A Growing Organism for Youth Towards an Open Building Design Approach
By Eddie Chan Hon Lam 2008993083
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am heartily thankful to my supervisor, Dr. BS Jia, whose encouragement, guidance and support from the initial to the final level enabled me to develop an understanding of the Thesis. Also, I offer my regards and blessings to all of those who supported me in any respect during the year long period of the thesis including my family, my girlfriend (Ho Wan Yin) and her family, my church and fellowship friends. As well as for those who contribute a lot during the final production stage, Janus Li Ka Yan, Henry Sham Hok Him, Cheng Hiu Yeung and Yip Hiu Sze. Thanks so much~ Cheers~ Eddie Chan Hon Lam
CONTENT
P.1
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Synopsis
P.2
2 OBJECTIVES 2.1 Deficiencies - Dead architecture 2.2 Background - Youth culture in Hong Kong 2.3 Hypothesis - Architecture as a growing organism for Youth 2.4 Objective - Reconnecting the Youth and Architecture
P.3 P.3 P.4 P.4
3 SPECIAL STUDY - THE YOUTH SQUARE by Meta4 forum 3.1 The Meta4 forum 3.2 Design concept 3.3 Site context and accessibility 3.4 Design detailed 3.4.1 Glass wall facade 3.4.2 Circulation hallway 3.4.3 Entrance experience 3.4.4 Long span structure 3.4.5 Interior spacial connection 3.4.6 Exhibition platform and ramp 3.4.7 Non-programmed space 3.5 Informal space study 3.6 Conclusion 4 SITE ANALYSIS 4.1 Site Background 4.2 Site Context 4.2.1 Mass contrast 4.2.2 Land use 4.2.3 Vehicular circulation 4.2.4 Pedestrian circulation 4.3 Proposed site characteristic 4.3.1 Site location 4.3.2 Existing area is under-used during weekend 4.3.3 Redevelopment alongside Kai Tak Development 4.3.4 Site section 4.3.5 Site photos
P.6 P.7 P.8 P.10 P.11 P.11 P.12 P.12 P.13 P.13 P.14 P.15
5 DESIGN PROGRAMME 5.1 Planning strategy 5.2 Design concept 5.2.1 Architecture as an infrastructural platform 5.2.2 Open building approach 5.2.3 Hierarchy of program-openness of the architecture
P.27 P.28 P.30 P.33
6 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 6.1 Design drawings 6.1.1 Plans 6.1.2 Sections 6.1.3 Perspectives 6.2 Transforming the architecture
P.36 P.44 P.49 P.51
7 JURY REVIEW RECORD
P.54
8 BIBLIOGRAPHY
P.65
9 LIST OF APPENDIX
P.68
P.17 P.18 P.18 P.19 P.19 P.20 P.21 P.22 P.23 P.24
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1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Synopsis Culture is more or less like an organism, which is growing with the civilian, interacting the surrounding activities and transforming with different generations that forms a life cycle in the need of architecture. Most of the existing youth centres nowadays is dead architecture and with no spirit and cultural input, which they were only designed with repetitive rigid classrooms, playrooms, or halls. Spatial and activity were separated and lacking a connection between spaces, which this is an issue that this thesis is dealing with. The objective of this thesis is to discover how architecture connects the Hong Kong local culture, and the adolescent spiritual development through a design methodology. Traditionally an architectural project is divided into different stages and thus mostly there is only architect handling the architecture at the beginning while the other parties such as the builder and the end-user would have no idea about what they will construct or get when they once enter the project. As a result there is a possibility that the final building would go against the original design concept because there is a disconnection between the design and construction in reality. Thus this thesis is aiming to reform the bonding between design and real final architecture, with a design strategy that interact different parties with the architecture in a productive way, giving a coherent on the design and the reality in respect to time and revolution.
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2 OBJECTIVES 2.1 Deficiencies - Dead architecture For the architecture particularly for teenagers, there are lots of youth centers and adventure training centers in Hong Kong, but most of them are being isolated from the urban neighborhood. As a result, adolescents would only spend limited time there because the architecture does not come together with their daily life and does not serve their need. 2.2 Background - Youth culture in Hong Kong It is understood that culture should be generated from the local and an urban context contains lots of intangible value and culture, such as the street life acting as a street theatre. It likes a treasure box with invaluable knowledge to the teenagers, interacting with them and giving chances to them for transforming and creating their own space. Thus therefore the thesis intends to introduce this treasure box to the teenagers, through architecture passing on the intangible value to the next generation and introduce them a spiritual health living manner, by creating spatial resource responding to the need of the society also reflecting the changing of local culture with time vector by the design methodology that interacts the end users with the architecture.
