Dissertation - Donna Helm

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The role of computational technology throughout the design process of the Civic Centre typology Donna Helm

Bachelor of Interior Architecture Final Year Dissertation – INTA2411 UNSW Built Environment University of New South Wales Sydney 2019

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Abstract A Civic Centre is an all-encompassing name for public buildings or areas, which may be used for a variety of reasons, but are deemed as important central hubs for the community. They play a vital role in human connectivity and establishing relationships between members of a community. The evolution and development of computational technology particularly towards the late 20th century and into the early 21st century; during which there have been rapid advances in technology and increased availability of such to society, has challenged the traditional concept of the Civic Centre typology and the means by which these are designed. This dissertation first establishes a framework based on human connectivity in which gave rise to the significance and purpose of Civic Centres, by exploring the notion of gathering and how that has developed over time to impact design. This dissertation then explores the rise in computational technology how that has shaped the design process of important community focused structures in relation to stakeholders, designers and users. Finally, these ideas are then evidenced through a case study of a local Civic Centre; the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre that analyses the design practice within the multiple phases of the project, focusing on the needs outlined by the community. This dissertation; highlights the importance of Civic Centres in relation to individuals, groups, and community, analyses the significance of a community focused design within Western society and identifies how and why they have been successful. The concept of success within this paper is measured by community engagement through the lens of human connectivity

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Acknowledgments I would like to thank Dr Alanya Drummond for her guidance, support and understanding throughout the dissertation process. To Claudia Bruno for her time, advice and support throughout the editing process And to Xavier Taylor for his patience, support, and encouragement throughout this process.

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List of Illustrations Figure 3.00: Surry Hills Library and Community Centre Exterior, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hills-library/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019 Figure 3.01: Surry Hills Library and Community Centre Library, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hills-library/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019 Figure 3.03: Surry Hills Library and Community Centre Function Facility, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hills-library/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019 Figure 3.04 Surry Hills Library and Community Centre, Childcare Centre Outdoor Area, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hillslibrary/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019

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Table of Contents Acknowledgments......................................................................................................................4 List of Illustrations…………………………………………………………………………... 5 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................7 Chapter One ............................................................................................................................10 Why do people gather?..................................................................................................... 11 How do people gather? ......................................................................................................14 Where do people gather? ...................................................................................................16 Chapter Two: ...........................................................................................................................19 Stakeholders .......................................................................................................................20 Designers .............................................................................................................................22 Users ....................................................................................................................................23 Chapter Three..........................................................................................................................27 Stakeholders - Surry Hills Local Government and Community ...................................28 Designers – Architectural Firm Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT) .....................30 User – The Surry Hills Community..................................................................................31 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 37 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................40

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Introduction The Civic Centre as an architectural typology is one that is defined in this paper as a large municipal building or complex where members of a community can gather for social, cultural or commercial activities and meetings. The evolution of the Civic Centre typology as an urban public space is one that shapes and is shaped by its surrounding society (Carmona 2010, p157). The significance of the Civic Centres’ role within a community as a place of connection between citizens is essential in addressing and compensating for the disconnection of individuals due to technology within a first world community. As the needs of the community evolve, the design of local Civic Centres must too adapt to ensure they continue to serve the people’s needs. This dissertation explores how both human connection and technology have evolved over time and their roles in the development of important community structures such as Civic Centres. This dissertation also includes of a case study which assesses the success of Surry Hills Library and Community Centre as a Civic Centre based on the frameworks presented in earlier chapters.   Beginning with an overview of the importance of human connectivity, Chapter 1 introduces the means for why, how and where we gather as communities. This chapter provides a brief history of the evolutionary change within human society, drawing parallels between human needs and social connection. It also overlays the notion that public spaces and their value within the community have redefined and influenced the importance of structures such as Civic Centres. This chapter is used to establish a theoretical framework for the subsequent analysis of a local Civic Centre explored within a case study.

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Chapter 2 provides a summary of the evolution of computational technology and its influence on design practice, identifying key historic moments in the development of technology during the late 20th century, through to the early 21st century which have shaped these changes. This chapter reviews the impact of this technology boom by categorising how three key groups; the user, the designer, and the stakeholder, utilise technology in the design of community gathering places such as Civic Centres. Technology has allowed for the design of structures to be dynamic process between these three groups. This is reflected throughout the entire design process, from developing policy framework in design practice, to project briefing and community consultation through community engagement and finally to designing the spaces that suit people’s needs and communicating the architectural form that follows before the physical construction.

Following the contextual framework discussed in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, Chapter 3 follows the impact of computational technology through a specific Civic Centre typology. It focuses on the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre as a case study which identifies the demographics of the local community and incorporates the frameworks discussed in earlier chapters to highlight the success of the design. Focus is placed on the process by which the project’s brief is developed in relation to community consultation. The success of this design is measured through community use and engagement in relation to human connectivity and design.

