Issues raised in the earlier design relate to flood responsiveness, the structure of the pod system and lack of solution to reasoning behind some aspects of form such as the vertical tubes that make up the building envelope of the ICB.
The sketch above deals with eliminating the interactive pods track system and fixing them to a ramp system that allows visitors to freely walk around the tubular structure and enter the interactive pods whenever they wish. This ensures the design will work structurally whilst still providing the user with the intended experience of being becoming a part of the building envelope in an educational manner.
Above: playing with the idea of shelter and additional buildings on top of each of the tube openings for activities that relate to educating the user such as library, reading and study areas as well as a bathroom and cafe.
Above is a more detailed sketch and alteration to the design of the ferry terminal structure. The structure beneath the design has flotation qualities that is extended below the base of the designed ground plane for maximum flotation capabilities. This will allow the structure to raise with tidal changes in this flood responsive design. The community garden above the ferry terminal has been altered to follow a more organic approach inline with the foundation of the design relating to organic and biomimicry qualities.
Sketching different alternatives to rooftop access and purpose has allowed for the most effective design to be selected for maximum user experience in education and sensual delight. The first option provides an entire grasses roof top lookout for its comfort and natural cooling effects, however, incorporates little movement space around the lower level of the library, bathroom and cafe. From circulation issues in this design it is evident the cafe can not be so far from the lift and roof top access resulting in the second option where the cafe is positioned above the toilets. A third option was sketched in response to allowing sufficient circulation space around the cafe and toilets to provide 360 degree views and ease of access to the community garden.
Above is a rough layout of the uses involved on these two levels where access from the ramp system inside the building envelope is released out into the library. This is due to it being able to be securely enclosed outside operating hours and for protection from elements in the case of a storm. On the upper level full circulation around the lookout and cafe area is possible with a 360 degree view out to the city and cliffs and opportunity to look down onto the community garden. Maximising views such as these provides the user with an experience of social and cultural connection, relaxation and relates to all of their senses where they can touch the form, taste food and beverages from the cafe as well as enjoy their smell and fresh smell of the plants and surrounding grass, hear the ambiance of the busy city and water rushing around them and look out at the natural and built beauty of the world we live in reflecting on the journey they took to reach this point.
Above are two sketches exploring the physical extent of the design and its impact on the river in terms of protruding out into ferry zones.
These sketches above explore positioning the openings the the building envelope adjacent to the Howard Smith Wharves rather than jotting out in a line. This decreases the designs distance out into the river allowing ferries to easily continue past the proposed structure with no and stop at the new terminal.
This sketch illustrates the layout more effectively from the library level where it is clear that the ferry terminal would sit below the community garden with access through the ground plane of the ICB. The library has also been strategically positioned on the city side allowing maximum viewing of the story bridge, river and CBD with the main lookout above the library for the same reason.
The circular library walls will alternate in smooth transparent material containing circulating filtered water from the river and solar collection strips providing the structure with natural energy to generate.
This image is drawn in the perspective of viewing from the river or from a ferry and illustrates the need for the community garden to be lowered to the height of the top of the filtration chamber. This is necessary due to energy requirements of pumping water against gravity to such heights. It will therefore use less resources for the filtered water from the river to be pumped from the top of the chamber where water is already filtered and through to the garden. Such design consideration is also important in the educational stand point for users to understand these factors and see how the design relates to natural processes and works in projects assisting human and environmental needs.
Above is an aerial view of the design showing connection to Howard Smith Wharves and the positioning of internal aspects of the design. Here it is clear that the lookout area is dominant on the city side with moveable seating provided giving users ownership over the space. Providing users with ownership over the space adds to their personal experience, a sense of relaxation encouraging reflection and taking in of their educational journey. It is also clear in this sketch that the community garden provides adequate shaded outdoor/indoor space for the ferry terminal.
Above is the circulation layout of the ground plane of the ICB design. This layout illustrates maximum circulation from the foyer to the users chosen path of interest whether it be simply out to the ferry terminal, experiencing the biomimicry qualities and education projections and interactive learning features of the filtration chamber or taking the journey or the gallery and interactive pod experience around the ramp system that winds around the structures envelope.
This image shows the continued journey circulating around the ramp system where the tubular forms begin to extend outward from the center. The lower level of the ferry terminal, foyer and base of the ground plane is dashed to illustrate the 'floating' form of the ramp and what is below.
