UNIT SUMMARY
I've had a really good design experience this semester, I've managed to tailor my design towards architecture that incorporates the urban design realm; something I wish to follow through in the future in regards to my career direction. The strong concept of the hive we developed as a group in the first project has informed a great deal of my design in project two, so I have a lot to owe to that assignment! I'm excited to develop my design a bit more, and try to submit it to the CAPITheticAL competition.
Now on to graduation (provided that I pass...!)! Yay!
Showing posts with label Australian Parliament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australian Parliament. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
PRESENTATION FEEDBACK
I had my presentation at 10.20am today, and it went quite well! I was really impressed with what everyone else managed to pull together, it's really interesting seeing such different approaches to not only distribution and transprogramming, but other themes also.
A few points brought up by Cameron and Mirko:
- It would have been good to place the site in a larger context; my design responds well to the immediately surrounding areas, however it needs to be seen at a larger scale due to its locational prominence. I have no idea why it didn't occur to me to do this, it must have slipped my mind!
- Further investigation could be done into the surrounding sites, and how the edges of my design relate to these. I think this ties in with the above comment, if I was to take this project a lot further, I would incorporate some design changes to the green spaces either side of the site.
- The pavilion 3D form is quite block like and 'upright traditional'; could this be changed? I followed through with simple upright extrusions as the site design itself is quite complex, and I didn't want to go too crazy. I think the complexity in the pavilion facades works quite well. I do think I could look further into the roof design.
- Relating to the last comment, most pavilions respond to the concept, however I could have gone a bit further with going against the traditional layout of the amenities block. I agree with this comment, I think I designed the internal layout and walls etc. fine within the pavilions, but especially with the toilet block when it came to the actual installation of internal objects (such as toilets), I disregarded my initial concept. I definitely think I could go further with integrating this concept into more interior design aspects.
- The benches on some of the edges of the green spaces could have been integrated into the design more; as in, they could simply be raised "garden beds" or green spaces that act as seats. I think this is a really interesting idea! Using raised garden beds / green space as seating...
I've decided to follow through with a few of these comments...
(Click for larger images if needed)
I had my presentation at 10.20am today, and it went quite well! I was really impressed with what everyone else managed to pull together, it's really interesting seeing such different approaches to not only distribution and transprogramming, but other themes also.
A few points brought up by Cameron and Mirko:
- It would have been good to place the site in a larger context; my design responds well to the immediately surrounding areas, however it needs to be seen at a larger scale due to its locational prominence. I have no idea why it didn't occur to me to do this, it must have slipped my mind!
- Further investigation could be done into the surrounding sites, and how the edges of my design relate to these. I think this ties in with the above comment, if I was to take this project a lot further, I would incorporate some design changes to the green spaces either side of the site.
- The pavilion 3D form is quite block like and 'upright traditional'; could this be changed? I followed through with simple upright extrusions as the site design itself is quite complex, and I didn't want to go too crazy. I think the complexity in the pavilion facades works quite well. I do think I could look further into the roof design.
- Relating to the last comment, most pavilions respond to the concept, however I could have gone a bit further with going against the traditional layout of the amenities block. I agree with this comment, I think I designed the internal layout and walls etc. fine within the pavilions, but especially with the toilet block when it came to the actual installation of internal objects (such as toilets), I disregarded my initial concept. I definitely think I could go further with integrating this concept into more interior design aspects.
- The benches on some of the edges of the green spaces could have been integrated into the design more; as in, they could simply be raised "garden beds" or green spaces that act as seats. I think this is a really interesting idea! Using raised garden beds / green space as seating...
I've decided to follow through with a few of these comments...
(Click for larger images if needed)
Greater context of site location.
Slightly closer context location.
Amenities block experimentation.
Garden seat experimentation.
DESIGN SUMMARY
I thought I would do a brief summary of my entire project, to accompany what can be seen within the A1 panel, prezi presentation and model.
