Week 3 - Communicating Ideas: Perceptions, Comparisons and Relationships

This week, we further developed our war memorial folie concept. I decided to conduct further research by looking into how currently standing memorials have been designed to "touch" the user. Designs such as the Korean War Memorial (1) and Canberra War Memorial (2) & (3) have exhibited progressive journeys which in these ways tell the story of the fallen soldiers and war history. 

(1) Korea War Memorial

(2) Canberra War Memorial Courtyard

(3) Canberra War Memorial Poppy Wall

To create this same experience within folie boundaries (5m x 5m x 5m) will prove to be a difficult one, but I believe this can and will be achieved through additional use of specific location, light, materiality and internal functions of space. Firstly, we looked at how it was possible to utilise the site support our concept. At the initial site analysis, it was estimated that the cliff height was approximately 30m high from the bottom where the sheds sat, to the top of the cliff. It was believed that this feature could not only be used to dramatically locate the folie, but would also relate very specifically to site context.

Cliff Height 30m

The idea of "falling" became one of the driving forces behind the design, extending from the idea of the war's fallen soldiers.The concept also coincided with our decision to make our concept a progressive journey in some way, without making it too literal. The folie boundaries meant that significant structure (the actual folie) had to be confined to the specified area. Therefore, we designed a series of interconnected wires which fell from the cliff top, to the bottom where the folie was connected. In order to achieve this, a clean, straight cliff face was required and discovered next to the shed located furtherest away from the Storey Bridge.

Folie Location

Even though we strongly believed that our folie was site specific, it was still lacking a connection with social standards and society. We looked for a gap, something that was missing - something which could give people an opportunity to learn. We looked to the younger generations who, even if they were aware of Australia's part in WWII, did not understand (or were even interested in) the true horrific nature of the war and the dedication all participating soldiers gave. A modern twist had to be added to the memorial idea to attract the target audience and adjust to societal change. LED lighting seen in architecture such as the Yas Hotel in Abu Dhabi, would play a big role in the design, giving the illusion of a floating device during nightfall, lurring viewers towards it.

LED lighting which "floats" architecture: The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi

After designing the first draft of the folie, the group did encounter some problems. Initially, it was decided in a way which the steel girders overly extended from the cliff face, and were consequently the focus of the design, leaving the folie section to go almost unnoticed. Amendments were made by simplifying the girders into a straight truss system which literally dropped the folie 1m from the ground below.

Problems encountered: Steel girder design altered to allow folie focus

Folie Concept: Bringing Brisbane's youth to the folie to understand the historical value of the site, by a war memorial expressed through the folie experience.


Folie Context: The folie coincides with the remaining historical buildings as it addresses an era which relates directly to the production of the heritage buildings and bridge. The continuation/drop of the folie flows directly with the cliff face, mirroring its contours. It's traditional yet modern design (through use of materials, location etc) will attract curious youth towards its location.


Folie Function: The space will teach the younger generation about the history of the second World War, and its significance to Australia and the particular location. To learn a new experience, emotion, respect, memory...


Folie Tectonic: Steel girders serve as support beams which hold the folie into place. A truss system will also be incorporated which will act in tension and compression, assuring structural support. 


Folie Experience: 50mm holes throughout the folie will allow light to burst into the interior during different times of day depending on sun angles. This creates an emotional atmosphere as light hits pictures, words and phrases located within. Users will circulate around the folie, following its journey as it informs them of the fallen soldiers of the past.