Week Fifteen: Final Presentation and Crit Reflection

Final A1 Panel:

Panel Presentation Reflection: I was pretty happy with the final layout of my panel, although if I had to do it again I think I would have made it a bit more spaced out with maybe a little bit of explanatory text or key words included. I think the inclusion of the diagrams worked well to communicate how the building works. The site plan was very small and it may have been better to make this a bit bigger somehow or make it stand out a bit more. The colour scheme could have also been a bit more bright to make certain images pop and stand out on the board. Overall I was pretty pleased with the panel board in it's role in communicating my main ideas and the key images my the project.

Final movie of showing the Cultural Centre experience:

  

Movie Presentation Reflection: The movie's main role was to communicate the spacial experience and communicate a greater understanding of how the building works. Although the quality wasn't the greatest (this was the best that it would come out as) I think it communicated these aspects quite well, giving the tutors a better understanding of what the building would look and feel like.

REFLECTION ON FINAL PRESENTATION AND CRIT:

In hindsight, I think there were a few changes that I could have made to the building in order to make it more feasible in my future scenario. The tutors said that the communication of how the building serves the future scenario was lacking a bit and this needed some more explanation in the discussion afterwards. I think the inclusion of a bit more research would give this a bit more depth and would show my understanding a bit more. On the contrary, they said that the masterplan worked very well in communicating my future scenario. The tutors also questioned the scale of the building - as the future scenario involved a densified environment where space is scarce - so the scale of this building may not be feasible as it may have needed to be taller. I think a possible solution to this issue would be to create a taller building with different uses on top of the cultural centre, such a commercial, or even some related cultural uses to establish the centre as a cultural hub rather than a node. Another comment was that Yasu was concerned that the roof of the structure may drip. Although he said this may be unavoidable, the details of gutters and down piping may have helped this issue. Davor also appreciated the efforts that I had gone to to kept the facade kept in tact and continue the character of the street as this acknowledges the contexts in which the building sits.

Week Fifteen: Project Two Summarising Statement

In a city of advancing technology, increasing population and its establishment of itself on a global scale as a conference centre, the building is focused on responding to the social condition that exists within the future scenario. The Brisbane CBD has become centralised, with a dramatic increase of citizens living in the Brisbane CBD, where educational facilities, housing, workplaces, community facilities, transport systems and recreational areas have all seen the need to become integrated into the urban fabric. Brisbane will also attract an influx of tourists to the city with its expansion and establishment of itself on an international scale and thus requires more destinations for tourists to visit and learn about the Brisbane culture. The proposed Cultural Centre aims to service the community and international visitors in order to meet their needs both culturally and socially, thus emphasising the importance of these aspects in the future scenario. Currently, there are limited cultural nodes within the CBD itself and those that exist are quite minor. Cultural nodes are a major attraction within cities, both to locals and tourists. The transformation of the site into a Cultural Centre will draw a diverse range of people to the proposed building where this will act as a platform where tourists and locals may meet and interact in their exposure to culture.

With increased residential density and population living in the CBD in 2025, the proposed scheme aims to strengthen urban community involvement amongst locals and tourists in a densified environment with restricted open space for recreation and pedestrian activity. This will be achieved through increased open spaces, new streetscapes, providing community facilities, improved infrastructure and more efficient movement. This will create a network of social nodes to encourage an active community lifestyle. The new cultural centre will contribute to this proposed network the new cultural centre will create an integral link between these two public spaces, thus strengthening their relationship. Furthermore, I have proposed the development of a network of greenways surrounding the site in Adelaide, Queen and Albert Streets following the drastic reduction of vehicular activity within the CBD due to the introduction of the congestion charge. These greenways will strengthen the connectivity of public spaces and create pedestrian friendly zones. The greenways will still allow limited vehicular access as well as providing adequate access for cyclists along these paths.

The building imposes its presence on the streetscape, not through its form but through its Ground Level functions. The Cultural Centre’s second function as a public thoroughfare bordered by retail outlets creates a direct connection between Adelaide Street and Burnett Lane, attracting an influx of pedestrian flow in the area. The building blends in with the existing streetscape with its incorporation of the existing facade in the design. Being a cultural building, it was important to preserve this historic facade, in order to preserve the Brisbane identity and traditional vernacular architecture. 