FEDERATION MALL
"a hive of activity"
The Federation Mall responds to the need for accountability and transparency within Parliament. The design provides a place for innovation, learning, collaboration and celebration; allowing a free flowing mutual understanding and education conversation between the general public and parliament. The design adds a new layer of activity to the site.
Inspired by the concept of the hive, the design also responds to the key issue within the current design of Federation Mall, the lack of access and activity through the site.
The pavilion spaces provide a variety of uses to facilitate the main ideas of innovation, learning and collaboration, bringing a new realm of culture, diversity, arts, music and mainly LIFE into the site. The pavilions provide open plan and mainly flexible arrangements inside, to allow for different uses in the future. The hive facade techniques and roof openings allow the presence of the surrounding Parliament House(s) to be felt; especially the view of the flag through the pavilions roofs. The information centre pavilions (one positioned at either end for easy access for those entering/leaving the site) provide the backbone for the concept, with activity hubs located within. These activity hubs provide a digital interface that allows for learning facilities (ie. current parliamentary debates, issues, proposals), as well as surveys and public feedback.
The celebration space links the pavilions, and provides a truly useable, public space. It facilities performances, protests, gathering, relaxing, public events and celebration. A raised stage area allows for public performances, and layers in the landscape relate to "the flag, the hill, the wall" identity and presence concept. The celebration space allows for movement THROUGH (rather than around) the site, framing the parliamentary flag.
The mobile activity hubs use the existing rail infrastructure network, disassembled as "flat pack's" in containers. These are then assembled on site (they can travel using trucks, etc. also) with digital interfaces installed (iPad's) that allow for similar activities as noted within the activity hubs in the pavilions). These connect wirelessly to the "queen bee" of Federation Mall, and allow for Australia wide interaction. This allows for parliamentary presence across Australia, with the design linking with the design of the proposed Federation Mall.
I thought I would do a brief summary of my entire project, to accompany what can be seen within the A1 panel, prezi presentation and model.
FEDERATION MALL
"a hive of activity"
The Federation Mall responds to the need for accountability and transparency within Parliament. The design provides a place for innovation, learning, collaboration and celebration; allowing a free flowing mutual understanding and education conversation between the general public and parliament. The design adds a new layer of activity to the site.
Inspired by the concept of the hive, the design also responds to the key issue within the current design of Federation Mall, the lack of access and activity through the site.
The pavilion spaces provide a variety of uses to facilitate the main ideas of innovation, learning and collaboration, bringing a new realm of culture, diversity, arts, music and mainly LIFE into the site. The pavilions provide open plan and mainly flexible arrangements inside, to allow for different uses in the future. The hive facade techniques and roof openings allow the presence of the surrounding Parliament House(s) to be felt; especially the view of the flag through the pavilions roofs. The information centre pavilions (one positioned at either end for easy access for those entering/leaving the site) provide the backbone for the concept, with activity hubs located within. These activity hubs provide a digital interface that allows for learning facilities (ie. current parliamentary debates, issues, proposals), as well as surveys and public feedback.
The celebration space links the pavilions, and provides a truly useable, public space. It facilities performances, protests, gathering, relaxing, public events and celebration. A raised stage area allows for public performances, and layers in the landscape relate to "the flag, the hill, the wall" identity and presence concept. The celebration space allows for movement THROUGH (rather than around) the site, framing the parliamentary flag.
The mobile activity hubs use the existing rail infrastructure network, disassembled as "flat pack's" in containers. These are then assembled on site (they can travel using trucks, etc. also) with digital interfaces installed (iPad's) that allow for similar activities as noted within the activity hubs in the pavilions). These connect wirelessly to the "queen bee" of Federation Mall, and allow for Australia wide interaction. This allows for parliamentary presence across Australia, with the design linking with the design of the proposed Federation Mall.
FINAL PRESENTATION SUBMISSION
Below is the A1 Summary Panel, my presentation and physical model all used within my final presentation.
A1 SUMMARY PANEL
PREZI PRESENTATION
http://prezi.com/cc2-b0n4bhlx/dab810-project-2/
MODEL PHOTOS
Below is the A1 Summary Panel, my presentation and physical model all used within my final presentation.
