Studio D: Testing Grounds Portfolio

ARC80003 - Design Studio D- Semester 2 2021

TESTING GROUNDS YING CHEN 102791843 STUDIO LEADERS: EMILY VON MOGER | LAURA COURTNEY | NICK BOURNS

ABSTRACT - STUDIO D: TESTING GROUNDS

The aim of this studio was to envision a new development within the Swinburne Hawthorn campus at outlined within the UDF (Urban Design Framework) created by studio leaders from NH Architects. The UDF pinpoints 3 sites within the campus, those being: The Gateway, The Southern Square and the Heart. The design agendas of the studio varied from student to student and was explored through the thorough articulation of design methods by performing independent research and then integrating said research into design. The design work is created at a variety of different scales tackling urban design and architecture at the Macro, Meso and Micro scales.

Content INTRODUCTION Initial Reserach Concept development Mid Semester Progress Development Methods Final Conclusion

1 2-5 6 - 13 14 - 35 36 - 47 48 - 69 70

INTRODUCTION

My personal project focused on the exploration of technology and how different technologies and its uses can shape my building designs physically and its usage. The ultimate aim of this exploration was to make Swinburne a hub of technology and innovation in the university. Through this I first had to aquire an understanding of what technology meant to me and how I would go out exploring it in my design work. However before I could begin the research and design work on my initial topic, I first needed to gain and understanding of Swinburne Hawthorn campus as a whole. This research was conducted by myself individually along with group work with classmates as well as the feedback and insight of studio leaders.

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Initial Research Group Members: Hashim Fakhreddin (102757502), Joshua Christian (102859903) My research commenced with field studies of the Swimburne Campus as a whole. This research was conducted as a group where each of us looked a different elements relating to the Character, Key Spaces, Thresholds & Edges, Connectivity, Vegetation Distribution, Paved areas & Floor Treatments, Open Spaces and general activity on the site. This research allowed me to gain insight in the many strengths and weaknesses of the site. The research into connectivity and current activity were the most notable to me as it demonstrated the poor condition of many of the paths as well as a general lack of wayfinding in the site.

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Thresholds & Edges

Legend Visual Barriers Destination AMDC Physical Impassable

AMDC

Walking Routes Driving Route

CONNECTIVITY

Apartment Multideck

Carpark

TD Buildi

ng

Swinburne Admin Student Accommoda tion Glenferrie Statio

n

Background Site Research

TC Building

TA Building

Central Gardens

TB Buildi

ng

The George

AGSE Building

Applied

Legend Entries

Science

Chemistry

Engineerin g

Old Admin

Arts TB Buildi

ng

Late Lab Library ATC AMDC

Swinburne College Aviation

Indoor Hubs Outdoor Hubs

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1

4 1

5

6

2

2

Glenferrie

Station

3

4 5

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Legend Route 1: Car Route 2: Train

Driving Route Train Route Walking Route

Swinburne Boundary Buildings of Interest 1

Points of Interest

Library

AMDC

Activity around Campus YING CHEN

3.

Swinburne Site Sketches

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Site Analysis

In addition to site research, I also created a series of site sketches to better familiarise myself with site conditions and to understand the unique atmonsphere of the campus whether that be in standing in the campus or in the surrounding neighbourhood. These sketches have told me that Swinburne is a campus of constrasts. The campus itself borders the busy and lively Glenferrie Rd, which even in lockdown remains as a major centre of activity and artery if transportaion, which hides the campus behind a wall of shops and restruarants. The Campus itself feels like its own self contained world hidden amoungst quiet suburban homes and noisy arterial roads. Deep within campus however one may soon forget of the world that lies beyond confines of the university as they are greated by large facility and specialised buildings that tend to block out sightlines to the outside world.

Sketches like these allowed me to stay at campus longer than I normally would to understand the relationship between Campus and the surrounding neighbouhood oh Hawthorn.

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Head in the Clouds

The concept I shose to explore in my design was the use of technology and how it be utilised to guide my design. As such for my collage I decided to fully embrace what a technological advanced Swinburne would look like in the future. The Robots in the foreground walking alongside the students demonstrates that maybe in the future AI technologies can be a betterment to all those who use the campus. The drones are an existing technology, that I believe can take a more involved role in the future. The brain in the clouds symbolises the potential of swinburne students. The rocket blasting off and the blue sky represents how boundless the sky is and technologies limitless possibilities.

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Drone Flight While technology was at the core of what I wanted to look at for my design, the actually implementation of technologies proved to be a challenge. Initially I envisioned there being drone stations or bays located near or within the major buildings on Campus, connecting various locations of campus. Thus my proposal helps to remedy the connectivity of Swinburne.

