WEEK 12 - SCRIPT

'A NEW LIVE/WORK ALTERNATIVE - GIVING TIME BACK TO THE PEOPLE'

WEEK 12 - SCRIPT

Due to the current financial situation, strain has been placed on many suburban areas in relation to employment. The CBD currently has the lowest risk of job loss than any other area, which is why thousands of vehicles travel to and from the city each business working day. Commuting is a necessity as housing prices are to expensive in close proximity to the CBD, which includes a lack of affordable and variable apartments to reside in within the CBD itself.
This problem is creating extreme issues of traffic congestion in which millions of dollars are being poured into infrastructure to help with the expected population growth by 2051.
The question is- what would be the result if working from home was an option, and how could this be done?

The diagram above portrays the distances people are commuting from each day. A closer look into the reasons why people must commute have lead me to the solution for assignment two. Technology has not yet advanced to a point in which technology is a more reliable, expectable and efficient solution to to conducting business than the traditional means; however this technology is only years away and it will completely change the way in which we work and live our lives. Commuting will no longer be a necessity as you will be just as well connected from any other possible place as you would your traditional office. With the introduction of interactive glass screens what can be implemented on any type of surface, will bring new meanings to the way in which we communicating and share information and ideas. 

The result - is a decentralised community. Therefore my assignment proposal will incorporate community within the CBD in which live, work and play is one in the architecture. 

WEEK 11 - 3D REPRESENTATION PROGRESS

This depicts a 3D representation of the progress made for the project. The diagram above shows how the building has been split between public and private sectors as a sustainability strategy. The angular form promotes light to filter to lower levels of the development, as well as framing views of the surrounding context the form draws attention to the architecture as it is a juxtaposition between its linear surroundings. Mass formation demonstrates the sites thresholds, whilst the courtyard promotes greater accessability to the site through the use of two laneways off George street and defines the separation between the public sector and residential sector.
The public sector consists of three levels, with the roof space being considered for rooftop garden space that will be linked with the Myer center to split maintance costs or maintaining the space whilst ensuring a constant use by the public. The rooftop garden has clear views of the Brisbane river which is an asset to the site.

WEEK 11 - PROGRAMMING A COMBINATION OF WORK AND LIVING

Based on research in the previous weeks (outlined in my blog), I have continued expanding my origional concepts outlined in the massing experimentation.
In conjuction with most recent research about how to best distribute functions of work, play, living within a singular apartment dwelling, I have begun to distribute space for apartments across multiple levels, based on this idea of vertical separation of functions.
Therefore within the design, no one apartment is identical to another.

Apartments vary from:

•  1, 2 and 3 bedroom
• Most with additional work spaces
• Loft apartment styles
• Open plan styles
• All with private outdoor greenspaces

FOURTH LEVEL FLOOR PLAN IN CONTEXT

The accommodation sector provides a gym, pool and function area, as well as individual study pods and public work lounge area that opens up onto the central courtyard that acts a a aesthetic separation between residential and commercial functions.



The work stations will be of a vibrant interior design scheme, equipt with interactive glass screens installed in all walls and desk surfaces to allow for sharing of information on large and small scales.
This technology will allow people to be connected to one another anywhere any time, as data is transferable between any device in which this glass is installed. For example - desk surfaces, walls, phones, fridge panels, mirros, glass doors, kitchen benchtops, car windows etc.
Technology determins the future, as it directly affects the way in which we live our lives. In this instance it will affect our lives based on time. Time will be given back the the people as such, for we will not longer need to be within a specific space to communicate with a specific person at a specific time or with a certain device.
It makes sense that with the advancement of 'smart' technology comes 'smart' living.

My design encaptulates this idea of 'smart' living, a design that allows us to live how we chose.
It allows us to experience the now, instead of working for the later.
I allows us to be smart, to create, to be heard, to deliver all within our own time and space.

WEEK 10 - FUNCTIONALITY

 



 

Raw brick, steel and concrete are the dominant materials used within the loft design.

Voids are used within the centre of the design enhancing the perception of scale, whilst effectively dividing functions both vertically and horizontally. This allows spaces of high use for example study areas and dining areas to aborb the most natural sunlight and views. This loft example is a vital representation of how 'live,work,play' has been distributed throughout a singular dwelling. Desipite research generated from assignment one, stating that 'home' is a prefereable place to conduct work (among a series of other environments) in order for these two functions of work and living to be combined, they altimately need to be separated within the home.