A1 SUMMARY PANEL
PREZI PRESENTATION
http://prezi.com/cc2-b0n4bhlx/dab810-project-2/
MODEL PHOTOS
Saturday, 5 November 2011
INTERNAL ACTIVITY HUB PROGRESS
I've (roughly) designed the activity hubs for use within Federation Mall (these differ to the ones that will be dispersed across Australia). However, the design concept is quite similar to allow for linkages.
The purpose of these activity hubs is to learn, communicate and collaborate with the government through virtual means.
I've (roughly) designed the activity hubs for use within Federation Mall (these differ to the ones that will be dispersed across Australia). However, the design concept is quite similar to allow for linkages.
The purpose of these activity hubs is to learn, communicate and collaborate with the government through virtual means.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA QUESTIONS
As requested by Cameron, below are my answers for the questions listed on the Assessment Criteria. These answers may change, but I think they are a good summary for where I am at / what my design aims to achieve.
As requested by Cameron, below are my answers for the questions listed on the Assessment Criteria. These answers may change, but I think they are a good summary for where I am at / what my design aims to achieve.
Infrastructure
1.
Strategy (12.5%): Has the infrastructural strategy been developed and
communicated well in the blog and final presentation/submission?
Description:
What is your strategy for utilising an existing or newly proposed
infrastructure? How does it influence the way you design an architectural
entity and how it improves the way politicians, governmental institutions and
others offer and people access parliamentary and/or governmental services?
Answer: The design offers a place to learn, interact, communicate and celebrate. With the parliament, and with the connected nodes across Australia. The train lines (as discussed in Project 1) will be used to transport mobile "nodes" (that relate to the design of Federation Mall) to areas of significance across Australia. These will interact with the permanent design at Federation Mall, and will be used to gather information from those across Australia.
2.
Logistics (12.5%): Has the logistics been considered and well
incorporated in the design? Has the development been well documented and
communicated well in the blog and final presentation / submission?
Description:
Your design is required to respond to changing needs. Whether it is an
instantaneous, temporary or long-term change, it is needed to be a part of your
design consideration. How is your architectural entity designed to change,
move, shift, transform, adapt, interact, etc.? Where do components and/or
information stored? Where are they generated or manufactured and delivered?
Answer: The pavilion spaces will provide flexible designs to allow a variety of uses depending on the current needs. The use of digital technology devices allows for a change in use / program. However, as I feel the parliament will always be in need of a public forum and discussion, I don't see the space falling into disuse. The mobile nodes will display simple/ small almost "flatpack" designs that can easily be moved and assembled. Interaction in these nodes will be achieved through positioning in popular public areas (such as Federation Square, Melbourne; King George Square, Brisbane) and wireless device connections to the main "hub" at Federation Mall.
Tectonic Resolution
1.
Purpose and Function (12.5%): Has the purpose and function
of the architectural entity be chosen in response to (latent) needs? Is the
design response appropriate? Has the development been well documented and
communicated well in the blog and final presentation / submission?
Description:
It is imperative that your design effectively provides parliamentary and/or
governmental services in response to needs. You are to creatively investigate
the (latent) needs, and it is essential that your proposed architectural entity
provide solutions or opportunities for people to resolve issues.
Answer: The entity responds to the need of parliaments needing to achieve greater accessibility and transparency; the need for the Government to act in a hive mentality - with the people. The design provides a place for the public to learn, innovate and celebrate - a mutual learning scheme between the Government and the public.
2.
Circulation and Access (12.5%): Has the use of architectural
entity been studied and the circulation within and/or access to it been
studied? Is it evident in the design? Has the development been well documented
and communicated well in the blog and final presentation / submission?
Description:
No matter what you design, it will fail if people are not given appropriate
access to, within and/or between your proposed spaces. It is very important that
you provide enough evidence in your development stages and final outcome that
your architectural entity has good circulation and access.