This research draws together three modes of discourse; human connectivity, computational technology and urban public space, specially, Civic Centre typology. It has been widely established that computational technology has had a vast impact on society and everyday processes undertaken. Evidence has shown the connection between two of these modes; with

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pivotal pieces of research by Caroline Haythornwaite et al; (2005), Simon J, Purdy (2017) and Jinyun Chen (2016) exploring the effects of the internet and social networks on human connectivity. While architects Jen Gehl (2006) and Mark Francis (2003) advocate the importance of designing urban public spaces for people and social interaction with an emphasis on defining how and why people use that space. However, there is limited research on the influences of computational technology in the design practice of the Civic Centre typology, a typology that creates spaces for communities to gather. Thus, the focus of this dissertation is on the impact of computational technology on the many phases of design with regard to a typology that is grounded in fostering human connectivity, evidenced through a case study of a local Civic Centre; the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre.

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Chapter One:

Human connectivity: a theoretical framework for the analysis of gathering

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Human connectivity is a dynamic and essential component of the everyday fabric of society. Understanding the why, how, and where, as well as the need for the way that these connections take place, creates a more cohesive community (Leiberman 2013, p. 5). Through evolutionary changes in social, economic and political environments, the Civic Centre typology has developed to meet the needs of different communities. Progressively, the design of these Centres as well as other urban places of gathering have become key in the success of creating a positive sense of community (Francis, et al. 2012, p. 406). This chapter explores the concept of human connectivity within a community and how that has developed over time to give rise to the importance of Civic Centres, specifically why, how and where people gather.

Why do people gather? The transformative nature of both society and culture has altered the way in which individuals gather and connect. The notion of why and how we gather has developed to reflect these influences (Leiberman 2013). Communities across various societies each interact differently in a systematic way, depending on their values and customs (Williams 1961, p. 41). This social connectivity is an essential part of human life which builds relationships and encourages physical and mental health. By interacting with others, feelings of well-being are boosted, and feelings of depression are reduced (Kok, et al., 2013, p. 1124). Interactions take form in many different ways, whether it be connecting for social, recreational or business reasons. The relationships between family, friends, community group, and business colleagues have many benefits socially, politically and economically as well as playing a key role in sustaining better health for the individual (Kok, et al., 2013, p. 1124).

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Research by social psychologist and neuroscientist, Matthew D. Lieberman (2013) has found that there are multiple social networks within the brain, each having their own strength, which have emerged at different points in our evolutionary history, dating back 250 million years to the first mammals. The sociality of human beings has developed over a series of evolutionary events, based on aspects that promoted survival and reproduction (Lieberman 2013, p. 9). In earlier times, the grouping of humans into small groups was fundamental to survival, it developed communication and empathy as key skills and created the need for human connection. Each individual had a specific role that contributed to the greater good of the group, making it easier to travel and gather food, thus creating a more successful, effective way to survive. These groups created a place of refuge and a sense of security for individuals within. These groups became small families which would integrate with other families to form small societies, thus, evolving into today’s modern society (Clutton-Brock, et al., 2009).

A primary driver for evolutionary change has been derived from the need to survive. This concept is seen in work by American psychologist Abraham H. Maslow’s text Motivational and Personality (1970). Within the text, Maslow establishes a hierarchy of needs that are essential in survival. Maslow's hierarchy of needs has five levels that can be categorised into basic, psychological and self-fulfillment needs (Maslow 1970). Once a lower level of need is satisfied, then the need to fulfill the next level occupies the individual, consciously or subconsciously. The first level of basic needs is broken down into the primary physiological needs: food, water, warm, rest, followed by safety needs: security, safety (Maslow 1970). This lends itself to the earlier time in evolution when the first signs of civilisation amongst individuals were developed. Once this lower level of physiological and safety needs was satisfied, the groups formed small societies with other groups, where the psychological needs

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were met. Psychological needs are categorised as belonging and love needs; intimacy relationships, friends, and esteem, these foster feelings of prestige accomplishment (Maslow 1970). This encouragement of relationships and empathy between the family networks, where the natural instinct was to reproduce, resulted in growth for these small societies (Lieberman, 2013).

