Assignment 3 Submission

This particular project has been an overall rewarding experience for my personal gains. My design proposal at the start of this project provided good design solutions based on the design brief but it lacked in aesthetic appeal. I was able to receive constructive critiques upon my first interim submission which then inspired me to use a different approach.

For my second attempt, I wanted to get inspired by an idea or concept and allow myself to develop a design for this project that would fulfil this particular approach. After conducting some research, I was rather impressed by how the body of a fish can be so streamlined. I took my research further and began researching the anatomy of a fish and I was highly inspired by the bone structure and layout which is possibly the most reflected element in my proposed Architecture.

I was able to achieve a streamlined backbone that spanned a long distance with bone like structured supports to hold up translucent panels that sum up my design concept for this project. I was pleased with my final piece of Architecture but the more rewarding part was the fact that I was able to take a concept and an idea that I developed and turn it into a piece of Architecture that fulfils the design brief in a strong sense. 

Below is the poster that I have put together as part of my submission.

Below is the animation that I have produced to help convey my design proposal. Please switch video settings to 720p before playing.   

All in all, this particular project has enabled me to develop and expand my knowledge in developing design concepts and ideas and being able to take a premature idea to a well design and documented project that strongly fulfils the design brief. The skills that I have learned throughout this subject will be useful in my future endeavours as a student and as a professional. 

Rhino File

Poster FIle

Week 13 Interim Submission

After receiving some useful comments on my initial design proposal throughout my first interim presentation, I decided to go back to the drawing board and re-develop and refine my design proposal. I decided to seek a different design approach by first establishing a concept that I would base my architecture on. After conducting some research to get inspired, I found various works of architecture by famous Architects that were inspired by anatomy. I decided to apply the same concept to my refined design proposal.

I began by conducting a few sketches that resembled my concept and I was able to complete a few sketches that I was satisfied with. I then began modelling and shaping my design proposal using Rhino and some screenshots of the finished structure can be viewed below. 

Poster File

Assignment 3 Progress

After receiving some constructive critiques from my tutor and fellow class mates during my interim presentation, I decided to revise my design proposal and seek a different approach than what I had done previously. My new approach looks at the whole site in a more broad sense rather than focusing on smaller elements in detail.

I decided to create a site plan that explores pedestrian movements, proposed location of services such as buses, taxis and pick-up zones and the existing facilities or views surrounding the subject site. By establishing the above, I will be able to propose a design solution that will take into account all of the mentioned rather than isolating my design proposal to a single idea or concept. 

Below is a screenshot of the site plan that I have put together conveying some various observations. 

I then began sketching a few ideas that I had accumulated throughout my site observations and began to explore how my proposed structure can compliment and address the surrounding views and locations. My main focus was to design a structure that would function as the above mentioned and most importantly be lightweight and slimline.

Below are a few screenshots of the sketches that I developed conveying my design proposal.

week 9 Interim Submission

As part of week 9 tasks we had to firstly identify the necessary amenities and facilities that we will need to provide in our proposed stations to be able to comply with TfNSW guidelines for the Development of Public Transport Interchange Facilities.

After reviewing the guidelines I was able to extract the following,

1.0 Comfort & Convenience Facilities

1.1 Shelter
As stated in the TfNSW, individual shelters for each bus and taxi stands is desirable and shelter for kiss and ride passengers pick-up points is not required unless it is in demand.

1.2 Seating
Minimum seating for 5 people must be provided in each of the bus and taxi stands and also minimum seating for 5 people must be provided for kiss and ride pick-up points.

1.4 Ticketing
Kiosk not required

1.5 Pay Telephone
Not Required

1.6 Toilets
Not Required

1.8 Retail
A kiosk or newsagent may be considered but any other form of retail is optional.

1.9 Bus Driver Facilities
May be required depending on bus scheduling arrangements
2.0 Information

2.1 General
An interchange name and general bus route network is required

2.2 Stand Specific
Stand specific bus route numbers and destination and Stand specific timetables and route maps are required.

2.3 Real Time
Not required

3.0 Parking & Set-down Facilities

3.1 Car Passenger Drop-off & Pick-up Zones
Required

3.2 Commuter Car parking
May be considered where consistent with the Government’s Metropolitan Parking Policy.
3.3 Bicycle Parking
Depending on demand

4 Safety & Security

4.1 Lighting
Sufficient lighting is required

4.2 Video surveillance
Desirable

4.3 Emergency Help point
Not Required

4.4 Public Address System
Not Required

The next task of this week's studio was to begin creating a mass model of our design proposal and produce a series of plans, elevations and sections that would be combined together to create our poster for our interim presentation.