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2.3 Hypothesis - Architecture as a growing organism for Youth In terms of architectural design, in order to adapt the unpredicted character of the user, who is changing all the time. The architecture acts as an open platform putting in order for the future changing and revolution, letting the builders and the end users to react to it in different time scale, contributing and transforming the architecture with different generation. 2.4 Objective - Reconnecting the Youth and Architecture This design is going to investigate the operation of a methodology which is designing a never completed architecture in terms of the final product itself. It aims to provide an architecture platform as an infrastructure of the building with full equipment to the youths, providing flexibility and controlled by specifying what must be fixed and what is subject to change while architecturally precise yet programmatically open, engaging them to participate in the design, interact with the building as well as forming their own space in respect to the changing of need and the growing of culture. Therefore, the design is completed in that certain period of time.
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3 SPECIAL STUDY - THE YOUTH SQUARE by Meta4 forum Page 5
3.1 The Meta4 Forum Meta4 Design Forum is a newly established architectural & design firm aiming at delivering works which are less explored in the local architectural scene. It is found after their winning the first endorsed architectural competition in Hong Kong in 2000. Lacking of Experience As a group of young architects won the competition and found the office meta4, there is a big difference between design competition and the reality, as well as everything was new to them. In order to overcome the challenges and successfully move this big jump they kept learning and working at the same time. For example it was the first time the architect Kenneth Tse, one of the cofounder of Meta4 Design Forum, designed a theatre, and he had no experience and idea about that and missed lots of information on the drawings. Thus at that period such as preparing the tender package, he and his partner received great pressure from both the Government and other parties such as ASD and the Council. Therefore in order to understand how the design would be worked, he went to UK interviewing and visiting the theatre as well as making lots of reference from architectural books. Understanding of Youth and Youth Centre For designing a centre that particularly for youth, the understanding of youth and youth centre were essential to the overall concept and was mainly base on their personal teenagers’ memory and experience. Moreover by visiting the existing youth centres and community centres, they discovered the disadvantage of those centres, for example the structure of the Caritas Hong Kong Youth and Community Services was relatively rigid and boring, teenagers would only participate in organized hobby classes which there were limited interaction between spatial and youths. In terms of architecture, there were only repetitive rigid classrooms, playrooms, or halls. Everything was separated and lacking a connection between spaces. Those were the impression those centres gave them and thus this was one issue that the design was trying to deal with.
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3.2 Design concept Youth Square aims to implement the Bureau’s vision and purpose in promoting social harmony and civic education. It seeks to provide a venue for youths to discover and develop their potential through its ground breaking spatial design and a wide range of facilities such as theatre, studio, multi-purpose area, hostel, retail shops and offices. The design attempts an antithesis to the convention of a prototype of repetitive rooms which do not encourage the individual to explore the unknown, and there fore makes a synthesis herewith to look for other architectural possibilities. Blending In traditional floor-by-floor building, it has similar slabs one on each other so that a person inside a particular room may have no idea what is happening in the floor above or below him, leading to the consequence that his interest of exploration might be deterred. The first concept attempts to blend different isolated activities into an intermingled section. For instance, having a dance studio next to the cafeteria could ignite a humanistic chemical reaction, arousing a mutual interest between the two groups of people to learn more about the others. The blended content becomes the core mixed programs that are in turn surrounded the non-program perimeter space. From Conventional Corridor to Perimeter Circuit The conventional central corridor, though possesses only the purpose of access to one’s respective destination, is also a wonderful space where people meet for a gossip or take a break for a canned drink. It is non-program in nature, and therefore it has that latent quality for human interaction to occur naturally. The second concept magnifies that potential of the conventional corridor, and turns it to a perimeter circuit.
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3.3 Site context and accessibility Site context The Youth Square is located in Chai Wan, where it is the most eastern part of Hong Kong Island, away from the busiest district in Hong Kong Island such as Causeway Bay and the up coming Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay. On one hand it is an advantage to desing a Youth Centre away from the densest area because it gives less constraint to the design such as the logistic issue during construction stage. On the other hand there is a big drawback to have a Youth Centre far away from the youth spot like Causeway Bay or Monk Kok since it is too low profile that there is not much teenagers would aware that there is a new Youth Square built specially for them even though this project has already started for 9 years since the competition in 2000.