It can be deduced that the notion of gathering and assembly has developed in parallel to the stages of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Maslow states that '…life is more complex at the level of the higher needs. The search for respect and status involves more people, a larger scene, a longer run…' The highest need identified by Maslow is the need for self-fulfillment through self-actualisation which is cultivated via engagement in creative activities and personal interests. The opportunity to reach self-actualisation within a community is often enhanced by the relationships established in public spaces, such as Civic Centres. Social engagement, physical health, connectivity, and establishing identity through a sense of self, all play in a key role in establishing positive mental health (Smith 2012; Kolcunova, et al., 2016; Kok, at al., 2012). In turn, promoting positive mental health through social engagement allows individuals to connect with others who share common values and interests. These relationships between people promote a sense of belonging within a community where they feel connected and emotionally supported (Francis, et al., 2012). Furthermore, it can be said that experiences and relationships with place help to establish identity. Canadian Geographer, Edward Relph (1976) states that when an individual feels connected to or that they know the space, there is typically an associated concept of ‘place’, which is socially constructed from lived experience (Relph, 1976). These lived experiences within a typology allow the community whether individuals or groups, to create meaningful memories within the spaces that allow them to feel connected to each other and the community, establishing identity and

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sense of self (Health, et al., 2011, p. 120). The sense of self allows us to engage fully in the mental dimensions of dream, imagination, and desire. This sense of self is strengthened through art and architecture, with buildings providing the horizon for the understanding and confronting of the human existential condition (Pallasma, 2005, p. 11). The ideology and influence of place in establishing identity from both connections to built and human form encourages positive mental health. When an individual feels a strong sense of community and belongingness, they feel as though their needs are being met through collective capabilities, thus are vital to human functioning (Davidson & Cotter, 1991, p. 246). In summary, the evolution of human society and the need to connect with others is present throughout human existence. This evolution of connection and interaction between individuals within a society has enhanced the quality of human life, resulting in many health benefits (Lieberman, 2013; Kolcunova, et al., 2016; Kok, at al., 2012; Smith 2012). The success of a space can be identified as the user being able to see a public space, which establishes a sense of place and identity for a person. These Civic Centre 'places' promote good mental health and foster a sense of community that bond residents. The quality of public space is a key component to the success of social interaction (Zhang & Lawson, 2009, p. 406).

How do people gather? The notion of gathering takes shape in many different forms for a variety of reasons. This includes survival, leisure, recreation, business or entertainment. Public spaces play an important role within communities, often being the main facilitator of social connectivity. An anthropogenic design approach to these spaces due to the higher volume of users allows for the best design solution to constructed. Architect Jen Gehl (2007) advocates the importance of designing urban public spaces for people and social interaction with an emphasis on defining how and why people use that space, which is complemented by Landscape 14

Architect, Mark Francis (2003) belief that defining public needs is a prerequisite for any successful public space.

These public spaces of sociability create places of chance encounters between members of the community which constructs a strong sense of community (Talen, 2000). The physical presence of built environments and public areas within the community allow for people to gather for a private conversation in a public setting, influencing routines of the community. Civic Centres offer a place for the community to gather as individuals, families, or community groups and connect over common interests, regardless of their differences. The importance of these Centres can be evaluated from the perspective of the city, community or individual.

Given the changing needs of the community, the functions of Civic Centres have adhered to implementing a level of adaptability within their desires. Leaman et al. (1998) (cited within Schmidt & Austin 2016, p. 15) suggests adaptability is 'now commonplace in the vocabulary of briefing, building design and building management'. By identifying the needs of the local community of which the Civic Centre is located, the design can be adapted to accommodate. Assembly within a community can range from a few to dozens to hundreds. Mark Francis (2003, p.1) reiterates that; 'Successful public spaces are ones that are responsive to the needs of their users; are democratic in their accessibility; and are meaningful for the larger community and society' (Francis, 2003, p. 1). In order for the design of a Civic Centre to be successful, it must be able to cater to these needs. Interior architecture needs to take into account the ways in which interaction between people may take place, whether direct or indirect, formal or informal, private or public, social or antisocial, collective or intimate (Smith, et al., 2012, p. 4).

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In summary, a good designer will understand the means by how communities gather, creating spaces such as Civic Centres to facilitate these activities (Antoniades, 1990).The adaptable use and integration of multiple functions in a singular building allows different community groups to be able to come together in the one place for different needs. These social interactions formed in these buildings, whether direct or indirect, contribute to a sense of place and community (Ramlee, et al., 2015).

Where do people gather? The spaces of which gathering takes place is dependent upon the activities or motivation. Overtime this has changed with the evolution of humanity and the development of societies (Lieberman, 2013). In early times, the location and need were primarily based on survival, with many tribes’ seeking places of protection or food, often within valleys or near rivers, to meet their primary basic needs of food, water, security and safety (Clutton-Brock, et al., 2009; Maslow 1970). These communities developed in Roman times into towns and cities. The premise of survival remained a fundamental aspect as sites of strategic value were constructed around; areas such as rivers which offered food supply and the opportunity to trade with other communities. The rapid development and expansion of society created the need for smaller areas of assembly within the overall city. The new typologies were in the form of markets, entertainment, religion, and sport. (Clutton-Brock, et al., 2009)

