BEYOND THE HORIZON
I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land that my project sits upon, the Wajarri people, and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. Beyond The Horizon is situated at Murchison Radio Observatory, aka MRO, where it is a prominent site for radio astronomy run by CSIRO, who is a leader in this particular field. The dish antennas scan the sky for radio frequency for evidence of the big bang, which occurred 13.7billion years ago. Murchison Shire is 900km northeast of Perth, Western Australia and MRO is located in the middle of the Radio Quiet Zone where the use of radio frequency devices, such as mobile phones, are prohibited to protect the antennas from interference and maintain radio quietness.
The site sits near an old pastoral homestead, therefore essential services have already been established.
Beyond The Horizon is a project proposing not just an update on the astronomers’ cabins, but also a place where people can escape from their busy lives, including Wajarri people returning to country. Its facilities cater for the astronomers who do field work and for people who seek a quiet retreat in the RQZ and are interested in cosmology.
There are many layers of interpretations to this site: Geology- Murchison has traces of asteroid remnants on its land and is known to be one of the oldest part of earth. Groundwater- These asteroid showers created river beds that still exist under the current ground. Indigenous- The Wajarri people occupy the largest land of the northwest area. Colonisation- Murchison is part of the Midwest and known as the largest shire without a town with a population of 15. Technology-CSIRO plans to have 1 million antennas of varying sizes installed at the site. These are the dichotomies that exist at the site: Indigenous and non-indigenous expressed through scientific with cultural wisdom. Work and recreation, Man and nature, and Past and future, which is the essence of the entire project expressed through relieving the tensions between the dualities in order to create an architecture that honors the past whilst being sustainable for our future.
These dichotomies were used to guide my design. In relation to the: Indigenous and non-indigenous: it is merging the scientific with cultural wisdom through spatial experience and proximity to the antennas. The dichotomy of work and recreation: incorporating programs that would suit both types of occupants: workers and recreationists. Man and nature: Implementing biophilia and caring for country’s principles.
The first dichotomy explored is between scientific research and wisdom of the world’s oldest culture.
CSIRO (WESTERN ASTRONOMY) & INDIGENOUS ASTRONOMY
To avoid tokenism, Aboriginal folklore references could only be experienced internally. The minimalist entrance does not hint to the cultural storytelling that are embedded.
The folklore symbols can be seen over the dormitories in plan view..
A part of the Wajrarri song line is a storey about the seven sisters being chased throughout the land before jumping into the sky, and this refers to the stars of Orion’s belt.
CSIRO (WESTERN ASTRONOMY)
The emu in the sky is represented by negative space of the milky way, and in Beyond the Horizon, it takes form as operable skylights.
This story is told to teach the next generation on how to look at the stars for signs when emu eggs are ready for collection in a culture that does not go by linear and chronological time.
Culture is not static but dynamic, the emu is a traditional Aboriginal folklore that can be retold in a modern way through architecture, an opportunity for new stories to be created when the emu lands on earth and partakes in earth’s time cycle.
The well being of man relies on the natural landscape that he is apart of. This concept has entered architecture as Biophilia, and it is a wisdom that Indigenous Australians’ know that the land nourishes man, not just physically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. In turn, stewardship is required.
BIOPHILIA & CARING FOR COUNTRY
How does one implement the laws of biophilia without the lushness of green plants and abundance of water? Through the use of framing the existing landscape, and to use architecture as a mediator to transform the vastness of the landscape to a human scale where people enjoy and not feel overwhelmed.
There are a variety of scales of public spaces available, catered for large or small group socialisation.
And areas of intimate settings for people to enjoy the outdoors. The emphasis is on circulation and to discover these pockets.
Threshold spaces are important, as they are the spaces where we leave behind our private thoughts and prepare to enter into the landscape and public social life. It is also an area where shade is important as people can enjoy the landscape in comfort.
The importance of landscape is also extended into the interior, whereby each room has an elevated area that has access to the view of the landscape. For the travellers: landscape alleviates stress and studies have shown that it leads to shorter hospital stays, therefore proven to aid in healing. For the astronomers and engineers: landscape provides attention restorative affects, relieving the strain and effort of deep concentration.
In a dry landscape, a 50m walk to the bath house will highlight the importance of saving water and is a desired place for relaxation.
Caring for country principles are embodied in the materials used for Beyond The Horizon. Leaving no trace in its architecture, rammed earth is to return to the earth once the lifecycle of the building has ended and all other materials used for cladding and roofing are recyclable. The window protrusions are made from polycarbonate which is also selected to provide light for way finding, in an area dangerous to get lost in but there is also a need to minimise light pollution.