Below are some screen shots of my design proposal

The above screen shot conveys my ground / platform level

This screen shot conveys my first floor / cafe level with out door deck and roof top garden

The above screenshot is a longitudinal section conveying the entire platform that I'm proposing

This screenshot shows the elevation view that one would see when directly looking to the proposed platform

The above screen shot is a 3D render conveying the mass of my proposed structure

The next step in this project is to begin adding more detail to my design and also taking on board all the feedback that I have received during my interim submission.

Poster File

Assignment 3 - Site Visit

In the beginning of week 8 we were required to conduct a site visit to Randwick as part of our assignment 3 for this studio. The main aim of this site visit was to gather as much information and photographs in relation to our chosen site to aid us in reconstructing the site and produce a site plan that would house our design proposal.

The brief for this assignment is to design a transport interchange (station) to accommodate travelers as they wait for, board onto, and alight from light rail vehicles.

Below are sketches / photographs of some of the information that we had to observe and gather that would allow us to accurately recreate our site.

Local buildings, general terrain / slope

We were divided into 5 groups and each group had to gather as much information as possible in the form of photographs and sketches on their assigned location. My group was assigned the Belmore Rd side. Below are some of my findings, observations and some local buildings from Belmore Rd.

The above image shows some of the residential houses on Belmore Rd that will be directly facing our station. Some things that I instantly thought of were noise and privacy factors to those existing residential that I must consider in my design proposal


The above image shows the local Randwick medical centre. The proposed transport interchange would be a very ideal transportation method for patients of this medical to use.


The above image shows the intersection of Belmore Rd and Avoca St which I thought was the most condensed area in terms of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.


The image above shows some more residential dwellings on Belmore Rd


This image shows a crossing located at the end of Belmore Rd intersecting Cuthill St

Below are a few more images showing a combination of roads, traffic signs, traffic signals, street lights, road markings, electricity poles, kerbs and street furniture, trees , statues, site topography or slope and many other things.

Site topography


Topography and vegetation


Vegetation


High Cross Park Signage


Waste bin and Trees


Street furniture


Electricity poles


Larger trees and electricity poles


Existing transportation methods (bus) and some street signage


Traffic lights and street markings


Street signage


Street signage and vegetation

General Observations

Some of the things that I observed on my site visit were things such as existing transport services and the main use of the site. There are bus and taxi transport methods already existing around the site. Some of the bus stops are located on Belmore Rd, Coogee Bay Rd and Cuthill St.

After spending approximately 5 hours on site, I observed people having their lunch on the available street furniture, people walking across the park to get to other locations, people praying and carrying our their religious activities during their work break and some people were even using the park to exercise.

As part of our independent study we then had to prepare a 3D site model using our collected data and put together some sketches of our design proposal. Below are a few screenshots of the surrounding buildings that I modeled using rhino and also some sketches of my conveying my initial design ideas of my transport interchange.

The above screenshot conveys 2 houses that I modeled using Rhino located on Belmore Rd as part of my contribution to the group tasks.


The above screenshot shows my proposed ground / street level plan. It mainly shows the scale of my proposed dwelling and initial design stages of the possible location of services such as ticket booths and lifts.


The above screenshot is of my roof top deck which will contain a cafe and a sitting area overlooking the park. Passengers and the locals can enjoy the views from the deck area.


The above screenshot is a front elevation that one would see when looking directly to the station from Belmore Road, I plan on creating an aesthetically pleasing structure that does not dominate its surroundings.


This screenshot conveys the side elevation and the possible form of my structure.


In the sketch above I decided to explore some roof forms that would cantilever over my main structure to provide shelter from the elements.

My future schedule for this project will see me prepare more detailed design solutions and sketches and will also see me begin to model my design proposal in Rhino as part of my presentation for my interim submission in week 10.

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Final Submission

After my interim submission I was able to gain some constructive criticism in the areas that I can improve in my project by my tutor and my fellow class mates. The main comment was made in regards to the actual motion of my proposed facade and that it was impractical for the panels to twist and grow in size which took away from how realistic my facade would actually function in the real world.

After establishing and understanding the above comment, I have decided to keep my concept but opt for a more realistic and simplified approach to how my facade should look like and function. I decided to create circular panels that are constructed out of stretchable fabric which are mounted on to a motorised rig that simply expand and contract based on the hot temperatures detected by the heat flux sensor mounted on the roof of the building. The panels will be at their largest radius possible when the heat flux sensors are detecting cool temperatures thus allowing excellent cross ventilation and are at their smallest possible radius once hot temperatures are detected thus providing more shade to the building.

