the stoma : herb bank m e d i a t i n g
c a b r a m a t t a
project by felix saw
contents____
past
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Cultures on the Margins Studio Brief
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The Stoma : Herb Bank Project statement
9 11 12 14 16 18
enclave gap post wwii - a new australia the migration timeline sydney - city of enclave
present
22 24 28 38 44
cabramatta demographics urban typologies analysis agenda herb as narrative
herb bank
48 60 64 72 84 88 92 100
programme proposals masterplan proposals urban design strategy exploration concepts design development design diagrams final drawings : plans and sections vignettes and models
Cultures on the Margins : Designing Cultural Building in Suburban Sydney
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Architecture, Culture and Identity
The Contexts : Site, Form and Ideology
Cultural buildings are considered important mediators between the identities of immigrant groups’ and their cultures of origin and those of their new country. The design studio focuses on the exploration of the capacity of cultural buildings to represent the specific identities, be they ethnic or religious. The issues of representation are considered in relation to the assumption that modern and contemporary cities are defined by globalization and world capital.
The political and ideological debates provide fertile grounds for urban and architectural interventions. Indeed, the architectural profession is built on the attempt to respond to conflicting interests and opposing demands. It is for these reasons that the students are asked to explore the selected suburban sites, determine their suitability to the specific theoretical framework and develop an appropriate architectural proposal.
The design studio focuses on the relationship between dominant and marginal cultures as expressed in urban form, geographic location and architectural expression. The studio projects explore the capacity of architecture to make visible hidden agendas, construct new identities and redefine the existing.
While the studio projects are defined by the common architectural agenda of cultural centers and ethnic precincts and clubs within metropolitan Sydney, the specific theoretical and architectural approaches are determined by individual students. This studio project asks the students to actively engage in the debates on cultural identities and explore the relationships between the dominant culture, official cultural approaches and the subcultures of contemporary Australian society. The aim is to develop architectural designs that engage with the conflicting and contradictory demands. Students are encouraged to engage in the contemporary urban debates on multiculturalism and they implications for architectural production.
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The Stoma : Herb Bank Stoma : an epidermal pore, present in large numbers in plant leaves, that controls the passage of gases into and out of a plant.
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Cabramatta is one of the largest ethnic enclaves of Vietnamese people in the southern region of Sydney. Shortly after WWII and the Vietnam War, Australia abolished the White Australia Policy and opened its door to Vietnamese refugees. While ethnic concentration reinforces identity, the difference in speed of socio-economic development creates intercultural gap between host and receiving community. The scarcity of job opportunities due to the limitation of skills and language has affected the relationship within the community, and affected the hierarchy and relationships of a traditional Vietnamese family. Within a mere 40 years, Cabramatta survived a series of socio-political issues which stemmed from the mass-migration of Vietnamese refugees, and now the Australian society at large have already embraced its vibrant and distinctive ethnic culture. The scheme proposes a Herb Bank, a centre highlighting the value of herbs in the commercial ventures of Cabramatta, which derives from the Vietnamese cultural root and ranges from culinary, medicinal, sacred and reflexology. The nexus of the proposal is a community nursery, where herbs and plants are gardened by the community as a collective effort. The community nursery encourages visitors to learn, experience, and engage in the process of growing and nurturing herbs. In addition to the nursery, spaces such as a community kitchen, experimental bar, herbarium, research lab and apothecary, complementing the narrative of herb growing and their cultural significance to the Pan-Asian community. The scheme also proposes a sunken plaza which extends from the existing Freedom Plaza. Taking the existing Arthur Street carpark as the site, the removal of the carpark transformed the entire site into a bigger public space for the communities leisure, cultural and religious activities. The new plaza restructures the vehicular circulation to the periphery of the town centre, improving the pedestrian experience within. By re-presenting traditional knowledge of the humble herb, Herb Bank aspires to mediate intergenerational differences and intercultural divisions between Cabramatta and Greater Sydney, cultivating interaction and communication.
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enclave [ˈɛnkleɪv], noun :- a country, or especially, an outlying portion of a country, entirely or mostly surrounded by the territory of another country
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enclave____
Ethnic enclave - a physical space containing high ethnic concentrations, where its cultural identity and activity is highlighted. It is composed by the immigrants’ collective memory of their past, and their perception of the new environment. Enclaves function in an ethno-centric manner, allowing migrants to gain knowledge, information and resources in an intimate and comfortable environment, by eliminating the need of any language and social skills of the host country. The deletion of the external barriers posted by the host country results in a rapid economic development within the internal enclave network, as it provides the immigrants better employment opportunities, and together the immigrants create a new environment that resembles the one that was given to them in their past. The difference in culture, language and standard of living has created an intangible boundary that created several social issues when it is placed within different contexts.
