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I aimed to explore a typology that approaches these three ecologies at the same time to achieve that balance and become the catalyst of a real transformation in Geelong in the future. To make sure I balanced these three main topics, I planned my Design Research Process to start approaching them separately. Then, I put my focus on the hybrid building design... And finally, I worked on the three ecologies simultaneously to achieve the ‘balance’. The land uses and key facilities around the site helped me to define my brief and programme for the masterplan. ...and the Precedents Analysis

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...defined my design principles to apply to the hybrid building design

When I combined those design principles, I obtained my first iteration. From this proposition, I identified some aspects that could be improved; particularly looking at the missing opportunity for adaptive re-use. How can I propose to have an ecological approach without being more aware of the context and its significance for Market Square? Based on those reflections, I redefined my project. Rather than condensing the residential uses in one tall tower, I decided to placed it in one horizontal bar. I used parametric design to explore the concept of porosity that may boost the introduction of nature into the interior space. In this slide, we’re looking at my brief and programme I incorporated.

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In this image, we’re looking from the corner of Moorabool and Little Malop St, since this street was my focus area that I’ll explain in a minute. If the original goal of my thesis was to create a new typology that combines these three components to achieve the ‘equilibrium’, it is possible to say that the project at this stage DOES since it includes hybridity of programmes incorporating biophilic design and gives the public realm a significant protagonism. In that sense, this iteration meets the first aspirations defined in my thesis statement

But, at this point, I realised that the design process had been giving a response resulting from a lineal process. Maybe, the focus on the hybrid building was not enabling me to achieve the complexity and mixture of ecologies that Guattari refers to.

Concerning one of my initial questions of research whether any ecology should be dominant, I realised that maybe the ‘equilibrium’ might not the best response since we would be losing the richness of the three ecologies co-existing in different ways and proportions.

Hybrid building themselves approach the relation between humans to the built environment, which seems to be correct for urban design, but do not contemplate human interactions (Social ecology) at all, which indeed are the ones that trigger more complex ecosophies. In that sense, shouldn’t the Social Ecology lead the design process on the architectural scale? At this point in my thesis, I shifted my focus. From here, the starting point was one of my major findings resulting from the mixture of uses and users in hybrid buildings: the places of conflict.

The word conflict comes from Latin and means ‘to come together for a battle’. In architecture, those places of conflict may occur either for a different way of space appropriation (the diversity of programme can be one of the reasons) or, basically, clashing ideas.

While a business-as-usual approach would avoid conflicts at all costs, a Three-ecologies approach would bring people together for a ‘battle’ by generating points of contact to discover what’s different, debating ideas and enriching from diversity.

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To apply this approach to a concrete design process, I set the following steps: - Mapping where the (possible) conflict can occur - Enabling points of contact while rebalancing the space contemplating the other 2 ecologies - And finally, letting the ‘conflict’ begins & the ‘chaos’ exist [...] So, when I mapped possible points of conflict in my project, I identified three case studies that I developed in further detail. /

First, the interaction between the visitors & locals at the ground level. Rather than looking for buildings fully ‘closed’ to the public space to avoid conflicts, shouldn’t a Three-ecologies approach be generating architecture that ‘opens to’ and embrace the city? / The third level is the filter between those who work/ study in the building and those who live there. If a business-as-usual approach would design each building to respond to a specific need, shouldn’t a Three-ecologies approach generate spaces of encounter that enables learning from each other? / Finally, the housing building. When designing for people & all the values that make them unique, we can take two positions: either conceive spaces from an individualistic perspective (only the self)… or, contrary, to encourage places for exchange and learning. That’s the aspiration of a three-ecologies approach Placing the Social Ecology as the core of my design decisions, I defined three architectural gestures, each responding to each point of conflict Sewing for the ground level, Bridging for the 3rd level & Joining for the housing block. …to let the 3 ecologies manifest

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To apply the concept of sewing into the Ground level, I identified the accesses to the site and the vertical circulation halls as key spaces to show the ‘tip of the iceberg’. So, I imagined that an organic path might act as a root, a ribbon, that ties all the different points and connect people with those key spaces. This concept allows me to add “eyes on the street” and show the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of what’s going on the site. Zooming in these three areas...

