will be used to create a connection with the river.

Metaphor Change!
After multiple discussions with Yvonne I realised I had become stuck on this idea of Japanese architecture and platforms and the understanding that horizontal planes were most relaxing and calming. Yvonne and I decided to explore verticality and the verticality of Bamboo. This led the the understanding that I could still use some horizontal platforms but they would possibly be embedded within vertical strands of bamboo, the placing of the platforms would imitate the inside of a bamboo stalk and the way it is broken up into pods - this is also consistent with plant cells. This then is how I will connect my structure to bio-mimicry and the use of bamboo and the positioning of platforms will create a lightweight structure. Because the structure will be lightweight the building will be much more environmentally friendly and it will be utilising a rapidly renewable resource.

I will continue to explore this metaphor further.

Why individual spaces or platforms?
- Individual spaces because these are private spaces - private spaces are quite and therefore ideal for relaxation.
-  Platforms can be used for group activities or the openness of a platform can allow people to find peace, quite, serenity and relax within the city environment.

Noise to be cancelled out as it is a ZEN space:
- The long bamboo strands that encapsulate the platforms / spaces / pods will also help to prevent noise - I will apply the idea of how trees being plated in rows help to reduce noise.
- Water will help to cancel out noise and will introduce a new noise that calms the senses.
- Stone may still be used in some areas to completely seal off sections from noise. These areas will be darker and will hold the pools and the shadows integral to this idea.

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Design Development




At this stage I am coming up with a conceptual massing model for presentation.
I have decided on building qualities, metaphor and concept and am looking at ways of exploring these.

1. Sticking with the idea of 'purification', 'cleansing', and 'elimination'.
2. Spritually - my building will be a place of meditation
3. physically - the building will use the metaphor of the lotus leaf
4. audio -  sound-wise - landscaping (trees) to prevent noise, falling water and pools to absorb noise and create a noise like the ocean, other road noises still exist but this new noise takes over and is a peaceful, natural sound.

The lotus leaf will be used on the stone - the lotus leaf is made up of many ridges and bumps, these prevent water from sticking so instead the water falls on the surface, forms a ball and rolls off the surface taking any dirt with it. This will be employed on the building as a way of self cleaning the dirty city grime from the stone walls and floor.

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Tutorial Feedback and Reflection

Tutorial Feedback and Reflection:

In the tutorial I discussed with Yvonne my concept, metaphor and function.

My spaces function - is to be a ZEN space, a space for meditation, relaxation, reading, peace, silence, serenity, a place that will utilise water probably through public and private pools and include open spaces, private spaces and spaces allocated specifically for some activities such as a yoga, while others are free spaces to be used in any way.

My concept -  I look at the parameters of light, shadows and views (these were part of the folie). I intend to use light and shadow in the same way/concept I used for the folie, that is, using light and shadow to activate the space, the human shadows and reflections from the water activate the form and the architecture, the shadows become a part of the form, they are amplified movements and they activate the "invisible people" and the memories of the site, as the shadows are ghostly, when we concentrate on them they are eery and remind us of floating souls, floating memories. Part of the shadows, light and water is to create a strong experiences and a heightened sense of awareness, its function is a reflective space, a peaceful space and this is also how we do our learning, through utilising basic design elements such as light and shadow we are able to create a very strong, rich sensory experience that helps us to learn about the site and the sites turbulent past in a way that is subtle, there is no text or projections involved you learn from your state of mind. It is to be a sanctuary away from the city, that is IN the city.

My metaphor - I want to look at views. Using platforms (maybe) I can capture views, using framing I can focus on particular views. I want to also challenge these views. Change the perception of views, for example we always view water horizontally in lakes, in rivers. I may use water vertically or as a ceiling. I am considering also as a metaphor using bio mimicry, look into how animals have alternate perceptions such as fly's and how they experience differently. Another possible avenue when investigating bio mimicry may be how animals are informed by their environment or because the site is a very noisy site, look into how nature absorbs noise.

These are all ideas I discussed with Yvonne, she is happy with my concept but wants me to find a suitable metaphor for bio mimicry to make it that bit stronger.  At this stage she does not seem incredibly concerned with floor plans, sections, ect. She wants me to focus on this metaphor but I will try to achieve both or at least come up with another design idea as I have been getting stuck on this idea of platforms.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Architectural Exemplars which may help to inform or inspire future design folie.

Architectural Exemplars:

Looking particularly at:
- ZEN architecture
- Japanese architecture
- Platform architecture
- Cantilevering architecture
- Stone architecture

In my upcoming project I wish to create a ZEN space, a pubic area incorporating natural elements which indulges peoples senses and encourages relaxing. It is a getaway from the city, in the city. It will use natural materials holistically and will use some of the principles and ideas showcased in the below designs. Such as, bringing the outside in through design, using light and water to create shadows and lighting effects, use platforms and cantilevers to help prevent the need for concrete slabs ect which intrude on the existing environment. I think the Japanese often have interesting ideas of space, I enjoy Toyo Ito's play of light in his church and the way one house brings the garden into the centre of the home. Such ideas will be played with and discussed with Yvonne in my upcoming tutorial.

