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. 

Project Two :: Development

Initial Brainstorming:

What do I want to create?
- Essentially a centre for youth that is safe but enjoyable. Providing a range of spaces to cater for a range of different ages participating in a range of different activities - I want to make the library flexible. I don't want to include rows upon rows of shelving and storage for material resources but instead want my library to be more of a virtual learning and study centre - where the architecture, the views and the space created within are the resources. While the library will be fully enclosed, my aim will be to draw the outside in; a fundamental element to the building's design, appearance and function.

Concept:
- Just as the site acts balancing/ and as the culmination point  of built form and the natural environment this building acts to combine these two elements. It is proposed that screening will provide this balance with the screening taking on the form of abstracted mangrove roots.

Week Five & Six :: Project Two

Learning Centre Exemplar Analysis 

Surry Hills Community Centre [

- Environmental Atrium filtering cleaning of air as it comes down through the building

- Air brought in from top of building (cleanest), funnelled down a series of glass shafts, washes over a series of filters – including using plant material to organically filter the air).  Then passed around the excavation of the building known as the thermal labyrinth – this naturally cools the air before it goes back into atrium space – back filter through and into the building.

–      Power generated on site

–      Automated devices (including louvers automatically responsive to the sun)

–      Services – two floor library (ground and lower level), Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre and Function Hall (level one – provides advocacy and information to the local community, also run markets, classes, etc) 26 place child care centre (level 2)

–      Free Wi-Fi

Source: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/development/cityimprovements/completedprojects/surryhillslibrarycommunitycentre.asp

Source: http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=201003&article=8&typeon=2

Source: http://www.shnc.org/LongDayCare.php

Reflection:

The main thing that appeals to me about this learning centre is the childcare facility on the top floor. I particularly like the open room (featured in these two photos) where the focus is on play and the opportunities for “fun” appears unlimited thanks to the openness of the space. I like the idea of incorporating something like a sandpit (as in the Surry Hills child care facility), garden or small waterpark-type area into my learning centre; focusing on natural resources to teach the importance of the natural environment and our natural ecosystems such as the mangrove ecosystems. 

Week Five & Six :: Project Two

Learning Centre Exemplar Analysis 

Rolex Learning Centre; Lausanne Switzerland [by Tokyo based Architects SANAA]

-       The aim was to provide (for the university campus) “a place to learn, to obtain information, and to live”.

-       The building has been designed to be open and free flowing.

-       “Round courtyards provide light and focus the continuous space”.

-       One of the main concepts behind the design involves relating the building back to the natural landscape (mountainous). The building has an undulating form; even sections of the floor are domed; representative of the rolling landscape beyond.

-       Building spans a large area but is low to the group – so not to block the views beyond – rather to echo them

-       One main entrance to the building provides a clear entrance axis.

-       Spaces within are defined by contours of the floor, circular light wells and patios.

-       Different views from within the building allow visitors to connect to the space and orientate themselves.

-       “The proposed program [of spaces] offers a new living space, opens up the possibility of new teaching approaches, everything being integrated into one single building as place of assembly and breeding ground for enriching encounters and synergies”.  

Source: http://www.archicentral.com/rolex-learning-center-lausanne-switzerland-sanaa-3752/comment-page-1/

Source: http://www.futurehousedesign.com/rolex-learning-center-by-kazuyo-sejima-and-ryue-nishizawa/rolex-learning-center-by-kazuyo-sejima-and-ryue-nishizawa_6

-       Open 7am – 12am

-       Intended as a place not just for university students but for members of the public to explore.

-       Architects thought of the building more as a “park”.

-       Organic movement through the building.

-        Creating set paths (straight lines) we can only create crossroads – curves and more organic space we create diversity with interaction – create “dynamic interaction”

Source: http://www.dailycharrette.com/epfl-rolex-learning-center-sanaa/

Reflection:

      This library, I feel can only work on a large scale because its overall form is based on large spanned domes and the availability of a large area of land. The form is fairly complex and inside it appears to be a bit of a maze with only the view of outside allowing one to orientate themselves inside. Many people have blogged about this library and some have the opinion that much of the interior space is wasted with steeply sloping and arched floors that cannot be used for study areas or storage areas for books and resources. I do see their point and can acknowledge that there would not be a place for a building with this form like this one in every city. However, the architects explained that this building was built to function more as a “park” for the entire community, rather than just a study space for the University’s students. I see that the architects responded to their site probably in a similar way to how we responded when designing our folies at the Howard Smith Wharves. By this I mean that they have interpreted the site as having one key element and from there, formed a concept and developed a very literal design based on this. In their case this concept was the rolling hills and it is clear that they have succeeded in responding to the site and making the most of the views to the bay. I plan to respond and go about the design process in a similar way to design my library. 

Week Five & Six :: Project Two

Learning Centre Exemplar Analysis 

Kindergarten Terenten [Feld72]

-  Located in a Mountain Village in South Tyrol, Italy

-  South Tyrol is a border region; an area defined by the overlapping of three cultures; this is expressed through the architecture.

-  Mountainous region – the building was designed to fit within its environment

-  Building emerges from the site – from one side it appears to be a clear building, on the other it looks as though it is part of the landscape.

-  The scale of the building is relative to the surrounding village development and considers the perspective of the users; children.

-  The design concept of this building “is intended to give meaning and identity to this defined space – something special amid an everyday environment without generating jarringly harsh contrasts”.

-  Three different buildings “houses” are on the site – connected by glazed walkways. These buildings are different shapes and designed with the children in mind – the different shapes help the children to get their bearings and “understand the spatial and social organisation”.

-  Aimed at creating “differentiated spatial structures, rooms that provide as much potential as possible to simulate children’s independent activities, orientation, communication, social interaction and aesthetic receptiveness. Rooms that can be flexibly used as stages for children’s activities, but also as quiet retreats”.