…in this slide we can see some key elements that I incorporated in my design that enhance the relation between people and each ecology – the mental, environmental and social. Each of them enables or constrains in different levels, but overall we can see that spaces that enhance Social ecology are dominant. This collage illustrates how this space might be... How the building opens itself to the public space. In the scene, it is shown a workshop run by students from the Creative Arts Faculty to the community. While some people prefer to work independently on their blank canvas, others have fun co-creating and painting in the pivoting wall. Besides, it shows the large foyer that crosses the building to the green core. This space exhibits artwork created by students for the community of Geelong to see what it is being done at Deakin University. A large translucent plane between the foyer and the Dance Studio, enable people who walk through to see part of it –and, hopefully, be willing to take classes one day.

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My second case study was the third level and design for people who work/study and those who live on top. So, ‘bridging’ enabled me to create encounter points between the three buildings: the common areas of the housing block (at the left), the Creative Arts Faculty (in the middle) and the Transitional Housing of Geelong Hospital (at the right). This is how I created ‘conflict’ in a place where it didn’t exist. In this floor plan, we can see learning spaces at the core, the relationship with the housing’s common areas rely on creating spaces for debates and feedback; while the link with the Transitional housing aims to relations to skill up and being inspired by each other. Again, in this slide we’re looking at how each element enables the connection with each ecology ...and this slide illustrates how that bridge might look like when the 3 ecologies manifest

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Finally, the 3rd case study, the interaction between neighbours. As I previously mentioned, the form-finding process began with some explorations using parametric design to generate porosity in the building massing. When it comes to the concretion of the first explorations, the placement of each unit was designed manually, like a puzzle, trying to assemble pieces. The outdoor spaces were not only designed to bring nature indoor but also were conceived as points of interactions between neighbours to rebalance any possible conflict.

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Another criterion was the mixture of different dwelling types. The idea was to generate vicinity between different groups of people. In this area, it’s shown the layout of 6 dwellings that respond to 6 different household types. The idea was to enhance these points of encounter and create even more rich and diverse points of exchange. / In this section of the building, we can see Paula & Marian’s apartment, which is neighbouring Gabi (a student), who at the same time is neighbouring with Mindy, a pensioner who lives by herself. Mindy also shares a terrace with Marinis, an accountant who sometimes has work meetings at home. When it’s not working, Marinis has a more private terrace that shares with Juana and Marcelo, who is neighbouring with Christian, Lucca and Lupe on the other side... / This is how the concept of joining and neighbouring works. In this slide, we can see how those outdoor spaces define the limits between dwellings while creating a point of contact between neighbours. ..and in this slide, once again, we’re looking at how each element enhances each ecology. / The Mental Ecology resulting from the relation between public/social areas, work & living, and outdoor/indoor spaces relation that also relates to the Environmental Ecology. / With the incorporation of Biophilic design principles, people can connect with nature not only through nature itself but also through the organic shapes, materials and colour palette selected. / To enhance the Social ecology outdoors, catch-up benches have been designed to be a physical separation between neighbours but rather that eject, act like magnets. They constitute the base of the space of interaction and exchange. A line of subtle tensors complements the physical limit between the terraces.

In regards to the structural system selection that responds best to my thesis, I decided to utilise a hybrid structure of timber and steel that can be adapted according to the space design. The primary vertical elements for walls are dowel laminated timber panels, complimented with steel columns where I placed large voids. For the horizontal structure, I have three different types of elements: Steel beams, and two different types of roof composition: Type A is a composite timber of dowel laminated timber and concrete slab when I connect two indoor spaces vertically; and Type B (D-4) is a cross-laminated timber panel that enables me to have the depth I need to add substrate on top. D-3 is a construction detail of a non-bearing wall that have planters.

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One last render, where I’m illustrating a typical Sunday morning scene. / This is the terrace that Gabi & Mindy share. Mindy’s grandson is having a friendly but heated discussion with Gabi’s dad about AFL. “Shouldn’t The Cats have won the match?!” her dad said. / We can also see Mindy who’s jumping in & out of the discussion while cutting some herbs to use in the sauce she’s cooking. / Someone from the level on top seems to have something to say. Even the non-human beings, at some point, are participating from the debate.

I’ll conclude this presentation with one of my major learnings from this thesis. / At first, when I aimed to design for the cities of the future, I looked at precedents that provoked radical changes in their context. / But maybe, the catalyst of change does not rely on innovative typologies but that synergy can be inside every neighbour from Market Square if we, designers, create the conditions to enable them ‘to be’ by shifting the design thinking from the Mental Ecology (what’s meant to be) to the Social Ecology. / So maybe, that Ecological Harmony is not (and shouldn’t be!) perfectly balanced. It’s the (dis)equilibrium, the (im)perfection... the conflicts & chaos that rise up from human (and non-human) interactions are the ones that enrich the space and, hopefully, shape many dis-balanced cities in our future.

