WEEK 10: Progression

I continued with my spectator stadium. Talking with Ruwan, he suggested to develop greater detail by firstly developing  how the players and spectators compete together.

From this I attempted to visualize virtual gaming stations that would allow interaction between spectators and players. The architecture is based around the technology with podium allowing a physical connected to the player.

Multiple podium place together form the physical stadium. Coloured disc indicate the player's team. This architectural idea is based upon upcoming technology. Technology that is not available to many people, but is growing.

 

The Oculus rift is represented by the visor the eyes into the virtual world.

Sensors enable the connectivity and allow the transmittal of play.

WEEK 9: Research

The designated time scenario of the project is little than 8 - 18years from today. Unlike, our previous scenario, 2040 a lot of Brisbane could drastically change, however to suggest major changes in Brisbane at this time is unbelievable. Consequently, I decided to look back 20 years to see past changes.

2030 - 2012 = 18
2012 - 18 = 1996....ish

Please note that Brisbane’s rate of growth of 1.3% compounded and in 18 years a greater growth will be seen, especially with greater technology (ABS 2008).

Historically, Brisbane has continually developed further outwards, due to the accessibility granted from a car. The city has seen much change:

• Implementation and removal of trams 1969 (Wenham and Chalmers 2007)
• Pedestrianising Albert/Queen Street from 1982 - 1988 (Feeney, K. 2012)
• As well major high-rise development constantly ongoing.

 In the last 30 years Brisbane has seen an unprecedented growth, jumping to 1.8million. This change can be seen in the Brisbane City itself. (see pictures below)

 Brisbane from Kangaroo Cliffs 1987. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=804970&page=2

  Brisbane from Kangaroo Cliffs 2011.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brisbane_from_Kangaroo_Point.jpg

 Brisbane from Southbank 1996. http://kazza.id.au/MT-4.01-en/mt-search.cgi?tag=Scanning&blog_id=1

Brisbane from Southbank 2010. http://kazza.id.au/MT-4.01-en/mt-search.cgi?tag=Scanning&blog_id=1

Brisbane's growth is expected to continually, with a population growth of 1.3% per annum. "Queensland is projected to experience the largest percentage increase in population between 30 June 2007 and 2056, more than doubling the 2007 population of 4.2 million to 8.7 million people by 2056. As a result Queensland is projected to replace Victoria as Australia's second most populous state in 2050." (ABS 2008) By 2026 Brisbane's population will estimated to be 2.6 million (ABS 2008).

 

Conclusion

Brisbane's population will continue to rise and so will its infrastructure requirements. 

Parcels of land within the city will become either refurbished or redeveloped. 

References

ABS. 2008. Population Projections, Australia, 2006 to 2101 . www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3222.0. Accessed 19 September 2012

Feeney, K. 2012. Queen Street Mall's 30-year evolution. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/queen-street-malls-30year-evolution-20120227-1tyoq.html. Accessed 19 September 2012

Wenham, M., Chalmers, E. 2007. Trams Back in Brisbane. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/trams-back-in-brisbane/story-e6freoof-1111113964875
Accessed 19 September 2012

WEEK 9: Mapping

Further analysis was able to highlight this selective gentrification. Looking at current building functions of the city also highlighted the mixed use. Using  the google search tool I was able to visually see this.

A more precise attempt using BBC information produced the below.

This mapping exercise highlighted the dispersed isolated areas of possible growth.

 My selected site would be similar and would need to consider current conditions.

WEEK 10: Model Start

After selecting the site I started to model the site. Only knowing the heights (from Ruwan 3Ds Model) and ground floor division I estimated the facade dimensions. Using revit I was able to visibly show the existing site in a 3D model.

The 3d model was time consuming, but also highlighted the existing orthogonal building. I intend to maintain and refurbish this building. The private laneway is always an appealing feature.

MID-SEMESTER BREAK: Further Research

Mitchel (1998) also promotes the idea of dematerialisation, in Antitectonics: The Poetics of Virtuality discussing the conflict between virtual and architectural. The virtual world's utopian world is seen as a positive. The statement of "less is more" famously said by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe can exaggerated to possible state that virtual is infinite. However, programmable space initiates an unstable relationship. No weight of matter creates an architectural dream where anything is possible and no restraints.  But caught up in this new euphoric architectural utopia, Mitchel (1998, 211) states that architecture is the mediation of both domains, virtual and physical.

