Week 13b: Design Development

During Week 13 Tutorials, the main concern of my Tutor, Yvonne, was that the mangrove metaphor wasn't 'strong' enough. After showing her sketch designs such as this [Wk 12 elevation sketch] it was obvious that i haven't transformed the strong structural features of the mangrove branches into the design. Therefor, I need to work on my facade design more so that i accentuate the branches as a strong structural feature. Yvonne recommended looking at Toyo Ito's Tod building for inspiration...

Toyo Ito Tod's Building. Accessed from http://www.busyboo.com/2009/01/25/toyo-ito-tods/ June 1, 2012. In the next phase of design development I will have to work on the facade so it possesses more of a strong structural building.

The Yellow Treehouse by Pacific Environment Architects.  http://cubeme.com/blog/2009/06/10/yellow-tree-house-new-zealand-by-pacific-environment-architects/ accessed June 1, 2012.

Whilst researching I also found this image. I feel like these buildings well describe the intimate learning spaces I am trying to create with the softer curves within the interior of my building. Yvonne also did suggest bringing the curve language to the outside of the building, but I feel like i want to keep a contrast between the strong structural column elements on the outside of the building, and the soft curved panels forming smaller intimate spaces within the building separate elements. This is why I have also begun the curved language from underneath the building, surrounding the stairs which invite people into the middle of the building. From afar, they are confronted with the strong straight structural columns, and as they enter underneath the building, the curved panels create curiosity before they enter into the first level where the smaller spaces are contrasted.

Though I will explore using the same curved language around the site, perhaps in flat panels that cascade outwards at different heights to creating seating areas.This is partly because we also need to consider our masterplan, site and site access.

During the next week, our tutor would like us to develop our Masterplans and diagrams to be used in the final presentation.

 Development of the root structure on the outside of the building currently looks like this...

 I am already feeling that this is more reminiscent of a mangrove root structure. The 'roots' are made of curved concrete panels which are approximately between 200mm and 1000mm wide. I plan on further developing the roots and adding smaller ones that will break up the many faces of the building, which then can be used as 'frames' for either concrete or glass panels, depending on views to be either shown or not. This part of the process will need to involve the site.