A New World

There is a brave new world. I travelled and read this magazine which expressed the new era of car less streets and radical new architecture and vertical urban jungles. Its interesting to see the direction our cities are looking for the future and made further helped my design progression after my presentation day.

CITIES OF TOMORROW What the public may want in Brisbane?
Cities hold the entropic forces of captial decay; both environmental, social and economic. Although there has been alot of decay the cities are changing.

"The city remains man's greatest work of Art" ~Lewis Mudford

The future is uber urban.. people will dwell in the cities so creating public open spaces and using the spaces like Howard Smith Wharf efficiently is important. Architects need to work with planners, policy makers and landscapers to make sure change is evident. Cities are going greener, more beautiful, less congested, hyper connected and moving into the future while still retaining the best of their past.

"Crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind." Chinese proverb

Many cities have gone through crisis, For example Christchurch and Brisbane Floods and sites like Howard Smith Wharf need to consider a new direction incorporating other crisis' many arise. Cities need to not ignore the new opportunities to evolve otherwise those cities will not pervail.

"UTOPIAN CITIES built around fixed idealogies have never worked"
This is an interesting statement by writer Richard Burdett who states failing to adapt to today's changes with their overstretched infrastructure and reliance of motor vehicles. Example; Copenhagen and Hong Kong act as sustainable organisms that make asset of their urban assets.

Sam and myself tried to evolve an Uptopian Community to bring together the surrounding city with suburbs and creating an area where you can escape and still survive without the city. This is a site where motor vehicles are not relied on; the placement of a ferry terminal encourages public transport and entrance at the top of the cliff to promote walking along the trials and using buses. The pathway walkways further expresses these ideals of an utopian community.

There are EIGHT cornerstones of the FUTURE

SAFETY and TECHNOLOGY
TRANSPORT
BEAUTY

They all reinvent our world of crisis and utopia.

COMMUNICATION and URBAN NETWORKING:
People and community are connected more so now than ever! They are connected via social media and messenger apps. Its a key medium to facilitating change!
"The most innovative cities are set up as a system of learning"
This project directly relates to learning spaces of culture and being innovative for a design relevant to the Brisbane Community. People also visit this city and there needs to be a connection for them also aswell as residents. "A connection of TRUST"
A trust system between developers, design, political leaders and community. The use of social networks are perfect for this elaborate system.

DESIGN MANTRA by Julien De Smedt architect "Design conditions and buildings that allow people to want to use them, abuse them and misuse them"

As the wellness clinic provides a design spectrum of the various community needs and activities so people are allowed to express THEIR values and what THEY want to use the space for.

PEOPLE POWER:
WOW! Howard Smith Wharf example of rebutting proposals! We are the city, we are the landscape, we are the space!
Ideas are being shared... they gather momentum... leads to change!
People are connected to their political and social leaders (as shown in the Howard Smith Wharf redevelopment). People's ideas and opinions heavily influence infrastructure design and developments.

"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only beacuse, and only when, they are created by everybody"~ Jane Jacobs who uses a feminist approach to planning.

Community involves bringing together residents and public officials to create a new diverse range. Its where YOUR opinion matters!!

TECHNOLOGY:

The advancement of technology steers our communication and our cities. Soon it will be our lives, our activities and values.

"Computers changed our lives.. internet will bring entirely new revolution to cities"

It will bring a new positive approach to design.

SAFETY:
We need to learn from past crisis' and change our approach to new building and our future.

"Mother nature is, for better or (so often) for worse"

Its imperative to rebuild our cities to withstand the earth's breakdowns. 

TRANSPORT:
This is linked heavily with safety; more commuters need more new solutions.

"Electric rollerskates, personal flying vehicles and smart roads"The future experts concepts. 

SUSTAINABILITY:
Our population grows.. Brisbane is growing.. we need to think how sustainability can impact our environment.

"The world is careening towards catastrophe, and urban development could play a massive role in veering us off the course of a grim end." ~Noble Peace winner Al Gore

Enegery-efficient buildings, decrease use of vehicles, use renewable energy sources and TREES... These are aspects used in my Howard Smith Wharf design. I hoped to further investigate energy-efficient buildings in the future to help encourage a more sustainable future for us all. Sam and I have thought to develop this into an utopian community where the urbanities consider world's sources.

