Week 4 - Presentation Panels

1st Presentation Panel

2nd Presentation Panel

3rd Presentation Panel

Week 4 - Design Documentation

Context.

SITE PLAN

The central location of the site used for adapt. was chosen because it offered the most in regards to exposure from people moving near the site, as well as setting up great views from the site down the river and towards the CBD.

Concept.

PARTii DIAGRAM

The proposal of an architectural folie rises from the meeting point of two converging paths, which employs the familiar sight of paths lifted and broken from tree roots and amplifies this in scale.  By taking the concept that learning is the acquisition of knowledge through experiences, the folie is aiming to activate within people a sense of curiosity. 

adapt. seeks to enter a dialogue which questions the impact that the built environment has on the lives of humans and how this effects  the environment. In turn, the folie becomes a metaphor for the natural destruction caused by the environment which is amplified due to human involvement.

Rather than the traditional approach of creating spaces which are prescribed, ergonomically and programmatically designed for the user, the design invites users to adapt to the spaces, challenging peoples understanding of their interaction with built structures in general.  

Though the site is dominated by two prominent features, the Storey Bridge and the cliffs, it could be argued that the boardwalk is a comparably important aspect of the experience of using the site.  Instead of ones involvement with a boardwalk being a subconscious act, the path folie generates an interesting encounter, bringing its  presence into the consciousness of those which travel along it. This creates an opportunity for contemplation and reflection through the process observing ones reaction to the intervention.

Function.

DIAGRAMS SHOWING THE MULTIPLICITY OF USES

adapt. is designed to allow for a multiplicity of uses. The architecture does not prescribe a particular program to the form, instead the form creates spaces, divisions, and points of interest so the users themselves create the program.

Tectonic.

TEXTURES THE USER WILL EXPERIENCE WHILE USING THE SPACE

The walkway is constructed to sit flush with the surface of the adjacent ground plane. To do this, the structure was completely recessed which allowed for footings and baseplate construction to be hidden beneath the boardwalk. Parallel flange channels (PFC) were chosen, for its aesthetics and structural ability. The PFC has great strength, and still allows for an aesthetic that is light and elegant.  All steel used is constructed from cor-ten steel, which weathers creating a rusted look but remains structurally stable.

Experience.

SUN STUDY OF THE FINAL FOLIE PROPOSAL

WALKTHROUGH OF THE FINAL FOLIE PROPOSAL

Week 3 - Design Development

Context

The group has i identified  that Brisbane is defined by its river, but a element that is just as important as the river, is the pathways that link people to the river. 

SITE LOCATION MAP

The highlighted section of the river in this location map represent to edges of the river that is lined with footpaths. The path is an often unnoticed element of city infrastructure, but adapt folie aims to bring the path into the eyes of the users.

                                     *****pivot around specific SITE RENDER.....................

Concept

Adapt.
Using the path as the key element , the group aimed to make the everyday, subconscious act of adapting to your environment a very conscious effort. 


In doing this, group 35 defined the need for the form to not fit any paradigm of conventional park furniture, equipment, or shelters. This lead the group to test different abstract forms generated from the idea/form of the path.

SKETCHES OF THE PATH CONCEPT

Reoccurring sketches of paths emerging from the ground to create structures of sort were informing the design process but were not helping to develop the spatial and experiential nature of the folie. The group then turned to some paper models to test ideas.

CONCEPT MODEL TESTING A METHOD OF CREATING SPACES

Through the use of models the group was able to better visualise the space that had to be created, working to a scale to keep outcomes realistic. The models progressed throughout a long night until the group was happy with the outcome of the spatial and aesthetic design of the folie.

PROGRESSION OF MODELS

The models changed from originally being made of paper then put onto a surface, to models that camera from the paper that they were sitting on. There was something really symbolic about not only taking materials from the path, but actually removing the piece of path that the folie element was derived  from. There was much discussion around each model and group 35 exchanged these ideas by sketching on the model. The group then came to a final layout and decided to keep the form that was created and test it with materials, structure, and additional folie elements.

THE FINAL FOLIE LAYOUT DECIDED BY THE GROUP.

GOOD COPY OF PHYSICAL MODEL MADE FOR WEEK 4 PRESENTATION

Function

To add an organising element to the adapt folie design, group 35 decided to recognise and account for two distinct program types. Bypassing users and/or Staying users.


By doing this adapt folie will be divided to allow users to bypass the folie, but still experience the essence of it. But adapt folie will also allow for users to actually stop and use parts of the space.

TYPES OF MOVEMENT THROUGH THE SPACE.

The diagram above shows the two types of movement. The green arrow representing the intended movement path, and the red arrow showing the area designed to be experienced by staying for a period of time. 


Tectonic

At this stage the team was testing different structural elements for the folie. It was decided to use 200mm SHS as the main structural elements but after testing the design with a quick 3D model, the team realised that this was a far too thick member.

EARLY ITERATION OF FOLIE DESIGN. 