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“While ethnic concentration reinforces identity, it also secludes the community from the wider urban context. As the immigrant community self-voluntarily excluded themselves from the mainstream institutions, the difference in speed of socio-economic development then created a gap between the host and receiving society.�
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gap____
The accelerated path to economic and social benefits eventually lured new immigrants into the enclave. As competition rose, the second generation of immigrants who were comparatively well adapted to the new environment, with better acquired cultural knowledge and linguistic skills. As a result, they gained better access to the mainstream economy; while the unskilled, disadvantaged first generation immigrants fell under the problem of unemployment or financial crisis, were forced into informal employment in order to survive, where immigrants suffered from forms of labour exploitations.
As the socio-economic gaps expands, the densification of the physical urban space provided by the host country has led the enclave to a dead-end, as the demand for space and benefits has overwhelmed its supply.
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The waves of Post-Second World War immigrations have transformed Australia from a culturally uniformed country into one multicultural nation. In the aftermath of World War II, an immigration programme has been launched by the Australian government then, transporting waves of displaced European convicts into the country, in response to the urgent need of a larger population for defence and development purposes. The “Ten Pound Poms” scheme has resulted the immigration of over a million British citizens into Australia as well.
___post wwii__ a new australia
“Populate or Perish” , an ethnocentric slogan that was created then, reflected the position of Australian government in creating a “White Australia” that was monocultural and conversative, preventing its risk from being dominated by Asians. The abolishment of White Australian Policy – a historical policy that intentionally favoured the act of immigration by the white people from the Great Britain and attempted to minimize the amount of non-whites entering the country, has opened the gate of Australia to non-white migrants, including the Chilean refugees after overthrowing the Allende Government in year 1973, and the major waves of refugees fleeing from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon during the Vietnam war. A multicultural policy has been introduced by then Minister of Immigration Al-Grassby, as he acknowledges and celebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity phenomenon that Australia has slowly turned into.
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“a powerful enemy looked hungrily toward Australia. In tomorrow’s gun flash that threat could come again. We must populate Australia as rapidly as we can before someone else decides to populate it for us.” Ben Chifley -16th Prime Minister of Australia, 1948
image reference : Wurth, B 2008, 1942 Australia’s Greatest Peril, viewed 6 May 2013,<http://www.bobwurth.com/pacific-war-1942.html>
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// the migration______
The migration of Vietnamese to Australia in the past 4 decades that occurred in phases has contributed significantly into the ethnic concentration issues in Australia. Started with merely 2400 population at the 1976 census after the Second World War, the Vietnam born population has grown rapidly and now the fourth largest overseas-born community in Australia. Over 173,663 Australian residents have declared to be of the Vietnamese ancestry at the 2006 census. Out of the significant amount, over 40% resided in New South Wales as they migrated in Australia.
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The Vietnam War has internally displaced half the population, while killing millions of innocent adults and children forced the Vietnamese to flee their own country in order to survive. Asylum seeker travelled across the sea and arrived on Darwin Harbour in April 1976. Throughout the following 6 years, 55 boats carrying over 2000 Vietnamese has also arrived in the shores of Australia seeking for a new home. The sudden influx of immigrants has led to international discussions and agreements among the resettlement countries such as USA, Canada and Australia. In the early 1980s, an agreement has been made between the Australian and Vietnamese government, creating the Orderly Departure Program, in which the Vietnamese nationals were permitted to migrate directly from Vietnam into Australia. Later the program has been applied as the “Vietnamese Family Migration Program” in the late 1980s, allowing Vietnamese refugees with relatives in Australia to immigrate directly into the country as well.
Within the 2 decades, over 100,000 refugees has migrated into the country, causing an uproar amongst the Anglo-Australian community, creating Anti-Immigration Group – The National Action, seeing the “Asian Invasion” as a threat to the ethnic identity of Australia. The “Blainey Debate” in 1984 has highlighted the issue of the overly fast pace of Asian immigration having potential influence and detrimental effect on Australian social cohesion, while the amount of refugees arriving Australia remained steady throughout the following years. One Australian Policy has been launched by the Liberal Party leader John Howard, urging the reduction of Asian immigration and calling an end to the idea of Multiculturalism.
image reference : Vietnamese refugees arriving in Darwin in small boats, photograph, viewed 4 May 2013,<http://www.naa.gov.au/Images/11403409_tcm16-37248.jpg>
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/ timeline //
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// sydney______
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city of enclaves
As the two largest cities in Australia, Sydney and Melbourne both have been the major cities with the greatest amount of immigrant settlements. The tendency of immigrants settling in an urban context has been reflected on the census statistics. In the 2011 City of Sydney Community Profile census, only 17.7% of the total urban population are Australian, where remaining are constituted by non-Australia-ancestry residents. As one of the most populous city in Australia, Sydney is one of the most culturally diverse cities worldwide. Since October 1945, more than 7.2 million people have migrated to Australia, and until September 2011, the Australian population has increased by a significant amount of 15.49 million people.
