Future Fantasies

Final Reflection

Lecture Content

Throughout the semester Yasu has provided us with plenty of resources and ‘food-for-thought’ for application into our design projects. His theme of Architectural Fiction has been an interesting way of approaching design, and I’ve found, quite a fitting approach as throughout the semester it has become apparent that Life is indeed a Play, and the world is the Stage that this takes place on. It is our role as designers to create the best sets, script and stage possible to allow this Play to flourish and reach its full potential and positively effect the greatest audience possible.

Tutorials

After the first 6 weeks of the semester it became apparent that clarity was needed between myself, the Tutor and Yasu’s lecture content in order for us to be on the same page. This was achieved (I believe) through the production of my own interpretation of the criteria points in combination with the outcomes I am capable of achieving in order to satisfy these criteria. I did find that some of these outcomes have evolved and been modified as testing has taken place as I’ve been going along. I found this testing process to be very beneficial in achieving a result that best reflects my project’s intention and my own personal beliefs regarding what I am proposing for Paddington.

The Blog

When I first found out that we had to do another Blog for this subject I was very adverse to the idea. However, once I got it up and running and started ‘blogging’ I found it was an excellent means to convey the very complex ideas I have been dealing with this semester and my ‘scattered or multi-faceted’ design process. Not only does my project exist in the Virtual and Built Environments, but also in the emotional, social, psychological, conscious, subconscious and spiritual realms inherent to the development and growth of Human Beings and Human Nature. It is these profound ideas of holistic human wellbeing and life learning that The Blog has been most beneficial in conveying my research into, progress in understanding and my thoughts about these ideas.

Readings

For the first 6 weeks, I (and many others) were under the impression that we had to read all the readings on Blackboard in order to satisfy that criteria. This was not the case as I later found out after emailing Yasu. Some of the readings during this period were very interesting and especially pertinent to both project 1 and 2, however I found the most relevant readings to be ones that I undertook myself (mostly in AR Magazine, and from library books of personal interest) as well as the MVRDV reading. It was reassuring to know that I am not alone in my ideas regarding the future of society in Brisbane and in general, and that there are other like-minded people out there who believe in the potential of all Humans to coexist harmoniously with each other and with their environment.

Conclusion

It may seem naive to believe in this potential when the world is so riddled with Greed, Anger and Gluttony (to name a few), however I choose to be neither a Pessimist nor an Optimist but a Realist as, if I and many others (in our class and our institution) can see the this potential in People, then with facilitation, listening, interaction, sharing and encouragement this potential can be reached, and even exceeded for the sustainability and evolution or our society. It is this ultimate goal that my project is aiming to highlight, and reflects my personal belief system that has resulted from the past 5 years of studying this course. I feel this project is a reflection or culmination of everything of importance to me that I have gained from this degree. Issues of sustainability, designing for All, creation of Place, the importance of culture, accessibility, materiality, structural integrity, collaboration, connectivity (the list goes on) have all been addressed in this project in either my Blog, my Panel, the Blog Booklet or my PowerPoint presentation.

Outcomes: Users and Purpose

The above images best capture the underlying aim and essence of my architectural entity and its purpose in enlightening and informing its Users and surrounding Community. These images show the various activities one can participate in at the centre, and the sense of belonging and connection Users can feel both to each other and to Paddington as a whole.

Outcomes: Renders

View of Greenspace (on level 2)

View of Transport Hub (on level 2)

View of Meeting Room (on level 4)

View of Entrance Point off Latrobe Terrace (on level 3)

View from inside Library looking out to atrium space (on level 3)

View from Community Garden looking across centre (on level 4)

View of Latrobe Terrace facade (enter onto level 3)

View of atrium space (on level 3)

View of centre from across Greenspace (on level 2)

View of various Rooms (on level 3) - my favourite image!!

Outcomes: The Importance of being Selective

The beauty of using a CAD program for designing, is the ease of which a variety of 3D views can be produced. A downside to this the necessity to be selective with which ones to choose that best show one's design. An example of this can be seen below (only 4 views were chosen for use in my Blog Book)

Outcomes: Mixed Media

Once I had designed my architectural entity using Revit2012, it was fairly easy to select the most important spaces and areas to show in greater detail and how these spaces are to be used. The basic render function in Revit produced very average quality renders (although quickly) so I decided to give these views or vignettes that little bit extra by hand-rendering over them using Copic Marker techniques (that I had learnt doing a minor in Industrial Design). I would have liked to have given them that bit extra more using Photoshop, however my skills on the program are fairly basic and it would have taken me forever to do something I could do quickly (and something I enjoy doing) by hand.