Figure
Ground
In Chai wan, there is mainly residential area surrounding the Youth Square. From data of the Census and Statistics Department in 2006, there are over 67,300 teenagers living in the Eastern Hong Kong Island, which is one of the biggest distribution groups of teenagers living there. Thus, though the Youth Square is targeting to serve teenagers all over Hong Kong and travelers from different countries, at this beginning stage the Youth Centre is mainly serving the local teenagers.
Residential
Open space
Building age
Building age
Industrial
Neighborhood
Youth spot
Youth spot images
Also there is a forum proposing a rejuvenation of the existing industrial buildings, where next to the MTR station, redeveloping them into a new art village like the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC) in Shek Kip Mei. It is foreseeable that there can be lots of interaction or crossover between the Youth Square and the new Art Village. Furthermore, because of the constraint of the site area and site coverage, the Youth Square could only provide limited open space, such as the exhibition platform and the ramp on the 1st floor, to the teenagers. In order to organize outdoor activity, beside the architecture itself, some of the surrounded space such as the Chai Wan Park and the football pitch contains potential of an extension of the Youth Square in a period of time. In terms of building age, Chai Wan is an old district which most of the buildings is already 30 years old and was built in the 60’s and 80’s. An ironic new building, the Youth Square would bring lots of visitor to the district as well as it benefits the surrounding shops and malls. Furthermore, a new definition of Chai Wan is formed and predicting that the Youth Square as well as the rejuvenation of the industrial buildings would bring new life and add value to Chai Wan.
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Accessibility Thought the Youth Square is located at the most east part of the Hong Kong Island, it is still very convenience for people to access to the site from elsewhere because the infrastructure is so well developed and merged into the centre. Chai Wan is at the end of the Island East Corridor. It takes only 15 minutes from the youth hot spot Causeway Bay to the Youth Square. Furthermore the Youth Square actually is directly connected to the Chai Wan MTR Station as well as the Chai Wan Bus Terminal by a footbridge that takes only 5 minutes on foot with cover. It provides an ease and comfortable way for all teenagers both from Hong Kong and overseas to approach to the Centre as it takes approximately 50 minutes from the airport to the Centre by the Airport Express Line. Furthermore, the Youth Square is located next to the main round about of Chai Wan and this welcomes visitors approaching this building from different directions, for example the Chai Wan Road from both Shau Kei Wan, Heng Fa Chuen and Siu Sai Wan. Moreover, there are 4 bus stops next to the site providing a very handiness to all users accessing this architecture by public transport system such as buses and minibus.
Vehicular access
Pedestrian access
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3.4 Design detailed 3.4.1 Glass wall facade The continuous and transparent faรงade is a result of the design concept in the sense that the inside activities of the youth can be spelled out to the public, and that will change with respect to the years go by. For sun-shading concern and at the same time for adding some poetic texture to the glass panes, silkscreen pattern simulation the rain and ripples is tattooed on the skin. When viewed from inside, the scene of the surround city seems like framed with a veil, making the atmosphere of the centre more curious. The reason and the importance of using a clear glass faรงade is to provide a transparency to the space, along the glass wall it is the non-programmed space, allowing the teenagers to form and define their own space and function along the hallway, as well as having an interaction between the youth and the surrounding.
Glass wall facade
At night the faรงade is fully transparent and it has a well visual connection between inside and outside. However during day time there is only the mirror image of the surrounding residential on the faรงade and lost the spirit of having a clear glass faรงade which is to provide a clearness and an interaction between inside and outside during day time. It is actually one of the difficulties and contradiction to the original design concept. From the beginning stage it was a complete clear glass design, but then the Government doubled the requirement of the OTTV value so as to reduce the heat gain inside the centre. As a result a coating was added to the glass and faultily created a reflection during daytime. Interacting the surrounding
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3.4.2 Circulation hallway Hallways are generally a transversal space in ordinary buildings, but Youth Square’s has redefined the hallways where alongside the glass wall not only into wide and opened public spaces that facilitate youth’s dialogues, with unifies different activity areas, and integrates seemingly unrelated activities to encourage youth’s thirst for knowledge about their surroundings, but also it was designed as a buffer zone of the centre. On one hand people would not stay at the hallway for long, and it created a causal space for teenagers to define it with their own imagination. On the other hand, the core space such as the studio is situated in the centre surrounded by the hallway. It not only reduces the cooling load but also benefits the acoustics design of the theatre and the studio.