Mission Statement:
Today we see ourselves at an avoidable crossroad. The Information Age has brought a integration between mass and energy and an introduction to the virtual world: a world infinite, a world where everything and anything is possible. Architecture could be seen lying on its deathbed with the dematerialisation and visualization of the world but it is not like any organism it must evolve; mediating both physical and virtual domains developing itself as the interface.

Mitchel ,William. 1998. “Antitectonics: The Poetics of Virtuality” The Virtual Dimension: Architecture, Representation and Crash Culture. Edited by John Beckmann. p. 204 - 217. New York: Princeton Architectural Press

MID SEMESTER BREAK: The Death of Architecture

Through the use of technology and innovative products such as the Apple products, there is a greater emphasis of minimalism or de-materialism. Ruby (1998, 181) implies that that this dematerialization goes parallel to deterritorialization and decorporation. This is true in the real world with greater awareness of open sourcing and networking to stimulate greater development. However, with architecture on the hand there is slow sense of dematerialisation with technology allowing greater use and knowledge of equilibrium, materials and structure. This is not really breaking any new territory either with such work as the Glass House by Philip Johnson in 1949.

Glass House - http://rap361.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/philip_johnson_glasshouse.jpg

However today there is greater awareness of a third building dimension. Previous it was thought that mass and energy were simply the two dimensions. Today a third dimension: information. The great growth of technology in this age of information can questions the practicality of adding architecture for the sake it.

This can only question is this leading to the death of architecture.  Human activity is no longer restricted to physical encounters. The virtual age question the actuality or scope of architecture? Or does it imply a paradox, where the augmentation between both domains: virtual and real architecture coexist. This implies that virtual worlds as an architectural tool to overcome the constraints of physical construction with the architecture being subjected to electronics and electro-magnetic waves.

Along with the evolution of entities through time, architecture will evolve. Like pop-culutral fads architectural will bear a simple resounding idea of previous aesthetics and ideas. Of course it will continue to exist, but it will literally be in a different state of disappearance.

Ruby, A. 1998. “Architecture in the age of it’s virtual Disappearance” The Virtual Dimension: Architecture, REpresentation and Crash Culture. Edited by John Beckmann. p. 178 - 187. New York: Princeton Architectural Press

MID-SEMESTER BREAK: freshH20 eXPO

I came across, freshH20 eXPO in a text and decided to look into greater detail for this blog post. The FreshH20 is a water pavilion and interactive installation located in Zeeland, Netherlands and created by WaterLand Neeltje Jans (Spubroek 1998, 264).

The building attempts to exemplify the qualities of water. With no set program, but an interactive and fluid installation. Technological senses connecting to lights project waves, ripple and blobs onto the interior surfaces. Audible sounds also create a tranquil environment. Walls, floors, ceilings become indistinguiable to users, forming the charasterics of water.  Together, all these features develop a relationships as the building where the user is submerged in sensory engaged environment.

FreshH20 steps forward in the direction of a possible future experimental city. Users are immersed in a poetic phenomenon analogy through the varying interactive capabilities.  As an installation itself it created a unity between the subject and object architecture from the development of perception of the sensory engaged architectural environment.

 

Almeida (2010) perceives the building in a constant change and redeemed as an unfinished attempting validate the inseparable architectural qualities of action and perception. As in the building is in constant interaction with users there is sense of incomplete form due to continual development in every moment.

On a further note, this architectural entity exemplifies similar qualities of the experiential developing a user language. Ruwan in the tutorial brought this idea of forming and establishing a language interface.I will continue working on this.

Spubroek ,L. 1998. freshH20 eXPO “The Virtual Dimension. edited John Beckmann. p. 264 - 267. New York: Princeton Architectural Press

Almeida, M. Alves de. 2010. The guy in the phenomenological architecture of H2O expo. http://agitprop.vitruvius.com.br/revistas/read/arquitextos/10.125/3541. Accessed 23 September 2012

WEEK 8: Site Visit and Research

Site Visit
After the tutorial a small group decided to go visit the site. Here are a few pictures.

 Queen Street is a popular attraction well know for its retail, mostly due to it's central location.

 Numerous historical buildings are still used, however few are given light to.

 360* panorama view of Queen Street.

Burnett Lane is primarily used for deliveries. Brisbane City Council have invested in developing a laneway revival with new bars located in the laneway.

An old facade with a vacant site behind on Elizabeth Street.

Further Research

Central District Plan - http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/planning-guidelines-and-tools/city-plan-zones-codes/city-plan-2000-document/chapter-4-local-plans/index.htm

Brisbane has numerous historical protected facades many of which have little life. Most of facades are decaying reducing what is left of Brisbane's history.