Studies have been carried out in researching on the causes of Ethnic concentration in Australia, in relation to the formation of enclaves, or ghettos based on the patterns of geographical concentration of these immigrant groups. These researches also looked into the nature of enclave formations, how ethnic groups were concentrated or segregated within each groups and from the host country. The issue of multiculturalism has always been an unresolved controversy throughout the decades after it has been introduced. Enclaves, like scattered seeds sprouted over the uneven ground of Sydney, grew and shrunk due to the varying degree of celebration or pressure posted the host country throughout the year, closely related with the social-economic and political issues that comprises within.
Source : Australian Statistic Section of Immigration and Multicultural
After the abolishment of White Australia Policy, the country has opened its door and provide the displaced Vietnamese refugees to seek refuge in the country. The Orderly Departure Program that later developed into the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vietnamese Familly Migration Programâ&#x20AC;? (VFMP) has became dominant as the refugee component of the arrival of Vietnamese has slowly decreased.
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Vietnam Born Resident in Australia 2006 [ source : Census 2006 ]
northern territory 560 0.3%
queensland 13080 8.2%
western australia 10490 6.6%
new south wales 63790 39.9% south australia 10550 6.6%
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tasmania 140 0.1%
victoria 58870 36.8%
australian capital territory 2370 1.5%
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cabramatta
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// introduction
Cabramatta, a suburb in south-western Sydney, located 30km away from the Central Business District, under the local government area of City of Fairfield. The forming of enclave begin in the year 1962, post WWII and Vietnam war, when the Vietnamese migrated to Australia to seek refuge, and a new home. The invasion has terminated Australia’s “White Australian Policy” and the concept of Multiculturalism has born. Pressure from the host country and within the ethnic community itself has led the city into a huge downfall starting the 1980s, from unemployment issues to drugs and crime by teenage gang. The lack of contact and communication between parties has created invisible boundaries in the demarcated realm within the enclave. As the tendency of ethnic concentration has grown throughout the years, and its cultural identity has been recognized by the host country, the internal issues then eventually were bounded within.
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// introduction cont.
The Vietnamese community in Sydney are highly concentrated in the South-western parts of the City of Sydney, with the large cluster within Local Government Areas of Fairfield, Bankstown, Liverpool and Canterbury. The high concentration in Fairfield is mainly due to the location of the former migrant hostels of Cabramatta, Westbridge and Easthills. Cabramatta is now recognized as the centre for the Vietnamese in Sydney, also known as the melting pot of Pan-Asian culture. After 40 years of history, the occurrence of many issues in relation to migration, racial and political debates and drugs and crime has placed Cabramattaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity on the fence in between the an enclave and ghetto. The contemporary Australia embraced the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vibrant culture and ethnic identity, while some still haunted by its horrific past of being Sydneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest drug haven during the 90s.
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1 3
2
4
Sydney Local Government Areas (LGA) with highest numbers of Vietnamese Australians, 2011 Census
Vietnamese Ancestry
Speak Vietnamese at home
% of speakers of all language in area
1. Fairfield
31188 ( 1st - 16.6% )
35839
19.1% (1st)
2. Bankstown
15438 ( 4th - 8.5% )
16599
9.1% (2nd)
3. Liverpool
7286 ( 7md - 4%)
7838
4.4% (3rd)
4. Canterbury
4695 ( 8th - 3.4%)
5159
3.8% (5nd)
Cabramatta
6246 ( 1st - 30.3% ) [ 20% of Fairfield LGA ]
7640
34% (1st)
LGA
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t
30km southwes
_________context
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context plan ( n.t.s ) 27
1
â&#x20AC;&#x153; a town of carparksâ&#x20AC;? The car parking lots in Cabramatta have turned out to be one of the significant urban typology. It is noted that there are a huge amount of allocated car parking lots and street parking spaces to cater for the heavy vehicular flow within the town centre. Approximate 20% of the town site area has been utilized as car parking space and yet it still turned out to be insufficient. The over-reliance of the people in gaining access to the town centre using cars has caused traffic congestion throughout the town centre.
__cabramatters ___urban typology
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carparking lot
John Stree
t
dutton lane multi storey carpark
fisher street multi-storey carpark completed 2010
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“ internal grids ”
Recognizing the significance of vehicular elements (vehicular roads and carparking spaces) as the nexus of commercial and social vitality, the town centre then are interconnected with secondary pedestrian elements, that creates a different movement pattern within the area. Plazas, internal arcades and alleyways acts as a transition space leading the users from the car parking space to the pedestrian streets within.
