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. 

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.

PAVILION PROGRESS


So I have been working predominantly on the pavilions for the last few days. Below are some renders of what I have achieved so far. I was told by Cameron to keep going with this approach to the pavilions, and to really focus on two of them (in regards to detail), and to then spend a lot of energy on the actual site itself. 
Note; I have the different paving materials / colours turned off in these renders, so the hive paving can't actually be seen. 

Information / activity centre - OPH end

As above.

Learning and worship spaces; I plan to integrate the blank wall into the green space, hence why it is currently blank.

Amenities building. Seating, etc. to go in along blank wall.

Also playing around with the idea of integrating some climbing greenery onto the structural hive barriers, etc.

Cafe and gallery spaces

As above, front entry

Information / activity centre NPH end. I have probably gone furtherest with this pavilion; I have started on the internal walls for the office sector, and started to integrate some interesting ornamentation.

As above. 

Site from an angle above. 

PAVILION FLOOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT


Below are some sketches developing the floor plans of the pavilions. The internal layouts have been inspired by carrying through the outside hive pattern.

PAVILION REFLECTION AND PROGRESS

I finished my last piece of assessment for all of my other subjects yesterday afternoon, so now I only have design to work on - what a relief!


We're meeting up with Cameron this afternoon for our last catch up tutorial, so I haven't had much time to get a large amount of work done since last Friday. I have been working on it all morning, so I do feel like I've gotten somewhere in regards to the pavilions...


Cameron told me on Friday to just extrude them up, which I did. However, I then got a bit stuck with what to do with the elevations...
I had a bit of a play around, and was inspired by this building (which I posted a few weeks ago under inspirations)...

I was really inspired by the section of these "pods", as well as the materials used.

I had a bit of a play around, sketching a few different ideas.

From the sketch you can see I started playing around with what areas should be blocked out, and what areas could be possible windows in to the pavilion - as they are public spaces, I don't want them to be too closed off. I also started to play around with possibly extruding parts of the hive upwards for possible development of the roof.

So I decided to try and achieve this in SketchUp... the internal wall is a recent addition that may be changed...

 I built of these extruded sections, and made some light wells and roof openings to bring in some extra light.

I'm not too sure how I feel about this... I think I'll keep going with it, and see what Cameron says, in case he has any other suggestions.