STUDIO AIR FINAL SEMESTER ONE, 2016 KATE, JASPREET, OLIVIA & JIL TUTOR: CHEN CANHUI
DESIGN BRIEF
CLIENT
Propose an architectural intervention that will express, support, amplify or question continuous relationships between technical, cultural and natural systems.
Moreland City Council has an invested interest in Merri Creek, it’s ecology and appearance. This design is a response to their request for a form to cover the numerous storm-water drains that lead into the creek.
Relationship Technical: - The use of grasshopper in the design - The connection to the drain - The filtration of the water from the drain to the creek Cultural - The use of the graffiti to form the shape - Graffiti influencing the colour of form
Natural system - The use of the drain in our design - Use of material that is natural and not harmful to the environment
DESIGN AGENDA To create a permanent structure that hides all drains within Merri Creek, which will make the creek more inviting and appealing for users and passersby. This will be achieved using vibrant colours and intriguing form, improving the user experience.
Stakeholders - Friends of Merri Creek - Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) - Moreland City Council - Local residents - Aquatic life in Merri Creek and the Yarra River - Local flora and fauna
SITE Underneath the Eastern Freeway, very near the intersection of Merri Creek and the Yarra River. Surrounding Sites - Dights Falls - The Quarries Park - Main Yarra walking trail - Nearby Collingwood Streets
Existing Users - Bike Riders - Walkers - Dogs - General public only passing through to reach another destination Extreme amounts of noise from the Eastern Freeway and surrounding main roads. It’s a major factor for negative user experience.
The sun path shows sunlight coming from the North which creates large amounts of shade in the morning from the trees and roads, as seen in this image.
Figure 3. Accessed from SunCalc for Google Maps
Wind flows through the site from the North and South. It makes the underpass of the Freeway extremely cold and windy.
STUDIO EXPLORATION
Jil
Olivia
Project: Using metaball to create a shelter
Project: Using Metaball to create a tree house
Kate
Jaspreet
Project: A structure that covers the drain to make it more appealing, while filtering water to collect rubbish and pollutants.
Project: A tessellated surface that helps to collect rubbish from the creek.
DESIGN PROPOSAL Aim To improve the aesthetics of Merri Creek, this will be done by covering up the multiple drains around the creek with a structure. Form The form will take on an organic shape which is influenced by the culture around the creek i.e. the graffiti. It will also need to take into consideration the flow of water and how it will be removed from the drain. Materiality The material will need to be durable in all temperature and weather conditions. It must be water proof so that the quality of the material does not diminish when coming unto contact with the water from the creek and drain.
PRECEDENCE
NON-LIN PAVILION MARC FORNES | 2011
PRECEDENCE
RAINFOREST PAVILION GUN ARCHITECTS | 2014 LOCATION | LONDON
LOCATION | ORLEANS, FRANCE
Marc Fornes Nonlin Pavilion combines elements that mimic nature, architecture, sculpture and organic form which is also known as biomimetic design. The form of the pavilion takes on a coral-like shape that creates tunnels that people can sit on, walk around and even climb.
The tree like canopy gradually drips water down through fabric triangles, onto a planting area below filled with ferns. it focuses on water accumulation and circulation so that small amounts of water are released at a time. The sounds, smell and touch entice passers-by and the white 'stalactites' stand out against the greenery. This precedence could help with materiality and the function for the final design.
DESIGN CONCEPT Forms
DESIGN CONCEPT
DESIGN CONCEPT
Functionality
Materiality
ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Advantages: impact resistant, tough, heat resistant, acid resistant, recyclable Disadvantages: difficult to fabricate at a large scale, flammable under high temperatures, harmful to the environment when melted
Polypropylene Advantages: mould-able, heat resistant, light-weight, many possible colours Disadvantages: can become brittle, liable to degradation under UV heat
Polymer Plastic Advantages: light-weight, strong, many possible colours, thermal insulator Disadvantages: can become brittle, liable to degradation under high amounts of heat
DESIGN CONCEPT Connection prototypes
PROTOTYPE Material: Thin Rope Method: Made by hand
PROTOTYPE
PROTOTYPE
Material: Plastic Cups & Staples Method: Made by Hand
Material: Chocolate Method: Made by hand
PROTOTYPE
PROTOTYPE
Material: ABS Spool Method: Up 3D Printing
Material: Composite Powder METHOD: 3D Powder Printed
PROTOTYPE
FINAL DESIGN
Material: ABS Printed Drain Method: Up 3D Printing
Top View
Front View
Right View
Left View
FINAL PROTOTYPE