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and my responses to it

At the moment, yes. The next step might be to design a kit of parts and test different interfaces that separate the outdoor terraces where people can choose from. Testing materials/shapes, voids/solid/transparencies etc that might enable occupants to interact, and let them decide the degree of privacy they are keener. Definitely, the catch-up bench shouldn’t be the only possible solution for that point of conflict.

The structure! I believe the construction details I designed and the structural system overall work well for the housing block, however, because of the timeframe I didn’t have the chance to design the structure for the whole building. The vertical structural connection in the carpark building would not be an issue since due to the original function, the building will be able to support new loads. The points that will require my attention for the next step are the Creative Arts Faculty (middle) and the Library/Communal areas (corner). For the former one, I assumed that the division between classrooms and the vertical circulation will play a role as the primary structure, including the overhang of the third level; and for the latter, the solid box in the core (laundry/book storage), the vertical circulation and the thick columns in facade will do. The next step would be the creation of a schematic structure drawing and modify the design if needed. I use parametric tools only to test the concept of porosity. The Grasshopper components/definition: I created a grid base and used Populate 3d, OcTree and Lists to randomly select cubes, Pipes for the schematic structure. The layout was designed manually. I would have loved to use Galapagos but I was not sure that I would be able to create a definition/find a solution within such a short amount of time. A next iteration would be using Galapagos to explore the concept and new possible layouts, since the personas profiles can be used as my inputs, as well as lighting and ventilation requirements, internal layout connections and (new) modules sizes - since maybe 4m x 5m is not the most optimum.

At the moment is something in between. I believe those would involve different design processes - worth testing both and compare both results. The parametric process using Galapagos would lead to speculative/generic, whereas designing unit by unit would enable bespoke housing. However, time consideration is important since after getting the GH definition, I might be able to test multiple options in just seconds, the bespoke process would take much longer (there are more than 100 units), and the outcome will be just one.

Reviewer Name Student Name 1. IMPRESSIONS - please comment on your overall impressions of the quality of the project (perhaps as you listen to the presentation and the discussion). 2. KEY QUESTIONS - What key questions does the student need to answer about their work? (just in case you don't get to ask them in the session). 3. WHAT'S WORKING WELL? 5. WHAT'S NOT WORKING SO WELL? 6A. DESIGN RESEARCH (ULO 3)- How well does the project assess and test a design response against varied datasets including regulatory, theoretical frameworks? 6B DESIGN RESEARCH - Comments 7A: DESIGN PROPOSITION (ULO 4) - how well has the student developed an independent design proposal that integrates research Þndings, design concepts, and performance as a resolved prototype or design proposition?

Reviewer Name Student Name 1. IMPRESSIONS - please comment on your overall 7B: DESIGN PROPOSITION - comments impressions of the quality of the project (perhaps as you listen to the presentation and the discussion). 2. KEY QUESTIONS - What key questions does the student need to answer about their work? (just in case you don't get to ask them in the session). 3. WHAT'S WORKING WELL? 5. WHAT'S NOT WORKING SO WELL? 6A. DESIGN RESEARCH (ULO 3)- How well does the project assess and test a design response against varied datasets including regulatory, theoretical frameworks? 6B DESIGN RESEARCH - Comments 7A: DESIGN PROPOSITION (ULO 4) - how well has the student developed an independent design proposal that integrates research Þndings, design concepts, and performance as a resolved prototype or design proposition? 7B: DESIGN PROPOSITION - comments

Tobias Horrocks Tobias Horrocks Sandra Mansilla Hsyu Sandra Mansilla Hsyu (M.Architecture+Urban (M.Architecture+Urban Design) Design)

Mick Moloney Mick Moloney Sandra Mansilla Hsyu Sandra Mansilla Hsyu (M.Architecture+Urban (M.Architecture+Urban Design) Design)

Jose Rodriguez Jose Rodriguez Sandra Mansilla Hsyu Sandra Mansilla Hsyu (M.Architecture+Urban (M.Architecture+Urban Design) Design)

Ian W. Ian W. Sandra Mansilla Hsyu Sandra Mansilla Hsyu (M.Architecture+Urban (M.Architecture+Urban Design) Design) Lovely hand drawn diagrams. Lovely sketchup renders. Lovely hand drawn diagrams. Lovely sketchup renders. Looks like a big green square cloud above the old facades. Looks like a big green square cloud above the old facades. Lovely thinking process, shown iteratively with diagrams. Lovely thinking process, shown iteratively with diagrams. Great ambitions - challenging the norm. Essentially exposing Great ambitions - challenging the norm. Essentially exposing the activities towards the public - like the 'extraverted the activities towards the public - like the 'extraverted architecture' that the other student raised. architecture' that the other student raised.

