PROJECT 3 SUBMISSION - THE ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL

"Rhythm and Light contribute to a heightened experience of architecture"

The Finalised Lumion Environment:

Image 1: Exterior Shot
The bridge is encased by a rhythmic transparent facade. Its transparency allows for light to illuminate the space - interacting with the almost fractured interior to illuminate the spaces in between.

Image 2: Bird's Eye View
This view demonstrates the connection points of the bridge - establishing a path between NIDA, Squarehouse, Roundhouse and the Main Walkway. The curved nature of the bridge allows for a seamless connection between all the points whilst enticing the public to experience the architecture.

Image 3: Interior Path
Light is given access via the transparent facade and interacts with the separated blocks. This creates unique light patterns throughout the day in the space in between. This enhances the experience of commuting through the bridge.

Image 4: Studio (Lower Level)
The curved studio space provides a view over Anzac Parade and the lecture hall. This allows occupants to experience the rhythm of daily life from different angles.

Image 5: Connections
The architectural school bridges across four main locations. Almost all possible connections were made to emphasise the importance of architecture as a multidisciplinary subject: Creativity and communications (NIDA), practical skills (Squarehouse), teamwork (Main Walkway connects all faculties) and long celebrations after the completion of projects (Roundhouse).

A Short Video to Highlight Moving Elements:

My chosen Moving Elements were:
1) Aperture Style Gates:
('Vines' Texture to create the illusion of a partially transparent facade that opens up to reveal the architecture.)

The opening and closing of certain parts of the architecture allows for a more dynamic experience - as if there was a rhythm to how people should interact and pass through the space. The main gates provide a partially transparent facade - shrouding the space in mystery until it is revealed. It almost follows a clockwork rhythm - opening for the start of the day and closing off once the school's daily function has been satisfied.

2) Dynamic Connections Between Spaces: 
('Fracture' and 'Arrows' Textures used to explore how seemingly separated parts join together.)

This allows for multiple different manners to enter the spaces. Platforms stay hidden under the transparent main path and emerge to connect the spaces. Almost reminiscent of the Hogwarts central staircase in 'Harry Potter', certain locations are granted access during times of need for a more dynamic and rhythmic interaction with the school.

Spatial Requirements:

Here are a few images of the spaces necessary for an architectural school:
1) Lecture Theatre

2) Studio Spaces
(Upper Level of Studio Shown)

3) Offices for Academic and General Staff

4) Computer Lab

5) Gallery/Exhibition Space

6) Meeting Space for Staff

7) Meeting Space for Students with Library

Excluded Spaces:

The Workshop was the only excluded space due to the bridge's proximity to SquareHouse of which has a workshop on its ground level. Furthermore, additional workshops are available near Ainsworth and in the MCIC (Michael Crouch Innovation Centre). The inclusion of a fourth workshop on campus would prove costly and mostly redundant.

Model Links:

SketchUp Link:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1w6-He_V1egy1rrV0D5HDXDXETPCoay7t 
Lumion Link:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_Skym2P70R5whuRigMvh392tqauKRxb5

PROJECT 3 PROGRESS - PEER MARKING

During the week 5 studio session, we engaged in peer marking of each others architecture school. Below is the marking and feedback I received.

Although I had yet to complete a sufficient amount of modelling, I was still able to get valuable feedback based on describing my motivations and through Hand Sketching. Hand sketching has once again proven to be a useful communication tool for 'on-the-go' scenarios such as this when I had little prepared.

PROJECT 3 PROGRESS - DEVELOPED LUMION ENVIRONMENT

I decided to use the 2nd draft for it gave more potential and Rhythm to the architectural form (despite the first having the great potential to generate unique lighting effects/shadows).
The 1st draft was very limiting in terms of being established as a bridge. If attachments to Squarehouse and Roundhouse were made, they almost seemed like after-thoughts to the architecture - not something that would suite my theory about 'Light and Rhythm'.
I am aiming for one consistent form that establishes a sense of rhythm, yet is chaotic enough to create unique, naturally lit spaces from the Space In Between.

Hand Sketch (1)

Noticeably the proposed outcome for Draft 1 doesn't have great rhythm or synergy between the architectural form and the bridge (rectilinnear form against a curved, rhythmic bridge).