Answer: The re-design of Federation Mall responds to the current lack of circulation and mobility through the site. A new circulation path will be proposed, which will in turn extend the use and accessibility of the site.
3.
Structural and/or Operational Integrity (12.5%): Has the structural
and/or operational integrity been studied and made evident in design? Has the
development been well documented and communicated well in the blog and final
presentation / submission?
Description: How believable is your
proposition? It is very important that the proposal demonstrates your design
decisions are informed by clear understanding of physical and practical
limitations. You are required to demonstrate structural integrity of your
design proposal, and/or in some cases, operational integrity to show how the
distributed or virtual artefacts work as an architectural entity.
Answer: The Federation Mall design in itself will be quite structurally stable and permanent - it will be seen as quite a grounded design, integrated into the landscape. I aim to produce assembly documentation for the mobile nodes, showing how they work and fit together when in the areas of significance across Australia.
Poetic Resolution
1.
Presence and Identity (12.5%): Has the impact of the
proposed entity's presence been considered and its identity been chosen with
strong understanding of what it needs to represent and signify?
Description:
It is vital that the presence of your proposed entity is appropriate for the
context and signifies the services it offers. It therefore is very important to
give specific consideration to how people identify and recognise your proposed
architectural entity as a whole and/or a part.
Answer: The Federation Mall design will be associated with Parliament due to its locations; the design will signify a place to interact with Parliament - a public meeting space between the two major parliamentary buildings. I am using the hive concept developed in Project 1 to create a certain aesthetic and understanding of the interconnectedness. The Nodes across Australia will be designed similar to the permanent pavilion designs located at Federation Mall, providing a visual link and understanding of their purpose - the link they have with the Government and Parliament.
2.
User Experience (12.5%): Has the experience of users been considered and
effectively presented from the perspectives of users?
Description: It is
imperative that you made your design decisions based on the requirements of
people who will experience and use (a part of) the proposed entity. You need to
demonstrate not only generic appearances of spaces with people, but also
construct scenarios to orchestrate how specific people in specific need
experiences and utilise services offered by the proposed entity or parts.
Answer: The space will be used for learning, innovation, resources, communication and celebration. The pavilions and spaces in between will be designed to facilitate these experiences and uses. Ie. the public space will provide appropriate designs for gathering, relaxing, protesting, celebrating... whilst the innovation spaces will provide flexible workshop spaces, or gallery style spaces.
3.
Aesthetic Rigor (12.5%): Has the effort been made to pay attention to
detail in your communication?
Description: This criterion is to reward
your attitude towards preparing successful architectural communication. As
architects, you will spend majority of time communicating ideas to your peers,
bosses, clients, engineers, contractors and/or other stakeholders. What and how
you prepare and present directly influence how others evaluate the credibility
of your claim. Your commitment towards visual communication during development
stages (through blog entries), final presentation and in your final submission
is to be assessed.
Answer: I have already begun to create my 3D model, so I will be using renders, etc. from this to convey my ideas. I may possibly create a 3d animation of the site design, depending on time constraints. I definitely want to try and make a physical model of my design. I want the presentation to show the Federation Mall design, as well as the node design - how they travel, are assembled and them in use in other cities. I'm not entirely sure at the moment how I am going t physically present - either panels, or a powerpoint type presentation - probably the latter due to panel printing costs.
Summary: I feel that the concept behind my idea is there, and I have a clear idea of what I want the space to achieve, it's now just the actual design part I need to start working on. I want the focus of my design to be the Federation Mall design, with the nodes as an 'added extra' - conveying how the Mall can link to the rest of Australia. These nodes will be inspired from the mall design; the pavilions in the mall design will be permanent and not mobile. I'm not sure how keen you were on this node design aspect last week; but I feel with the theme of Distributed, and the way our Project 1 developed, this connection to other parts of Australia like a hive is quite crucial. It also strengthens the aspects of Structural/Operational Integrity and Presence and Identity.
