Island of Elements Phase Two: Process Work ARCT5003A - Studio | Student: 20950992
Phase One Overview: Jerusalem
The Old City of Jerusalem - The Holy City
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“During its long history, Jerusalem has been attacked 52 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, besieged 23 times, and destroyed twice. The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE, making Jerusalem one of the oldest cities in the world.”
Going back as far as when Jerusalem was settled as a city, the location was chosen specifically for defensive purposes. It was built upon a large valley range, providing ample ability to protect ones way of life and culture from others who sought to impose their own beliefs upon them. Eventually during the British Mandate period (1917 - 1948), the city would become quartered into Jewish, Armenian, Christian and Muslim sectors, further showing the division of religion even within the city. To this day, the city of Jerusalem remains highly contested with the Palestinians and Israelis both claiming the city as their own, despite neither claim being widely recognised internationally.
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When one googles the “history of Jerusalem”, one of the holiest cities on planet earth, this is literally the first paragraph that is read within the first result that pops up (Wikipedia). Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world and has served as a perfect example of how religion can both unify and divide us as people.
The Importance of Religion Although Jerusalem is obviously a highly contested city that has seen unspeakable death and war in its thousands of years of existence, this is not what drew me to the city. Jerusalem is one of the holiest places in the world, it is considered this in the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths alike and the city shows this through developing around religion being a key feature of its layout. Each quarter was initially spread out around each of their key religious structures, forming the bases for communities within: The Muslims around the Temple Mount and the Haram ash-Sharif Mosque, the Christians around the Holy Sepulchre, the Jews upon the Western Wall hill and the Armenian’s by the Zion gate. In doing this, the city of Jerusalem shows two things: the unifying power of Religion, through the formation of tightly-nit communities, as well as division through the quartered nature of the city. While division is a powerful force within a city, I believe that unification is more powerful. In this growing age, the idea of division is not something that we as humans should be focusing on, and despite this, the unifying power of religion is unquestionable. As a result, I now ask myself: How can we unify as powerfully as religion allows without the division?
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Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Phase One Overview: Sections 1:1000
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Phase One Overview: Sections 1:500
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Phase One Overview: Sections 1:100
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Phase One Overview: Sections 1:50
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Karratha - The Site Background info on Karratha Karratha is a city in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, adjoining the port of Dampier. It was established in 1968 to accommodate the processing and exportation workforce of the Hamersley Iron mining company and, in the 1980s, the petroleum and liquefied natural gas operations of the North West Shelf Venture. Karratha has a hot semi-arid climate, that just avoids a desert climate classification. Temperatures are warm to hot all year round, with low rainfall, most of which falls in late summer due to the influence of tropical cyclones and the monsoon. Even winter temperatures rarely drop below 10 °C, while maximums stay in the mid to high 20 °C’s. The record high temperature is 48.2 °C (118.8 °F), while the record low is 6.9 °C (44.4 °F). The highest monthly rainfall ever recorded was 348.8mm (13.7 in) in February 2011, owing to the passage of Tropical Cyclone Carlos and several other monsoonal lows over Karratha.
Why is Karratha Suitable for the Island of Elements? As stated by demographer Bernard Salt, Australia should plan for a new city, like a Gold Coast of the west, to cope with the population boom predicted by 2050. The country has the resources to accommodate a projected 35 million people, but Australians will have to get smarter about where and how they live. ‘’It will require a significant modification in the way we have settled the country and our lifestyle,’’ as stated by the KPMG demographer. In addition to this, the rainfall and agriculture of the Pilbara and the Kimberley make it suitable for more intensive development in the future. Beaches, greenery, native plants, rocky shores, a wide spread of weather conditions. Karratha exists as a perfect example of the environment within Australia with its native wildlife and fawner. Due to this, I believe it will serve as a perfect place for the Island of Elements to be realised. It is a location that is at one with nature and initially possessed a significant indigenous culture that realised the same. I wish to create a city that maximises the views of this natural landscape and allow the people of the island to be more at one with the nature of the world such as rainfall, storms, starry nights and sunsets.
