Week 8 | Design Development

As I had already decided on my thematic program of a Performing Arts centre I began my design phase with a basic spatial adjacency bubble diagram. The Performing Arts centre was chosen to link together the cultural nodes of Brisbane and connect them together via the greenspaces of the city. This was the idea behind my activation of the HSW site and enveloped the ideas associated to layered design and filtering with my Biomimicry theme group. Firstly I listed the different spaces my building would require:

PROGRAM 1 [performing arts]

- Foyer + Box Office

- Main Theatre (Performance Hall)

- Stage

- Rear of Stage

- Projection Room

- Exhibition Space (Gallery)

PROGRAM 2 [retail/leisure]

- Bookstore

- Cafe

- Restaurant

PROGRAM 3 [educational/drama facility]

- Storage Space

- Flex Studio Space (Dance Space)

- Dressing Rooms

SERVICES

- Staff Offices

- Bathrooms

Week 8 | Concept

Since my initial conceptualising phase, I have further explored the design elements into my design parameter, overarching theme and biomimicry process. The sketches below founded my ideas so I will explain them first.

The idea of a layered system led my investigation into filters; light and lens filters in cameras, environmental filters for pollution and systems of ventilation which also act as a filter. The above sketch illustrates the idea of an interactive facade for the building which acts as a shading device, filtering sunlight, an environmental filter for air pollution, and a wind filter preventing cold drafts. It is screening device which, placed correctly on the site, allows leafy vegetation to manifest. Drawing inspiration from the idea of a tree acting as a habitat and proving shelter, the screening device links layering with a biomimetic process to green the perception of the HSW site.

The idea of a ventricle filter in section was derived from a leaf which harnesses ventricles for even distribution of nutrients and translated into a ventilation system. The airflow is restrictive allowing for a stable indoor climate. The design is also ducted in a similar way to a termite mound to regulate internal temperature. The cooler air is taken in the lower part of the building where there is usually less ventilation and higher pedestrian flow and the air moves up the structure escaping as warmer air out the top.

The final sketch is a preliminary stylisation of the layered form of the design. It illustrates the different screening devices acting together as one synthesised process.

The final design conforms to these main elements:

Design Parameter (Key Concept) - Filtering the site through human perception.

Biomimicry Process - A layered system of environmental filter.

Week 8 | Conceptualising

Firstly I diagrammed the contextual, geographical and social aspects of the site to gain a greater insight, programmatic solution and to retain the historical facets. The three typologies utilised in the diagram came from the brief; the typologies which I felt held pretence over Howard Smith Wharves historical site and that in relation to Brisbane.

A strong key became evident in this model; the linking of the river [geographical], cultural [social] and greenspace along the river [contextual (Biomimicry)] all intertwined and synthesised as a layered system all impacting heavily on the site. It is my intention to formalise this layered system as my perception of the site and that of Brisbane, and to instil that same perception into the 'users' of the final design. This idea of a layered system was further explored in the sketches below in terms of architectural screening devices and filters.

Week 8 | Revisiting Inspiration

Week 7 | Inspiration

Perception

After reviewing my design with the tutor and classmates in week 7. My concept idea of the Wing was undermined as being rather arbitrary in design terms which allowed me to strip back the idea to the original notion of perception. The Folie design was to illustrate the perception of the city and so I have begun to research the elements which compound "perception."

Perception relates to numerous postulations yet predominantly is the ability to see, hear, touch, taste, smell or become aware of something through sensory development. This leads to a developed intuitive understanding or insight founded on principles such as how the brain interprets this external stimuli in context of "reality."

Colour and perception of colour was of great interest to me. The images below when viewed at maximum size illustrate how the brain interprets colour information. The first image shows how the same colour encircled by different colours appear different and when viewed one after the other. The second image has approximately 1 million colours within the image, While the brain can interpret about 10 million colours, as the viewer tries to decipher the colours, the image appears to be altering in shade and tone depending on the position of the eyes focus.

The final image shows the area of the brain which connects to the retinal artery and further research may help develop a formalised architectural design.

Week 7 | Design Precedent

The collaboration of my ideas to form a concept has led me towards the decision of what program/s I will design. My original concept of "the Wing" in relation to avian life led to the idea of designing a performing arts centre as birds communicate visually, through movement and calls. To me this was very postulation of drama and performing arts. The Idea of a wing also influenced the notion of designing a public transport hub. One of the pivotal aspects of criteria is the activation of space and nothing could provide greater activation of space than a transit node. The final possible design avenue was a leisure centre which was a combination of ideas stemming from the location of the site in proximity to both the residential zones and city heart. The site pre 2011 floods was utilised primarily by joggers and cyclists and therefore the design of a edifice which catered for a greater usage of this lifestyle typology would have activated the site.

Further reflection of my design concept relating to "the Wing" however made me realise the notions were to arbitrary and the concept needed to be whittled down to something more tangible and useable. The idea of Perception was the original purpose of the Folie and could be formalised more easily in a combination of the sites needs;

1. Activation of the site

2. Public perception of the site

3. Universal context of Brisbane integrated into the site

- Cultural hub?

- Designed for Brisbane's climate

4. Perception of Brisbane from the site

5. Biomimetic inclusion in the design

Week 6 | Site Context

The site in relation to its context is heavily underpinned by Brisbane's three major characteristics.

1. the River

2. Greenspace along the river

3. Cultural system of nodes and pedestrian movement between those nodes

The information is illustrated in the diagram below which generates a greater understanding for the Masterplan of the site. Therefore the main program of the site must relate to these integral features, bringing them together as activator of the site.

Grey - Urban Fabric

Dark Green - Greenspace

Dark Blue - River

Light Blue - Retail/Leisure

Light Green - Education

Red - Cultural

White - Site

Dashed Line - Linking Axis