The building form reflects the interactive nature of the building’s function in its establishment as a new social node for the Brisbane CBD. The building form will be conducive of social gathering, learning and collaborating. The building will also lend itself to the various sights of Brisbane that can be seen from this site; the urban grit of Burnett Lane, the magnificent City Hall and King George Square beyond. The building aims to create a relaxing, urban environment. It is a place for social interaction, educational classes, events, entertainment and exhibitions. It functions as a tourist attraction, bringing a diverse crowd of tourists and locals to the site. The building will incorporate cultural facilities that encourage the appreciation of cultural diversity, as well as serve as entertainment purposes. It is my vision that the expression of culture, through the arts, will attract the community and tourists to come together to be entertained and intrigued. The Cultural Centre will form the beginning of the growth of a network of proposed social nodes dispersed throughout the CBD to strengthen urban community involvement.

The Cultural Centre combines retail, small informal gathering spaces, exhibition spaces, a cafe and bar, educational facilities and a small performing space. Against these functions, the courtyard communicates with the public realm. The naturally-ventilated, flexible and informal balcony spaces bordering the southern edges of the building are designed to overlook the urban short-cut, thereby allowing the public to see the activities within the building. These balconies, along with the rooftop area allow access to the surrounding city views in a variety of new and interesting ways.

The Cultural Centre contains simple, flexible spaces. The four levels are visually connected from all the circulation spaces, to the public areas below. This environment is simple, practical, bright, allows airflow and is designed for maximum flexibility and sustainability. Classrooms, studios and circulation are all naturally ventilated, through windows on the facade and through to the curtain walls on the opposite. The green façades within the site are environmental filters, preventing glare entering the building and keeps the various rooms cool. The design creates two visually connected components, a space for public communication below, and a space for safe, controlled interaction above. This design achieves porosity and communication with the public and the wider arts community in the public spaces, and a secure and safe learning environment in the more private spaces.

Week Fourteen: Final Images

QUEEN STREET PRECINT PLAN:

The Queen Street precinct will involve increased connectivity throughout all public spaces and buildings. With increased residential density and population living in the CBD in 2025, the proposed scheme aims to strengthen urban community involvement amoungst locals and tourists in a densified environment with restricted open space for recreation and pedestrian activity. This will be achieved through increased open spaces, new streetscapes, providing community facilities, improved infrastructure and more efficient movement. This will create a network of social nodes to encourage an active community lifestyle. This building will contribute to this proposed network forming a connection from the King George Square and Brisbane Square, thus giving these two spaces a stronger relationship. Furthermore, I propose the creation of a network of greenways surrounding the site in Adelaide, Queen and Albert Streets to create connectivity of public spaces and create pedestrian friendly zones. 


SITE PLAN:

The site's function as a public thoroughfare will increase pedestrian flow in the area, whilst contributing to the urban vibe of Burnett Lane. This will improves pedestrian access to the building by creating more open spaces, plazas and pathways in the design and the surrounding area. By producing a two-tiered public building, a pedestrian thoroughfare is created which will increase the activity in the area to support the uses of the building. 

STREETSCAPE:

The streetscape image shows the presence of the building within the site. Being a cultural building, it was important to preserve the building facade, in order to preserve the Brisbane identity and history. The street elevation also shows its presence as a public thoroughfare, showing its connection between Adelaide Street and Burnett Lane. It is shown in this image that the thoroughfare will increase pedestrian flow in the area, by creating open spaces, plazas and pathways in the design and the surrounding area. Due to the drastic reduction of vehicular activity within the CBD following the introduction of the congestion charge, it is feasible for the streets surrounding the Queen Street precinct to be transformed into greenways. The greenways will still allow limited vehicular access as well as providing adequate access for cyclists along these paths.
 