Video documentation : Cabramatters #2 “8 arcades, 8 point A, 1 point B”
A
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John Stree
t
Video documentation : Cabramatters #2
“carpark as nexus”
B
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//___Plazas
freedom plaza
spaces for public events
Spatial Analysis
Chinese gateway celebrates historical ethnic concentration
shop - stop - walk - stop - shop
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dutton lane plaza
pavillions with oriental architectural language
flowers, plants, fruit stalls
shop - walk - stop - walk - shop
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//___Arcades
Program Analysis
generic retail / clothing / f&b / accesories
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specialised retail / dvds / slow food / electronics
loading intensive / poultry / seafood / greens
Spatial Analysis___
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//___Alleyways Alleyways in Cabramatta are located on the south-west end ( John Street )of the town centre. These alleyways shared the same natural physical feature of its narrowness in street width and the exposure to natural sunlight. Yet, each alleyways activation differs significantly based on the street type and activity on the point B (taking John Street entrance as point A )
John Stree
t
B
C
End
John Street Entry
A
Carpark
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Deserted Backyard
Cabramatta Road West Shopfront
Spatial Analysis___ Street Frontage along John Street
Single Frontage
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__agenda
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“Unlike Chinatown and Little Italy (Leichardt), co-ethic customers in Vietnamatta were more likely to be local residents, although many Vietnamese also travel from other parts of Western Sydney to the precinct to eat and shop at businesses owned by Vietnamese entrepreneurs and to socialize and use services provided by Vietnamese immigrant professionals.” Jock Collins and Patrick Kunz, “Ethnicity and Public Space in the City : Ethnic Precincts in Sydney,” Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Jounrnal Vol.1 No.1 (December 2009): 57.
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gap - australian - vietnamese
The response of the Australian people towards the invasion of Vietnamese refugees after World War II fluctuates from time to time. The Orderly Departure Program that allowed the refugees to enter the country has reflected the initial aspiration of the Australia government towards a multicultural, anti-racial discriminatory country. At the same time, demonstration has been conducted by several parties stressing the potential occurrence of social incohesion. The formation of ethnic enclave in Cabramatta has further strengthened both the cultural identity and the awareness of the host country. As language and cultural barrier further segregates the community away from contact with the host country, the downfall of Cabramatta in the 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due to drug and crime issues has turned Cabramatta into a dangerous ghetto. Even though the town has now being cleaned up and refurbished to create a positive image of Cabramatta, celebrating its ethnic diverse culture, the story of the past [ the migration, the rejection and the crime] is still deeply imprinted within the collective memory of the community.
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family - hierachy - distant In a report of an Australian Research Council Linkage Project prepared by researchers from University of Victoria and Deakin University – “The Vietnam Diasporas in Australia: Current and Potential link with the homeland”, a survey was carried out regarding the migration history of the Vietnamese to Australia, and the main reasons for initial migration to Australia was to “escape”, “opportunity for a better life”, and “opportunity for children”. The value of family connection is strongly reflected on the Vietnamese community, where the first generations of refugee struggled in the early year trying to provide their children a better life. The change of the original family structure, where father is the sole-breadwinner has changed as the family escaped to a new home, where dual-earner phenomenon occurred. The decline in economy has led to increase in the unemployment rates adding pressure on both parents, which subsequently influenced the relationship with their children. The language skills and level of acceptance of the foreign culture differs between the two generations, as the younger generation distanced themselves from home and involved in gangs and drugs, leading to the increase of crime rates in Cabramatta during the 90’s. Now the Australian born Vietnamese [younger/ second generation] has less contact with the family in Vietnam, as compared to the first generation of immigrants, expanding gaps in-between generations and breaking ties with their origins.
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“In the mid 1980s, as a result of the 1982 economic recession, employment for the newly arrived Vietnamese refugees and immigrants was more difficult to obtain, which in turn severely limited the amount of financial funds Vietnamese families had available to spend on accommodation, thus discouraging dispersion.” James E. Coughlan, “The Changing Spatial Distribution of Australia’s Vietnamese Communities,” The Re-imaging Sociology Conference of The Australian Sociological Association (December 2008): 10.
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socio-economic - opportunity - competition
Since the early 1980s, the manufacturing sector in Western Sydney has been restructured, has highly affected the employment opportunity of the refugees due to the limitation in skills and language proficiency. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, the Vietnamese community in Australia has suffered the highest rates of unemployment compared to any other group in the nation. As ethnic enclaves provided the new arrivals an easier access to gaining information and resources, many refugees has chose to reside within the enclave, and competed with other existing residents for job opportunities within the area. The older generations eventually struggled to fit the contemporary employment requirement due to the lack of skills and language, as compared to the second generation that received better education in Australia, with better qualifications for employment. As job opportunities within Cabramatta depletes, the ones with better qualification will then work outside the enclave, for better income and quality of life, and eventually moved out once they can afford a “better” place to live. The disadvantage community within Cabramatta eventually comes to a dead-end, where immigrants moved into Cabramatta at a constant rate each year, but yet the potential and opportunities within the enclave remained static, and this post as a threat to the vitality of Cabramatta in a long run , where the cultural identity is the sole contributor to its economy.