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To Post Office

LD

STREET

JOHN

WAKEFIE

STREET

Shops, restaurants Along Glenferrie Rd

SWINBU RN PLACE E WEST

WAKEFIE

LD

TB

STREET

CENTRA L GARDEN

STREET

Towards Hawthorn, City

JOHN

JOHN

ADVA TECHNONCED LO CENTRE GIES BURWOO

D

ROAD

McLEOD

LANE

AD MANUFVANCED AC DESIGN TURING & CENTRE

STREET

Shops, restaurants Along Burwood Rd

HENRY

ROAD

STREET

D

WILLIAM

BURWOO

STREET

ENGINE ERING

AVIATION

LEGEND Potential New Walkways Drone Flight Paths Drone Base Buildings

Towards Auburn BURWOO

D

ROAD

Passive Surveilance Shops and Restaurants Current Paved Gathering Spaces New Under Rail Park

Swinburne Future 2035

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4 Concepts

The site I was allocated to was the Southern Square, where I then expanded my research into 4 seperate collages highlighting what I believed was important for my site.

The Beginning and the End As poor connectivity was a key complaint I had with the site, I wanted to highlight ways in which walkability and connectivity can be improved such as creating patterns along the paths to guide people to the Southern 10. Square.

The New Worlds Just like in my previous collage, this collage explores my concept of a technology intergrated campus. This time my concept has been applied to the Southern square, where the engineering building in the centre forms the core of my site.

1970

1960 The Pillars of Light Light access in the site as well as adjacent builidings is an important aspect of a comfortable and productive study, work and leisure environment. I aim to look at this concept through experimenting with facades and technologies of shaping buildings.

The History of the Future An acknowledgement of heritage is a crucial part of my design and I wanted to make sure that what ever I designed will pay respect to what had some before. Additionally I wanted to make sure that what I designed did not in 11. turn get overshadowed by what cames in the future.

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Ahead in the Clouds Combining all 5 of my previous collages to embody all the ideas that I wish to explore to one final collage. Technology is still the focus of my project, with other elements such as still providing walkable pathways, Well lit up spaces and paying homage to the sites heritage.

Project Statement “I stand for a Swinburne that embraces its identity as a the forefront of technology and innovation where architecture can be shaped and designed for technologies to make campus a safe and comfortable place for everyone and inspire present and future generations”.

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Mid Semester Progress

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SR

TRAIN ST ATION EN

TRANCE

AR

AR

EW

LEGEND Pathways

SCIENC ANNEXEE

Route to Station from AMDC

ATRI

AD

Massing

LIBR

ENGINE

ERING

CHEM

BURWO

OD

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ADVA TECHN NCED OL CENTROGIES E

ROAD

BOOK SHOP STREE T

UN

JOHN

APPLIED SCIENCE

AMDC

Current Southern Square The current Southern Square contains 3 buildings with the engineering building dominating most of the space. In terms of connecting to the rest of campus and the surrounding neighbourhood, we can see that there are currently several paths leading to the site. However closer inspection of these paths has revealed that most are quite undesirable being narrow, dark and lacking in sight lines. For example walking from AMDC building to the station involves walking through the narrow back alleyway which is undesirable at night.

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SR

TRAIN ST ATION EN

TRANCE

NORTH EN

TRANCE

AR

WEST GA TEWAY

LEGEND Pathways Closed off Pathways

SOUTH GATEWA Y

EAST GA TEWAY

ATRI

AD

New Open Spaces Massing

LIBR

New Green Spaces New Green Roofs New Route to Station from AMDC

BURWO

OD

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ROAD

T

ADVA TECHN NCED OL CENTROGIES E

STREE

CHEM

BOOK SHOP

JOHN

UN

Old Route to Station from AMDC

AD MANUFVANCE A DESIG CTU N CEN

Mid Semester Proposal Therefore, my proposal at Mid Semester aimed to add connectivity to the site, by opening up the Southern square from the west to connect the site to the train station and create a new walkway through the campus. The new walkway will help to increase activity in the site and my aim is to eventually develop it into a major thoroughfare which will be more inviting and discourage people from taking old undesirable paths.

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1. Initial Site Area

2. New Development Envelope

3. Connectivity: Additional Ground Path

4. Connectivity: Ground Level & Bridges

5. Adding Roof Top Buildings

6. Solar Permeability: Moving Taller Building away from Square

Form Finding Process With connectivity forming the basis of my concept I centred my form finding process after the central walkway. Starting with the initial building forms slowly cutting away at it exploring movement on ground and higher levels. Furthermore I explored adding levels as well as shifting around my massings in order to potentially allow for greater solar permeability.

