Week 13 - Project 3 - Design Discussion + Final Check-up

After further group discussion, Joel compiled a plan in CAD. Discussion with the tutor led to her recommendation that site variation had to  be considered as the building continues along the ground. This was one aspect which the group had initially overlooked during the process of the design. Although we did decide where to locate the buildings, we did not specifically pin point contour changes along the building exterior. We discovered that there was a 1000mm height increase from the top of the timber board walk (where the building would be placed along side of) and ground, meaning that our design would be located 1000mm too low. 

Changes made to the plan by the group

Zuzana also noted that upon entry into the foyer, the user would be viewing a quite awkward space ahead of them, which was the space that lead into the general performance space. I suggested that this area become a moveable module that can be slid in and out and transformed to allow people to sit as they wait for the performance to start. This space would represent the integration of our folie into the current design and would allow those who enter the foyer an aesthetic view of the design. As a group we improved the noted design issues on the plan. Alyssa outlined the layout of a basic cafe design which her and I further defined in order to correlate to the required cafe area that we had to stick to. The layout was slightly widened in order to allow easy flow between workers.

Cafe kitchen design and dimensions

We also discovered that the location and sizes of administration offices and the projection room on level 2 created awkward spaces on the level below, and walls did not line up, meaning plumbing from the toilets below did not directly link to the kitchenette above. Alyssa suggested rotating the toilet block to face the opposite side which would line up plumbing services and create a coordinated relationship between the walls and walkways on the upper level and the spaces below. However the rotation and current location of toilet block did not not allow access into the general performance space. I suggested possibly removing one toilet from each block or changing the entrance locations into the toilets. I also advised inserting an extra partition wall between the toilet block and cafe/administration desk wall to allow private circulation of guests into the toilets, and to conceal toilet entrances. These design issues were then solved as a group as is shown on the plans below.

Refined Ground Level

Refined Upper Level

After the floor plans were improved, the group decided to start defining the elevations and sections. Alyssa and I hand drew all external elevations and located entrance points and windows which would then assist Joel in the 2D CAD drawings. We struggled with the North Face as this is where we decided the main entry point was to be located. Alyssa proposed a design which I then slightly altered when I developed the entrance furthermore. 

West Elevation

South Elevation

North Elevation

East Elevation

Below are several sketches I completed whilst locating the main point of entry into the foyer/administration/cafe space. It was originally agreed that the door was going to located on an angled wall that cut into the building, so I attempted to design an internal (glass) facade that was slightly offset. As a group however, we agreed that this floor plan shape would not remain consistent with the remainder of the building design. I turned to some inspirational designs to gain more of a visual of what was possible. I liked how the Life and Power Office bulding (Unsangdong Architects) almost gave the impression of a double facade. The offset glass exterior is concealed by the timber chunks, yet simultaneously it stands out. I used this as a reference when designing the entrance. Joel and I then agreed that a double door would be located on the facade facing the CBD as it was believed the building would receive its highest traffic flow from this point. 

Exemplar buildings I used as a reference

My Initial Entrance Proposal

Final Decision: Main Entry Point

Upon completion of a section cut through general performance space and aerial silks, we discovered that the vertical bi-fold walls between these 2 spaces could not operate in the same manner as the others, as when the building was to be in its closed position, they would fold into each other. 

Section identifying space relationships and problem with bi-fold between aerial silks & general performance