FINAL PROJECT THREE :: Design

This is the 'hero' shot from my final design proposal for the Library Park at the Howard Smith Wharves. My final proposal was somewhat different from the development I had come up with in week 13. Brett and I had discussed the exterior of my building and the importance of its form being simple in the sense that it was to act as somewhat of a "case", enclosing the pavilions and spaces within. 

Project 3 :: Initial Proposal

Design Development:

I brought this schema to class in week 13 and had been developing it over the previous couple of weeks through my discussions with Brett. This particular form - was developed through thinking about the interior space and their free forms (as can be seen in the two floor plans below) with the oval shaped floor planes breaking up the undulations and mounds within the floor that were inspired by the Bioscleave house as I've mentioned in a previous post.  

As can be seen (best in the section), I have kept my concept of the steel columns running vertically through the building acting as "stylised" mangrove roots. I've also incorporated a curved roof and floor - this reinforces my concept of the filtration system of the mangroves - acting to filter debris and water which forms and mushy, undulating floor. 

SECTION





FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

VIGNETTE OF BUILDING

Project Three :: Development - Schedule of Spaces

I have been thinking about the specific spaces I will have within the building.

After thinking more about how children learn and play I have come to the determination that the space should be divided into three separate areas. These will include and area for the 6 - 9 year olds (and their parents), an area for 10 - 14 year olds and an area for 15 - 18 year olds.

The 6 - 9 year old area will include:
- Climbing wall and ball pit - the mangrove play pond
- Fictional Books and Quiet reading space
- Colouring and Craft space
- Group play space
- Outdoor Play Ground


The 10 - 14 year old area will include:
- Computer area/ workspace (shared)
- Fictional reading material and quiet reading space
- Collaborative group study/ reading space - where book clubs, etc can be held
- Art & Painting & Sculpturing Studio (shared) where classes are held


The 15 - 18 year old area will include:
- Large, open study space - flexible but partially divided with capacity for group working spaces and individual study.
- Laptops and iPads available for borrowing while at the library.
- Group gaming space.
- Fictional Reading material & newspapers and reading space.
- Art & Painting & Sculptural Studio (shared) where classes are held and the space can be booked by students (17 & 18 years) to work on art and design projects.

- Coffee & Cake shop with cafe seating area
- Men's, women's and disabled bathroom facilities
- Lifts x 2, stairs x 2
Outdoor areas

Project 3 :: Development

Exemplar - Bioscleave House

Internal concrete floor drops and falls (i.e. undulates) "like the surface of a vast, bumpy chocolate chip cookie" (Fred A. Bernstain, 2008 - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/garden/03destiny.html?_r=1).
Bioscleave House translates to Lifespan Extending Villa - the owners have outlined that "the architecture makes people use their bodies in unexpected ways in order to maintain equilibrium and that will stimulate their immune system".

In a similar sense, I want to create a building that responds to and instigates a response by the human senses - particularly stimulating sight and touch. While I do not want to create anything dangerous - I consider the Bioscleave house perhaps slightly dangerous in the sense that children are banned from the space and adults; upon entry, must sign a wavier accepting legal responsibility for any injuries caused as a result of the uneven flooring - I do want to create something that is highly dynamic and interactive and provides a strong sense of place and intrigue. And, most importantly, as my design will be for a library park for children, I want the spaces to be fun and interactive.

PROJECT TWO :: Final Presentation

These are some of the key images from Project 2.

Reflection:
The feedback I recieved from Brett indicated that I perhaps need to move away from the rigid, square building form and move towards something more free flowing. He also suggested I think more about the internal spaces of the building and the arragement of these spaces. It was suggested that I design more dynamic spaces and spaces that are interactive and "playful". I was happy with my design for project 2 and think that it linked in with the mangrove concept quite effectively; however, I can definitely understand a more towards a less rigid and more dynamic interior.

Project Two :: Spatial Planning & Organisation

Project Two :: Folie to Library Park

Revision of concept:

After speaking to Brett I've realised that my concept does not really concentrate on anything specific. I've decided that focusing on the physical element of the mangrove root form will provide a strong enough theme to be explored for this project. Combining this exploration of the mangrove root form with the filtration of people through the folie space; just as water and debris filters through mangroves will be the basis of my design.

Mangrove Roots: Simplification

- The folie took on a similar form to this






This idea of filtration - taken from the function of the mangroves can also be strongly related to the concept of "filtration" within a building. The study space will be very open and warm with the use of a lot of natural light. The room will have glass curtain walls and the individual working spaces within will be orientated outwards in order to draw the focus outwards. This is where mangrove inspired screening comes into play - not only inspired by the physical form of the mangrove root, these timber screens will also filter the views looking out and will filter light into the interior spaces, informing the entire atmosphere of the spaces within.

Timber Screening: Design Evolution

From the exterior of the building these screens will reinforce the concept of the mangrove root. The building will also be raised in parts on stumps - both on the edge of the bank and out over the water - reinforcing the concept of the mangrove root coming out of the water up to the bank.


Mangrove Ecosystem on the Riverbank (left) - Inspiring building design over river (as seen on right):














Another mangrove inspired element will be the sculptural roots; as I've illustrated below. These circular columns are inspired by mangrove roots and also by the form of a number of structural columns exhibited in The Germany Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 as well as a number of other buildings including this apartment block located overlooking the Story Bridge and actually just up from the Howard Smith Wharves.

(Above) Germany Pavilion

Mangrove Inspired Apartment block (centre) can see out to Story Bridge and Kangaroo Point

 

These columns will be steel construction and will be structural and dominating within the spaces. They will be used on both the interior and exterior of the building and will be the main focus; tying all the elements of the building together a creating a uniformed theme around the mangrove roots.


The building's form came about by thinking fairly literally about the individual spaces that would be needed within. Initially I created a schedule of spaces, these included:
- Movie Room/ Multi-Purpose & Activity Space - roughly 60m2
- Children's Area - roughly 64m2
- Teenage Study and Research Space - roughly 112m2
- Quiet Reading and Study Nooks - roughly 12m2
- Private Meeting Rooms for Booking - 3x4m each room
- Computer Lab - roughly 66m2
- Gaming Computer Lab - roughly 36m2
- Staffroom - roughly 20m2 (for approx 4-5 main staff working in the building at one time - plus cafe, security and staff running activities)
- Coffee and Bake Bar - roughly 12m2
- Public Bathrooms - roughly 20m2 including disabled toilets

These spaces were planned and thought about in relation to one another and in relation to the views beyond as well as their functionality within.

In thinking about light entering a space we would generally imagine a room with four walls, a floor and a roof with windows and doors opening into it. My view for this building is to create a less traditional library (and space) in every sense of the word. I will stick with my idea about a virtual library - where there are limited "physical" resources and instead, the space is used more as an area to learn and study within - in this way the space and the architecture are the resources as I've mentioned previously. This will be informed by the open plan of the building and the segregation of the two different types of learning spaces; the study spaces and the activity spaces.