Final Crit and Reflection

Presentation Panels and Models

Overall I was pleased with the feedback from the review panel.

The presentation overall was laid out and presented well. The images and views presented showed a good understanding of space, feel and look of the centre.

The design:

Multiple entry points were a good idea to separate functions. The subtlety of these were well designed to not overtake the façade and draw attention to users entering or leaving, as this would be a sensitive issue to many.

The dividing of the ‘old vs. new’ was an intelligent move. This allows minimum disruption to the existing terraces and allows the proposed centre to be integrated using contemporary materials and building techniques.

South Elevation

Separating private functions from public made sense in that privacy and security issues were addressed. This was also said about the separating male and female dorm rooms.

Who was running the show? It wasn’t made apparent who the client was. I did verbally clarify that it was a joint venture with the City of Sydney and a charitable foundation with existing programs  in place. (My programming was developed from the research and interviews with Weslsy Mission)

Section A - The section showed stairs from the lower ground floor to the first floor. This mislead that the connections were in a longitudinal direction (west to east) the centre was divided from public, semi public/private to private. This again was not made apparent on plans. On further reflection there are a few design decisions I could adopt to improve to where the journey ends.  – See sketch plans below.

UPDATE WITH SKETCH

Model: It was a general census was that the model was crap.

The site model was made a wee while ago and it has been used as a site analysis and working model. It was never pretty but was to scale and served as a design aid. This however should have been made much neater for presentation to sell my scheme. This can be said about the 1:100 models. With only 2 days to make it I didn’t get time to finish this model with screening and trees.

I am going to paint the 1:100 model and hopefully cover the scars and remake the site model for the exhibition.

I wish to thank the 9 sights studio, Paola, tutors and the review panel for a great day and year. 

It was a great experience to formulate my own brief, programming and design. I found this a satisfying conclusion to my 5 years of architectural study. My project thesis question was challenging and rewarding that I now have another level of understanding in social design.

The Presentation

Open publication - Free publishing - More homelessness

The above link is a summary booklet of presentation material for my final review.

Shadow Diagrams
9am, 12noon, 3pm (Respectively)

Through out the design process I constantly referred to my site analysis and other environment barriers to enhance my design. The shadow diagrams allowed me to work out the best design strategy for the bulk and scale of the buildings when placing them on the site.

Images, CAD and Models.. Oh my!

My schedule and programming for work to be completed in preparation for the final review went out the window. More time was spent on tweaking the design, editing layouts and planning. Enough is enough! I had to stop and move onto renders, views and the plans, sections and elevation.

I have been working in 3D in vectorworks 2010 and renderworks. The model was set up with Helidon’s, site lights and internal spotlights and down lights. This caused pain in learning how to place, direct and set brightness and colour to capture the feeling and look of my design. I felt it was important to show night time ‘shots’ of how the centre will look and be used at night. Security being a major concern a light deign was needed to light, passageways, the courtyard and the external façade leading to entry points and the three streets that surround the centre.

Working in 3D CAD and using my sketches allowed me to envisage how the architectural spaces will feel. This was a substitute to concept physical models.  Advantages of both can be argued but time and money were a factor to consider in my approach.

'As an afterthought physical models would have been of benefit to have something tangible for peers and tutors to review'

Apartment LivingRoom

Apartment Bedroom

Courtyard - NightTime

Courtyard - Looking East

The renders and images produced were selected to show key circulation areas and spaces and external views from the public domain, both at day and night.

The circulation images have a pathway in yellow; yellow being the colour of education, safety, joy and to identify the way home, made popular by the wizard of oz.

Hostel Corridor

Hostel Main Foyer

Hostel Bland St Entry

Just Keep Going

After the last review I did my own critical review of my design. This included: internal layout, materials and structure, urban design, landscape plans and roof design.

Draft Ground Floor Plan Courtyard Design

I posted more questions on the homeless forum focusing on bedroom layouts and the relationship between male and female areas, whether a uni-sex or separate living areas work.

The response was great. It was suggested that the uni-sex environments are great for development, however with my target users these areas would have to be monitored and supplied with condoms and birth control. A separate male and female dorm was favoured with a unisex communal room. This made more sense and allowed for maximum security. Each dorm would have a keyed entry.