SECTION:
The section shows the vertical layout of space. In response to current and future global issues, the building will implement sustainable principles throughout the design to limit the environmental impact of the building. Passive design techniques have been used to maximize energy efficiency, such as utilising natural ventilation, day lighting and thermal mass to achieve thermal comfort. The building will use recycled materials where possible (bricks etc.) and will retrofit the building, keeping the existing facade in tact in order to preserve the historical nature of streetscape and save materials. Concrete has been chosen for the main material for the structure due to its durability and ability to withstand future conditions. The building is shaped to ease the transition from the solid street frontage of the Adelaide st facades to the pedestrian lane behind. By doing this also creates a feeling of open space within the site.
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The roof has been designed to allow airflow through horizontally with a staggered form mimicking the building form.The patterned glass shapes allow for sunlight to penetrate the space below whilst also providing shade. The roof structure fits in with the natural feel of the building with the presence of vegetation.

HERO SHOT:
The hero shot shows the building presence within the Burnett Lane site. The cultural centre is a welcoming space, inviting users to spend time within the site. 

EXPERIENCE:
The building aims the create a relaxing, urban environment. It is a place for social interaction, educational classes, events, entertainment and exhibitons. It functions as a tourist attraction, bringing a diverse crowd of tourists and locals to the site. It is the beginning og a network of proposed social nodes dispersed throughout the CBD to strengthen urban community involvement. Below are a series of sequential images showing the experience of the user throughout the building...

FLOOR PLANS:

PANEL DRAFT LAYOUT:

Below is a rough layout of my panel that I have planned in order to utlise the space on the panel to communicate my ideas effectively:

Week Fourteen: Images from my 3D model

Here are a series of images from my 3D computer model:

Entrance from Adelaide St

Courtyard Tree Seating Feature

Main Stairs and Public Seating Overlooking Courtyard

Main Entrance to Foyer

Reception / Ticket Office Desk

Exhibition Space

Small, Intimate Theatre

Corridor Along Facade Looking out to Adelaide St

Exhibition Space

Exhibition Space out to Balcony Seating Area

Cafe and Outdoor Seating Area

Cafe Counter

Outdoor Seating Area Overlooking Burnett Lane and Courtyard

Small, Informal, Flexible Balcony Spaces

Continous Staircase

Multi-Use Computer Lab

Flexible Arts Classrom

Flexible Performance Classroom

Small, Intimate Balcony

Rooftop Seating Area

Roof Structure

Rooftop Bar

Rooftop Outdoor Seating

Rooftop Outdoor Seating

A full fly through of my computer model can be found here:

Week Thirteen: Explanatory Building Diagrams

Circulation Paths 

Circulation paths within the site showing the option of spending time within or building or passing striaght through the thoroughfare.

Preservation of the Exisiting Structure

The existing facade is to be kept in tact along with the majority of the 3 existing floor plates.

Building Functions

The integration of different, but related, building functions within the one structure:

Retail & Food, Amenities, Exhibition Space, Theatre, Educational Space.

Vertical Circulation Routes

Each level is serviced by the single lift core making the building fully disability accessible. The continous staircase to the right of the building allows the user to go directly to their desired destination from the Ground Level.

Views Maximisation

The building is exposed to views of Burnett Lane, King George Square and Adelaide Street. The rooftop area, cafe and various balconies throughout the design allow maximised acces to these views.

Week Thirteen: Courtyard Sunlight Exposure Testing

In order to test how sunlight enters the courtyard and determine the appropriate lengths of each balcony I made a scale test model to see the sunlight exposure that the courtyard has at different times of the day and times of the year. Below are my findings:

SUMMER: MORNING

Some exposure

SUMMER: NOON 

Full exposure

SUMMER: AFTERNOON  

Medium exposure

WINTER: MORNING 

Some exposure

WINTER: NOON  

Good exposure

WINTER: AFTERNOON   

Some exposure

As you can see in these test model images, the courtyard recieves good exposure from the sun at all times of the day and year. Therefore, it will create a desirable environment for users to inhabit and will attract activity. However, at certain times - especially noon during summer - the courtyard will be extremely hot and will require some shading. I don't want this shading to block out ALL of the sun, but to provide SOME protection from the sun.I want the material for this shading to be porous and be conducive to a relaxing mood. I have been looking at some examples for this materiality of this kind of shading:

Roof Structure allowing light into the body of the building creating patterns in the ground.

Porous materiality creating shade yet allowing light through.