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__narrative
backyard diaspora : // from saigon to cabramatta
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horizontal backyard
vertical backyard
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1. The knowledge and practice of planting and farming has been migrated along with the immigrants into the new land. “The shifting of backyard from Saigon to Cabramatta.”
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2. Balcony spaces turned into planting space as the physical size of “backyard” has been decreased. The harvest will be used mainly for family consumption.
3. The inconsistent additional amount of harvest will be brought to the public realm by the older community , forming pop-up stores along John Street.
4. The use of herb in medicine and acupunture in clinics and medical centre in Cabramatta , reflecting the significant of herbs in the Asian culture, and its knowledge that has been passed down for generations.
5. Herbs as the fundamental element in traditional Vietnamese culinary. The healthy traditional cooking minimises the use of oil, while traditional Vietnamese herbs and flavorings have long been used as alternative remedies for all sorts of ailments.
6. Erected during the 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s , the gateway serves as a symbol of the South-East Asian communities in the area. While strengthen their identity, the rise in ethnic concentration also lead to the seclusion of the community, gateway turned into a boundary.
7. Recognition of chinese herbs in the western society, where tertiary education about chinese herbs has been offered in several university in Australia.
8. Innovation process that involves herbs, taking the nature and tradition of herbs as the main ingredient in creating something new. [ art/ research development]
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__design proposition
program analysis
// program + precedent // spatial development // / programmatic sequence / floor areas // spatial qualities
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The proposal uses Herbs as the main medium in celebrating the distinctive pan-asian culture in the city of Cabramatta. In most of asian culture, herbs are widely used in food, traditional medicine, reflexology and even religion and belief purposes. The building program contains four elements: production, community, exhibition and education to be catered for the local,the older community, the younger generation and the visitors.
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Production : Nursery
Precedent Pasona HQ Urban Farm, Tokyo Kono Designs / 2010 A renovation project mainly consisting greenwall facade, and the urban farm facilites building. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;farm-to-tableâ&#x20AC;? concept creates while it encourages, exposes and educates growing processes of the agricultural produces.
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a double skinned intergrated within the a unique environment new farmers to the
Community : Market Currently the open plaza and sidewalks of the town centre have been occupied by the local, older community as a social plaform to meet, gather and socialize, simultaneously selling herbs and other produces produced domestically The building proposes a sheltered market ( or a open social space), providing the older community a safer and lawful platform for the them to sell their home-planted produce, while creating a vibrant social space. Market aims to improve the current streetscape around the town by concentrating the “mobile stalls” together, creating an open space that can be utilized better by the local community. The market space forms an important connection to the Nursery, it also celebrates the local communities’ unique relationship of “private space and social space”under one big roof.
Precedent Sant Antoni Sunday Market, Barcelona Ravetllat Ribas Architects / 2011 A permeanant structure with a retractable roof responding to the needs of space for Sunday Market. Closure of main vehicular circulation transfomed the road into a marketplace, bringingthe locals together. The project looked into the idea of impermanance that the programme and the space required. Cabramatta is constantly in flux within an existing spatial framework, with people flexibly occupying the public spaces and carrying out their various daily leisure activities.
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Exhibition : Museum The museum showcases the history of the Asian communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship with Herbs in an effort to convey such knowledge to future generations. It also chronologically showcases the various use of herbs in Asian medicine, culinary and religious practices and how it is now integrated into the Western culture and education, through both printed and electronical media. A new building type within the City of Fairfield within more than a 5 km radius . The museum celebrates significant historical and cultural values of Cabramatta, attracting more visitors, creating more direct and indirect employment opportunities, and improving the quality of the living environment.
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Precedent Choonwondang Oriental Clinic & Museum, Seoul Doojin Hwang Architects / 2009 A museum celebrates the historical significance of the clinic and its contribution to the town. The original programme of the building ( an oriental medicine clinic ) is retained , with some doctors office and herbalmedicine production room . The addition of museum then added an additional layer of cultural value to the building,The design emphasizes the use of natural materials, paying tribute to the philosopohy of natural herbal medicine. The culture is further celebrated through the structureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tectonics and materiality.
Education : Herbarium The scheme also proposes a Herbarium as a space that stores and documents a collection of various preserved plant specimens. It is conventionally used in a scientific institute mainly for research purposes. A Herbarium is an educational space established essentially for the study of plant taxonomy where the features, geographical origins and scientific data are studied. The process of documenting a herb specimen by making the herbarium will introduce the user about the physical feature and properties of the herbs. It introduce an alternative method in gaining knowledge about herbs other than culinary and medicine, which focus on the smell and use of herbs.