Please leave comments with feedback! :)
Saturday, 8 October 2011
WHAT SHOULD THE SPACE BE?
Something Yasu discussed in one of the lectures a week or so ago was "WHAT DOES OUR ARCHITECTURAL ENTITY NEED TO DO?". He managed to summarise this question quite well.
All in all, our architectural entity needs to ASSIST PEOPLE.
Assist people to...
- DEBATE political / cultural / social issues
- MAKE political / cultural / social issues
- Take ACTION
It is do this though FLEXIBLE, MOBILE, DISTRIBUTED AND VIRTUAL MEANS in a way that understands that the architecture CONSTITUTES Australia Capital.
Looking back at our last assignment, I still think I want to run with the concept of a place for 'LEARNING, RESOURCES, INNOVATION, COLLABORATION AND CELEBRATION'.
I think the linking factor between these ideas IS the idea of celebration. I feel that Federation Mall already IS a celebration space, it just isn't living up to its potential. I also think it is important to ensure the place is seen as an area that constitutes LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE. These two concepts go hand in hand with politics, and it is important that the space has an intuitive identity.
Something Yasu discussed in one of the lectures a week or so ago was "WHAT DOES OUR ARCHITECTURAL ENTITY NEED TO DO?". He managed to summarise this question quite well.
All in all, our architectural entity needs to ASSIST PEOPLE.
Assist people to...
- DEBATE political / cultural / social issues
- MAKE political / cultural / social issues
- Take ACTION
It is do this though FLEXIBLE, MOBILE, DISTRIBUTED AND VIRTUAL MEANS in a way that understands that the architecture CONSTITUTES Australia Capital.
Looking back at our last assignment, I still think I want to run with the concept of a place for 'LEARNING, RESOURCES, INNOVATION, COLLABORATION AND CELEBRATION'.
I think the linking factor between these ideas IS the idea of celebration. I feel that Federation Mall already IS a celebration space, it just isn't living up to its potential. I also think it is important to ensure the place is seen as an area that constitutes LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE. These two concepts go hand in hand with politics, and it is important that the space has an intuitive identity.
SURROUNDING SITE USES
As the Mall is located in the Parliamentary Triangle, there are a variety of uses in the vicinity that provide various services / attributes that should not be compromised through my design.
This includes;
- Reconciliation Place; an area that respects the indigenous heritage of Australia
- National Library of Australia
- High Court of Australia
- Parliamentary Museum
- National Archives
- Educational Facilities
- Exhibition Centre
- National Museum of Australia
Although there are technically many 'public' spaces and buildings, a lot of these buildings do not come across as entirely accessible to the public. I feel that this is an issue Parliament needs to work on, and this could be solved through my design.
As the Mall is located in the Parliamentary Triangle, there are a variety of uses in the vicinity that provide various services / attributes that should not be compromised through my design.
This includes;
- Reconciliation Place; an area that respects the indigenous heritage of Australia
- National Library of Australia
- High Court of Australia
- Parliamentary Museum
- National Archives
- Educational Facilities
- Exhibition Centre
- National Museum of Australia
Although there are technically many 'public' spaces and buildings, a lot of these buildings do not come across as entirely accessible to the public. I feel that this is an issue Parliament needs to work on, and this could be solved through my design.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
PRESENTATION DEVELOPMENT
MANIFESTO OUTCOME
We were having a lot of trouble deciding how to show what our architecture was, so taking inspiration from the semi-lattice framework, we have showed our architectural concept through diagram.
The structure displays elements, sets and layers that overlap to create the brief for our 21st century parliament architecture. This will obviously be redone for the final presentation. Click image for larger size if you have trouble reading the elements.
MANIFESTO OUTCOME
We were having a lot of trouble deciding how to show what our architecture was, so taking inspiration from the semi-lattice framework, we have showed our architectural concept through diagram.
The structure displays elements, sets and layers that overlap to create the brief for our 21st century parliament architecture. This will obviously be redone for the final presentation. Click image for larger size if you have trouble reading the elements.
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