3.4.3 Entrance experience Beside the superstructure, the entrance of the Youth Square is located on the bridge level from different directions connected by a ramp going down to the ground level piazza. It aims to provide maximum chances to the residents to experience the building and interact it. Furthermore the ramp itself is a performance space, as a result you would enter the architecture and interact with the performers unintentionally. Also it is foreseeable that this public passage would become one of the most important paths connecting the surround area and the MTR station which not only convinces people’s daily life, but also allows more direct contact between the exhibition platform and people.
Connecting neighborhood
Furthermore, as the formal entrance to the auditorium, the piazza in itself serves as a stage too, in contrast to formal performance in the auditorium, the piazza sets as the stage for impromptu performance.
Entrance courtyard
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3.4.4 Long span structure Under the competition brief there were 3 main spaces, the auditorium at basement and the exhibition platform on the first floor also the youth studio on the second floor, where they required a column free and long span structure. It took a lot of effort and time to resolve this issue with the structural engineer by installing transfer trusses. By limiting the loading transfer, thus literally those long span structure needed to be placed on top of each other. Moreover while considering the MOE requirement, those functions contain lot of visitor and therefore they all locate close to the ground floor.
Column-free space
3.4.5 Interior spacial connection Normally in most of the youth centre there is a settlement for a mono-function and thus monotonous spaces. The concept of the interiors of the Youth Square has to reflect what the youth thinks and does in a haphazard way, such as the commercial space and performance space, both are not just a single volume but actually it is intermingled with other functional area such as performance zone and Cafeteria, which is the functions without other function. Also on the 6th floor the dance studio is merged into the multi-purpose area forming a direct connection between different usages of space. This is exemplified by the planning to allow parties to become part of the audience during performances.
Connecting the functional and non-programmed space
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3.4.6 Exhibition platform and ramp The exhibition platform on the 1st floor encompasses elements of interaction such as passer-bys and daylight variation. The content of the Youth Square is cross-programmed, literally meaning the mixing and twisting of different functions such as temporary exhibition and workshop. Furthermore, the exhibition space along the ramp is a place that was never meant to become an exhibition area can eventually turn into one with strong impact and character. As a result, the public space of the centre is a place where exhibitions are going on all the time, at different places and at different time frame.
Exhibition platform
Ramp stage
3.4.7 Non-programmed space As we know there is a generation gap between our age and the youth nowadays, thus Meta4 tackles this issue on the design since in reality there were already including few generations as the project last for 8 years from the conceptual stage to completion. During the design stage architects did some visit on the existing youth centre only, such as the breakthrough, youth-out-reach centre and the Hong Kong Scout Centre, instead of inviting youth representative into the project through out the whole stage, however there were few meetings inviting the youth representative as well as the council giving comment on the design. Moreover, after the completion of the project, it is very hard to request the end user, mostly teenagers, occupying the space according to the original design concept. Somehow it is impossible especially in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, on the other way round, it is about how the centre allows the end user to interact the architecture and keep working on it constructively and aesthetically, which non-program space was come up in the design. The spirit of doing this is providing a chance for youth to create and interact with the centre according to different time and culture rather than purely participate the already organized program. Non-programmed space
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3.5 Informal space study Programing the Non-programmed Space The HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity The school is for teenagers who are interested in the creative arts. The campus is perceived as a think-tank to promote exchange, interaction, improvisation and creativity, and to present itself as a landmark structure for the community.
Staircase facade
Creative Promenade
Public Auditorium
Public Gallery
Staircase landing
Corridor
The design deliberately expresses the functional components as unique volumes and actualizes the vision of building to be a proactive learning community by facilitating the interactions between the teaching team and students. The disposition of blocks defines an array of open pockets on podium roofs at different levels. While the forms of the blocks are designed to follow functions behind the walls, the space of the program is flexible to accommodate different possible uses: The Auditorium is both a black box for performing arts and a school assembly hall; Steps and stairs can be transformed to makeshift audience seating for spectacles. The project avoids fixity and encourages creative uses. The apparent crudeness in the detailing and finishes actually encourage the students to apply their own creative minds to carry the physical enhancement and finishing works. The idea is to let activities transform spaces, students work substitute surfaces, and users continue with design evolutions.