Very high quality presentation, graphics, visuals, and above Very high quality presentation, graphics, visuals, and above all conceptually solid. all conceptually solid. Are you forcing the residents to interact, sacriÞcing their privacy? Is there Are you forcing the residents to interact, sacriÞcing their privacy? Is there choice built in? What parametric tools did you use? Galapagos, the choice built in? What parametric tools did you use? Galapagos, the evolutionary solver in Grasshopper? I like the speciÞc people in the evolutionary solver in Grasshopper? I like the speciÞc people in the apartments are described, but is this bespoke or speculative/generic apartments are described, but is this bespoke or speculative/generic housing? housing?

Can the internal laneways spaces be developed as individual personal Can the internal laneways spaces be developed as individual personal spaces? spaces?

Exceptional presentation. Well spoken. Well paced. Inspiring. Exceptional presentation. Well spoken. Well paced. Inspiring. N/A N/A

Very clear and engaging presentation that draws on theory, Very clear and engaging presentation that draws on theory, uses design iteration to explore ideas and is reßexive.uses design iteration to explore ideas and is reßexive. What next? What next? Untitled form Untitled form

Beautiful graphically, developed at nearly all scales. Beautiful graphically, developed at nearly all scales. Construction details seem a bit premature, especially when the schematic Construction details seem a bit premature, especially when the schematic design is pretty basic. design is pretty basic.

Everything. Everything. Nothing. Nothing. 5.EXCELLENT 5.EXCELLENT appreciation of the appreciation of the relevant frameworks relevant frameworks and datasets and datasets necessary to test the necessary to test the design proposal design proposal 5.EXCELLENT 5.EXCELLENT appreciation of the appreciation of the relevant frameworks relevant frameworks and datasets and datasets necessary to test the necessary to test the design proposal design proposal

Highly reÞned proposition. Graphic Presentation was Highly reÞned proposition. Graphic Presentation was second to none. second to none. N/A - It's a great proposition. I hope to see the proposal/ideas go futher. N/A - It's a great proposition. I hope to see the proposal/ideas go futher. 5.EXCELLENT 5.EXCELLENT appreciation of the appreciation of the relevant frameworks relevant frameworks and datasets and datasets necessary to test the necessary to test the design proposal design proposal

Everything Everything N/AN/A 5.EXCELLENT 5.EXCELLENT appreciation of the appreciation of the relevant frameworks relevant frameworks and datasets and datasets necessary to test the necessary to test the design proposal design proposal Would be great to 'test' the idea somehow - speculate on Would be great to 'test' the idea somehow - speculate on neighbours that hate each other? neighbours that hate each other? 5. EXCELLENT - highly 5. EXCELLENT - highly resolved, design resolved, design proposition that integrates proposition that integrates design research very well. design research very well. LovelyLovely

5. EXCELLENT - highly 5. EXCELLENT - highly resolved, design resolved, design proposition that integrates proposition that integrates design research very well. design research very well.

Clear and reliable data sets. Well presented, and reasonable. Clear and reliable data sets. Well presented, and reasonable. 5. EXCELLENT - highly 5. EXCELLENT - highly resolved, design resolved, design proposition that integrates proposition that integrates design research very well. design research very well. Highly enjoyable. Congratulations. Best wishes for Highly enjoyable. Congratulations. Best wishes for the future. the future.

N/AN/A 5. EXCELLENT - highly 5. EXCELLENT - highly resolved, design resolved, design proposition that integrates proposition that integrates design research very well. design research very well. Delightful in every way. The self-reßectivity was Delightful in every way. The self-reßectivity was really refreshing! You should give the city of really refreshing! You should give the city of Geelong a special presentation, and then take it to Geelong a special presentation, and then take it to the site owner. Seriously. It meets the City's sense the site owner. Seriously. It meets the City's sense of itself as a 'design city'. It provides the kind of of itself as a 'design city'. It provides the kind of landmarks they're looking for - and does a whole landmarks they're looking for - and does a whole lot of other great things besides. lot of other great things besides.

Yes, absolutely. I didn’t have time to design the hallway/units entrances, but the original idea was to have personal niches that trigger neighbours interactions too. Interesting! Could be the opposite extreme of the degree of interaction to support a future kit-of-parts design.