Precedent Kew Herbarium Extension, London Edward Cullinan Architects / 2009 The design responds to the specific requirement for a herbarium storage vaults, keeping the specimens and collection sat a constant temperature of 15oC. The materiality and building features are explored in a technical way; use of concrete structures with high insulation in stabilizing the temperature indoors, while using mechanical air handling and heat pumps in decreasing the CO2 emissions. Research units and labaratories ( indoor/outdoor workplace ) Auditorium & Meeting rooms Library & Archives ( Print material & Specimens )
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// Programmatic Sequence
Plaza
Museum
Herbarium
“a new social space for the local community”
“a journey of learning experience”
“a centre of information”
Visual connection to Freedom Plaza
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Exhibition
Nursery
Book and Herb Collection
History Development Storage & Documentation Herbal Spatial Typologies
Soil & Hydroponic Plantation Apotecary Group work spaces Cleaning Area Irrigation and Services Greenhouse
Storage Areas Data Collection Stations Library Reading spaces Group Discussion Area
Herbarium
Nursery
Museum
Plaza
The design was first developed in two dimenaional , and later it has been experimented on a three-dimensional perspective to illustrate a clearer visualisation of the spatial relationship. the proposal looked into developing the green spaces (nursery / plantation areas) as trasitional spaces that connects the user from one major space to another. the nursery area on the ground level could be a point of gathering and discussion while the visitor access to the Freedom plaza from the train station. the green platforms allocated in the museum used as a point of reference that form a linear journey leading the user through the exhibits, and to the herbarium above.
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// Sizes and Area
___design proposition
/exhibition space layout
/sizes
modules
musuem 20m2 reception,
30m2-40m2 cafe, 50m2 lobby,
80m
2
staff entry
toilet security, storages
loading dock
security
storage
office
collection storage
services
loading dock
lecture rooms, studios, workshop
100m2 office,
storage
collection
reception
public entry
lobby
lecture rooms?
studio
workshop
orientation
550m2 exhibition
area
cafe
toilet
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exhibition
open plan / satelites
linear procession
loop
labyrinth
___design proposition
/herbarium space relationship modules
/sizes
herbarium 20m2 reception,
toilet
40m2 security,
50m2 lobby,
storage
80m -100m 2
office
preparation area 2
200m2
office, library
research lab, herbarium
entry
lobby
prep area
nursery
security
reading area
services
Typical Lab Layout research lab
toilet
library
500m2
storage
nursery
herbarium
Herbarium Labs, Nursery
linear
comb-like
central core
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//Spatial qualities // Reference : A Design Manual - Museum Buildings by Paul von Naredi-Rainer
58
inside /outside relationship
light
human scale
“The entrance to the museum, which as the seam between inside and outside in a way represents the architectural interface between the public and the content of the collection, triggers in the visitor a certain attitude of expectation, which is confirmed, modified, or corrected by the foyer or the entrance hall.”
“Exposure to light and the lighting are factors that are also have a very significant influence on the quality of space, quality of presentation of the objects exhibited, and also the museum’s ability to draw visitors.”
“The balance between space-object-observer is crucial... as an attempt to convert the museum experience ‘into a holistic experience that triggers a process of conversion from the receptive to the creative in the conscious as well as the subconscious’ ”
Daylighting vs artificial, Directional vs diffusion
circulation The circulation path designed in a museum will be determined by the narratives of the exhibits. It then influences the arrangement and the linkage of individual spaces, which ultimately determines the quality of the museum experience.
//Spatial qualities // Reference : A Design Manual - Research and Technology Buildings by Hardo Braun and Dieter Gromling
building grid system
light
climate control
spatial relationship
Lab spaces width are determined by its functional requirement, where its depth follows the dimension of the laboratory furnishing. These dimensions then influences the overall building structure grid and floor to floor height.
North-northwest facing long elevation will be comparatively ideal for laboratory spaces, short building depths are preferred.
A standard herbarium has a specific climate control requirement to keep the storage space under 15C. The circulation area of research buildings with laboratories are subject to increased room temperature as well, building physics of controlling heat and air condition then become very important.
There is a need for clarity of relationship between the 3 main spaces - herbarium, research lab and the library, to be reflected whether through its form composition or spatial arrangement. A hierarchy needed to be formed between the experimental research and the information/ communication spaces.
Controlled sunlight is also crucial for the nursery area, in order to make sure the herbs plantation can receive enough amount of sunlight.
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__design proposition
masterplan proposals
60
___masterplan proposals __option 1
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___masterplan proposals __option 2
underutilized upper ground level spaces
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___masterplan proposals __option 3
63
__design proposition
urban design strategy explorations
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1. Urban Porosity
By cutting the building blocks into smaller volumes, allowing the users to walk through the labyrinth within,. Shop owners extends their shop boundary by displaying their products on the outer edge of their boundary, The nonlinear journey will be created as the shopper weave through the alleyways.