Concept 1 Hostel Bedroom

Concept 2 Hostel Bedroom

Entry and Courtyard Concepts

Study and Concepts for Stairs

Further research into landscaping and street trees for the Woolloomooloo locality allowed me to draft up a landscape plan and urban design that is integrated with the existing streetscape and Pedestrian Street paving pattern.

I extended the green space vertically to the roof tops of the apartments and the hotel to create communal gardens, seating and learning areas. These areas can be used by the users only. Allowing for social interaction and/or personal reflection, all while looking at the beautiful Sydney skyline.

Structure:

A hybrid design was always going to be used to maximise the performance of the building and allows for more flexibility in material use. Structural concrete panels with insulation and concrete veneer panel and concrete replaced convention masonry wall types.

‘Bubble deck’ floor slabs will be used to allow for large spans for greater flexibility and reuse, reduced concrete content and easy of construction.

The roofing would be composite roofing system. This allows for large spans, trafficable roof and reduces the need for roof trusses and structure.

Draft Sections and Details

Power, ventilation and water:

A PV system will be installed on the hostel roof. Tracker PV systems with frames will be located on the other roofs, doubling up as shading devices.

Roof water and run off will be collected in an underground rainwater tank to be reused for irrigation, flushing, laundry and basins. Blackwater will be reused for irrigation.

Heating will be through passive means and thermal mass. In addition a ground heat pump will assist in heating the centre.

No air-conditioning will be installed. Rooms have been designed to allow for cross ventilation with adequate shading, reducing heat load.

Draft Section - ESD schematic

Bricks and Mortar

An early design consideration was to maintain the materiality language that was sympathetic to the streetscape and existing buildings surrounding the centre.

The common materials found are glass, masonry (clay brick), timber, concrete and steel.

The use of materials is important to create an attractive, welcoming and homely centre were the users can feel as easy. (Brick and timber, homely materials, creates a sense of place)

In my design I have used a combination of concrete blocks, clay brick and concrete panels. A mix of masonry materials allows for more flexibility, durability, constructability and distinguishes old from new.

Off form concrete panels will create patterns and textures that will be unique and contrasting to the cold, hard surface of concrete. Concrete block work with colour pigment will break up the vertical surface and allow for a more interesting façade.

To further offset the concrete material, timber screening had a natural, soft material that supply’s privacy and security as well as an attractive. FSC hardwood or recycled timbers would be selected. Timbers with a maritime life would be preferable to maintain a link to the Woolloomooloo history.

Painted screens add a personalised touch to the centre. Allowing users to ‘make their own’ imprint. Creating a sense of ownership, pride and involvement in the centre, creating a community where they can feel included. This indirectly links to the Artspace centre adjacent to the centre where the workshop in the public zone allows additional artwork and installations to take place.

Glazing plays a big part in the security and performance of the building. Large glazed windows overlook the courtyard and street for users to observe, supplying addition security to the users and public that uses the centre.

A combination of sliding, hinged and louvre windows can be found throughout the centre. Operable windows assist in cross ventilation and solar access.

The colour palette plays an important role in setting mood, feel and recovery. 

Red: An emotionally intense colour. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate and is it’s highly visible. Red represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, love, willpower, leadership and courage. On the other hand it signifies malice, rage and danger.

Green: The colour of nature! It symbolises growth, harmony, fresh, stability and safety. Green is a very healing colour which is most restful for human eyes. Green can be seen in road crossing signs, chemists and peace.

Yellow: Associated with education and intellect, happiness, joy and evokes happy feelings. Many children’s toys use yellow, which can also be seen in signs, food outlets.

Blue: is the colour of the sky and sea. It symbolises trust, loyalty, wisdom, truth and faith. It is a colour that is strongly associated with tranquillity and calmness.

White: associated with light, innocents, purity and virginity. White is used to show cleanliness, safety and in contrast with other colours shows positive connotation.

HELP!

This week was all about detailing and consultation with academics and professionals for ideas and details for our projects.

The first thing I had to do in week 9 was to confirm my design layout, landscape and urban design and structural design to move on with my project with detailing and fine tuning architectural spaces.

