Week Three - Four :: Final Concept & Design Process

Folie Concept:
We decided to stay with our concept of abstracted mangrove roots but came up with the idea of arranging them in a shape that mimicked that of the river's path from Jindalee to St Lucia. We felt it was important to arrange them in a structured way (rather than just placing them randomly across the 5x5x5m of allowable space) that perhaps provided some form of representation to strengthen our folie concept. The "roots" would start in the river and emerge out onto the land for interaction with visitors.

This idea soon brought us to thinking more about how we would draw people into the folie. We decided to make a pathway with the abstracted roots forming the edges of the "path". This would prompt visitors to move and filter through the space; creating a metaphor for the function of mangrove roots as filters for water and debris.

The folie also functions to frame views. As visitors filter through the folie, at specific points along the path they come across openings or clearings in the "roots" where views are visible. The site is the vantage point for the city, the river, the cliffs and the mangroves with the aim that while walking through the folie; different views can be experienced, prompting a greater understanding of the site and its surrounds.

Rough Sketch - Folie concept with views annotated

Folie Context:
In order to anchor the folie in its site at the Howard Smith Wharves and respond to the surrounding context we decided that our inspiration for the materials used would be taken from the site and close surrounds. We will use directly from the site old wharf timbers along with a number of other materials inspired from the surrounds including steel; to reflect the bridge, concrete; to reflect the city and built environment and hardwood; to reflect the mangroves themselves.

The folie is also site specific in that it is located on the river's edge (with some representational mangrove roots even emerging from the river) across from a mangrove ecosystem along the bank at captain Burke Park.

Folie Function:
The folie functions fundamentally to create awareness and provoke thought about the the role of natural ecosystems in the function of the world today; particularly mangrove ecosystems. The folie acts to activate one's thinking about the importance of preserving the natural environment and to demonstrate that these ecosystems can exist amongst our built up cities. The folie will educate through experience. It will not provide a direct or structured lesson or display written information but will instead be a catalyst for visitors to the site to think for themselves about conservation, allowing them to experience an often forgotten part of the city.


Folie Tectonic:
Materials were chosen for this folie because of their significance to the site's context (as explained in the concept section above). Sections will be drawn explaining how the material will be anchored to the ground.


Folie Experience:
Thinking about how the experience of the folie and the site would be conveyed through the posters, we all discussed the need for them to be clearly laid out and not over-crowded or complicated to understand. We decided a simple colour scheme - maximum 2-3 colours (one of those being white) would work best for the A1 panels. As for the images used to convey the folie concept & design, we decided a floor plan would be necessary as well as key sections and elevations with people displayed in the space and with the wider context shown to set the building and understand how it would function in the site. Three dimensional vignettes will also be included to show context and materials. Possibly most fundamentally, a diagram of the mangrove root system will be shown and our conceptual process will also be explained. Context maps will also be displayed.