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3.6 Conclusion The Youth Square is the newest youth facility in Hong Kong which is designed by a group of young architect. The design itself is very precise and nicely done with an excellent spatial quality. However there is still a drawback in the youth centre design and a disconnection between the architecture and youth because, firstly the users did not participate in the design thus they only interact with the centre after the whole architecture is completed and programmed, secondly the architecture does not adapt to changes according to different event, different users and different time scale.
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4 SITE ANALYSIS Page 16
4.1 Site Background (Kowloon City District) Location:
Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay
Population:
362,500
Density:
36,178/km²
Youth Population:
40,600
Number of Youth centre:
7
Ratio of youth population over youth centre:
5800 youth/center
Site History: Kowloon Bay, traditionally it is an extension of Ngau Tau Kok, is a bay located at the east of the Kowloon Peninsula which is divided into half when the runway of the former Kai Tak International Airport was in used. Later on the reclamation of north-eastern Kowloon Bay near Ngau Tau Kok is also named Kowloon Bay where formerly known as Ngau Tau Kok Industrial Area. After the construction of MTR Kowloon Bay Station, the area is referred as Kowloon Bay.
Youth population / Youth centre in Hong Kong
Kowloon Bay
Proposed site location
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4.2 Site Context 4.2.1 Mass contrast As the site is located in the industrial area of Kowloon Bay, the massing of the industrial buildings around that site is huge, having a great contrast to the residential area such as Telford Garden where just adjacent to the Kowloon Bay MTR station. Furthermore, by studying the Ground diagram, there is plenty of negative space around the site including a football court and different scale of parks, the podium garden of Talford Garden, as well as the Kai Tak Development.
Figure
Ground
Land use
District grid
4.2.2 Land use Industrial The location is mainly an industrial area which most of the industrial buildings were built around 1970s. Commercial Kowloon Bay is an up-coming commercial district in Hong Kong under the urban redevelopment in the future. As the height restriction is released after the airport moved, there are already high-rise grade A commercial building next to the site such as the Exchange Tower and Mega BOX. Open space There is empty space and back lane around the site but spacial quality needs to be improved such as defining enclosure and scale of space. Residential Mainly located opposite the MTR station including the Talford Garden and Amoys Garden Institution HKU SPACE community college is next to the site and Community College of City University is situated on the Talford Garden podium level which those students would be the potential users.
Massing study
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4.2.3 Vehicular circulation The site is located in the industrial area which is surrounded by major vehicular highway such as Wai Yip Street, Kai Cheung Road and Kwun Tonog By-pass connecting to different district and express way. An island site character is thus created by those roads. Inside the island the local circulation is following a grid system connecting different land lots and the highways.
Vehicular circulation 4.2.4 Pedestrian circulation The Kowloon bay MTR station is next to the site with a 10 minutes walk and there are several bus stops around the site along the local grid system.
Pedestrian circulation
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Kowloon Bay
4.3 Proposed site characteristic 4.3.1 Site location
Proposed site
n
Telford Garde
ad Wang Chiu Ro
Also the district is under a district transformation from industrial to commercial district according to the outline zoning plan where there are already grade A commercial buildings around the site such as the HITEC, MegaBOX and Exchange Tower.
MTR station
The proposed site is a existing uncovered car park located along Wang Chiu Road, where is in the middle of the massive industrial area in Kowloon Bay, connecting the Kowloon Bay MTR station, in between the residential area such as the Telford Garden and the new development Kai Tak Airport.
Proposed site location
Telford Plaza and MTR station
Telford Garden
Mega BOX
Exchange Tower
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4.3.2 Existing area is under-used during weekend The selected area is a car park which occupied by the car owners during weekday, serving the workers who works near by. However during weekend there is only very few workers and cars in the whole industrial area which the car park is normally closed and become an empty space. Moreover this location is a suitable place for a youth centre since it is between the main transportation spot and the new youth spots such as EMAX and Mega Box, as well as it is next to the HKU SPACE community college and the Community college of City University. Therefore there is already a lot of potential youth users around the site. It is believed that the new architecture would add value to the district and rejuvenate this old industrial area by attracting more people, especially youth, to the district in different time phase and thus it brings life and value to the district.