In more recent times, the modes of assembly and gathering are situated in and around town centres. Prior to the First World War, many town centre’s were focused around a single town hall or centre. This design restricted many towns as they were not able to expand in the form of buildings devoted to municipal administration and culture due to the areas around town

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centres already being utilised for residential housing. The devastation of the demolition and displacement caused by the First World War (1914-18) and Second World War (1939-45); and the consequent political uncertainty and global economic collapse, saw many town centres in Europe that had previously been designed in the traditional manner be reconstructed to suit the growth of the communities. Town centres were rebuilt with a focus on incorporating culture within the heart of a town by constructing the municipal buildings in the centre (Larkham, 2004, p. 8). However, due to the economic pressure from the war, the design of these new buildings resulted in the ‘bare bones’ structure. The interior of these Civic Centres functioned programmatically to meet the purpose of the building. The reconstruction of town centres after World War II saw architectural publishers list bars and cafés as an architectural culture. These spaces create a setting between private and public environments where activities including work or leisure can be completed, generating a place of sociability where people from different backgrounds can connect through a transitory existence (Pimlott, 2007). Today, public spaces including Civic Centres, parks, plazas, shopping malls, and schoolyards are more commonly identified as places of gathering (Altman & Zube, 1989, p. 20). These spaces support the activities of everyday life, bridging the gap between social, cultural and economic differences.

In summary, throughout the evolution of society, the places of which gathering occurred is parallel to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Once each level of needs was met, new typological built forms were developed in order to cater to the next need. By understanding relationships between people and their environment and focusing on how social interaction and communication happen within the public realm, encourages designers to design spaces that cater to all needs of the community no matter how large or small. Public urban spaces, such as Civic Centres play an essential role in providing opportunities for human connectivity and

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gathering. Therefore, the redevelopment of existing Civic Centres and the emergence of new Civic Centres need to respond changing nature of society the abundant public life around it (Ramlee, et al., 2015, p. 364). The social connectedness that is fostered a result is a key component in creating healthy communities where people feel safe and support (Davidson & Cotter, 1991, p. 246).

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Chapter Two:

Evolution of Computational Technology and its impact on design practice

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Technology is very heavily integrated into the everyday lives of modern society and woven into the daily fabric of individuals. It is seen as a primary method of communication and supports everyday activities. The evolution of computational technology has influenced many factors of sociality including; the way in which individuals assemble and the way in which civic engagement is undertaken. This in turn, impacts the way in which designers are able to design spaces and communicate this to the stakeholders of the project (Kutti, 2008). Early work by a Swedish engineer, BÜrje Langefors in the 1960’s approach to computer systems was not viewing as an abstract machine, but as a tool to support human work (Bannon, 2008, p. 64). The way computer systems are used in terms of design practice can be categorised into three groups; stakeholders, designers and users. Although each group utilises computational technology, the way in which they do so is different, thus influencing certain areas of the design of a Civic Centre differently. This chapter examines the impact of the development of technology in creating a design process that can ultimately engage all three groups to enhance the design of community focused buildings such as Civic Centres.

Stakeholders The development of computational technology at the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century has caused dramatic changes in both the public and private domain. Additionally, computers and social platforms have also seen many socially and culturally deviations within communities. The meteoric rise in this technology occured in the early nineties when the first website went live, which was closely followed by the introduction of the World Wide Web. In 1995 software to develop personalized websites became available, before the Google search engine was launched 1998 (Zimmermann, 2017). The development of these platforms created opportunities for businesses and local governments to be able to communicate to local communities on a large-scale basis which had never been possible before. Wireless,

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embedded communication technologies with their emphasis on human connectivity no longer requires the interface of bricks and mortar in the form of a building for individuals and organisations to meet and share information. (Bullivant, 2005, p. 14). This in turn has allowed members of community groups to process information more efficiently and effectively and eliminated the need of physical gathering. Thus, the rise of the internet into nearly every aspects of daily life, has also been advertised as a potential savior for declining levels of community engagement as it provides an easy platform to communicate with stakeholders (Purdy, 2017, p. 318). The internet has become one of the fastest growing forms of communication in the last decade (Purdy, 2017, p. 318) with world-wide internet use rates climbing to 51.2% by the end of 2018, 1 billion users more than 2005 (ITC, 2018).

Furthermore, the development of the technologies with the growth of the internet, has allowed for local governments to display their policy framework for design practice to the community. The Development Control Plans (DCP) and Local Environmental Plans (LEP) are available on their websites which allows businesses and individuals to be involved in discussions on issues that affect them as well as identify development work within their suburb. The internet also allows local governments to compare their own strategies to that of other governments, which in turn improves the quality of urban planning (PavlĂ­na KolcunovĂĄ, 2016, p. 365). The evolution of these technologies has revolutionised the briefing stage of design practice. Local governments and businesses can collect personalised data from community consultation in order to develop urban public spaces that have specific or strategic importance to the community such as Civic Centres.