I found an interest to the vacant site off Elizabeth Street. Looking at the space itself I started to think of possible capabilities. The architecture firm Herzog De Meuron has done numerous works integrating heritage and modern uses.

Here is some of their work

Caxia Forum / Madrid

River Tunes / Hamburg

WEEK 8: Tutorial and Lecture

 Lecture
This week’s lecture brought a variety of ideas to mind. Firstly, Yasu looked at the buildings cycle illustrating the design, fabrication transport, assemble, adapt, then waste and decommission of a project. This was best case scenario allowing reuse and further adaptability.

There is a slow paradigm shift to future proofing design. Previous hierarchial systems prevent ever changing and spontaneous design. Static architecture will be continually be built, but greater design opportunities will allow this change, which is evident today.

Tutorial
From the tutorial I approached Ruwan with my ideas. I was still unsure that stadiums were appropriate typology after the research i had done. Concluding that currently stadiums required vast amounts of infrastructure, and space. Looking at the Wyly Theatre by OMA it was also concluded that the space would need a variety of uses, unlike existing stadiums.

While discussing this Yasu questioned my future sport, saying, “I dont see sport changing by 2020”.

At the point, I realised that this statement was true. However, I only later realised that sport was not the only entertainment that has spectators. Looking at only existing sports stadiums to see a form, I forgot about Gaming.

 
The technology evolution - Image from previous project

Gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry connecting millions everyday, Through research of the scenario it was found that our use of the internet is evolving. Today wired and wireless controllers are used as a means of transmitting and a means of playing. The Wii controllers took this a step further and use motion control as a means of playing tool. However, in the future developers are working on gaming systems that work on augmented reality. In other words players will not need to use consoles, but use a tool that reads their minds. Pretty crazy, but there is definitely signs of advancements.

WEEK 7: Research

Generating the experiential city model the stadium idea was further questioned. Looking at existing stadiums there was strong impacts to the surrounding areas. Most stadiums were located in transitional areas, and not too far the central urban district, but not located centrally either.

Accessibility was seen an imperative factor of the general stadium design, considering thousands of people would exiting and entering at certain times. While at other times, they could be redeemed as useless with little to no use. At peak hour times stadiums required high transport infrastructure. The Gabba, Brisbane utilized a high network of busing to transit people. At the New York Mets, NY personal parking surrounded the stadium requiring vasts amount of lands. Another stadium viewing platform was the TKTS Booth in NY, USA located within the NY Time Square and provides a tourists to view the surroundings.

Another factor in this context is the possibility for versatility and resilience design. Most stadium usually house one function: to support a large number of people viewing needs for a short time.  Consequently, stadium in the past have been used as spectator sport, festival, markets, and shelters. The Wyly Theatre designed by OMA is a standout. Although it’s not a stadium it has the capability for multiple uses, through a changing architectural entity (see below)
 

Wyly Theatre by OMA changing function (made by author using http://housevariety.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/dee-and-charles-wyly-theatre-by-rexoma.html#.UFCRVETh_oE)

 

Secondly the site is questionable for this scene. With the issues raised above, there is question that the space will allow this future use. This week I was meant to confirm my direction, however I still feel I need to do more research. The changed time of the scenario implies different changes than the previous project. I decided to look at other projects to develop my scale, target users and possible scenarios.

WEEK 7: Typology

In the tutorial our group collaborated again. In order to move forward with our individual architectural vision we concluded with the following.

Current Uses of Brisbane CBD

• Retail
• Food courts
• Business
• Cinema
• Socialising spaces

Scenario Goals

• Lifestyle + Experience focused
• Boutique retail speciality
• Quality of life.

From this we talked about our architectural possibilities and suggested possible architectural typologies that connected with our goals.

Boutique 

• Learning Centre
• Specialty stores

Green Agriculture

• Vertical Farming / Open source farming
• Related restaurants and enterprises working together
• Fish farming
• Air filter
• Greenspace/parkland
• Energy production
• Library

From the movie, Tron the game, Disc Wars.

We didn't have a list of possible architectural entities for modular, but found that it was able to be combined into the other scenarios. From this, I brought up that a particular goal was experience visualised the movie, Tron. In the movie, Sam the protagonist becomes a competitor in DiscWars, which is similar to frisbee, but you can die if it touches you.

Here is a few pictures from this video.

Disc Wars arena from Tron 

I really like this idea, but implementation could be difficult. I think it suits the experience value in our scenario and would be enjoyable designing. On a side note another idea I found interesting was designing a night club. A modular club / hotel could also be a possible typology.