Contextual Parameters, Spacial relationship analysis, and Program Plan.

Today I revisited what I have so far done in order to clearly define my Contextual Parameters.

below is a run down on each, where they will effect my design and also ideas of how biomimicry might offer my answers for resolving them.

The spacial Analysis diagram below is the most useful diagram Ive done, in order to understand movement, and dictating movement. This shows a small range of spaces that require connection to others with the majority having a more random relationship. Maybe this random interconnection will be represented in the form?

looking at the spacial relationships diagram above, I begun to map spaces relationship. looking at logical movement as well as the grouping of spaces . I found that two distinct precincts became clear in the diagram to the left. One deals more with the medical needs of mental illness , the other with a more social environment. The creation of this diagram represents the idea of creating psychological barriers. As in , by separating the medical aspects from the social hopefully this will have an effect on the environmental quality. Also within these spaces by dividing private spaces from more communal physically, Im hoping this distinction might create a safe environment for both patients, staff and visitors.

the below diagram is the result of my spacial analysis and more or less represents the program of the building.

The program here is represented horizontally however, more than likely, some of these relationships will be vertical.

This rough diagram expresses the above program layout and how in plan it might look. It also shows possibilities for the way circulating might work

These are my First rough drawings exploring form.

This form comes from the model of Slime Mold and the way in which it spores. This is relevant to the nodes and network Parameter, it allows for nodes/ functional spaces. They are integral to the overall design yet individual and able to be shut off or individualized.

More to come...

PROGRAM LAYOUT/ DESIGN

Continuing on from establishing the program for the Howard smith Wharf development.

At the end of the previous blog the diagraming of the programs had progressed to functional relationships. A pattern begun to emerge through these diagram that predicted different programs spacial arrangement. The diagrams below were used to articulate this spacial arrangement and play with the idea of mixed use developments, public / private space and transitional space.

the below diagram looks explores the idea of activating the existing site structure and further explores progression space and separation techniques

PROGRAM DESIGN:

In order to fulfil the site activation goals set, out in previous posts, I aim to Create a building that encourages a two way care giver relationship between Site and User.

this programming exercise allowed me to marry the needs of the site, previously laid out through site analysis, with a wider perceived social need; which I associate to the user.

Research into the phenomenon of Diffusion of responsibility, Its application to the way in which the Howard smith wharf site is understood, along with my initial folie design intention, has led me to identify the issue of mental health care as the most appropriate method of activating this site.

Its theorised that the implementation of a multi-use development, focussing of treatment of mental illness will create this mutual care giving relationship on the Howard smith wharf site.

The above process looks at the range of spaces needed within this facility. And how each fits within a multi- functional development. It explores problems such as security and Discretion on a basic level - And begins to develop a program for how the development might work. this is continued below.

5 Dimensions, 3 Levels, 2 Approaches, 1 Tool

After the Lecture last week, I wanted to learn a bit more about the study of Biomimicry and the theoretical framework behind it. I didnt quiet understand the relationship between the dimensions, levels, approaches and tools and so I did a little more research.

A useful article for me was Biomimicry Approaches to Architectural design for increased sustainability. by Maibritt Zari.

The approaches I found pretty straight forward.

A) Defining a human desire or problem and looking at ways it is solved by organisms or ecosystems. Design looking to Biology

identify Initial parameters seems to be the most important step in this process.

the most significant shortfalls of this approach I think is that its solving a nominated problem it doesn't give much scope for thinking outside of the box and establishing new technology; but I think it could be useful when looking at form?

Below is an example taken from the article: the Box fish, large yet aerodynamic

this image can be found at http://www.cmsl.co.nz/assets/sm/2256/61/033-PEDERSENZARI.pdf. viewed 10/4/11

B) identifying a specific characteristic, behaviour or function and translating it into design.Biology influencing design.

This approach is really the most interesting to me. Another interesting observation that I read during my research was that similarities between human design solutions and tactics used by other species have surprisingly small overlaps considering we exist in the same context and have the same resources . ( Vincent et al. 2006, Vogel. 19998)

the main problem I can see with the Biology influencing design approach is that you either have to stumble upon the revolutionary system or it involved a lot of research to establish the most effective.

below is an example of this method: how a Lotus flower stays clean in swampy water,

This image can be found at http://www.cmsl.co.nz/assets/sm/2256/61/033-PEDERSENZARI.pdf. viewed 10.4.11

3 Levels of mimicry:

organism level- specific; like plant or animal. Involves mimicking part or whole of organism

Behavioural level- Translating an aspect of how an organism behaves, or relates to a larger context.

Ecosystem level- mimicking of whole ecosystem and common principles allowing them to successfully function.

within this is the 5 possible dimensions of Mimicry: form, Material, Construction, Process, Function.

bellow is an example from the reading involving termites.

the above table can be found at http://www.cmsl.co.nz/assets/sm/2256/61/033-PEDERSENZARI.pdf. viewed 10.4.11

During this weeks Tutorial, Discussion with Yvonne about the opposite of Diffusion of responsibility, I will call it 'Employment of responsibility', we begun to discuss slime mould

the name Slime Mould in its broad term is used to describe protisits that use spores to reproduce. In certain parts of their life cycle they appear as gelatinous slime. Slime Moulds begin their life as a single cell amoeba however, when a source of nutrition is found the individual Slime mould cells will create a network of individual cell nuclei joined by membranes. These networks can spread for meters and contain thousands of individual cells all feeding on a given source. When the nutritional source is exhausted the slime mould network will move on to another. New cells will join and the old ones will become rigid and explode themselves, sending out spores to begin the process all over again.