Week 9 & 10 I consulted with:

• Bruce Judd, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at UNSW (http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/cf/staff/bruce.judd/) 
• Linda Corkery, Associate Professor and Acting Head of Discipline of Planning, Urban Design, Landscape, and Construction Management and Property (http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/staff/linda.corkery/) 
• Dick Clarke, principal of Envirotecture Projects (http://www.envirotecture.com.au/) 

These consultations confirmed program relationships, draft structural design, draft landscape and urban design and an eco-performance review.

With all elements of my deisgn in place I have started working on vingettes showing detailing in materials and structure and the architectural details of furniture, fixtures and the general spaces itself.

Also I have moved from paper to 3D CAD.

(update with sketch images and CAD views and plans)

what an 'ace' shelter

This ad is amazing and beautiful, and yet highlights a real problem with homelessness in the UK.



Shelter, a UK charity focused on addressing homelessness and poor quality housing, created a television ad in 2008 “House of Cards”.
this ad campaign was made by Shelter to highlight the impact of the Global Financial Crisis on housing. 


Shelter was established by a charitable group to house the poor and misfortunate in England in 1966 and then later Scotland.


http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2010/shelter-house-of-cards-design/

What was that?

The Critique
Apart from some verbal glitches and some missing elevations in my presentation I received helpful and useful feed back from the review panel and class.

Feedback:

• A better undertsanding, conviction and introduction of the project was needed. A better organised and precise material relating to the review topic, reviewers and public.
• Issues with residence separation needs to be thought out. Go back to the originals brief and research and see what works and what doesn't. 
• Open space! what is too much or too less. Assess the open space requirements from the DCP and what is needed on site. Woolloomooloo has allot of open space within cooee distance from the centre. 
• A need to strengthen and clarify my concept. Materials, open space, layouts. 
• The concept of furniture and fixtures to be durable, integrated yet architectural was a good attempt and along the right track. 
• Internal density of the centre. Arrange rooms to use the limited space wisely. 
• Public interaction. Why would they got the cafe? Artistic relation to the community and art space? Limits of public and private? 
• Interesting and challenging concept and brief. 
• Landscape area and urban response to the pedestrian street. 

Personal Reflection

After my presentation I was disappointed with myself for my lack of preparation and my verbal language in explaining my project.
I have moved on with this project with enthusiasm since the charrette and was getting excited with idea and the form and the romantic possibilities this project will do. However the feedback was good! it grounded me to stop following tangents and look backwards at the big picture and original ideas.
Now I have had a week to get over it, I have gone back to some research and the homelessness forum to ask questions about the layout and what works and doesn't.
http://www.homelessforums.org/showthread.php?p=33536&posted=1#post33536 

So what to do now? 

• Internal layouts - bedrooms and communal area relationships.
• Look at details, structure and materiality.
• Environmental consideration(refine)
• Open space and use of the site.
• Public areas - urban planning, cafe/retail element.
• A new series of vignettes.
• PHYSICAL MODELS!
• Contact Bruce Judd(FBE-City Future) for a review of my work.

Design Project Development Submission

Open publication - Free publishing - More youth

I have attached my design project development review submission as presented on Friday the 3rd.

Just Keep Designing

The plans below are snap shots(not all my conceptual sketches) of the process to where my project is up to now.

They read in chronological order.

The plans above is a development form my conceptual design in S1. The entry is brought foward to a more public area.

Communal areas surround the courtyard for additional security.

Atrium space for socialising, gathering and meeting.

Working in section to work out levels, voids and roof form.

The above four sketches are ideas for entry inot the centre and courtyard.

top left - No courtyard, using the old vs new as an entry point.

top right - Stairs are central located, old vs new entry point, open floor plan for overlooking by offices.

bottom left - Cafe opening onto the courtyard, gates to courtyard for after hour security, location of reception

Bottom right - bike storage

Courtyard takes a more organic form and extends into the hotel.

Gates separate private form public functions. 

Street access to clinic for non residence.

circular building form to maintain maximum solar gain.

Internal layout adopts the more free form shape.

Cafe amenities follows the shape of the copurtyard.

ground floor

first floor

second floor

The design so far...

The urban plan is important to highlight the entry but also separate the public from private. 