 

 

This house in Fukawa, origionally sourced by Jacqueline Fick - is a similar method of vertically separating house hold functions yet enhancing the perception of scale with the use of voids.

The effect of chipboard against pure white walls creates a very earthy atmosphere that is not only a sustainable practice by cost effective.

 

The Fukawa design, loft design and the residential example by BIG architects, are all examples of a growing 'open building concept' in which commonly a column beam frame system is used that has a load bearing function, in which a hallow core floor slab is then assembled on top of these beams. This results in the non load bearing walls within the interior to be stand alone components that can be easily and affordable to change to the users desire.

 

Parts that are associated to infill are excpected to change once every 20 years. Infill typically comprises all components specific to the dwelling unit. Technical production is therefore designed and installed for optimal freedom of independent layout, construction and eventually replacement. Common systems shared by all occupants are left undisturbed. Although this system is extremely sustainable and open to adaptation, it would need to be altered slightly considering the angular formation of my building for assignment 2, which was necessary for natural sunlight to filter throughout the site and to allow for personal outdoor green spaces for residents.  

 

The use of loft apartment designs will mean that there will be a greater variation in apartment design throughout the development, resulting in ultimately catering for a wider range of peoples needs now and in the future.

 

WEEK 10 - STORYBOARD AND PROGRAM

Above is a basis guide to the presentation of assignment 2.

WEEK 10 - URBAN LIVING COMMUNITIES

BedZed - Green Urban Living Community.

Bill Dunster is an English architect who works on urban developments integrating all the concepts of sustainable development. 

The clip below explains these integrated concepts. 

In this scheme, the Dunster's architecture firm also called the "Zed factory" has taken the principles of an NGO called "Bioregional" which combines local resources including materials and jobs, maximizing the link between urban and rural areas and minimizing motorised transport. 
The project focused on 3-storey buildings, with work spaces located in the South and gardens on the roofs, which enables all apartments to have an area of greenery outside.

Similar to my own future vision in which live, work, play is a combined entity within an architecture as a result of decentralisation occurring; it is evident that these three functions must be physically separated within the spacial planning for successful functionality. 

WEEK 10 - ENHANCING QUALITY OF SPACE

"I'm lost in Paris" by R&Sie(n) architects, constructed in 2008, completed the design of a private laboratory, which was built with twelve hundred hydroponic ferns and three hundred glass blown pods.  Assembled on a flexible structure away from the facade, the fern/pod system is designed so that each of these plants collects rainwater through a drip system. The glass blown pods also reflect natural light into the interior spaces of the building. 

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral solutions. It does not require soil.

This is a sustainable solution for not only collecting water but also natural light generation. If a similar method was implemented within the courtyard design for my project two, it would not only create a more aesthetic natural atmosphere amongst a contrasting built environment, but would generate a better quality of life as people are more positively stimulated within naturally lit spaces.

WEEK 9 - MASS MODELLING EXPERIMENTATION

 

Spacial ground floor planning.

 

Accommodation Level One.

 



 

Accommodation Level Two.

 

Accommodation level 3

 

3 dimensional view from internal courtyard



WEEK 9 - SPACIAL STUDIES

This project is designed by BIG architects (www.big.dk) for the redevelopment of Sonderboug Harbour. The design interests me, despite its form being rather simplistic, because by having each level rotated by 45 degrees offers greater light penetration to the lower levels, as well as allows for greater square meterage for vertical outdoor space. This rotational concept is by no means original, and has been done recently in a vertical sky garden tower constructed in mexico, made up of luxurious residential dwellings formed using this 45 degree rotation method.

 

 

 

 

One of the major thresholds for my own project is the factor of light penetration to lower levels of the development due to the Myer centre and residential high-rise located on either side of the site, which out-do the respectful height allocation of my development due to its functional purpose. 

Form experimentation with mass modelling will indicate if this method is a suitable solution for creating a greater light filter throughout the site. Further keeping with initial ideas of physically separating the public sector to the residential sector will allow for use of voids which will further promote light penetration. 

The images above are by Puntos de Información Turística de Bogotá / Juan Melo & Camilo Delgadillo.  Based on my personal set criteria, this open study space given insights as to the types of study spaces that will be developed in areas throughout project 2. Although a more comfortable setting will be proposed in the majority of study areas, this example illustrates the types of 'raw' materials I would like to introduce, that will ensure a more sustainable outcome as they are locally sourced.