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Island of Elements - A Concept
The Island of Elements - The Humanist Ideal Where will religion be in 100 years? I speculate that it will have lost significant influence within the western world and will have been on a steady decline for the past century. In a world where religion is losing influence and ceasing to exist, what will provide humanity with the spirituality and peace that Religion could Offer? I believe that looking to nature for a sense of spirituality will be the answer. As many scientists and naturalists will testify, the intricate beauty of the natural world provides at least as powerful an inspiration to the sense of awe as any of the small, anthropocentric belief systems taught in churches. What will a city structured around elements look like? It could take a shape similar to that of ancient cities that have previously been influenced by religion, such as the Old City of Jerusalem for example. Jerusalem is a city that encourages spirituality, unity and division. A city of elements would focus on the unity and spirituality aspects and achieve these notions through ideas other than religious belief. I believe this can be achieved by emphasising the beauty of the natural world, the miraculous way in which the cosmos and world were formed and how we as humans interact with it. Creating a city that encourages thoughtful reflection and communities that meet to discuss philosophy and the beauty of the world. A utopian city of human innovation and natural beauty alike. What Elements are Involved? Firstly, the natural elements of wind, water, earth, fire, spirit and aether will play a significant role in the formation of the city. Secondly, the idea of elements will take on a more metaphorical role by analysing the 6 elements that I speculate humans have devised to create beautiful cities. These are: Orientation and Mystery, Scale, Compactness, Use of Local Material, Visible Street Life, Variety and Order. The Third set of elements are those of spirituality that have resulted in different urban forms, such as the comparing of the Muslim Quarter to the Jewish Quarter in terms of denseness and differing views on public life. Why Karratha? Although it has been mined significantly in the early 21st century, I speculate that the world will have given up such practices by the year 2117 and begun efforts to conserve and maintain the natural beauty of the world. The Pilbara has generally had an almost unrivalled, natural Australian beauty that will serve as the perfect backdrop to enact the Island of Elements. A backdrop that encourages citizens to marvel at the beauty and brilliance of the world.
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Interconnection of the Elements - A Concept
Division
Unity
Interconnection
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Jerusalem - The Framework
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Current Population: Approximately 30,000
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Main Road Networks
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Cutting Down to Size
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Improving Spatial Form: Maximising Space
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Looking at Water Entry
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Smoothed Edges - Process Not Working
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Starting Over: A New Form and Beginning
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Quartering Using Main Transport Routes
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Breaking Apart: Making a Central Space
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Division: Analysing “the Aether”
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Secondary Water Ways Added
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Redefining Edges/Creating New Circulation Boulevard
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Main Circulation Ring: Follows Canal System
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Foot Paths on Each Side of Canal: Main Structural Elements
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Main and Secondary Circulation Analysis
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Getting a Sense for Scale (each square 50mx50m)
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Beginning to Think About Greenery
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Important Structures
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
What Does The Central “Aether” Look Like?
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Earth Quarter Main Boulevard: 1:100
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Mostly-Finalised Water Ways
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Circulation/Water/Urban Form Unedited
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Orientation and Mystery: Density and Looseness
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Orientated Central Ring - Mysterious Outer Ring
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Denser Middle - Less Dense Edges
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Make the Central Ring REALLY Dense - Make the Outer Ring Loose
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Drawing at 1:2000 Scale, Instead of 1:5000 (Unedited Form)
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Dense Inner Core with an Orientating Grid - 1:2000
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Beginning of the Cities Final Form
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Transferring Over to Digital
Business Sector
Compassion Zone
Food Strip Food Strip Food Strip
Healing spa
Hospital Research Centre
Nature Reserve/ Botanic Garden
Gym
Convention Centre Artistic Reflection
Port
Burnt Tree Reflection
Misted Reflection
Shaded Reflection
Uni
Arena Cremation
University Uni
Uni Library High School
Theatre
Museum
Gov.
Police Primary School
Shopping District
Fire Fighters
Ambulence
Nightlife Quarter Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Final Adjustments
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work
Creating a Digital Model
Student: 20950992 | Phase Two - Process Work