Experience

SUN STUDY OF THE PROPOSED FOLIE

WALKTHROUGH OF THE PROPOSED FOLIE

Week 2 - Concept Design

Concept
Learning through adaption.

CYCLIST FAILS TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING ROAD SURFACE. HE LEARNT.

Group 35 decided to define 'learning' as an adaptive process. Through adaption we learn, therefore the folie design should challenge the users to adapt and therefore learn about their physical surrounds. People adapt to their surroundings everyday, most of the time subconsciously. But bringing adaption to the forefront of someones mind, by forcing them to adapt to unusual surroundings will make this concept strong.

A USER IN A SPACE, HAVING TO ADAPT.

We started with the idea of having walls that are not straight. Moving from open space to having walls either side of you that are tilted would become quite disorienting. Adapting to this would be a conscious effort. 

DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH A USERS NEEDS TO ADAPT TO CHANGING SPACES.

Context


The wharves site is a particularly challenging site. In response to the site team 35 has set some parameters to how the folie should behave.
The folie should:
    - Not compete or take away from the aesthetic of the story bridge.
    - Keep a low(ish) profile to make the form more personal. (the maximum height of 5m, would still be insignificant next to the bridge and cliff.)
    - Give space to the Heritage buildings on the site, and utilise some of the vast free space on the site.
    - Be positioned where the folie will have a large amount of visual contact to people passing the site, but not entering. 

FLYOVER OF THE HOWARD SMITH WHARVES SITE

Function.


The concept has described that group 35 wants the folie to make people adapt and use the space in a number of ways, depending on how they see it. To do this the elements the folie is made up of, need to be visually nondescript. That way, the user may see a physical folie element positioned at roughly horizontal as some sort of seating, or a bench, of a shade structure.


This nondescript nature should program the space with multiple programs. As Bure says in the reading 'Paris / La Villette' describing Tschumi's vision for the folies, "they resisted a precise architectural meaning and, instead, implied multiple meanings". The Howard Smith Wharves folie by Group 35 aims to replicate a similar functional paradigm as Tschumi's redevelopment of La Villette.


Tectonic


At this stage of the design process little thought has gone into the specific materials of the structure. 


The primary goal tectonically is to not take away from the site as much as possible. The site has a wonderful rawness that we seek to compound through the use of non processed materials. 


Materials such as Cor-ten steel, sandstone and other naturals stone, and weathered wood are all being considered for the design proposal.

1. COR-TEN STEEL, 2. WEATHERED WOOD, 3. SANDSTONE BLOCKS, 4. VARIOUS STONE USE.

Experience


The folie is meant to be experienced with a slight amount of wonder at first, but then the user will eventually create a program specific to themselves. 

Week 1 - Site Visit

First Impression.

The site initially seemed to be in  perfect location. Central to Brisbane CBD, Newmarket, and Fortitude Valley, but the site being at the bottom of the cliffs does make the site very hard to access. 

The only access point is currently:

• the western end beneath the bridge leading from the highly used walkway, which follows the edge of the river.

Previously the eastern end, via the now destroyed floating riverside walkway was a key access point and could possibly be reused. (These are shown in red arrows)

SITE PLAN OF THE HOWARD SMITH WHARVES

Other possibilities do arise for site access from above. There is a large amount of parkland above the site which is heavily used and could bring a large amount of traffic through the site, turning the site into a thoroughfare for cyclists and people walking to and from Newfarm and the CBD. 

Site Character.

The site has a rich history of reuse and bound for a new stage of its life. The site was first built on in the 1930s has been used as a primary wharf for Brisbane, occupied by the water police, storage for the Queensland Works Department, and is now vacant (www.brisbane). While historically the site has always been used, it can no longer support the contemporary lifestyle and sits in ruins as the forgotten hero of Brisbane. 


The site exhibits a previously unseen rawness due too the recent flood which stripped the site back too a bare canvas. These raw materials have a brutalist feel which is epitomised by the cliffs, by their sheer scale, texture, and form.  

PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE WESTERN CLIFFS

The site continues a city wide trend of Brisbane's with it's riverside walkway. These walkways are an identifying element of brisbane city, and I believe is an important feature to keep in tact in the site.

Existing Important Elements.


Bridge.
The Story Bridge has a very powerful and demanding presence over the site. This needs to be taken into account when proposing an addition too the site. The aesthetic of the bridge is quite unique 

SITE: FROM KANGAROO POINT

Heritage Buildings.
The heritage buildings although serving as living memories of the times when Brisbane was a much smaller place, aesthetically they do not add to the site. Their simple form and earthy colours do not compete with the story bridge, they merely do their function and that is that. These buildings must be kept in tact.


Path.
Brisbane the river city. A key identifier to brisbane is it's river; but equally important as its river is the pathways that follow it. The paths, line both sides of the river offering amazing views of the river and Brisbane's landmarks that line it.


Such an important piece of infrastructure, that plays a pivotal role in the success of everything, largely goes unnoticed. We use paths everyday, but only notice them when something is wrong with them. 




References.


http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/current-planning-projects/urban-design-projects/howard-smith-wharves/site-history/index.htm