FINAL PRESENTATION. 3/11/08

MONDAY 13TH

EXCERSISE TWO

S E C T I O N A L . P E R S P E C T I V E

C R O S S . S E C T I O N . O N E

C R O S S . S E C T I O N . T W O

S T R U C T U R E S . D R A W I N G

PRECEDENT STUDIES

S U R R Y   H I L L S   C O M M U N I T Y 

C E N T R E   P R O P O S A L

• Addresses Crown St as its main facade.

• New building footprint has allowed for a laneway between buildings to be created. This allows the neighboring cafe/restaurant to open into the lane, increasing public atmosphere and encouraging involvement.

• The building fabric has conformed to traditionalist urban design form of buildings enclosing space, rather than buildings within space. This is noted by the facade sitting flush against the street.

S T I C K S   A N D   S T O N E S

a new public library in Villanueva, Columbia

Villanueva, Colombia, a small town 130 miles east of Bogotá, has long been caught in that country’s bloody 44-year civil war. It is known for its oil and its frequent spasms of violence; in 2001, right-wing guerrillas kidnapped 200 local farmers. Unsurprisingly, the town’s school system is in shambles. In an effort to right Villanueva’s sinking fortunes, the Colombian government turned to architecture.

A Modernist building in dialogue with the regional design vernacular, Villanueva’s new public library features local materials such as timber and river stones.

The 37,000-square-foot library commissioned for Villanueva—two enormous wood-and-stone blocks, one on the ground and the other raised on pillars—was built piece by piece by the community it serves. The focal point of its minimalist concrete-and-metal interior is an outdoor plaza; in a town that has been a playground for rival paramilitary groups, the library has become both a refuge and an agent of change.

COOGEE COMMUNITY CENTRE

Coogee remains a multipurpose platform for public activity throughout the entire year.

There is no need to state the obvious public nature of the natural landscape that engulfs the architecture within the area. 

Beachside living dominates the influence for real estate decisions within the area, with Coogee being known as one of the most live-able beachside suburbs in the Eastern Suburbs. 

During the summer period, Coogee Beach, Gordons Bay and Coogee Bay road are flocked with a huge range of demographics out to achieve their "ideal weekend". The opportunities are endless when considering the possibilities to enjoy a beautiful summer day in the Coogee area.

The colder months in Coogee are not as dorment as one would think. The hospitality precincts surrounding the site are flourishing with activity throughout all times of the week. With Coogee being the ideal destination for a sunny winter morning breakfast with friends by the water.

There is no need to mention the nightlife of Coogee as i'm sure it is far more publicised on the local news than necessary. 

Coogee is close behind Bondi Beach as being the beachside tourist capital of Sydney. With numerous Backpackers, and tourist friendly restaurants and bars surrounding the area, it proves again as one of the most liveable areas for tourists.

The following images outline various aspects i have found interesting within the Coogee area, mainly being materiality, history and public life.

The following drawings convey my understanding of insertion and reciprocity. Clearing outlining landscape, activity and the current life of the site.

The following are my interpretive mapping boards, the first two clearly outline the driving vocabulary behind my future design direction in regards to the community centre.

As the design consists of a public structure, my main influence for the mapping excersise was exploring the current public life in the Coogee area.

P R E S E N T A T I O N

S U N   P A T H

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2 2 8.K I N G .S T .

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P U B L I C

L I F E

B E T W E E N

B U I L D I N G S

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“Providing for human use and enjoyment is a basic requirement in creating and maintaining successful open spaces. Past studies of parks, plazas, and neighborhood open spaces definitively have shown that providing for human needs is a prerequisite for successful public spaces.”

Francis, M.2003, Urban Open Space: Designing for User Needs, Island Press & Landscape Architecture Foundation, Washington, D.C., pg 13-35, passim.

Urban design within today’s context is dictated by the study of how people actually use and react to the spatial environment around them.

The use of urban design to mould the public life of society has become vital to maintaining a sustainable city. The presence of public spaces such as plazas, parks and squares within an urban environment have been proven by figures as Danish architect Jan Gehl, to play an integral role in the structure of public life.

An ordinary day on King St.
A cluster of pedestrians pass each other along the sidewalk. King St represents a multipurpose medium for transportation, pedestrian movement, retail and hospitality. It is interpreted as a main pathway, shared between suburbs, education, health and CBD utilities. It is known that during peak periods, it is faster to walk than drive through the dense areas of King St.

This conveys an extremely dense nature of use. One that should be accommodated for by means of an expansive boulevard. One that currently has no resemblance to what it is today.
In order to withdraw those pedestrians that use King St as a route from “a to b”, it is necessary to provide alternate (and obvious) pathways in surrounding streets. This can be achieved by providing expansive and inviting openings between King St and its parallel neighbors. By doing so it allows the current pathways along king St to be primarily occupied by those attracted to the retail and hospitality precincts.







The concept of using public space to increase pedestrian flow as well as public life has already been achieved by a few sites along King St. Namely, the public square opposite Newtown Station and the space occupied by 134-40 King St that allows access to Bucknell St at the rear. These gateways act as an inviting passage towards precincts surrounding King St. This increases public awareness of location and the imageability of the built environment.





The absence of public space concerned with this area of King St makes it hard to break up the well defined retail hub of King St. The presence of public space would successfully allow users to enjoy a range of public life experiences. At present, this particular strip represents a repetitive retail environment that lacks imageability and sense of place. It is often common for users to struggle to find “that great shop” upon returning for their second visit as they had no physical landmark, or icon to identify its location. Without these “wayfinding” tools, users of retail and hospitality precincts such as King St , struggle to develop emotional attraction and deter them from revisiting.

My design plan for 228 King St will increase public life, the imageability of King St and the public awareness of the positive effect of interactive public space on society.

PROJECT THREE- PUBLIC/ART/APARTMENT

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PROJECT TWO SLIDESHOW

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THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT

With the use of a studio lamp and an attempt at multitasking, the below video represents my intended passage of light over my constructed topography, rising from one corner; the lowest height above sea level, to the highest.

With the sun setting in the distance beyond the mountains one realises that the world continues to progress no matter how big your problems may feel.

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STAGES

BRAINSTORMING

The two sketches below represent the first and second personal interpretations of possible spacial outcomes represented in my selected painting.