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Designers For professionals working within the design industry, the evolution of computational technology has changed the way designers are able to design and communicate these ideas to the public. The emergence of basic computer graphics in the 1980’s, influenced architecture primarily in the area of two-dimensional (2D) representations, and hence the adoption of "digital" drafting techniques. This twenty-year-old phenomenon has remained dominate in mainstream architecture and has paved the way, by accepting the digital "automation" of traditional design "ideas" and representational strategies (Bannon, 2008, p. 41). The development of 3D software in the mid 1990’s (Ali & Brebbia, 2006, p. 41) impacted the architectural process significantly as spatial design and architectural form were able to be modelled prior to construction in a digital format. Computer aided design (CAD) and humancomputer-interface (HCI) has allowed for architects to be able conceive and build iterative small "test" 3D models quickly (Ali & Brebbia, 2006, p. 49). This has great importance in reference to Civic Centres as the programmatic function of the Centres is dependent on the need of the community. This allows for fast paced iteration of design developments between the client and architect resulting in a more resolved design.

Furthermore, the development of these technologies has allowed for the simulation of digital environments through renderings and animations of prospective buildings to be communicated effectively. This technology results in a clear community consultation where the members and stakeholders can visualise the proposed design and environment and engage in the design process. This is particularly important when designing public spaces such as Civic Centres as community engagement is central to the building’s success. Feedback on the spatial design can be quickly changed to promote positive spatial behaviour of the proposed design. Human spatial behaviour, in the context of architectural design, is a term that 22

describes the relationship between the built environment and its human inhabitants. 'Good' spatial behaviour is an indicator successful architectural design (Martens & Brown, 2005). Guy Bonsiepe (cited within Bannon 2008, p64) states that “Design is inevitably political, in that it includes an element of hope – a dream, however vague, containing the outlines of the society we want to live in�. The integrated use of computational technology has created a dynamic design process which has allowed for the creation of spaces such as Civic Centres that reflect the values of the community.

Users Computational technology at the turn of the century introduced new mechanisms for human connection. The evolution of social media; a website or application that enables users to create and share content or to participate in social networking (Oxford Dictionary) platforms has changed the way that society interacts. This began with the launch of Friendster in 2002, which was soon followed by the creation of MySpace, and LinkedIn in 2003 before the evolution of Facebook in 2004 (Zimmermann, 2017). The introduction of social media platforms saw a shift in traditional communication between members of the public as they could now communicate and connect through a digital platform. Facebook was initially intended to be a social network for college students, however, its ability to connect people saw it expand rapidly. The later introductions of Youtube in 2005 and Twitter in 2006 provided people with further networks to interact in an online setting (Zimmermann, 2017). The evolution of the iPhone in 2007, accelerated the integration of software and technologies into a handheld devices. Individuals can now access these technologies on mobile devices, allowing for human connectivity in a digital forum to happen in public settings. The evolution of social media and technology have created mixed ideas on the affect this has on communities in all aspects of life. With the belief that these technologies can produce positive impacts such as stimulate connections, facilitate engagement and access and develop 23

new links at both a local and international level, as well as privately and publicly. However, there was is also concern that online interaction would detract from local human connectivity (Haythornthwaite, 2005, p. 125). Original work on computational technology as a means for communication suggested the shifting of social interactions from a physical, face to face format to an online text-based media format would result in a poor communication environment (Haythornthwaite, 2005, p. 125). The use of technology can facilitate engagement of users in public spaces through the easy promotion and marketing of these spaces on online platforms. In turn, structures such as Civic Centres foster a physical human connection which can promote better communication between individuals and may prove important in a society surrounded by technology that is thought to detract from this

The advancements in computational technology over a short period of time has seen many practical and effective benefits in both the private and commercial domain. On the contrary, within recent years, it has become evident that there have been some repercussions of such fast-technological advancements without equal social education awareness. Lack of empathy, cyberbullying, social isolation and addiction to an online social image have become norms that did not exist before the internet (Kokkinos, et al., 2014). Cyberbullying affect users of all ages and can have a significant impact on interpersonal relationships and psychosocial functioning of individuals (Kokkinos, et al., 2014, p. 204). Thus, the need for face to face connection is vital within society to be able to read social cues and develop empathy. Although research by psychological researchers Mark Carrier et al. (2015), state that video gaming reduces empathy in both males and females however, it did not reduce the amount of face to face time spent together, opening avenues for buildings to incorporate video gaming into their structures to engage users on a more friendly level. It was also found that actions of empathy in a physical sense created a 5-6 times stronger relationship between individuals

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(Carrier, et al., 2015, p. 244). The evolutions of these physical relationships are key in creating promoting positive mental health and creating functional, respectful communities which in turn create sustainable communities (Smith, et al., 2012). This social sustainability is facilitated by designers, who recognise that the design public spaces of connection facilitate these relationships and experiences of which are fundamental to who we are as people and as a society (Smith, et al., 2012, p. 5).

