PROJECT // last words

Through out the semester I have learnt many new things about architecture and most importantly it has become more clear what kind of architecture I like to design. I am very interesting in the small architectural interventions that deem to activate space. Through the semester I did a bit of research on public spaces and how to effectively activate them in order to ensure they do not become desolate. I played around with undulating topographies and introducing areas where people can comfortably sit and spend lengthy amounts of time. 

I appreciated the feedback I received at the crit on friday. If I had another week I would have enjoyed really figuring out the small details of the site and the 'follies' (as they were called). I particularly thought that this comment was very valuable, 'You dont always need to show all of your process because in some way your final drawing should show it.' I found it difficult to decide what content to put in the final presentation and how much process work (if any) was needed, considering the focus was on the narrative. I resulted in leaving out most of the process work in order to focus on the narrative, which evidently made it difficult for the guest critic to understand the work and research behind the project. 

I have very much enjoyed my last design studio of my Bachelor, thanks Robert for your guidance. 

PROJECT // physical model

PROJECT // final presentation boards

DISPERSION OF CULTURE

PROJECT // project text

Setting the scene – future scenario
With a desire to limit urban sprawl Brisbane city council has recently implemented an underground light rail system to support the growing population. This recent addition to the Brisbane City Transport Network has seen a significant reduction in the use of the car as the primary mode of transport. The underground system has already improved other surface transport such as buses and improved pedestrian amenity due to less cars in the CBD. With these positive results and expectations for public transport services and users to further increase the Brisbane city council is looking towards the future of the city and its needs. The CBD of Brisbane lacks character, culture and usable public spaces. Therefore in order to see growth and development in Brisbane, the city council would like to give some of the space that cars have freed up back to the community in the form of pedestrianised public streets. Elizabeth Street will be the first of many streets to become pedestrianised in Brisbane city. 

Concept - ‘dispersion of culture’
After looking at the broader context of the CBD and over to south bank, the first thing that stood out was the strong concentration of culture that hugs the south bank river bed. As part of the Brisbane city council visions for future of Brisbane city, the introduction of new cultural hubs on the north bank is critical. This ‘dispersion of culture’ from south bank will occupy and activate parts of the newly pedestrianised Elizabeth Street and take the form of small cultural entities. 

Architecture
“The role of the architect is to design diverse spaces that function efficiently as individual entities and maximise the relationship between spaces to facilitate their collective functioning”. “The success of urban space is largely based on its use, architects must reflect on characteristics that will instil quality into space”. The goal was to ensure that the newly pedestrianised street will be used more than just as a thoroughfare for pedestrian traffic; it will encourage habitation for longer periods of time. Looking specifically at the street, a six meter fall from the George Street end to Albert Street was noted. When designing public spaces to ensure they don’t become desolate it is vital to create variety within them. To accentuate and complement the change in levels and therefore create diversity within Elizabeth Street, an undulated surface has been proposed. As you walk down the street you are faced with several routes to take many of which encourage rest points. With a series of varying heights as you walk down the street the user is able to experience Elizabeth Street in a way that was not possible before. To further activate the undulating surface and surrounding buildings of the one-way Street, a dispersion of culture from south bank will occupy spaces of need. Elizabeth Street houses the rear facade of the Myer Centre, this facade lacks human scale and appeal. One of the cultural entities stands in front of the facade and punches it at some points allowing connection between the juxtaposing streets of retail (queen st.) and cultural (proposed elizabeth st.). The intersection between Albert and Elizabeth Street is another point of interest and an important location in the site. Locating a cultural point here allows awareness of the new pedestrian street and attracts use. The third cultural entity is located in the most center point of the site, the building winds up one of the raised points allowing you to experience the undulating surface of the street and to create a vantage point which promotes safety.
 
Functions
The Theatre Activates the intersection of Albert and Elizabeth Street, this allows awareness of the streets existence.
This cultural entity is in the form of an open air amphitheatre, it allows for outdoor small scale theatre to take place. It is the place where you can come and see current pre-screenings of plays which are being shown at QPAC. The stage is also used by student actors, who come and put on plays which are current in the media from all over the world. When the stage is not being used for plays, organisations can book it for public talks and lectures.
The libraryActivates the Myer center facade and runs down more than half the site, contributing to a big part of the new aesthetics of the street.A library with no books. The 4 small pods within this cultural entity offer spaces to study and read digital data that you can acquire. Each pod allows access to a different genre of data these include; science, arts, history and language. The data can be uploaded to your computer through a wireless network, you can chose to loan it or purchase it.
The galleryActivates the center of the street and creates a vantage point.This small scale art gallery, does in fact not show any physical art pieces but rather builds a library of the particular exhibition on a supplied ipad on entry (or equivalent). As you enter each of the 11 boxes, up the interior ramp, you pass a sensor which updates your ipad with a new piece of art creating a narrative. When you reach the last box you have the complete exhibited works on your ipad. The gradual ramp complements the way you view the art, as you reach the top, the exhibition is pieced together. 