Combs Point Residence -Archi Daily

Japanese Open House

Chile - Museum of Memory

Graham residence

Takeshi Hosake Architects - Cube Me - Inside Out House

Floating Platform Bed Topdesign.com

Platform Deck House - Singapore Architects

Peter Zumthor Thermal Baths, Vals Switz. 

Peter Zumthor Thermal Baths Vals, Switz

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Week 6-7 Assignment 2 Progress Update

Please read previous post in conjunction with these sketches, concepts and diagrams as I have elaborated in the text below.








Week 7 Progress Update

Week 7 Progress Update!
This week has been unusually different in that I had surgery yesterday to get my tonsils removed and have had zero sleep but ALOT of time to think about my design.

I have been discussing issues and ideas with Yvonne, sending multiple emails, her reponses have all been positive. She informed me that thus far I am on the correct track in that my investigations of parametres of light, shadow, view and possibly materials was good.
I gave her the exemplar/primary inspiration of Peter Zumthor and descrived how his design, made of stone and water uses elements also integral to our site and how he has created a building that is calm and pure which directly matches the program of the building which is a bath.

Obviously I cannot do a thermal bath due to our sub tropical climate but I do want to create a space that is wholy integrated with the site, the context, the materials, the demographic, the purpose, the form, the light all elements I want to be simple but powerful and work in harmony.

I established that the 500m2 is only the footprint, that is only the ground footprint and you can exceed this with multiple levels however it cannot exceed the cliff height any more than 3 metres, and the 3 metres is only to be used as an entry way.

I really want to look into materials of stone, old timber and glass. Firstly I will need to select a stone that is environmentally friendly.

I will post next diagrams and sketches of my preliminary design.
I use platforms  as open spaces, enclosed spaces, shaded spaces, and dark spaces.
I use platforms as a simply, tranquil way of enjoying a building on the site.
IMPERATIVE to this design is the idea of a ZEN space. The space will be one for relaxing,  staying, living and learning. The learning process will be informal.

I wish to fuse japanese influences with peter zumthors forms and toyo itos and kengo kumas way of manipulating light. Stone should also react well to flood damage, as seen by the cliff and its way of coping with the flooding.

The sketches show what I am talking about in regards to platforms. I wish the building to come into very close contact with the cliff but not to disturb it. I wish the building to hover above the ground so as to not disturb it either and I also want there to be access from the top of the cliff via elevator to ensure there is disabled access. I am considering putting in a ferry terminal to allow for extra access to the site, making it user friendly.

I am very happy that Yvonne understands so far where I am going with my concepts and my exemplars.
I want people to be able to occupy this space freely. It will be an adaptable space, user friendly, some areas will have distinct purposes others will have no particular function. I want there to be a yoga space, somewhere to relax, somewhere to escape, somewhere to reflect. Using light and shadows I want to carry on the folie idea of using light, shadow and experience to evoke sensations of the invisivble people and invisible events that occured and haunt the site.

This is a space that sits within the city, yet is completely separate from it. I must respect this and ensure that this building is a humble addition, it will take in views, use natural elements, it will gently rest on the site and hopefully will provide spaces that suit the local demographic. By local demogrpahic I mean that I have observed how people enjoy learning in shade in the botanical gardens, in the sun on the river and in shaded undercovered areas in the city. Residents in newfarm, the Valley and the City are also often trendy and wealthy. In New farm particularly they are very active, often people running, cycling, jogging with family, which is why this should be a space that incorporates some sort of physical activity.  Yoga and art classes may be held occassionally. The space may also have private spaces for relaxation and a place to eat/and or drink that encourgaes visitors to return.


Please see following post with images and notes as this explains the purpose of the drawings and how the concepts and ideas fit within then,

Monday 9 April 2012

Concept and ideas - folie to program

CONCEPT AND IDEAS

- use shadows (from folie) as a possible informal way of teaching
- use light and shadows (from folie) to remind people of invisible people and their invisible presence on the site
- parametres = shadows, light and macro vs micro?
- macro and micro comes into it as i investigate how the site is composed of different elements and particles and small organisms, i hope this informs my metaphor, my concept further and the form
- i will utilise views -- views which I identified you can ONLY see and experience from this site, you must be on this site, occupying the space where the folie sits to enjoy those views...within the views are again small elements like sand and mangroves which are not usually present in brisbane
- issues i idenfitied include -->  needs shade, needs amenities, needs public/communal space, needs a ferry stop, needs disabled access
- when looking at particles i hope to find a sustainable approach that links these ideas and also will look at rock, sand, stone, water, wood and other elements and use these to form connections between built environment and site.