There are many places which are both environmentally and aesthetically pleasing such as the Pile of Boxes in Tianjin.



BEAUTY:
A sustainable city is a natural one with beauty being an integral part to a place's liveability. As cities grow, public space becomes more important as living space increases. The public spaces need to become more valuable as such which I hope to bring to Howard Smith Wharf through my numerous objectives. It needs to incorporate heritage and architecture design together with sustainable practices.


A defining elements of the world's future urban centres. Such as the Valencia's The City of Arts and Sciences complex.

DESEGREGATION:
Public Spaces will become and are spaces that break down social barriers which gives a peaceful coexistence in cities with expanding and more diverse populations. Brisbane area has become one which needs to celebrate these intimate social interactive spaces. The viewing out, connections to other suburbs, multiple entrances, paths, promoting active forms, providing areas of interaction and using sustainable material construction.



 After my presentation it was noted that I should research Richard Rogers, placing the ramps closer to the cliffs, experimenting more with ramps and placing the modules as "floating" levels. This was like the Indian School I grew inspiration from where the levels are visually "floating" off the cliffs.

I investigated the ramps of Richard Rogers and tried to experiment with ramps but ran out of time and the modules are already explicitedly shown as floating but could be connected to the actually cliffs. This design can be very much experimented MORE and used 3D modelling and doing a model. Doing a model was my intentions but was a rough model and was disappointed I wouldnt be able to make a good enough model. I was then also disappointed I could draw a 3D model via computer modelling :( I'm learning but I know I cant get a could mark for it. I tried hard with my own drawings so hopefully this is still portray my concept and experiences I want the users to feel.

THERE ARE LESSONS LEARNT

FAMILY IS EVERYTHING... MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AFTER THEM

PLAY: Culture events, celebration, entertainment, guide, enjoy, yoga, family affair, recharge your energies, Nothing compares to YOU TIME, Taking time to REMEMBER YOU, Designed for the INDIVIDUAL, so much for so little, turn a PASSION for helping others into a Wellness Clinic and a healthy living lifestyle :)

Design Relevant

Further spoken about in my relevance to my design written work regarding architects.

RELEVANCE TO MY DESIGN

Top Left: JOH 3, Berlin 2012 by Mayer H. Architects

The Sculptural design of suspended slat facade draws the notion of landscape in the city, a quality visible courtyard garden and the building's silhouette and layout. Ground Floor facing the main pathway including other commercial spaces in the Utopian community. Generous sized yoga suites open themselves to the view of calm Brisbane views and into the cliff and the courtyard. Spacious and breezy transitions between inside and outside create an open experience in the various floors with surrounding variable heights of the cliff, buildings level and a succession of ramps. My design incorporates facade, lifts, ramps, vies, unique spatial excepeiences with a scale variable in design.

Top Right: Glass House, Etajima-shi by Naf Architecture & Design
This building is based on a simple system of stacking large timber/concrete slab blocks. They are like building blocks staggered to make a structure with a big dulation of breakwater blocks. They can be made with low price materials therefore being sustainable. The building composition consists of also a roof and opaque glass (you can see out but you cant see in) to enclose interior space of a timber walls. It will give a view and offer a secure place of privacy. Also reflections of light shine through the module inside from the changing break-water structure.


The stacking of modules is the structure of the building and also has a function to the landscape; camouflaging and controlling light and green and leading these factors into the interior spaces which exceed conventional architecture.

Top Left: ABC Museum in Madrid by Aranguren and Gallegos
This building symbols like Howard Smith Wharf the cultural world of its surrounding. Its dedicated to the surrounding residents and visitors capable of showing a comparison between the liveliness of Brisbane Culture and the charm of its locations.
My design offers retaining historical relevance, adding discontinous elements onto the facade, offers a floating connection and expanding the cliff's natural forms. There are accesses from the bottom and the top, like this inspiational design. There's a connection between the streets, the view, the decks, the modules and Brisbane culture.