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journey to the existing plaza from train station 2. Relocate Car park By relocating the existing carpark ( removal, relocate or substitute) John Street will be transformed into a pedestrian promenade, also creating a better visual and physical connection to the plaza in the town centre.
existing carpark
1. existing condition
arthur street
3. old+new programme “ new experience through alleys”
basement carpark
2. “reclaiming street”
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4. grow : pedeatrian outflux
3. Negative as Positive the design proposal look into issue of forming private spaces on a public realm. The local older communities utulizes the plaza for differnt purposes throughout the day. Fitness activities and leisure (eg : mahjong games and yoga ) , and selling home made good and fresh produces along the street, while socializing with their neighbours which is also their customers. The proposal take the opportunity and look into creating spaces that blur the line bewtween public and private realm, a platform that mediates between inside/outside, above/below, light/dark etc.
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4. Aboveground Activation the design proposes a split level system, in order to create an easier access for the users from street level, as currently the above ground programmes are very underutilized., By allocating floor platform in between levels allows users from both level to come together/gather and encourage more communication between the community.
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Rolex Training Centre / SANAA
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___spatial arragement diagram and models
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___conceptual section
research lab
herbarium nursery
exhibition area market
carpark 71
__concepts
seven physical models were made to explore two different concepts : pilgrimage & mediation.
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__pilgrimage : conceptual models
the concept utulizes the migration history as a narrative, aspire to create an intricate journey leading the visitors from the public plaza below through the pockets of spaces, where the end of the pilgrimage awaits at the herb nursery.
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__pilgrimage : ideas, precedents, sketches
predecent study : Jessieu Library, OMA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parvis as Pliableâ&#x20AC;? : Creating stacks of platforms, which then enclosed to become a building.
sketches depicting a strong sense of destination/endpoint, as series of spaces are introduced along this journey.
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__mediation : conceptual models
the other 3 models explored the idea of spatial mediation. The model implies a strong sense of circulation, but yet the spaces are allocated according to different groups of user : local, visitors, and researchers. There is no particular end point in this scheme, the end is the beginning is the end.
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Mobius House, UNStudio (top) Shanghai Expo Denmark Pavillion , BIG (below)
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concept 1 : pilgrimage
The design explores the singular pilgrimage journey towards the herb nursery, where visitors are guided through series of spaces around the site before reaching the community herb nursery, where ideas and knowledge of herbs growing are shared.
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sectional and massing study
The sectional studies explorees the spatial qualities of the herb nursery, inviting both directional sublight and diffused sunlight for different types of plantation, and the its influence on roof form
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concept 2 : mediation
The building masses response to the site and surrounding building massing. The building form gives respect to how the neighbouring buildings are oriented. An idea of sunken plaza is introduced as an attempt to lower the overall building height while maintaining the horizontality significance of entrance towards Arthur Street to Freedom Plaza.
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study models are used to experiment on roof forms, responding to the spatial qualities needed and also the surround building height.
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__design development
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Hand drawn plans and sections are generated exploring the two concepts, testing the quality and type of spaces, as well as its proportion according to human scale, as well as the surrouding building.
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design diagrams -urban strategies - concept diagrams
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urban strategies
internal pedestrian network
Park Rd
freedom plaza Chinese Gateway
Arthur Rd
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carparking spaces 1. The construction of Cabarmatta railway station in the 1850s brought with it a growing town centre. Today, Cabramatta is the main Vietnamese ethnic enclave in Sydney.
proposed site
4. The selected site is an existing carparking lot along Arthur Street.
2. The significant amount of carparking spaces and the one-directional driveways result in constant traffic congestion.
3. The internal pedestrian network is interrupted by the vehicular circulation. Park Rd - Arthur Rd has divided the existing Freedom plaza in two, while visually disconnect the gateway from the train station.
John Street
5. Park Road and Arthur Street has turned into new promenades that connects the existing plazas, creating more public spaces and extends the pedestrian network. A secondary laneway at the southern end of the site connects to John Street, forming an internal pedestrian network.
6. The proposal aspires to restructure the vehicular and pedestrian circulation of the city centre. A new plaza activates an internal pedestiran network, providing more open spaces for the local users, while decreasing the pedestrian congestion along John Street.Future traffic flow will be diverted to the periphery of the city centre, providing a greater pedestrian experience.
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concept diagrams
Freedom Plaza
1. The site is currently an open air parking lot located between Railway Parade and the Freedom Plaza
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2. The herb garden is positioned to face the street, celebrating its cultural significance while gaining maximum northern light.
3. A sunken plaza create a public gathering space below the herb garden, while maintaining a physical connection from the train station to the Freedom Plaza.
4. The sunken plaza also forms a secondary spine from John Street to a different carpark. The carving of the building mass create a wide view corridor along the plaza.
5. The herb garden volume tapers, while vertical transitions are formed from either end of the site to allow access to the first floor.
6. The mass separates into smaller volumes to reflect the surround urban character, creating a sheltered public courtyard. The roofs then morphs allowing a variety of daylight conditions for the different spaces witin the building.
7. Key areas of the building mass are cladded with copper to highlight unique activities.
8. A vegetation shelf extrudes from the herb garden volume, where the event of nurturing herbs are revealed to the public engaged in the plaza.