LEARNING SPACE IDEAS

Learning space -- so far i have been wanting to explore the idea of a retreat or a place with a strong connection to the water and the cliff.
Peter Zumthors Thermal Baths, Vals , Switzerland is my major source of inspiration.....this includes stone and water, also largely present on our site and is not so much just a public swimming pool nor is it a private spa retreat it sits somewhere in the middle.
Can i do something like this?
Or must it be more public, like a library - you do not need to pay to use the space?
At this retreat or in a space like it I guess in the long run you would need to pay and therefore the idea of public space is diminished?
- i like the idea of a library/coffee shop
- a space with ALOT of water being used, a coffee shop, vege garden, open space
- gallery

- so far i am having trouble finding a sustinable solution that includes this idea of particles or small pieces which form a larger whole....any ideas?

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Exemplars for folie 2

Here I looked at some examples which I not only find interested but related in some way to the site or my starting concept. I hope to have much better suited exemplars later on but for now this is a start.


Monday 2 April 2012

Please note!! This image is part of my site analysis, it had to be compressed to be uploaded onto wiki and unfortunately it had to be uploaded at a tiny scale. Also another 2 A3's are to be uploaded as part of the site analysis but blogger will not allow this even when they are compressed as tiny web images as big as this one.
Sorry.

For Tutorial 6 - Unconventional Site Analysis




Reading 4 - Wicked Problems

Reading 4 - Wicked Problems by Tom Richey

Summary + Diagrams for key points on what a tame problem is, what a wicked problem is and how to solve wicked problems

Summary:  This reading addresses two natures of problems, one tame and one wicked.
What is clear is that a tame problem is an easy problem, one where a solution has already been found all you have to do is identify what needs to happen and apply the correct method. All effects to fix the problem can be tried and abandoned, the answer will either be yes or no, right or wrong and the problem means you have reached a stopping point.

Unfortunately wicked problems are more complex and are the issues we frequently encounter in design. There is no pre-formulated, no similar class of problems to a wicked problem which makes them a challenge to solve. They are not able to be called as right or wrong answers but as better or worse and every attempt you have at solving that problem is permanent. These unique problems is generally a symptom of another wicked problem which suggests that these problems do not have a stopping point.
These nature of the resolution of a wicked problem depends on the nature of the explanation because the planner or the problem solver is able to have multiple hypotheses that can be used or refuted leaving a number of explanations possible.

 What I leant:
From this understanding of two categories of problem I have learnt that before I quickly apply the first practical solution to a design wicked problem I should first take the time to analsyse it and come up with solutions that are most possible not most probable as this will only make my life more difficult when I then have to find out how to implement an improbable solution
I should discuss openly with others, taking on their opinions and criticisms. It is also important to identify ownership on the problem and represent the problem graphically. This should not be difficult as in design most things need to eventually become visual/ graphic images.
What may be easy to forget is that you cannot simply continue and continue to look for answers or tried and tested methods completed by other designers but come up with your own way of solving your problem created by your design. If your design is unique then you should not be able to find a problem that fits its category anyway.

BELOW ARE DIAGRAMS ON THE MAIN POINTS FOR QUICK REFERENCE. 




Week 5 - Tutorial for Project 2 Introduction

Week 5 Tutorial.

The tutorial was an introduction to theme groups, my theme group tutor is Yvonne and our theme is 'learning from nature'.

Our goal for this week and onto week 6 was to tackle the site problems, look at the issues, and do a site analysis. Following that (week 6-7) we would need to come up with a metaphor for the folie.

Our brief includes the following points:
- there is no specific learning process, we decide but whatever way we choose to get people to learn needs to be investigated, argued and portrayed effectively.
- Our site analysis should focus on environmental studies, social situation, politics or multiculturalism or something  like that.
- we need to read the site - take it as a friend and describe its physical characteristics, its personality.
- I want to look into textures and the politics and history of the time, possibly also the views and vistas, macro vs micro scale derived from the largeness of the cliff and the smallness of the folie.


During the yvonne talked about polar bears and zebra's and how these animals have particular bodily functions and natural mechanisms for allowing them to survive. We are expected in a way to adapt some of these natural characteristics from, anaiamls, plants or the environment and work them into our design.

I should still keep with the memories metaphor used in the folie.
I must decide on whether it is an informal or formal learning space.
I also need to look into how people learn throughout the city and what they use to learn.
Following that Yvonne wants a 30 sec statement on our folie and 2 folie precedents to show the group.

I am still a bit confused about the metaphor and about the site analysis.
I have done a site analysis looking at how people learning, height differences ect. I am not sure how to look into issues of multiculturalism or society.
Unless social/political issues of the site include the floods, the war, the deaths off the bridge and the contention over the use of the site in which case we addressed all of these things in our folie.

So far 5 key words to sum up my folie are
- memories
- lightness
- shadows/projection of shadows
- interactivity
- human movement