My design approach is clear in the transformation of the buildings and formation of connections. The possibilities transform a historical site to have more increased functional evocative aspects. Its achieved through tension and compression components in creating a spatial dimension of horiztonal floating boxes and vertical facade cross hatches. The cross hatch will have a steel grey shade aluminium strips that filter the light inside to the yoga suites and interior spaces. It helps in expressing Jean Baudrillard's phrase of "Architecture is a mixture of NOSTALGIA and ANTICIPATION, the co-existence of history and vanguard".

Bottom Left: Vicino La Cappella, Italy 2011 by Bergmeisterwolf Architekten

The use of stone texture for the interior walls offers a new spatial atmosphere of smooth textures. It can be used as a relaxation stimulant and help for massage.

Top left: Floating Water by Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Roger's designs of (top right) Centre Pompidou, (bottom right) Bordeaux Law Courts and (bottom left) The Barajas Airport Terminal in Madrid 2006.

Section Building: Richard Rogers Barcelons Building for a new retail and commercial spaces. It brings the grid formation of the city into the building with ramps. Other pictures: Guggenheim Museum and Ramps of Disability.

Circulation inthe Wellness Clinic is one of Ramp and Lifts. Taking from the top entrance to the bottom level of ramps never fully overlapping from above so its gets light into every module of the building. Its not positioned against the cliff to give a visual attraction, if you want to touch you need to come into the building into the individual rooms and in the yoga suites. There are visual connections designed this way as ramps are not directly over one another.

Experience Drawings

Poster Work

June Progression

This sketch is striking.. fill of detail... a facade intricate style (looks like bricks/ or the cliffs) infront of a building of modules linked. The black thick lines depict the circulation. The users of the space will have varying changes of light... dappled... speckled... full.. dark... intimate... bright... depending on the time of day and positioning within the Wellness Clinic will get the user a very different experience.  

These abstract designs has helped with concept and trialling different combinations. The progression will be seen throughout this one post and progress I showed a week before it was due for myself. In this journal section I elaborate on the objectives and analysis earlier.
These abstracted forms are the overlapping modules of rectangular prisms and connecting each via circulation or a roof web striking form.

In contemplating the forms for the design there comes a struggle when you have too many ideas. This seems to occur more often than not with me so I decided to go back to the beginning of this project 3 and use my urban design knowledge learnt this semester to help in cutting back ideas. This ensured I understood the project and Howard Smith Wharves. The investigation commenced with the Amended Draft Plan proposal of Howard Smith Wharves by Brisbane City Council. The plan distinguishes what it approach and where to place necessary buildings and precincts. By following this guideline the design was able to follow through to be realistic. However, I do want to build partially into the cliffs or all the way into the cliffs which isn’t in the proposal plan. Near the cliffs buildings have to be 10 metres away. I was thinking of placing the building to have an entrance at the top of the cliffs and on the ground level. There are requirements outlining the entrance cannot be a big impact on top of the cliffs. Therefore, this suited my concept of camouflaging the building into the cliffs. I don’t want it to be noticeable from the top by provide a hint that it’s there. Therefore, the facade or sculpture can go past the cliff height to use this visual attraction to walkers by and residents but not draw full attention. The building itself isn’t allowed to go above the cliffs so my design will pass this assessment.

The Howard Smith Wharves has had many design proposal rejected by the public. So, I put myself in their shoes and decided what the problem on site is? What would I like to see? What would you think the rest of Brisbane would want? Public Consultation couldn’t be completed due to time so instead I investigated the reasons why other designs had been rebutted. The public eye required a public open space, no restricted views to the surrounding residents and an area for families. This consequently gave me the following diagrams in assessing the objectives for this project. The Urban Planning scheme helps to verify the importance for the site, what the public would want and analysis the land uses and activities for the area.

In the planning for the future land use of the Howard Smith Wharf, the major aspect dealt with is spaces where activities can take place in expressing our values. The logical planning scheme adapted to optimise the activities for the Brisbane community Wellness Clinic as it fulfils the values of comfort, recreation, health, security, rest, sustenance, nurture and self actualisation. In bringing forth awareness of the area and fulfilling the objectives that underlie the problems encountered on the site the relationship between the physical environment and human consciousness are assessed. The Wellness Clinic expresses health in the activity of yoga, meditation and spiritual practices from all types of cultures on a park-leisure orientated site. To accompany the value of comfort and rest, sense of belonging is generated through outdoor community sessions in a courtyard.

