METAPHOR - derived from -- macro vs micro principles and Japanese architecture. Why  Japanese architecture? Because they are famously brilliant at designing simplistic spaces, using raw materials, employing natural elements in spiritual ways and creating beautiful zen spaces.

Bamboo/plant cells - inspired metaphor
Bamboo/plant cells are a large entity but when we look within we find tiny cells that make up the larger whole and give strength, stability and linearity.

Diagrams above show how the idea of a plant cell begins to be applied to the design. Long strands of bamboo are used to carry smaller pods, like within a plant cell or a peice of bamboo.

Black bamboo is selected as it is more elegant. It will meld in against the cliff face during the day, and sit gently on the site. During the night the darkness of the lengths of bamboo will contrast heavily against the lightness of the perspex pods. 

Platforms and pods also add rigidity, allow the bamboo lengths to extend very high. They act in a way like bracing.
Steel rods and bracing will obviously also be required to add structural stability.  

Light and Shadow -- bamboo lengths are approx 1m apart.
This allows people to weave through them, from afar people will see figures appearing and disappearing as they weave and hide in the bamboo.

The bamboo lengths will be very tall and well lit at the base, this will then cast great long shadows up the cliff and along the ground surface. This will extend the bulding beyond the 500m2 so that the physical building is not the only part interacting with the site but the actual interactive part of the form is also forming a relationship and extending to a wider context.

Pods will be roughly 2-3 metres.
Pods to fit 1-2 people.
Pods are moslty private spaces for reflective thinking, mediating, yoga, pilates and reading. The idea is to enter the space to get away from the city and to learn to appreciate moments, memories and larger issues.

JOURNEY!!
As you approach the structure you are away of a great verticality.
You look up and realise how large the structure is, you look beyond and realise how large the cliff is and realise then how small you are in comparison. This is the beginning. You realise there are larger elements at play, larger parts of a whole that go beyond your small person.

You enter the structure by following either boardwalks that sit ontop of the water that pools around the base of the building or you walk through the shallow water. You can feel the cool water slide between your toes, you connect with the site, with the river, with a cleansing natural element. Your senses are heightened. As you move towards one of the three sections you hear water. Water plumets from above and falls into the pool you are wading through. Background noise is washed away, you are calm.

The bamboo lengths cast elegant shadows. Your own shadow dances and weaves, disappearing and appearing through the lengths as you walk.

You enter a opaque lift and travel upwards, infront of you is falling water.
You travel against its direction challenging how you perceive water. Heightening your awareness of space and elements.

You enter a space. A platform or a pod. Or a pool built at the base of the building. Often by yourself although there are a few spaces that can be shared with others. The best results come from appreciating silence. You mediate, practice yoga or pilates. Read. Study. Relax. Snooze. You spend time along, quietly, you appreciate the view, the space. The perspex boxes are light, you feel like you are floating or weightless as you spend your time alone.

The site is encased in precious memories and traumatic tales. As you sit, you watch as cars drive, you see the bridge, the river water glisten, you see others relaxing, thinking, reflecting and you consider the site. You consider the memories, the issues of the site, larger than you, larger than your own.

The people and events will probably not have faces. These are the "invisible people". You take a moment. You take two moments to remember these people. You activate a memory. You activate knowledge and you learn on a deeper level. You wave to the memories, and you release.

You travel down the elevator, this time with the water, the natural way. Nothing is jarring. You exit, back through the shadows, through the light, through the water, feel it between your toes and you have experienced, even if only for a moment the memories, the site. You feel cleansed, elimination, awareness, purity. You feel an escape and a release from your city lifestyle and you feel ready. 

 

Pods are supported at corners by bamboo. Also by bracing.

Why is this sort of spiritual, relaxing, zen space suitable for the area?

DEMOGRAPHIC!!
This area is expensive and somewhat exclusive. Many of the houses on the river are worth millions. Many inner city apartments are also. Activities, fashions and food are of a higher calibre and are more expensive therefore people living in this area can afford to live here and buy and use these things.

A "posh" sort of demographic live around the site.
The site is likely to be kept clean (if we go by new farm, teneriffe and the city standards) and is out of the way of areas that are already taken over by teens or homeless people. Ie. Northbank - some city alleyways and the Valley nightclub area.

The people living in this area are part of a high socio-economic group. Meaning they are more likely to indulge in activities/spaces such as these. They may have the time and money to spend on their health and wellbeing and also have an appreciation for design. They may work very hard and need some time of peace and some time to relax and revive.