Below is a screenshot of my script in GrassHopper that I put together for my final facade.

Above is a screenshot of my final script in GrassHopper

Below is a short animation that I have prepared which conveys the motion of my final facade.

Below is my final poster for this project conveying my final design that I'm proposing.

The above screenshot is of my final poster

All in all this project was rather informative but challenging at times. I believe that Architecture should be adaptive to its surroundings and conditions on a regular basis rather than provide a lifetime fixed solution. This particular project allowed me to explore how Architecture can be parametric and organic and how it can change based on specific conditions and factors.

I have also gained a greater understanding of GrassHopper and I have further added to my skillset which I can surely utilise in upcoming projects.

GrassHopper File
Rhino File
Poster File

Interim Submission Week 5

The first task of this week's studio was to find a partner with a similar environmental factor and record notes to answer the following questions:

1. Does the design proposal fulfill the basic requirements of the brief? 

Both mine and my partner's design proposal fulfills the design brief by proposing a system that dynamically adapts to the sun position and orientation and provides shade and protection to our building. 

2. Is the design proposal a thoughtful and well-thought-out response to the brief? 

The design proposal uses a shade structure that keeps the sun away from the building by using a heat flux sensor that triggers a motor once it detects hot temperatures thus lowering the shade structure automatically to block out the hot sun.  

3. What strengths and weaknesses can you identify of each other’s proposals? 

Each of our proposals does a great job in serving for its purpose but both proposals are lacking aesthetically and more work is required on the aesthetic side of the design to create an all round excellent design proposal. 

4. Compare the design proposal to the examples shown in last week’s lecture. Are there similarities? Are there difference? Are these differences significant enough such that it is not an imitation? Is the design proposal innovative? 

My proposal has similar features to some of the designs shown in last week's lecture in terms of being innovative and dynamic. Some of the designs shown were almost organic in the way they reacted to the sun and I believe that my proposal and with better aesthetic appeal would be similar in quality.

The next step was to export my current GrassHopper script as an image. I have broken this project into 3 phases and the first phase which is conveyed in the script below is of the main structure which has been programmed to fit my current building in terms of size and proportion. The second phase will be the aesthetic modelling which will then define the final shape and form of my shade structure. The final phase is the nuts and bolts of my proposal which is the most critical part to support my proposed matrix.

I then finalised my design using GrassHopper and recorded a small animation conveying the operation of my designed facade. My animation can be viewed below.

One of this week's tasks was to digitize our storyboard of our proposed matrix which we hand drew earlier in this project. We had the options of using image editing software to reproduce our sketched storyboard or we could achieve this task by creating a mock up. I decided to blend both of these options together and created a digitized storyboard of my proposed matrix using an image editing software and a mock up. A screen shot of my digitized storyboard can be seen below.

Refined design brief: Upon answering the questions listed in step 1 of this week's studio tasks, I have come to the conclusion that even though my proposal is solid in some area, it lacks in other areas. I believe that I have laid the foundations to a good proposal through my matrix and initial sketches and mock ups. I have also succeeded into transitioning my ideas into the software required for this project to build my parametric and dynamic proposal but I believe that my proposal still needs attention in the aesthetics department which I will need to address as I begin to develop the final outcome for this project.

The relationship between my design and environmental factor is so organic so I highly believe that the form and feel of my design should also be inspired by organic forms which will better compliment my chosen environmental factor thus creating a well rounded design. Throughout this final week and before my interim submission I will be finalising my script in GrassHopper and focusing on achieving all the required deliverables but most importantly ensuring that I satisfy the brief that I have set for this project.

Outcome: After refining my brief and after establishing the weakness in my previously proposed design, I have redeveloped my proposal to serve for my selected matrix but I have now added aesthetic appeal to my design which looks and feels organic which is what I have set out to do upon refining my brief. I believe that the form of my final structure truly compliments my environmental factor and I'm overall happy with the outcome for this project. Below are a few screenshots of my final design.

The above screenshot is of my final refined structure

Another angle of my final structure and facade

The above screenshots captures my facade in motion

The above screenshot is of my final script in GrassHopper.

This is one of the renders that I completed using Rhino

Above is another angle of my design

Above is a short animation of my design

The above screenshot is of my poster as part of my submission for project 2.

 All in all this project has been very informative and interesting. I have personally developed my skills further in terms of designing and modelling but I have also been introduced to what I think is an essential tool in the design of dynamic models which is GrassHopper. My skills with GrassHopper have not yet fully developed but I believe with time and practice in future projects I will be able to produce better quality models and have the ability to interpret my designs better using GrassHopper. 

GrassHopper File

Rhino File

Poster File