The diagram below demonstrates the Wellness Clinic designs aspects in helping to identify appearance, causes, analysis and planning by understanding the conceptual and spatial features on Howard Smith Wharf.

The Brisbane City Council proposed many new designs to the reconstruction of this site since 2008 of hotels until it was overridden by the public after not consulting them. Due to 2011 flooding this site had been under no access to the public or any form of construction

Past restoration projects had conflict of interest as local residents appealed the hotel and commercial development via the Planning and Environmental court.

After the appeal the council had proposed a new drafted change to the New Farm and Teneriffe Hill Local Plan thus permitting limited development on the site. The new plan intends to ensure 80% of the site is open space, delivers an unique riverside destination and offers three precincts, hotel and tourism; restaurants, entertainment and commercial; and active outdoor recreation and community facilities.

The Wellness Clinic is located third precinct, on the eastern side primarily for public open space where the heritage buildings are to be retained. The land uses proposed are categorised under park, community facilities and indoor sports recreation use.

The requests were for additional open space, concerns on loss of view and footprint of the building development areas; and support for proposed mix of uses, building locations and heights. The public was able to continually make comments on the revised plan and were continually informed of progression via quantitative methods of mass media and communications of newspapers and qualitative methods through their representative. This enhanced the plan for more public support and increased design relevancy to the society. Using the public consultation during the plan development gave the council insight into what the community desired and hoped for on Howard Smith Wharf, a public open spaces that does not adhere to restrict views and height guidelines.

The objectives were specifically developed through personal intuition, brainstorming and group work. There was brainstorming exercises completed with other designers given the same task in encouraging inner multiculturalism of Brisbane

Further developing objectives existing policies of the New Farm and Teneriffe Hill Neighbourhood Plan was only verified towards the end of the proposal but would have been identified at the beginning by head designers. These objectives are validity in recognising and interpreting goals from the local Brisbane City Council. In addressing these profession goals it helped to pursue a desirable design and planning based around the specific activity of the area. It affects the whole community not only the surrounding residents but the commuters and visitors from other suburbs.

The proposed placement of Wellness Clinic intends to follow the strategic plan of a vision for the City of Brisbane to celebrate inner multicultural and enhance the cities character to create a more liveable and ecological sustainable community. The area in the parks precinct whereby a community use park with indoor sports and recreational uses is classified directly from Area and Assessment Processes.

The uses of urban planning processes are useful tools in guiding the design process from; preparation, development, stating objectives, methods of analysis and relevance of the design with benefits. Using Draft Howard Smith Wharves Amendments to the New Farm and Teneriffe Hill Local Plan including associated and consequential amendments to Brisbane City Plan 2000 (September 2010).

To help verify the appraisal of problems through diagramming to understand the awareness of sensation, response and ideas required to improve Howard Smith Wharf. It classifies the values achieved; activities proposed and generated land uses to designing a Leisure orientated area situated in a public open space.

The synthesis of planning brings all the significant parts of the planning process together; the objectives, information and resource analysis to create a proposal. The combination of information and bundling related objectives and information to help create a design scope for Howard Smith Wharf. The rationalist approach was used to direct the imagination to shape and evaluate the Amended plans to resolve the objectives in achieving the most comprehensive beneficial change. By using a feedback process of learning from problems of other proposals; trialling out designs; and using forms of diagrams to reflect the Wellness Clinic was able to be redefined further.

From Le Play’s 19^th century theory of basic human social and settlement needs of home, path and work it exemplifies the plan between the three diverse precincts. Subsequently following our values in Wellness Clinic’s concept design.

Extending the urban design of the Brisbane culture, endorsing to celebrate cultures and experience new spiritual meanings to life. The task is to design a multicultural space on Howard Smith Wharves for all cultures to come and experience and celebrate the unity Brisbane offers. The master plan is derived to bring together residential areas, gardens, shopping places, car parking and a wellness clinic; essentially creating a Utopian community that could survive on its own and venture out to Brisbane for everyone to experience.