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Initial Site

Model 4

Model 5

Model 6

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Solar Analysis From my massing models I also conducted a variety of solar tests using the Ladybug extension for the Grasshopper plugin for Rhino. My solar tests allow me to compare the amount of light permeating the site, buildings and my central access way. Each iteration added subtle improvements to my model.

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Solar Permeability: Solar Angles into Square

Solar Permeability: Carving Building with Sun Paths

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Solar Permeability: Carving Building with Sun Paths

Solar Analysis and Carving From here I utilised solar angles at different hours of the day during the September Equinox as it is the average time between the Winter and Summer Soltices. Using these angles allow to me create opennings within the building to allow light to pass through.

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Floating Greek Island, Kapsimalis Architects

Duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh

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See Through Churches

Solar Carving West Elevation Solar Carving West Elevation

Solar Angle & Floating Buildings Sun angles of the day carving through my building form leaves a segment of upper portion of the building, hence the illusion of a floating building structure.

To further understand how to create a floating building, I had a look at several different examples of how this has been accomplished around the world. The floating Greek Island by Kapsimalis Architects was a key precedent for me, which inspired me to use a structure embedded within curtain walls.

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Red Brick Heritage

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Accessible Green Roof

Heritage and Greenery I have considered using a red brick facade as a way to pay homage to the character of swinburne’s buildings and expanding the southern square itself with the brick pathway, additionally I have looked into providing green spaces to the building which is currently lacking in the site, by looking at accessible green roofs to provide outdoor leisure spaces for everyone to use

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LEGEND AMDC & ATC BUILDINGS NEW ENGINEERING GLENFERRIE STATION COLLABORATIVE SPACES GROUND FLOOR CIRCULATION BUILDING CIRCULATION

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Circulation Circulation is an important aspect of my design. In addition to ground floor circulation, I have looked into connectivity between my building to the ATC and AMDC building through new and existing sky bridges at higher levels. Additionally transparent exposed exterior elevators for vertical circulation while also showcasing the technology utilized within the system.

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EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC PROGRAMMING 1:400 LEGEND

LECTURE ROOMS & LABS CLASSROOMS

LECTURE ROOMS & LABS

ELEVATORS

CLASSROOMS

COLLABORATIVE SPACES

ELEVATORS

PRIVATE STUDY SPACES

COLLABORATIVE SPACES

GREEN SPACES

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PROGRAM SECTION 1:400 LEGEND

PASSIVE SURVEILANCE

Potential Programs The internal usage of the building consists of a variety of different teaching, learning and social spaces, with the lower levels being used for lecture halls and labs, and other uses located above as seen in the diagram on the left. In my sectional diagram on the right, the solar carving cuts through the floor plates creating floor plates of different shapes and sizes and forming a central atrium space in the building. These high levels can also provide a sense of passive surveillance to lower surrounding areas whether it be toward the square or the old pathway next to the train station. The central bridge serves as both a connection between the two main buildings while also hosting a floating tech lab, which can include technologies such as virtual reality.

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Technological Building The top of the bridge is also a terrace roof, which can serve as a tech plaza to showcase new technologies such as VR and AR which I intend to explore more in the future, while also potentially using this technology as a method of wayfinding. On the ground floor, displays of student work can be projected onto surfaces, to celebrate the achievements of students and the university and can also be a source of lighting particularly at night.

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Post Mid Semester Progress

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Contour Section One thing that I didn’t consider during my mid semester presentation was the natural site contours, which drastically change and influence the lower levels of my design. The site ground reaches its heighest point just south of my South Building while slooping at varying degrees towards the train station. In order to adapt to these conditions I increased the height of the ground floor from single to double floor ceiling. I decided that this double height floor should be a machine lab where larger machinery could fit.

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A second solar carving was conducted to shave up the upper tip of the North Building, to allow for even more light to pass through. A red horizontal lourve system has been installed to my South Building. Red was chosen as it is swinburnes signature colour.

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Tree like steel structural columns within the north building help to hold up the floating upper floor slabs.

These tree like structures also reference my implementation of greenery into the site.

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Interior render of the atrium space within the South Building.

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On the Decking of the Central Bridge looking toward the North Building from the South Building.

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View of the Interior garden in the North Building as well as the South Building and the new sperical Lab spaces that I have implemented.

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Initial render of the Interior of the Sperical Lab.

