North-East Elevation highlighting the bridge between the organic glass canopy and the natural environment strewn throughout the linear structure.
An overarching shot showing the complete structure and its place in UNSW.
The informal learning area is a circular glass section with concrete tables inside. The second story is a place for students and staff to meet and relax.
The computer labs are next to the design lab which has graphics tablets. This shot shows from below the canopy and also highlights one of my materials.
This section of the structure is where the offices and meeting areas for staff are located. They are illuminate by direct and indirect light all day.
The literal bridge between this structure and the Squarehouse, sheltered under the glass canopy. The gallery is located here, an informal showcasing area.
The lecture hall. The moving screen comes from the main column and produces a wall and board/projector for classes.
Moving Elements
Here we see both moving elements. The garden raises up to produce a feature bridging the two levels, and the wall comes from the column to produce a functional teaching wall.
Understanding beauty is a complication
This theory allowed me to create a model that allows for such a natural spectacle when viewed at any point in the day, harnessing natural light and a connection to the outdoors. It is complicated by its function- the actual teaching of architectural and engineering principles.
After looking at the list of possible spaces for the new school I listed those that this structure needed. I believed that the Squarehouse has enough computers and tutorial rooms, and also has a complete workshop. By bridging the two buildings this one would need possbily neither of them.
These are the things I chose that my building needed and the relative size.
I took some of the plan and turned it 90 degrees to make it 3D to get a grasp of where everything should now be placed in the empty building. The second sketch is a quick layout.
Below is my draft environment, with the majority of the structure needed but no real detail, materials or functional details placed in yet.
This week we had to create 6 two-point perspectives, and then develop one into a Sketchup and Lumion model. It was required to have both linear and organic shape in the structure, and form a bridge.
I took this as an opportunity to integrate my concept into the project, making a literal and physical bridge between my building and the squarehouse, and also a conceptual bridge between; the two theories of architecture and engineering, and the built and natural.
Moving Parts
This will be a garden that doubles as stairs up to the second story.
The glass pane extends out of the wall as a screen for the lecture hall and to sever the bridge between the interior and exterior when needed.
I am studying Civil Engineering and Architecture and so I wanted to find a theory from a great architect that also appreciated the engineering side of things. I landed on Santiago Calatrava, and found an article talking on his take on the blurred line between the two. The following paragraph formed my theory that I would use for this project.
"We humans live in two worlds. First, there is the outer world of appearances- all of the forms of things that captivate our eye. But hidden from our view is another world- how these things actually function, their anatomy or composition, the parts working together and forming the whole. This second world is not so immediately captivating. It is harder to understand. It is not something visible to the eye, but only to the mind that glimpses the reality. But this “how” of things is just as poetic once we understand it- it contains the secret of life, of how things move and change."
This is my submission with the final parts of the project. To see my initial and ongoing experimentation throughout the 4 weeks, continue to the last few posts in the blog.
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
For this project we were tasked with creating a light rail stop for UNSW addressing a chosen theme and inspired by two architects and their practiced concepts. I chose to address the concept of Sustainability, and my architects were Servo-Stockholm-LAX, and Le Corbusier. First we were asked to create axonometrics that are inspired by concepts from each of the architects.
FINAL AXONOMETRICS + CONCEPTS
The facade of the building should be able to be designed freely without the burden of acting as a support.
- Le Corbusier inspired.
The building should be raised on strong columns, so that there is free circulation on the ground level, and a free floor plan in the upper level by taking away the supporting walls.
- Le Corbusier inspired.
Form consists of repeated geometric shapes and structures that make the structure strong and efficient, and allows that aesthetic to be improved.
- Le Corbusier inspired
Develop an architectural environment that integrates synthetic ecologies with shifting material states.
- Servo inspired.
The transposition of physical form and information flows. The way in which an information flow and code can create a structure that is in a real material state.
- Servo inspired.
Questioning the exactitude of digital processes in design, and attempting to produce them in a way that emphasises the flaws in constructing a computer design.
- Servo inspired.
These were one of the axonometrics put into Lumion to show form.
JOINED AXONOMETRICS
The following axonometrics were my original axonometrics joined together, with one curved to show a curvilinear surface that would eventually come into the Lumion project as a solid.
While experimenting with curvilinear solids, I decided to create a Servo inspired solid that I could implement into my final design as a 3D artwork to address Sustainability by creating an artwork that examines a created ecology. One of my custom textures was used on the white parts, though it was not an obvious implementation.
36 CUSTOM TEXTURES
With this section I experimented a little bit by looking at the two architects and some of their works and how they play with the concepts of shadow and light and dark in their creations. By overlaying a piece by Servo over the top of Le Corbusier I created an image that showed a clear path of light to dark in different patterns.
By drawing it and gridding it into 36 squares, I created 36 textures exploring light to dark and how these architects did this using shape and form in their works and tried to repeat this in my final project.
For the textures used in my Project, I needed some textures that I could use on an actual surface though. I created another 36 going from light to dark then developed 3 textures to use in Lumion.
USED TEXTURES
FINAL MODEL
Using the following 2 concepts, one from each architect, I created this light rail stop, while addressing the theme of Sustainability. Le Corbusier - The building should be raised on strong columns, so that there is free circulation on the ground level, and a free floor plan in the upper level by taking away the supporting walls. Servo - Develop an architectural environment that integrates synthetic ecologies with shifting material states.
This is an overall photo of the building my light rail stop is situated around. It combines form, textures and strong use of shadow to create an aesthetic and sustainable stop, while still staying true to its UNSW architectural surroundings with a lot of concrete and brick.
Inspired by the concept, the building is raised with a lot of exposed concrete allowing for a car and bus function on the lower floor, more parking spots, and an undercover waiting area. The upper levels are now free to have a good floor plan, and a comfortable and nice area for people to relax and wait.
Servo's inspiration led me to address Sustainability over the entire building by having multiple gardens that access a lot of sun and shade throughout the day. The environmental aspect was connected to the constructed side to examine the connection between the two.
Dropbox Link to Lumion: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0v3a080fnxh9yps/AABFSYq22z-fxsu-s-us81-la?dl=0
Sketchup Link: https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/7dc6424a-5fec-4ff1-ab15-f08edf8cd317/ARCH1101-EXP2-2018-Matt-Bromage