The clinic will be a place within the city where you can go and feel a million miles away; it feels like home but tailored to your senses. It will bring the home into the city. The design will reflect the values of inner multiculturalism where everyone is treated the same on the outside and on the inside everyone is uniquely different. The exterior of the building reflects the camouflaged effect of diminishing itself into the surroundings while the interior tailors the human senses and where the individual is able to connect to their unique self in the activities they want to participate in. The overall concept brings cultures together to experience new spiritual forms and religions of cultures. So the wellness clinic will embrace the body, spirit and health of each and every person either interiorly or exteriorly in the courtyards.

These values will be a consequence of the Wellness Clinic as people are conditioned to learn other cultures to the residents and visitors of the public space. Although the value of community peace and comfort is pivotal in reality society may not want to be pushed. The segregated cultures at the moment need to come together to learn and experience community interaction and capture a more healthy lifestyle. The existing land use of a park has no activity at the moment but was an area of access to the city centre and a river walkway. The new possible land uses area mixed used parkland with new activities of health, commercial, access and relaxation place. It will generate new values of culture, recreation, path of transport, comfort and shelter. So in the future it will bring a more secure harmonious Brisbane culture where nurture yourself and one another bring happiness, comfort, social areas and longevity of life. 

The amended plan promotes recreation and leisure area, encourage security and access; to reflect a connection between the Brisbane City, maintain the dominance of the story bridge, retain historical values and maximise public access through walkways and pedestrian safety. It adheres to the survival driver values of security, health and sustenance and to enhance the values of harmony, peace and progression of design.

 The benefits were ranked accordingly:

To connect pedestrian routes to the pre-existing walkway to the city centre and linkages to the surrounding suburbs. To allow time for users to embrace their inner self and form social interactions with others visitors and cultures. To create an innovative design in a mixed use development that addresses the wider urban context and public needs for a healthier lifestyle. To enhance accessibility and public and private transport options. Lastly, allowing for new development integrating mixed uses, heritage, parkland and public access provision.

These were more beneficial towards the future users of the space, tourists and the Brisbane Community while businesses are considered important with their economic growth being dependent on the activity. Thirdly, the surrounding residents were considered to be a high performance user also.

The approaches ensure people gain happiness for the community away from the busy lifestyles we all life today. This notion of exercise and relaxing is close by to residential and pathways that is convenient. It uses the Social Justice approach in advancing the life of the people who cannot afford yoga classes and interacting with other cultures. It all involves cooperation of the Brisbane community to embrace the meaning of finding oneself and learning about other cultures.

The design will bring together an active experience of communication via pedestrian walkways and through spiritual enhancement. Therefore bringing social interaction amongst the community and surrounding areas; reducing environmental concern for pollution from cars and promoting a healthier lifestyle. All to which considers the communicative approach to the wellbeing of society.

The following three sketches reflect enveloping staircase building with each section representing the activities of spaces. The top being the most public... then progressing down to semi private down to private which is closer to the cliffs. Being close to the cliffs will give a more intimate secure feeling. In these modules they are placed into the cliffs to give a direct sensation of cliff nature to the user. They will love the different experience and feel closer to nature which research has shown that people feel more relaxed when near nature. Throughout the modules there is nature to enhance this experience.

 

These five modules incapsulate the cliffs and a central courtyard like chinese house plan section of a house floors encompassing a central private courtyard. This courtyard is partially private with a facade enclosure but there is still a visual connection present to view out and people to view in and be suspicious and enjoy in next time. These modules also surround the ramp... the main celebatory and main user of circulation. Ramps are very hard to consider and hopefully I will make it more enjoyable for users. There are parts where the user can stop to view out into the CBD and out into the Kangaroo Point beautiful picturesque viewing. I've placed the deck and stopping points to enhance these views and draw their attention to the particular aspect of viewing. (below)
The entrance at the top isn't big and draws attention; the second deck (left purple) is a 4m decking space for people to view to other areas of the utopian community and bring forth the cliff forms and intricate patterns. This deck is just below the top of the cliff so a more intimate space where the wind is protected but can get close to the nature of cliff rock wall. The orange deck is a designated spot to view out to the Kangaroo Point. I've place the top module to restrict the viewing back to the Utopian Community but draw more attention out to the river in particular Kangaroo Point and the Story Bridge. This is a great view to get people relaxed before the next landing which is the entrance to the main reception leading into the museum. There is then internal ramp and circulations which further teaches people about the spaces of multiculture and creating a learning environment.