Existing site during weekday
Existing site during weekend
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4.3.3 Redevelopment alongside Kai Tak Development As the Kai Tak Development will be taken action in the coming future that the old airport will be developed into a new hot spot in Hong Kong, including a station square, sports hub, a metro park and a tourism and leisure hub. It is foreseeable that there will be a lot of potential users coming from not only Hong Kong but also youth around the world. Thus the architectural design should be adapted to changes by different users according to different needs and time phase in terms program and space.
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4.3.4 Site section
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4.3.5 Site photos
Telford Garden
Community college of City University
Public housing next to the MTR station
Existing neighborhood
Existing neighborhood
Existing neighborhood
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View towards Kai Tak Airport
HKU SPACE community college
Mega BOX
Pocket space next to the site
Open space connecting the site
Connecting the MTR station
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5 DESIGN PROGRAMME Page 26
5.1 Planning strategy According to the site research, most people would access the site from both the main vehicular access which is the Wang Chiu Road as well as the MTR station which is the north east of the site. Therefore the main entrance, drop-off area and carpark entrance are planned based on the research which is located along the Wang Chiu Road and the secondary entrance is along the Lam Lee Street. Moreover, the loading/unloading area is located along the Wang Tai Road which is the back of house area of the architecture, directly connecting both cargo life and the gantry crane access point which delivers goods to every floor by the crane.
Transformable area
Planning and logistic study
Programmed and serviced area
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5.2 Design concept 5.2.1 Architecture as an infrastructural platform In order to adapt the unpredicted character of the teenagers, who is changing all the time with respect to different generation. The architecture acts as an open platform putting in order for the future changing and revolution, letting the builders and the end users to react to it in different time scale, contributing and transforming the architecture with different generation. The design is going to investigate the operation of a methodology which is designing a never completed architecture in terms of the final product itself. It aims to provide an architecture platform, engaging youths to participate in the design, interact with the building as well as form their own space in respect to the changing of need and the growing of culture. Therefore, the design is completed in that certain period of time.
Concept model Expand along X-Y axis
Slot space allows users to attach add-ons objects to the platform that forms different scale and purpose of space or enclosure which provides an hidden order to the user to interact and transform the design in terms of spatial quality Precisely designed infrastructure of the building provides fixed space and location for the main supporting facilities such as the structure, lift core, M&E and A/C equipment that provides fundamental service to the users The constraint area (without slot space) on the platform provides limitation and variety to the users which also gives certain degree of control to the designer The platform acts as a base of the design that allows different addons objects attaching to the architecture which formed different program of custom-made space
Concept model Architectural platform
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Concept model Architectural platform
With different users, constraint and control, it generates different configuration and density of the add-ons objects
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5.2.2 Open building approach Most of the existing youth centres nowadays is dead architecture and with no spirit and cultural input, which they were only designed with repetitive rigid classrooms, playrooms, or halls. Spatial and activity were separated and lacking a connection between spaces and the youth who are the users, which the reason behind is not only about the inadequate program brief, but also it is fundamentally mistaken in the design methodology from the beginning of the design stage. It is understood that traditionally buildings are built and maintained through the concerted efforts of many parties operating at many different levels in a linear approach. It therefore makes sense to structure the interfaces of parts and of decision-makers in ways that step by step from one party to the next one while it means there is a disconnection between the reality and design, also the end user and the designer. However in order to increase the interaction and improve the responsiveness of buildings to end users, while at the same time increasing efficiency, sustainability and capacity for change, and dramatically extending the useful lives of space, open building approach rises. Open Building is an approach that recognizes something quite unremarkable but something that nevertheless needs to be made explicit: that both stability and change are realities in contemporary built environment. Those advocating an open building approach also recognize that designing and constructing buildings involves many people, who, when reaching agreements, make distribution of responsibility a normal characteristic of the culture of building, but yet no one decides everything, and we usually celebrate that fact while struggling to deal with the complexity it brings. And, since no one party makes all decisions when a building is first constructed nor over the course of time as the building adjusts to new needs and technical requirements according to different need and time scale, it is understood the importance of organizing decision making and construction in such a way as to reduce excessive dependencies or entanglements among the parties involved.