Water is a precious resource in the outback, therefore it is not enough to have a rainwater tank, but also measures to reduce its usage. Compost toilets are imperative in this condition.
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NOTES 1. LYSAGHT SPANDEK METAL ROOF SHEETING AT 5 DEGREE ANGLE WITH OVERLAPPING AT EVERY 700MM 2. REFLECTIVE INSULATION
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3. TIMBER JOISTS 4. TIMBER ROOF RIDGES 5. 200MM X 200MM X200MM COLORBOND BOX GUTTER, INSTALLED AS PER MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS 3
6. 6000L RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM CONNECTED TO BOX GUTTER 7. GREYWATER SYSTEM 4
8. SOLAR HOT WATER WITH ELECTRIC BOOSTER 9. CUSTOM LAUNDRY SINK 10. NON STRUCTURAL 200MM RAMMED EARTH FEATURE WALL 11. LYSAGHT SPANDEK WALL WITH HINGED DOOR AND STANDARD LATCH 12. CM40 COMPOST TOILET VENT 13. NON STRUCTURAL 200MM RAMMED EARTH WALL WATERPROOFED WITH LINSEED OIL 14. KAYNEMAILE ARMOUR MESH WALL AND DOORS FIXED FLUSHED ONTO RAMMED EARTH WALLS WITH STEEL FRAMING 15. WA BLACKBUTT KITCHEN
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2 SOLAR HOT WATER WITH ELECTRICAL BACKUP 6 15
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1 COMPOST TOILET
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1. LIQUID DRAIN PIPE ATTACHED TO THE CLIVUS MULTRUM SYSTEM CM40
16. SPANDEK METAL ROOF SHEETING AT 5 DEGREE ANGLE
2. PEDESTAL CHUTE COLLAR
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3. VENT PIPE COLLAR
18. 200MM X 200MM X200MM COLORBOND BOX GUTTER, INSTALLED AS PER MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS
4. DOOR HATCH 5. TOILET PEDESTAL 6. LYSAGHT SPANDEK WALL DIVIDER 7. VENT PIPE 8. VENT RAIN COVER 9. DOOR LATCH 10. STRUCTUAL RAMMED EARTH WALL OF 400MM TOTAL WIDTH 11. PREFAB HOLLOW CORE CONCRETE SLAB ON STRIP FOOTING 12. THERMANN EVACUATED TUBE SOLAR HOT WATER ROOF COLLECTOR 13. LYSAGHT SPANDEK METAL ROOF SHEETING AT 5 DEGREE ANGLE 14. THERMANN SOLAR HOT WATER CONTROL UNIT 15. THERMANN 400L ELECTRIC BOOSTED TANK
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19. TIMBER ROOF RIDGES
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20. LOAD BEARING 400MM RAMMED EARTH WALL 21. SPANDEK METAL ROOF SHEETING 22. ROOF FLASHING COLLAR 23. TIMBER ROOF JOISTS 24. VENT PIPE 25. SPANDEK WALL 26. NON LOAD BEARING 200MM RAMMED EARTH WALL 27. 8MM STEEL WASH PLANE FIXED TO RAMMED EARTH WALL 28. SPANDEK COVERING FIXED FLUSHED ONTO RAMMED EARTH WALL 29. PAD FOOTING
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The outback attracts two types of people: Those whoa re looking for something, or those who are getting away from something. Astronomers and recreationists both require short term stays but have different needs. It is also a way for the building to maximise its use throughout the year, and to alleviate isolationism.
COMBINING WORK AND RECREATION
The plan differs between workers and retreaters, one has a built in desk and the other a reading nook for private rest and relaxation, both look out into the landscape. Biophilia’s principle of incorporating natural shapes is adopted into the curvilinear ceiling. These plans are consistent with evidence based practice of using views as a mthod of healing and cognitive function optimisation as presented prior.
There is also a connection to the sky via the skylight which aids in the circadian rhythm. The skylight also references to the over-view psychological effect in which astronauts experience when looking down on earth. It is an experience whereby they are confronted with the enormity of the universe and the insignificance of humanity in it. This ordinary architectural gesture hopefully can transfer this message to its occupants.
PRESENT: APPRECIATE THE PAST, CARE FOR THE FUTURE. Beyond The Horizon acknowledges the past while looking towards the future. Just like the CSIRO telescopes, using the latest technology to find answers to the conception of all things, on earth’s oldest land tenanted from the people of the world’s oldest living culture.