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