Using the existing hard surface pattern along with the a more organic pattern flowing from the courtyard will unite yet separate the functions carried on within the centre

Updated vignettes of the entry - stairs - bedrooms(option 1 & 2)

Precedent Studies - Byker Development

Ralph Erskin
Redevelopment - Mid 1970's
Byker district of Newcastle upon Tyne, England

• long unbroken block of 620 units.
• Project played with textured, complex facades, colourful brick, wood and plastic panels – unique to the time for low rise residential buildings

• Many awards and became a grade listed 2 building.
• The development attempted to create a dialogue between community and architecture.
• The layout was designed to leave cars on the outskirts of the estate and public spaces were included to encourage social interaction.
• Large green areas and trees. Balconies and walkways were planted by residence.
• Major iconic buildings to the area were kept and built around and into. This design idea is to keep a sense of community alive.

Review 1 aka Charette 1

For our studio review we did an in class charrette. We produce 9 vignettes illustrating movement, architectural space and materiality. This process was exciting and of great use to identify previously unforeseen issues; such as the stair case, gardens, height of gates(bulk and scale) etc.

This was an easy process of quickly sketching out the movement from the courtyard - entry - stair case(vertical circulation) - hallway and bedrooms.

Sketches from charrette:

view from street(top is looking south, bottom from Nicholson street looking north)

Bulk and scale are key issues for my design. The reuse of the existing hotel becomes a key public area. I have separated old form new by a courtyard and offset projections of the façade to have that separation yet still remained linked. The use of material, esp on Nicholson Street, is vital to retain that relationship with the historic Victorian workers terraces to the east and the hotel to the west.

Looking at the garden

The void that is creted by separating the north and west "wings"of the building allows me to introduce a garden or social area where residence and users of the facility can relax, chat, or gather ones thoughts. This void allows the sleeping areas to have a view, gain light etc.

Entry

The entry is important that it creates a safe area for the users. Previously on my conceptual design form S1 the issue of security was raised. Making the entry a dominate part of the scheme; with offices, clinics, common rooms and courtyard all relates and overlooks each other.

Projections and façade treatment of this space allows the entry to be dynamic, lively, and welcoming. The active use of the areas around the entry adds to the security of the users entering and exiting.

Atrium Space

Stair case(option 1)

Stair case (option 2)

from sketching  the stair case as a means of vertical circulation, just saw a conventional steel or concrete stair case. This however didn't 'fit' in with the overall design of the hostel aspect of the project. An attempt to make the stairs into a more 'prominent/sculptural' architectural element to the scheme saw the circulation space change to a more interesting element.

Stair landing, looking at first floor

Again looking at the stair case and thinking of the journey. I looked at what could happen to the wall that separates the terraces from the project. Ideas were planted walls, art/interactive walls. endless possibilities:)

Balconies to living and bedrooms

Hallway with seating

From the precedent studies, the hallway allowed me to make seating nodes, areas where the residence can make their own. This allows a more informal, personal, a sense of belonging. 

Although its just a hallway, the opportunity to allow the users to arrange how they see this space adds to the concept of empowering the user, allowing them to feel like they are part of something. ie a community.

Bedroom (option 1)

Bedroom (option 2)

The bedrooms are one of possibilities as well. Modular, integrated, durable furniture is the first thing that jumps to mind. The users are ages 14 to 25 yrs and object that swing, delicate, movable are all issues that I have to consider. However, allowing the bedrooms to be interesting, safe and with all the basic comforts allows the user, again, to feel like they are part of something bigger.

Options are to have glass façade with operable windows(louvres), pivot windows with window seats, integrated desk, cupboards and seating. 

These bedroom decisions will be a process of continual research and sketching the results.

I love drawing and will be a process i will use throughout my design.


After the charrette I applied a similar process to one of the precedent studies, The student housing in Glockengasse, Salzburg, Austria.. Studying  the circulation and details.

Student housing dividing cliff face from the village.

Circulation patterns

The circulation pattern indicated that the user would arrive and see reception and then proceed to the vertical lifts and or stairs. The bedrooms were arranged on a terminal corridor and room pattern.

Section through the stairs and void

Emergency Stairs