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final presentation
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__plans & sections
community kitchen
library
D
B
marketplace council office bar freedom plaza extension
children room
sunken plaza
A
C Ground Floor Plan 93
herb drying and pickling room
herb nursery
research lab apothecary
library herbarium
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First Floor Plan
greenhouse
data collection stations
Second Floor Plan
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Herb Nursery
Greenhouse
Marketplace Marketplace
Community Kitchen
Section A-Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
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Herbarium
Research Planting Area
Children Room
Research Lab
to John Street Bar
Library Apothecary
Section C-Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
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Herbarium
Data Collection Station
Herb Drying Room
Library Community Kitchen Kids Room
Section B-Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
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Research Lab
Hydroponic Plantation
Marketplace BYOHerb Bar
Soil Plantation
Sunken Plaza
Section D-Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
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__vignettes Series of vignettes feature a teenager, Phuong who grew up from Cabramatta visits the town centre on a Sunday morning.
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As he descents to the marketplace at the sunken plaza, Phoung stopped by at one of the fruit stalls and got himself some oranges as offering for the praying session happening at the Freedom Plaza.
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The Chinese gateway stood tall in the middle of the plaza, framing the activity beyond. As the golden statue at the end of the plaza shimmers, showered by the bright daylight.
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Smoke suffused the air in an instant, as Phoung lit up the joss sticks. The cresendo of the chitter chatters along the long plaza breaks up the monotonous religious chants playing at the shrine.
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The ramp elegantly lifts off the plaza below, as it guides the visitor towards the herb nursery above.
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__Herb Nursery
As the nexus of the herb bank, the nusery act as a space where the exchange of conversations, experiences and ideas happen. A soil plantation shelf extrudes towards the outer realm, where the experience and process of growing herbs are observed and shared with the public walking along the plaza. Matured plants and successful herb breeding experiments are exhibited on the shelves along the corridor. while hydroponic plantations are located along the stairs to the greenhouse above. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the planting, storing their unfinished Cabramatta experience in the soilbed, till the day they return for the harvest.
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intersection of two volumes
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outdoor common area between nursery, library, and apotecary
apotecary & research lab 109
apotecary/research lab medicine machine sketch 110
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__Community Kitchen
The community kitchen offer cooking classes during the weekends, and sometimes weekday nights, where the local older community get together and educate the participants about the essence of authentic Vietnamese cooking. Herbs planted in the community herb nursery will be harvested and used during the cooking classes. Herbs are dried or pickled and stored at the storage space above. The kitchen also provide temporary storage spaces for the street food vendors to store their ingredients during opening hours. During the running of the cooking classes, childcare facilities are provided across the kitchen, where children and toddlers will play within the supervision of the parents.
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celebrating the work and process of documenting herb specimens without interrupting the spatial circulations
__Herbarium
Herbarium is a space where preseved plant specimens are documented and stored for research and development purposes. The herbarium is a thin chamber space located library and the data collection spaces above. will be a display room for during the opening hours. Visitors are utilise the herbarium, getting a better of herbology and plant taxonomy.
in between the the specimens the library welcomed to understanding
dewey decimal classification system w/ working stations fixed on hydeaulic lifts
The specimens will be updated and maintained by the research deparment once every week,a hydraulic lift is used by the user in accessing the stored specimens. Public are encouraged to participate the process of mounting and documenting the herb specimens.
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herbarium hydraulic lift idea sketch 115
__BYOHerb Bar
The existing town centre is active during the daytime, where the plazas and streets are occupied by cars and pedestrians. While the inactive night scenereflected the communities low confidence in the night time saefety of the town. The impression was partly affected by the horrid past, where the town is filled with drug dealers and drug abusers in the night time. The night bar attempts to bring in a new positive energy to the town centre, also to attract a younger demographics to visit Cabramatta. The bar works in a way where visitors are envouraged to bring in their own herbs to be used in making their beverages or meals, and paying a lower price for it. Bar tables spills across the courtyard, occupying the marketplace area, while the council room will be utilized as the security station during the night, to improve the town night safety.
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__Physical Model / 1:500 Context Model
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__Physical Model / 1:200 Detail Model
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credits to john dimopolous, and dijana alic
for your design guidance and support throughout the final year
to sam & mark
for being the best bosses one can ever ask for & for all the design suggestions and advices given
to dad & mum to min, hui, boy to kris & nuk
for all the love and care given, and being the most tolerant housemates
to kevin and nick
we cant stop and we wont stop
to justin
weedle.
to sean, yassi, junwin, phil, rebecca, jason, demas, lynette, jess, siobhan ela, zhen, brandon, david, sarrah, oliver and my fellow final year colleagues
for some, lending those helping hands ( quite literally ) throughout the final year and others, all the fun and amazing times we had together in uni
to flores and prats, PPA, brent trousdale, jocelyn jackson to erin field, to chris thank you, from the bottom of my heart.