-  Windows placed around the day care centre draw different views of the mountains into the building.

-  From each classroom children can access the garden.

Source: http://www.archdaily.com/93632/kindergarten-terenten-feld72/

Source: http://www.dezeen.com/2011/06/06/kindergarten-terenten-by-feld72/

-       Building links nature and architecture

-       Part of a new kind of learning revolution that will inspire and encourage “imaginative minds”. 

Source: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/feld72-kindergarten-terenten

Source: http://au.totaltravel.yahoo.com/listing/875422/australia/qld/townsvillearea/townsville/

Reflection:

I do enjoy the overall aesthetic of this childcare facility; however, it was actually the picture of children in the small room, with green foam pieces (seen above on the right) that attracted me to this building. I find the use of humble spaces like this one really intriguing and imagine they’d be really inviting for children; similar to spaces in those maze mania type places (as shown in the photo directly above). I like the fact that the main elements to this building include natural light and open space and the fact that the building has quite clearly been designed in response to the surrounds; not to blend in but to work in cohesion with the surrounding architecture and with the mountain it is located on.  

Week Five & Six :: Project 2

Learning Centre Exemplar Analysis

Caboolture Hub [Peddle Thorp Architects]

-       Hub is to be a community meeting place with a library, art gallery, learning and business centre, café, retail outlet and creative studios all within the precinct.

-       Activities and features of the library include family and local history area – genealogy and local heritage resources, an area dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture known as the Welcoming Place, study spaces with in corners and pockets of the library’s main resource and collection area, meeting rooms, and a computer classroom that can be hired out, a teen zone with online gaming facilities, reading collections and “chill-out” space and a children’s area with educational toys and resources as well as an interactive tree – “which brings the outside into the library”.

Source: http://library.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/OPAC/MBRCBRCLHUB

- The hub was born out of the need to develop a “life long learning” facility for the Caboolture area that uses space efficiently and effectively. The hub was developed on the site of the town square with the idea that it would be prominent and accessible to the community. 

Source: http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/subsite.aspx?id=50763

- The building has been designed -     so that it meets a number of different needs to facilitate the entire community – from young children to retirees.

    -  The spaces are designed to be flexible and somewhat ambiguous in their uses, with the building being      largely open plan and easy to move through. 

Source: http://www.cubitt.com.au/Projects/Government/TheHubCaboolture.aspx

 - Building was to  “promote life-long learning and play an important role in the cultural fabric of this region”.

-       A number of free events and workshops are also offered through the library – for everyone from babies through the seniors.

Source: http://www.weekendnotes.com/caboolture-hub/

- A number of energy efficient features incorporated within the building including the use of a lot of natural light, water recycling facilities, the use of materials suited to the environment and climate of the area and low energy consumption (with quality equipment selection and passive design principles). 

Source: http://www.ancr.com.au/caboolture_signature_project.pdf

Source:          

http://blog.mmisforme.com.au/2012/04/01/wombat-will-and-bilby-ben-take-a-train-ride-the-library-at-the-hub-caboolture/

My Reflection:

The Caboolture Hub is one of the most relevant exemplars to our design project. The building; although designed on a much larger scale and as a complete learning centre precinct, can be drawn from extensively to gain ideas and inspiration for our learning centre. The library incorporates a number of different resources and flexible spaces in which to learn. There are a number of organised and disorganised activity spaces; particularly for young children and teenagers; I will draw on these ideas when researching activities to incorporate into my library.  One particular space mentioned very briefly is the “interactive tree” in the childrens area. From what I can deduce the tree functions as a cubby space with desks to draw, colour and read at and as a storage area for books. As my folie concept and learning experience is based around the mangroves, I feel as though incorporating something similar to this tree into my library’s children’s centre would work well.  I also like the aesthetic of the hub and the variety of spaces (both indoor and outdoor) that the building provides. As my concept is so linked to the natural environment I do feel it will be important to have both indoor and outdoor spaces; perhaps combine the two.

Week Five & Six :: Project Two

Learning Centre Exemplar Analysis


Seattle Library [Rem Koolhaas]


- Main challenge with this site is the 8.8m height difference between the boundaries on two different streets.

- “Although the library is sculptural, it is not in any way an attempt to make a form. The library’s appearance comes from pushing boxes around to stay within the height and setback restrictions and zoning codes”. – Architect Joshua Ramus, partner at the Rem Koolhaas Office for Metroplitan Architecture. 

Source: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Seattle_Public_Library.html

- Spatial organisation -     is the most important and defining feature of this library.

-     Each platform is flexible in it’s function but still defined and organised into “spatial compartments” with specific functions.

-     One of the first operations when reforming the library was to consolidate all the spaces and define platforms according to a more specific purpose; this included defining their size, level of flexibility, circulation palette and structure amongst other things.

-     The spaces between the platforms are the intermediate spaces; as you move from one functional space to another.  

Source: http://www.archdaily.com/11651/seattle-central-library-oma-lmn/

Reflection:

The design of this library, at first, appears to be based on the architect Rem Koolhaus’ ideas and experiments with sculptural form. Instead; however, this library is about efficiency of space and organisation. There is a big emphasis placed on the collaboration of the library resources and the time spent organising the “platforms” of the library around the most ergonomic and resourceful use of every space within the building. The library’s form itself was developed in response to maximising its size according to regulations, height restrictions and setbacks. I think the shear scale of the building and the number and prestige of the resources it houses make it hard for me to look to this building for direct ideas and inspiration for my library at the Wharves. I can; however, appreciate its organisational system in the sense that platforms are broken up to serve specific functions and different spaces within these platforms serve further functions.