Illustrated above is this ramp moving up through the structure reaching the platform out to the community garden where the user can transition between these two elements.
The top of the ramp can be seen entering into the library area where the user can then chose to circulate around the library, around the toilet block for viewing of the cliffs and river and further connect with the community garden where ramps down to this level are provided from this inside the library or out on the viewing platform. Once the user has traveled down the ramps to the garden they can choose to make their way back up and further onto the level above where there is a cafe and higher lookout or exit back down onto the ramp system inside the tubular form via the ramp in between.
This sketch layout illustrates the final destination to experience with movable seating for users to take ownership over the space, enjoy a book from the library and further their educational experience in this natural setting, delight themselves in the cafe and take in the breathtaking views.
Above is a simple sketch illustrating connection between Howard Smith Wharves and entering the foyer space of the building. Pin Joints are shown at these connecting points indicating the structures ability to move with the tidal changes and flood levels of the site.
The forms above are dealing with issues of connectivity and circulation as the design development progresses.
Above are illustrations playing with the flow of the water filtration and how it circulates up through the building and follows the ramp back down before releasing the filtered water back into the river.
Please click on the image above to enlarge and read the detailed features for explanation of this stage of development.
Here, the early learning centre that is embedded into the cliff has been altered to mimic the natural cooling system termites create in their mounds which has been successfully used in the design of the Eastgate Centre in Zimbabwe. Connectivity from the tubular form and contrasting rectangular cliff structure is shown through cliffs at their tops.
Tutorial feedback encouraged me to develop a more tubular approach to the filtration system as it flows around the building instead of over its original filtration chamber. Yvonne also encouraged more flexible form with tubes connecting different spaces between the cliff and water reducing the need for a separate structure for the early learning centre.
Above are diagrams of the various tubular forms I came up with as I progressed from my feedback.
Diagrams of access, flow and connectivity assist in selecting the preferred design structure.
Above is a diagrammatic illustration of how the tubular body will attach to the cliff, the base and the river.
Expanding on this idea I played with the notion of parasitic architecture spanning my design across a wider area of the river in order to connect to various spaces I would like to activate with my design. These spaces are predominantly green pockets which have potential to work with the design in bringing the community together in an interactive and educational manner. I have also proposed that the design attaches to the bridge as an active thoroughfare which would attract a lot of people into the design whilst creating a positive visual experience on the site drawing peoples attention via aesthetic appeal.
The tubular forms above are that which would make up the parasitic structure spanning the river with enhancing the visual attraction and activation of the site. The red circles indicate active spaces within the structure that would hold rooms and functions as per spatial development whilst the red arrows illustrate circulation and access. Circulating blue lines have been drawn as a representation of the filtrating water from the river for both function and visual, educational purposes.
The above photomontages depict the areas of green pockets I am activating with rough sketches of form developing.
After speaking with Yvonne, I found her feedback very helpful and useful in the way that I was encouraged to focus on one or two of the green pockets minimising the structural form I must design as I can use the overall scheme as a proposal for further development. This narrowing of site context led me to selecting the corner inside the cliff faces furthest from the Story Bridge along Howard Smith Wharves. The image to the left is a quick sketch of the form positioned on land and reaching out with its 'tubes' to the spaces at the stop of the cliff and releasing part of its form into the river to return the rivers filtered water.
The image to the right demonstrates the circular flow of water around the building using methods of syphon as a more energry efficient water pumping system that continues from one circulation of water continuing into the next requiring no further energy. This is further illustrated below in the image of the arch where water is pushed up the tube on the left and flows out the other and so forth as a continual cycle once it starts.
To the left in the image above is an illustration of natural light and ventilation flowing into the building through its 'step' like structure.
Above are rough sketches trying to find a form for the design as I am now focused on contextualising the design specifically to the location it now stands preserving its natural qualities and heritage.
Spatial diagramming is a way of understanding how the building works and spaces circulate which I have found helpful in this unconventional form which can be quite challenging to get my head around at times as it is not a set form as of yet.
Above is a spatial diagram including landscaping around the structure on a broader scale demonstrating how it fits in with the site and community.
Layouts of both the early learning centre and the foyer are provided in diagrams 1. down the left hand side of the image. For more information please click on the image to read their labels.
This landscaped illustration focused around the base of the foyer and water gardens depicted how I want the overall scheme to feel like within and around the space. Please click on the image again for further details.