BELOW: Some sketches of Elizabeth st with the proposed cultural dispersion

PROJECT // process - Details of the Stage

An example of what the stairs going down to the stage would look like.

Stage, looking down elizabeth street

PROJECT // process - Details of Gallery Space

Above are some detailed drawings of materials used in the construction of the gallery space. Below is an example of a concrete studio space (on a slightly larger scale). This image inspired my when designing the small concrete boxes of the gallery. Incorporating large glass openings in the form of bifold doors helps to soften the harshness concrete can sometime exhibit and makes the spaces more transparent and welcoming to the public.

sketch of Gallery space look down Elizabeth street

PROJECT // process - Details of Library Pod

Below are some details of how the Library pod would be constructed and what materials they would be.

One of the library pods in the contexts of Elizabeth st, looking at the corner of albert and elizabeth st. 

PROJECT // process

The Library boxes

A typical library pod - A glass box with a light weight steel frame will incase four cubicles of marine plywood seating areas. The glass creates an inviting feeling of transparency, whilst the custom made plywood seating creates semi-private cubicles.

examples of how plywood can be used:

 http://homeinteriorsandaccessories.blogspot.com.au/

http://homebars.barinacraft.com/post/31917604497/seashell-seat-marine-life-inspired-creature-comfort

glass boxes

PROJECT // process

I began to look at how these small buildings would actually work on the site at a real scale.

 section through the stage - the actors enter the stage by small operable moving floors that lift you up to the stage.

 plan of the stage

 section through gallery boxes, note the gentle ramp that takes you up to the to of the mound. 

structural ideas for the library pods - essentially there would be big steel frames that wrap around a glass box, creating a very transparent setting although being raised above street level it still has a sense of privacy.

 plan and section of the gallery space. 

 ideas for how the gallery space might open.

WK THIRTEEN // activating the myer center facade

Pompidou center, Paris 

(http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/1276224585-conservapedia.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.archdaily.com/64028/ad-classics-centre-georges-pompidou-renzo-piano-richard-rogers)

After looking at how the small library pods, that are proposed to activate the myer center facade, would actually work in terms of structure and possible attachment I began to look at exemplars to get inspiration. I decided to have a free standing structure that stood in front of the myer center but still had some elements that pieced through the facade creating a connection between the cultural and retail streets of queen and elizabeth. Unlike the pompidou, the walkway that connects the 4 library pods is suspended in between two mirrored structures. see sketches below.

The structure would consist of a light weight steel to reduce materials used in construction and to not be too intrusive on the aesthetics of the street but still create an iconic building that gives character to Brisbane. The idea of a free standing structure will help cultural street create its own reputation as opposed to being part of the Myer Center itself. It will also allow for construction to occur at any time with out disruption to the patrons of the neighboring buildings. The structure is based on the structure of the pompidou in terms of the size of the members and spacing between them. The rigid structure is softened slightly by library pods that overhang onto elizabeth street. The structure could be a base for plants to grow on, such as vines and other climbing plants. 

A library with no books. The 4 small pods within this structure offer spaces to study and read digital data that you can acquire. Each pod allows access to a different genre of data these include; science, arts, history and language. The data can be uploaded to your computer through a wireless network, you can chose to loan it or purchase it.

WK THIRTEEN // final locations of cultural entities in elizabeth st

Cultural entity A - (library) the facade on the back side of the Myer Center noticeably lacks activity and vibrance. In order to activate this facade small cultural entities (libraries and research pods at human scale) will be attached.

Cultural entity B - (art gallery) is the center point of elizabeth st and a meeting location for the pedestrians. 

Cultural entity C - (openair theatre) albert/elizabeth st intersection, allows people to become aware that the pedestrian street exists and shows them a glimpse of what happens in the street. 

WK THIRTEEN // cultural street scape

SITE: Elizabeth st

Albert st + Elizabeth st intersection

looking up Elizabeth st

Albert st + Elizabeth st intersection

looking down Elizabeth st 

WK TWELVE // sketching form ideas for the three cultural entities

library/research spaces (section through Elizabeth st, looking at myer center) - the pods can be used for researching and studying and the walking path between the pods is where you gather your digital data.

gallery space

The above diagrams show at each room interval there is a sensor which allows more artwork to be viewed on your ipad as you walk through and up the gallery space.

preliminary sketches (gallery space)

* The 3rd cultural space will be that of an open air theatre in the intersection of Elizabeth st and Albert st. It will include seating and a stage for the actors, see below.