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The user-designer relationship User-responsive infill & layout level represents a relatively mutable part of the building. The infill may be determined or altered for each individual user or tenant of space without affecting the support or base building. Within that structure, independent decisions on the support which is the base building level involve the parts of a building which are common to all occupants, those parts which may endure for a century or more. Individual unit changes should leave the Support unaffected. Open building projects are structured to subdivide technical, aesthetic, and social decisions into distinct levels of decision-making. For architect we make the urban level decisions address the wider public realm, including the establishment of urban patterns of built form and space, placement of streets, parking and utility networks.
The user-designer relationship diagram
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Different level of life span The Fabric and Support level structure builds in valuable capacity for lower level change. Infill systems and parts will inevitably have to be changed many times throughout the life cycle of the building in which they are located. Therefore, they are designed and installed for optimal freedom of independent layout, construction, subsequent transformation and eventual replacement. At the same time, common systems and long-term durable parts shared by all occupants.
The life span diagram
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5.2.3 Hierarchy of program-openness of the architecture There are mainly 3 levels of program-openness in the design which the basement level one and two, also the ground and first floor are the programmed levels which means it is designed precisely for the carpark, reception, theatre and performance platform. Secondly the second to fourth level are the semi-programmed levels which is architecturally precisely done yet program is open to changes and space is defined by panelling system that can be controlled by the end user.
Non-programmed levels
Thirdly the fifth and the above level are the non-programmed level which basically it works as an open construction platform where allows designers and builders to construct temporary structure on top of it according to different event, time and weather. Thus, the architecture is being transformed on this level in terms of not only usage, but also in space and form.
Semi-programmed levels
Programmed levels
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Moreover there are also a hierarchy of program-openness of the plan level which is defined as the transformable area, non-programmed area and servicing area. Transformable area on the north side is designed with a more transparent material such as glass facade creating a transparency and openness feel towards the program as well as having a dialogue with the surrounding buildings and people. The non-programmed area is mainly the circulation hallway of the design where surrounding the servicing area, it aims for providing space for the youth to define their own space and interact with the architecture by the panelling system with respect to different usage, event, time and need. Furthermore it is relatively solid in terms of material in order to create a contrast to the transformable area.
Transformable area
Non-programmed area
Servicing area
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6 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Page 35
6.1 Design drawings 6.1.1 Plans
Site plan
Page 36
Basement 2 @ Level -6.4
Page 37
Basement 1 @ Level -3.4
Page 38
User circulation Ground level @ Level 0.0
Goods circulation
Page 39
Semi-programmed space Non-programmed space
User circulation Second level @ Level 10.5
Goods circulation
Semi-programmed space
User circulation First level @ Level 5.5
Goods circulation
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Semi-programmed space Non-programmed space
User circulation Goods circulation Fourth level @ Level 19.5
Semi-programmed space Non-programmed space
User circulation Third level @ Level 15.0
Goods circulation
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User circulation Sixth level @ Level 28.5
Semi-programmed space
User circulation Fifth level @ Level 24.0
Goods circulation
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Overall planning and vertical circulation
Page 43
6.1.2 Sections
Key Section
Page 44
Transformation of the architecture (normal mode)
Page 45
Transformation of the architecture (Maximum floor space)
Page 46
Transformation of the architecture (Carnival mode)
Page 47
Transformation of the architecture
Page 48
6.1.3 Perspectives
Perspective (The open platform on 2nd floor)
Page 49
Perspective (The entrance, view from Wang Chiu Road)
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6.2 Transforming the architecture Connecting the adjacent building for future expansion and potential linkage As the surrounding site is already under rejuvenation, there is a potential expansion of the architecture that having a connection with the newly youth spot in the future such as the surrounding open space, Mage BOX, the EMAX and the Kai Tak Development which is one of the biggest development in Hong Kong. Also in a micro scale of connection, the roof level of the architecture has a potential connection with the adjacent building, which the industrial building is foreseeable in the coming decade it will be gone under redevelopment, therefore potentially it can be the expansion or loft of the youth facility.
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The open construction platform On the non-programmed level where is the fifth floor and above there is mainly an open platform that is similar to a construction platform that allows different temporary structure being constructed on it. A gantry crane would place on the platform to deliver goods to both the platform and the lower second floor. Furthermore, the gantry crane access point is directly connecting the loading/unloading area with 2 cargo lifts.