There is other landings that frame views between modules and looking out into the CBD (middle purple); the middle landing between the two middle modules. This has a clear directed view out and a view to look up and see other ramp circulations and a view back to the cliff. Here they experience all the different types of views. This is a medium landing to let other commuters to continue walking or just to stop for a small amount of time. This directs them to continue throughout the Wellness Clinic. There are other opportunities to stop longer at the next (grey landing) which can be used for parents to sit or partners of pregnant women in this yoga suite. This enables families to feel secure with one lookers of their own. It can be cut off if not desired and depending on the particular activity taking place.

Tutorial Work Progression

The feedback from the second assignment allowed me to further experiment into the cliffs and use the textural elements that the nature provides and creates to this sense of place. I need to improve on; tectonics, the entry, using ramps, creating individual module of peace and making a 3D model.

During the same class I endeavoured to work out the spatial quality and placement of activities to help the change in design. Though the first design was ok I need to improve and make it more enjoyable and free follow for the user. This way I have two entrances, use the entire cliff face, modulate in and out of the cliffs and ables to user to really embark in the adventure waiting. The facade will be camouflaged and the observer will only be able to see boxes giving a sensual atmsophere of peace to the interior. Silhouettes can be projected onto the cliffs to fill the gap inbetween.

 This day I wanted to start working on the tectonics during class and capsulate the atmosphere in which the user will experience. A warmth earthy feeling for the textural roughness of the rock in a room filled of 30 people in one class where there are mirrors on one long side wall to help the participant understand their posture positions. There is a hallway that leads into this room where people can look out into the view before coming into the class. Above there is a little lookout room for guardians to sit above. From there they can also look out into the view of the river.

How do people get from one level to the next? The use of lifts, escalators and ramps. Are they infused into the cliff environment? So its gives a private space inside which is fully enclosed and allow dappling of light to portray through from one end. It can be like the Guggenheim Museum of ramps and connection around one main central area.

This is diagrammatic to further work with Davor. He suggested the main central area and having the rooms around the outside. The central area being an area of tranquility and peace and quiet socialising; as I first wanted in my project. To adapt the building to my project 2 the "faning out" approach can as a suggestion with a central hub in the middle. The top left is the adaptation of ramps into my design as it requires to be a 1:14m ratio in height versus width relationship. As shown below.

The use of ramps to interconnect between rooms and levels suggest structurally a strong component as people can view other levels and want to adventure up there to see. It draws their attention and allows perspective view into other parts of the building. The use of slient walls of reinforced concrete first came from Germany which I thought was something my building requires. I was also intrigued by the pattern on the otherside. It embraces the connection of relaxation and protrays an abstracted view to life having many pathways that lead to other possibilities. It could be used to create shadow on the roof? Used on walls? facades? textural walls? The other drawings help me to figure out the facade of aluminum supports on a glass panel. The far right bottom picture and drawing illustrates the overlapping repitious varying scale element of an overhang on the module boxes.

I love the faning out concept. The decor nature of stairs doing the same concept; it allows the user to feel a connection between all levels and understand the entire buildings worth. The ramp to connect them is the "meditation" and "yoga".. The surreal nature to finding oneself is the main part just like the RAMP. Its a main feature of this Wellness Clinic which I hope to pull off.

These drawing demonstrate the process of working out the entrances: On the top? and on the bottom? I would really like that! Will it create the faning out approach? I also drew in facade concepts which i really love to adapt into designs as it creates an aesthetic quality to the interior aswell as helping to camouflage into the cliff area.

The modules placements need to protect the central area. A central area of peace and quiet. Maybe it needs to be on the third floor away from the public eye. The ground level will have a courtyard for everyone to "have a go yoga lessons" are to be held.

The drawings on the left are in elevation while the others depict the aerial roof plan. This is very important to work out the relationship with the top of the cliffs and projecting the building just off. Each drawing helps to embrace the faning out concept. Further work needs to be done.

These drawings depict the facade elements and the overhang design. But firstly, I need to finalise the ground building structure before considering these elements.

From one day to the next I change my mind; faning out, reading, inspiration elements of the computer, placement in or out of the cliffs and i need to decide!!