In order to benefit as a society, it is crucial, particularly today that there is a balance between technology and social connectivity in order to benefit overall public mental health. With social isolation increasing mortality rates and with an aging population who have had to adjust to these advancements (House, et al., 1988, p. 540) educational awareness and societal integration of these new technologies must cater to the needs of all individuals. The challenge today for designers is, how can the opportunity to bring people together with technology. As an interior architect, generally it is considered good practice that design solutions that echo the social responsibility of practice, addressing the broader context of socioeconomic, climate and national conditions as well as meeting the individual and cultural needs of communities (Smith, et al., 2012, p. 13). Whether that be using technology to create better spaces or integrating technology within a design scheme to allow accessibility for those in need or on the move.

In summary, the impact of computational technology within design practice can be seen on multiple levels. As the internet and social platforms have become more popular, online civic engagement amongst communities has also increased (Chen, 2017). The development of these technologies has revolutionised the brief of design practice, creating a large scope for the development through online community consultation. The resulting brief is then able to

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be constructed within a digital realm, allowing architects and designers to be able to communicate their interpreted design based off these identified community needs. As the programmatic function of a Civic Centre is for civic use, this inclusive design approach results in a design that caters to a wide variety of users. While the integration of technology throughout society has resulted in enormous positive developments, education of the implications must be considered when executing a design scheme. Thus, the resulting design must encourage positive interactions between community members adapting to differing generations whilst also facilitating the use of technological to engage users, given its stronghold in mainstream society.

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Chapter Three:

Tracking the impact of computational technology on design practice through the typology of Civic Centres: a case study

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Identifying key components of the relationship between people and their environment as well as each other is fundamental in designing spaces for the community. Via framework established in Chapter One and the analysis of computational technology of Chapter Two, consequent designs of urban public spaces primarily consider ‘life’ first, then ‘space’ then ‘building’ (Gehl, 2011). The physical structure will then be determined by the types of activity envisaged for the space when it designed (Health, et al., 2011, p. 109). The Surry Hills Library and Community Centre (2009), by architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT), is located in the inner-city suburb of Sydney (see Figure 3.00). It implemented community consultation throughout the entire design process which was facilitated by computational technology. The building is championed for its success for implementing spaces that the community required, resulting in a highly anticipated and welcomed design by the community (McGowan, 2011). In 2010 the Civic Centre was nationally recognised, receiving the Australian Institute of Architecture award for Public Architecture (Jury, 2011). Situated on an extremely constrained site, bound on three edges by roads, the site measures 25metres by 28metres. The location of the site in the heart of Surry Hills sees a large, diverse range of surrounding architectural context: residential apartments, terrace housing, retail, commercial and industrial premises (FJMT, 2010). Given the established community and setting, it was crucial to the that the design of the Civic Centre respected the existing fabric.

Stakeholders - Surry Hills Local Government and Community The City of Sydney government has a number of key principles in their approach to engaging the community in decision-making. These include: Integrity; engagement should be clear in scope and purpose, Inclusiveness; engagement should be accessible and capture a full range of values and perspective, Dialogue: engagement should promote dialogue and open up genuine discussion, and Influence; the community should be able to see and understand the

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impact of their involvement in consultations that the City conducts (Governement, 2017). The policy and framework set by the City of Sydney through Local Development Control Plans (DCP) and Local Environmental Plans (LEP) displayed on their website, combined with a publicly accessible Development Application (DA), created a transparent outline involving all parties in the design process. Additionally, the City of Sydney offer a variety of community consultation methods to engage the community. These include workshops and community meetings, stakeholder meetings and roundtables, online consultations, community reference groups, advisory panel, drop-in sessions, surveys, school workshops as well as doorknocking and notification (Governement, 2017). This range of methodologies allow for all members of the community to be provide insight and feedback, helping to inform key decisions about the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre.

After close consultation with the local community, emerged was a project's brief that would provide a single facility that the community could share that implores accessibility, openness, transparency, and sustainability of the building (FJMT, 2010). The resulting design saw the community Centre not as one singular typology, yet a hybrid public building that caters to the needs outlined by its community. The building functions as a library and resource centre, a community and neighbourhood centre, and childcare centre all integrated into one. (FJMT, 2010). The essence of community cohesion lies in the spontaneous interaction between adults and children of different ages, which happens in informal places (Kolcunovรก, et al., 2016, p. 1945). This anthropogenic design based on active engagement of the community allowed for the successful design of the Civic Centre; by encouraging positive community connection and engagement with each other and the built form. Its community focused design that provides a welcoming space for all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.