The Reception In the programmed level on Ground and first floor, only the object would be moved to form space and controlled circulation. The movable reception can be relocated to different places so that it can either separated the circulation or block the circulation towards the theatre. Thus, the architecture can be partly closed down to save energy when there is no show on the theatre and the performance platform. Furthermore the reception cubic can be moved to the outdoor exhibition space working as an information booth.
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Controlling space In the semi-programmed level where are the second to fourth floor, space is mainly defined by a panelling system by the end user. Thus with only few minutes of operation time the spatial quality can be changed entirely in order to fit different need of space, event and user. Therefore, every time when youth visits this architecture the configuration can be changed, as well as by creating their own space would encourage them to participate into the design also giving a sense of belonging to them.
The extension cubic Also on the semi-programmed level there is an extension cubic which normally housing on the second floor. When there is a need of extension floor space, there are 3 levels of extension floor space of this cubic connecting different levels.
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7 JURY REVIEW RECORD Page 54
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8 BIBLIOGRAPHY Page 65
Books 1. Move house 2. Informal architectures : space and contemporary culture 3. Portable architecture 4. Álvaro Siza 5. Scape : Asymptote architecture 6. Norman Foster : sketches 7. Residential open building 8. Folds, bodies & blobs : collected essays 9. Folding in architecture 10. The structure of the ordinary : form and control in the built environment 11. Archigram : architecture without architecture 12. Archigram 13. Archigram : Symposium zur Ausstellung 14. Álvaro Siza : twenty two recent projects 15. Álvaro Siza 1986-1995 16. rchitectures of time : toward a theory of the event in modernist culture 17. Reading youth writing : “new” literacies, cultural studies & education 18. Theories and manifestoes of contemporary architecture 19. Mies van der Rohe : Barcelona Pavilion 20. Richard Rogers : architecture of the future 21. 靑少年對香港都市規劃發展的期望 22. 靑年發展中心建築設計比賽
Sean Topham Anthony Kiendl Robert Kronenburg Giovanni Leoni Hani Rashid, Lise Anne Couture Werner Blaser Stephen Kendall and Jonathan Teicher Greg Lynn Greg Lynn N.J. Habraken Simon Sadler Peter Cook Eleonora Louis, Semirah Zecher-Heilingsetzer, Jeanette Pacher Álvaro Siza Luiz Trigueiros Sanford Kwinter Michael Hoechsmann & Bronwen E. Low Charles Jencks and Karl Kropf Ignasi de Solà-Morales, Cristian Cirici, Fernando Ramos Kenneth Powell, Robert Torday 香港靑年協會 民政事務局
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Internet: 1. Services for Young People - SWD http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_young/ 2. My views about youth issue http://kskong.blogspot.com/ 3. Youth Union http://youthunion.blogspot.com/ 4. Youth.gov.hk http://www.youth.gov.hk/tc/community/youth_centre/eastern.htm 5. Open Building Concepts http://www.open-building.org/ob/concepts.html 6. Open Building Systems http://buildingtechnologies.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insight-top.pag?docid=SBHR-5M5JK3&ctxixpLink=FcmCtx39&ctxixpLabel=FcmCtx40 7. Future metro - io9 http://io9.com/5362912/the-city-is-a-battlesuit-for-surviving-the-future 8. NEXT21, Osaka, Japan http://www.open-building.org/ob/next21.html 9. 香港青少年研究檔案 http://www.breakthrough.org.hk/ir/youthdatabank/index.php 10. 突破青少年研究資料庫 http://www.breakthrough.org.hk/ir/researchlog.htm 11. 資源庫 -兒童及青少年服務 http://www.hkcss.org.hk/cy/er/employment.html 12. 協青社 http://www.youthoutreach.org.hk/ 13. 香港兒童發展指標 http://cdi.bgca.org.hk/cdi/main/content2c.asp?lang=C&id=122 14. 青年發展中心專題 http://www.inmediahk.net/node/283990 15. Facebook 強烈關注「香港青年發展中心」 http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?page=1&oid=64064630604&aid=-1&auser=&view=all
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9 LIST OF APPENDIX Page 68
Final presentation Images
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Study models
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The Programmed level (Ground and First floor)
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The Semi-programmed level (Second to Fourth floor)
The Non-programmed level (Fifth floor and above)
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The final architecture
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The END
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