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1:100 Section in Progress With my new section I decided with a rendered style as I believed it was the best way to achieve my desired realistic lighting effects. When creating this section, I wanted the two sides to feel different to accomodate two unique uses. With the north building getting more light and be feature larger spaces for more social learning as well including large expansive scientific labs at lower levels. The South Buildig on the other hand was to include more tradition styled classroom learning spaces, although I intended for my colour coded rooms in the upper levels to be varying uses. The blue walled rooms up top were to be the most private individual study spaces, green to be standard sized rooms, while the orange would be larger multi use STEM classrooms. The red walled were to be special rooms dedicated to house drones.

The prominate Spherical structure in the centre of the South Building was to be a multi use technology hub hosting a plethora of VR and AR technologies.

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Final Review

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Final Precinct Plan In turns of the final precinct plan, the core concept of site permeability have remained unchanged.

The central path has changed to become curved to better fit the shape of the new design. Furthermore I have expanded the green hill cover more space further south.

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Massing & Key Ideas the key moves of my design which were increased circulation around the site for users and passersby with the inclusion of an overhead bridge and additional green spaces.

Secondly I have Utilized sun paths to carve the building form, allowing natural light into my buildings as well as the central accessway.

Next the carved form as well as the height of my buildings allows for the integration of hardware where I have planned launch bays for drones and other aerial technologies..

Lastly, is the integration of new spaces, which can specialise in the showcase and research of technologies such as VR, AR and new upcoming innovations.

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Over and Under: A Walk through Swinburne In turns of the final precinct plan, the core concept of site permeability have remained unchanged.

The central path has changed to become curved to better fit the shape of the new design. Furthermore I have expanded the green hill cover more space further south.

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Pillars of Light In addition to exterior greenspaces, the abundance of natural light passes through openings within my facade, allows for interior nature plantations within my northern building, to create an inviting and comfortable working environment which can help relieve stress and anxiety from a student’s busy university life.

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1:100 Section Northern light passes through this building illuminating all spaces within before then travelling to provide light to the top of the sky bridge and then into the atrium space of my South Building. As shown in my section.

At the bases of both my buildings are hardware and software labs, where the North building houses my machinery/ engineering facility which benefits from ample natural light while also being visible to those on the train and those taking the old pathway, acting as a method of passive surveillance.

In contrast, the labs located at the base of the South Building are dedicated to all sorts of holographic, VR and AR technologies where natural light access is not as important. This open interior space can be used for a variety of activities such as testing out new software technologies and even provide for fun opportunities for Virtual indoor exercise. This lab is at ground and basement levels which can be open to the public and can be used to host events.

Above these spaces are the Spherical studio spaces which I have called the eye as well as differing classroom and learning spaces. Between the two buildings is an open airspace for drones, where I have included floors on both the North and South buildings dedicated to a drone launch bay.

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The Airshow

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Special drone bays can be seen from ground level, where they break up the continuous building facades, where drones can fly freely between the buildings and then to other locations within and outside of the campus.

These drones are stored within specialised concrete launch and landing bays, where the drones can then be remotely controlled from separate drone control rooms.

These drone rooms are located near class and computer labs where they are easily accessible by students and can even be opened up and connected with surrounding classrooms for a more engaging learning experience.

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Swinburne Eye

Smart Glass Exterior

Steel Frame Geodesic Sphere

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Light/ Projectors

The Swinburne eye is located in the centre of my south building. The eye is a geodesic spherical structure, with built-in lighting and projection devices and is covered by a smart glass panel exterior. This gives the glass the unique quality of changing its opacity to allow light to pass through at certain points or become fully opaque or transparent.

Above these spaces are the Spherical studio spaces which I have called the eye as well as differing classroom and learning spaces. Between the two buildings is an open airspace for drones, where I have included floors on both the North and South buildings dedicated to a drone launch bay.

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Light/ Projector

Glass Shell

Steel Structure

Light/ Projector

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The floor structure consists of hollow core precast slabs which are supported by the geodesic steel structure. The suspended ceilings hanging from these slabs have a holographic projector within them, supplementing the projectors within the spherical frame. Two projectors are embedded on the top and bottom of the joinery points of the steel structure, where one shines outwards and the other inwards.

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Night time render of the Swinburne eye, where the projectors are used at the most optimal time where they can cast holograms and augment reality which can not only showcase the technology but also help as a source of wayfinding particularly at night.

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Night time exterior shot of the eye welcoming students current and future to the “New Worlds of Swinburne”

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Conclusion In Conclusion, I believe my project helps to achieve the aims first set out in the UDF and is my personal vision on how Swinburne’s Southern and Engineering sector can be modernised and become the forefront of technological innovation into the far future.

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