Information and photos taken from www.hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/. viewed 9/4/11

Maybe In this way, prefabricated architecture work in a similar way. Pre fabrication allows for control and this sporing effect.

This Led me to look at other ways in nature that social networking is utilised at a species level for the advancement/ survival of the species

In terms of architectural forms of these patterns, the importance of Nodes, and linking networks of essentially nothing ( or singularly useless/ limited use space) to create a fully functioning system. The shared responsibility associated with a social network.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The Idea of the psycology of a building and the psycology of my site got me thinking about my site analysis and later my folie design. How I aimed to instill a sense of responsibilty to the user and a certain degree of repremand for the current site condition. This made me think about responsibility and how much/ how little reposibility users will take on.




This led me to examine the psycological process associated with the break down of a social space which led me to the Diffusion of responsibility theory:

The Diffusion theory states that, bystander apathy is caused by a dilution of the individual's sense of responsibility in a larger group of people.

Diffusion of responsibility is a phenomenon which tends to occur in groups of people above a certain critical size when responsibility is not explicitly assigned. Diffusion of responsibility takes place, through action or inaction , when people allow events to occur which they would never allow if they were alone.

To a certain degree I think this is what happends to nature, the responsibility of sustainable design is diffused.

we have to activly direct that responsibility to all users.

The opposite of Diffusion of responsibility in society is what I aim to acheive for the Howard Smith wharf site.

Toyo Ito- The white U , Tokyo, 1976

The Psycology of the architecture:

In my folie design I wanted to slightly desturb and also instill a sense of responsibility in the user. I aimed at creating an atmosphere that acknoledged the past site uses, the abandonment and dereliction of the site. I tried to creat an environment that reflected the psycological reaction to the site history and in a way 'burden' the user with this. I really enjoy this ides of humanising the site in this way and designing to achive psycological reaction will be something I further explore in this next design project.

There has to be a degree onto which you can put this responsibility onto the site and a point at which responsibility is rejected. I will explore this further during the next few weeks.

Toyo Ito, in the White U project has effectivly physically represented a psycological state.

Designed by Ito in 1976, The U-House was built for his older sister, who had just lost her husband to cancer. In 1997 the house was demolished.

The client lived in A high-rise apartment previously. Following her husband's death, the widow asked Ito to build a house for her and her daughters where they could enjoy contact with soil and plants that their former home had lacked. She also felt strongly that all members of the family should have visual contact with one another. In the widow's conversations with the architect, the emphasis on organising functional spaces gradually disappeared and instead turned more towards the symbolic value of the space.

Twenty-one years after being build, the family was ready to re-establish its links with the outside world. The occupants said that they had never thought of whether or not it was comfortable space, although they refers to the house as a coffin. This was reflected by the behaviour of the families many pets, all of whom had totally refused to be alone in the enclosed courtyard.

The last thing we know about the story of the house is that Instead of interpreting its demolition as destruction of a home, the family sees it as a sign of another stage of progression. This building has been repeatedly refered to as a house for mourners.

The story of the white U- came from :

http://storiesofhouses.blogspot.com/. viewed 7.4.11

Images can be found at the Ito & Associates website: http://www.toyo-ito.co.jp/ and Architecture blog: http://japanesearchitecture-kururi.blogspot.com/. viewed 7.4.11

Architecture to Inspire

Ken Yeang

Architect and Eccologist Ken Yeang creates amazing high density built structures inspired by natural eccosystems. Ken recognises the unsustainable current urban growth patterns and aims to address the environmental consequences of urban growth in his design work.

Yeang looks at skyscrapers as a typology and aims to achive:

' benign and seemless intergration of everthing that humans do or build in the natural enviroment' - Ken Yeang, the waste project. viewed 7.4.11 Its my beleive that this idea of benign integration should be the aim on a mico or macro scale to all facets of life when developing built environments. More information can be found in the following short video, found at: http://youtu.be/H1P1kkcEzWM

Editt Tower- singapore

- starts by looking at sites eccological system & properties

- heirachy of eccosystems

- analysis revealed devistated eccosystem

- Design Approach is to reinstate with organic mass

- Indiginouse planting within 1 mile radius mapped to identify speices

- Placemaking considered - spacial continuity between street level & upper floors due to physical compartmentalization.

- Aim to bring 'street life' to upper building.

- implementation, wide upsloping ramps from ground 'street' level utilizing activity of ground level up.

- verticle landscaping

-Embodied energy & resource recycling

Imigag taken from the T.R. Hamzah & Yeang International website.

http://www.trhamzahyeang.com- viewed 7.4.11

Site Analysis Mapping

In order to better understand the site I undertook the process of mapping the site on a number of different scales.

The first scale allowed me to understand the site in a broad context and map practical, social and environmental elements that effect what 'should' be designed on the site.

Area Grid Analysis

This week I have been looking at the work of architect Ken Yeang. One of Ken Yeang processes is to analyse site patterns in order to direct his design process. This analysis is effective as it provides a visual understanding of the design of the area and the way that it has developed along linear axis.

Precinct analysis

KEY:

This form of analysis shows me the distribution of functions in spaces immediately connected to the site and also in the broader context.

Green Zone Analysis

The site has a large percentage of natural vegetation pre existing on it. This green zone analysis was important to show me the public distribution of green space. It shows the importance of trying to keep as much existing vegetation during the construction process

Access Analysis

KEY:

Understanding pre existing access routes means that the design process can if possible preserve these access routes and also design to make the most of these routes for both pedestrians and vehicles.

On a more micro mapping level I undertook analysis of the environment adjoining the site.

the Figure ground map below shows the site in relation to the built environment. This clearly shows the degree of built environment surrounding the site.