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Designers – Architectural Firm Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT) Good architectural practice is reached when both the interior and exterior design of a building are socially responsible, providing a reflexive and responsive design that addresses both the broader context of societal issues as well as the personal and cultural needs of the local community (Smith, et al., 2012, p. 5). When designing public buildings, such as Civic Centres, this task becomes more complex when there is a multifaceted, diverse and sophisticated society to consider (Antoniades, 1990, p. 5). The challenge for architects of the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre was responding with a facility that could provide a focal point for the original community without isolating the new demographic of the area (Watson & Hook, 2010, p. 122). It was important that the Centre represented the views of the community and embedded them within the design (ArchDaily 2010). Community consultation in collaboration with the City of Sydney offered a range of opportunities on various platforms for residents, community groups, business to engage with the new development. Key values identified within the meetings of accessibility, openness, transparency and sustainability were used as primary inspiration for the design of the building (FJMT 2010).

The architectural form that developed as a result of these needs was a simple open space and platform, a prismatic glass environmental atrium, a suspended ‘U’ shaped timber form and a transitional foyer space (FJMT, 2010). The use of 2D and 3D CAD and HCI software was used to translate the form developed by architects into a physical, digital model that community could connect with. These technologies allowed for the simulation of human connection in a digital environment that communicatees efficiently and effectively the design of the new Centre. Tweaks in the design stemmed from the community and architect was efficiently developed throughout the process (FJMT, 2010). This resulted in a multilevel

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design, that situated a library on the ground and lower ground floor of local history collections and some reference material as well as public access to computers (see Figure 3:01). The first level comprises of a 125-person function facility (3:02) with adjoining verandah, commercial teaching kitchen, meeting rooms as well as neighbourhood centre administration offices and amenities. The top floor of the Civic Centre accommodates a childcare and outdoor landscaped play space (see Figure 3:03) with automatic shade roof (FJMT, 2010). This resolved design saw the Centre receive the John Verge Award for Interior Architecture in 2010. The design has ultimately facilitated for the use of different communities through its multifunctional space, as outlined below.

User – The Surry Hills Community The community of Surry Hills can be characterised by a diversity of age, income, cultural and professional backgrounds (ABS 2016). Census data obtained by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2016 calculates there are approximately 16,400 people living in the Surry Hills suburb with the majority of residents aged between twenty-five and thirty-five years old. Overall this equates to a median age of thirty-four. The cultural identity of this population is primarily Australian born, with a makeup of residents also born in England, Thailand, China, New Zealand and the United States of America. Predominately, 71.2% of the population work full time, with 20.8% working part-time with and just under half of these identifying as working professionals. Within this, the majority of the population is coupled without children, with 17.2% couple with children. Of the coupled families with children, approximately half had both parents employed full-time (ABS 2016). It can be ducted from the data, that the majority of the local community is from Generation Y. Although not born into the digital age, this generation has adapted to the development of computational technology, integrating into aspects of their lives (Haythornwaite, 2002).

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From start to finish, the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre has adopted an inclusive design approach. This was achieved through the use of the internet which enabled a large number of community members to engage in the design process by gathering individuals perspective on ‘good’ architecture and thoughts on the purposes on the Centre to achieve optimal design selection. Such inclusivity is taken care of by considerations and research that address issues of society and the user - cultural anthropology, ethnography, sociology, and environmental psychology are obviously the best help to the architect about such matters (Antoniades, 1990, p. 6). The evolution of computational technology overtime played a key role in aiding the process by which this inclusivity approach was implemented.

The creation of a variety of spaces within the two levels of the library allow for working professionals and young people to drop in. The spaces inside offer places for these people to be able to drop in, check emails or social media, liaise with clients or potential business partners, in a timely manner. The integration of the childcare facilitates the use of space by families opening to a wider demographic which is integral into its success.

In the operational aspect of the building, computerised building management and control systems (BMS) within the building automatically monitor and control the internal environmental conditions of the building, adjusting the ventilation and sunshade lourves throughout the day to control head load, light and shade, and switching lights on and off when required. The implementation this computational technology as well as the new green roof technologies saw the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre receive the Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture (McGowan, 2011). It shows just how much technology has enhanced the functionality of these community spaces.

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Although the Surry Hills neighbourhood centre was constructed and completed three years prior to the release of the current City of Sydney Government Local Environmental Plan 2012, the building still adheres to the aims of the 2012 LEP. The period of which the design was constructed, applied to the 2005 LEP, of whose key aims were to: protect and enhance the diversity and special qualities of the City of Sydney, and its surrounding areas, and to establish the City of Sydney as the best place to live in, work in and visit, and to foster environmental, economic, social and physical well-being. So that the City of Sydney continues to develop as an integrated, balanced, sustainable and prosperous living city of world standing, and to encourage orderly, sustainable and high-quality development of land and other resources within the City of Sydney. It can be seen from comparing the LEP of 2005 to 2012, that the project also promotes ecologically sustainable development, enhances the amenity and quality of life of local communities, provides for a range of existing and future mixed-use centres and to promote the economic strength of those centres. Finally, it achieves a high quality urban form by ensuring that new development exhibits design excellence and reflects the existing or desired future character of particular localities (NSW Legislation, 2019).