Hand Sketch (2)

The Sketch above displays more detailed images but as shown in the upper most sketch of this image, the bridged protrude out with minimal regard to the main form.

HENCE, DRAFT 1 WAS SCRAPPED!

In its stead, DRAFT 2 WAS CHOSEN FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT:

Developed: SketchUp with MOVING ELEMENTS

Moving Element 1: Dynamic Paths

Pathways of similar style to the main pathway extend out to allow access to the individual blocks.

Moving Element 2: Gateway

The main entry to the architecture school will open in a basic aperture style. This provides greater interest in comparison to a standard sliding door. At also improves the experience of entering the space as the tunnel formed by blocks is slowly revealed.

I continued to develop this model in lumion...

Developed: Lumion (1)
Overhead shot of the architecture. Notice the greater sense of rhythm achieved from the form.

Developed: Lumion (2)
View as seen from the NIDA connection.

Developed Lumion (3)
The tunnel created from the space in between blocks. With the developed form, the effects of the dynamic lighting is more prominent.

This model will be continued to be developed until the Final Submission!

PROJECT 3 PROGRESS - 2 DRAFTS WITH LUMION DEVELOPMENT

Through the manipulation of Preston Scott Cohen's Torus House, a form was developed to construct a space in three dimensions. This draft was ported into Lumion to examine its potential.
A second draft of this space was superimposed onto a bridge form to evaluate which manipulation of the Torus House would've proved more beneficial as an architecture school.

Torus House Plans and Images

Torus House Plan Manipulation

1) Started with the floor plan.
2) Focused on the dynamic and rhythmic central staircase as a focus.

3) Enlarged the central staircase profile and started superimposing the original plan onto that.
4) Adjusting the proportions of the plan to make spaces.

5) Began extruding different items and transforming the plan into a section via a 90 degree rotation.

6) Started to "mash" the two together to create a space in three dimensions.

DRAFT 1: 

Draft 1: SketchUp
I further continued manipulating the forms and shapes to produce more viable spaces. Also included the path that the bridge takes.

Draft 1: Lumion (1)
Imported into Lumion to test the influences of these shapes on the 'Light' aspect of my theory.

Draft 1: Lumion (2)
I also began to apply some textures (in this case it would be the 'Carpet' texture from my custom set of 36).

Draft 1: Lumion (3)

Also added the 'Cross' texture to this upper platform/meeting space. I also tested a sunset scenario to see how the light and shadows of each form influence the other.

DRAFT 2:

Draft 2: SketchUp
This draft uses the adjusted section plan and 'lofts' them together.

Draft 2: Lumion (1)
Used a transparent variation of the 'Fracture' texture for the path. Transparency could be a viable technique to generate more interesting lighting effects.

Draft 2: Lumion (2)
Testing the transparency of the pathway and its influence on a lower section under the bridge.

Draft 2: Lumion (3)
This draft is moreso a tunnel - whereby the resulting blocks/spaces will create the impression of an enclosed space. Note the use of the 'Arrows' and 'Kumiko' textures being applied.

PROJECT 3 PROGRESS - DRAFT MOVING ELEMENTS

In preparation for the Moving Elements in the architecture school, a short excercise to learn the animation features in Lumion was conducted. The result: Sliding and folding screens created from the Advanced Move tool.

PROJECT 3 PROGRESS - 36 TEXTURES

36 Custom textures were once again created. This time around, the focus is motion!

PROJECT 3 PROGRESS - 6 EXTRA TWO POINT PERSPECTIVES

When including the previous set of 18 one point perspectives, I now have a grand total of 24 SKETCH PERSPECTIVES!

From the selection of One Point Perspectives drawn earlier, I chose two of them to develop further using the two point perspective technique. It is also required to write a few sentences about each drawing. They are as shown below:

VARIANTS 4 AND 6 ON DOUBLE SPREAD

Using shared vanishing points allows for a more unique approach to this exercise.
Sentences:
Top Left: Lightweight cantilevers suspend from above.
Top Right: It possesses a rhythm of prism based geometries.
Bottom Left: The large mass above contrasts the thin supports below.
Bottom Right: Dark tones and textures are seen below.

VARIANT 4

Sentence: A lightly coloured structure stands in front.

VARIANT 6

Sentence: Rhythm of shape exists in front of the viewer.