The design seeks to establish a contemporary sense of place that will provide an open and inviting public facility with strong connection to its setting. Whilst the areas within the building all host a specific function, each space is adaptable, allowing users to utilise the space to suit their need. The Surry Hills Library and Civic Centre although designed and built a decade ago, is still conceived as a contemporary modern building that caters for and adapts to the needs of the community.

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Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Associate, Simon Barr states, “The success of the facility with its users and occupants lies in the innovative integration of leading-edge technologies and passive systems� (McGowan, 2011). The use of computational technology throughout the design process of the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre was key in producing a contemporary design that facilities positive interactions between members of the community. The relationship developed between the users of the community, local invested stakeholders and the architects in the design of the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre was made possible through the utilisation of available computation technology. Human connectivity and gathering was the central focus of this project before, during, after the construction of the built design. The ideas throughout the planning and final stages of the built form resulted in spaces encouraging and building strong community connections.

Figure 3.00: Surry Hills Library and Community Centre Exterior, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hills-library/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019

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Figure 3.01: Surry Hills Library and Community Centre Library, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hills-library/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019

Figure 3.03: Surry Hills Library and Community Centre Function Facility, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hills-library/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019

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Figure 3.04 Surry Hills Library and Community Centre, Childcare Centre Outdoor Area, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp Pty Ltd, 2009 <https://fjmtstudio.com/projects/surry-hills-library/> Accessed: 8th of May 2019

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Conclusion This dissertation has argued that computational technology plays a key role in the briefing, planning, design and use of important community structures such as Civic Centres. It has been demonstrated that the use of such technology is today evident throughout the entirety of the process, from the initial brief to the final construction and use. It has been reasoned that this increasing computational integration over the past fifty years has fundamentally altered the design outcome of the Civic Centre and increased its capacity to act as a place of gathering, offering the opportunity for encounters between members of the community and fostering a strong sense of society (Francis et al. 2012, p402).

Through a theoretical framework of human connectivity in relation to places of gathering, established in Chapter 1, the why, how, and where of ‘gathering’ was dissected in order to understand the significance of gathering places for groups within the community. Parallels were drawn between the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, social connections and the environments within which these take place. It has been identified that key components of the relationship between people and their environment, as well as each other, is fundamental in designing spaces that serve the community.

The second chapter has laid the foundation for the argument of this dissertation through focusing on the historic evolution of computational technology and its impact on the design and concept of gathering within Civic Centres. The chapter has formed a secondary lens of exploration through examining computational technology on the level of three primary stakeholders: the user, designer and stakeholder, thereby providing a holistic understanding of the required elements. Through the broad use of digital services such as the internet, social media platforms, Computer Aided Design software and human-computer interaction technology, combined with the efforts of the stakeholders through collaboration, particularly in the initial stages of brief development and

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throughout the entire design process, it has been argued that the quality of life of the community surrounding the Civic Centre has proportionally improved (Ramlee et al. 2015, p364).

The third chapter has evidenced the argument of this dissertation through documenting the impact of computational technology within a case study. It explores the ideals established in the first and second chapters, applying it to a local Civic Centre; the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre. The redevelopment and revitalisation of urban spaces such as Civic Centres through community consultation are important in assisting governments, planners, designers and community organisations in generating a user-friendly design. This has been demonstrated by the successful design of the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre whose focus was engaging all stakeholders throughout the design process, concluding with a design that meets the strategies set forth by the governing bodies and creating a user-orientated, adaptable design for the current and future community.

After reflecting upon this dissertation, the prospects for future research would lead to examining the influence of computational technology on the design of Civic Centres in other countries. There is potential to identify how the three key groups - users, designers, and stakeholders - of disparate cultures have dealt with the implications of social media, and how they have implemented positive use of computational technology. A comparison of the similarities and differences of the strategies could then be made to develop processes and education throughout Australia. Further studies could also lead to studying the use if Civic Centres that did not prioritise community consultation, identifying potential improvements in their user engagement and feedback.

Considering the contribution of this dissertation within interior architecture discourse, the ideas presented in this dissertation contribute to bridging the gap between theories of effective public architecture through user orientated design with adaptive architecture and bridging the ideals of a

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strong sense of community with a recognition of the role of computational technology. The significance and importance of effective design practice through community consultation should not be underestimated in enhancing the quality of public life (Ramlee et al; 2015, p353). The challenge for designers now is: how can the opportunity to bring people together through the use of technology be maximised?

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