Assignment 1 – Project Matrix

A. GRADUATION STUDIO SITE MODEL

WATERLOO REDEVELOPMENT PRECINCT MASTERPLAN

< KEY CONCEPT >

Building context is not only defined as a spatial aspect, but can also interpreted as a representation of theories and history, as well as concepts and a certain lifestyle related to the building. (Taurens, 2008)

The site model aims to deliver an overall view of my graduation studio site’s surrounding context, demonstrating its urban fabric (building arrangement or layout), topography change and what is more important - the relationship and connection between my site and its broader context. As my studio is of Urban Conditions, I have been studying our site in a broader scale, and I have also produced a masterplan design based on my understandings and research on our site, and thus, the site model is not only focusing on the site itself, but also having my masterplan design involved, which is to prove whether my project on site is going to work or not.

I am planning to make my site model in a ‘removable’ way, which means the particular site area that I chose to have my design proposal on will be able to be removable and switched to different design options. However, the surrounding context of my site will be always remained as ‘unchanged’, because my design is still not getting to the final stage yet, but this way will be able to let me test different options. This will help maximise the flexibility and adaptability to have one site model showcased different design options without duplicating the surroundings.

SITE SELECTION

< SELECTED DESIGN ELEMENT >

The site model will demonstrate my site surrounding context including buildings and topography. The model will showcase both existing buildings and new proposed ones as per site’s existing condition and my masterplan design. 

The principle of making the site model is to highlight my own design and deliver an average-detailed (not too detailed but not too rough) surrounding context at the same time. Thus, the surrounding buildings can be mainly classified as three different types - terrace houses, medium-scale buildings and high-rise buildings, where terrace house can be built as a block with simple pitched roof on the top, whilst other medium-scale and high-rise buildings will be simply built as blocks or boxes. This will be possibly made by 3D print when the digital models are ready.

SITE'S CONTOUR LINES

The topography of a site model is normally done by laser cutting boards and stacking them up. However, as CNC technique has been introduced in class, the site contour can be possibly done in a different way. It is expected to see the CNC technique is able to help show the context's hierarchy (such as terrain, roads, street kerbs and building blocks) in a cleaner way and make the entire site model look more elegant. All the building lots will be left with holes which are for the 3D printed buildings to sit in.

< HOW IS THE KEY CONCEPT REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN STUDIO ? >

The site model will be able to help develop studio's design concept by offering it a basic site context, which is to demonstrate the relationships between my design and its surrounding context. My design will be required to respond to its context as it has strong communication with surrounding elements such as public transport, green public open space and few residential-related facilities, and thus, the site model is going to be a starting point to trigger how I start with my design and it will always push me to further consider the broader context, not just focus on my site area. 

As my design is still in progress, my site model will be made in a 'removable' way which is to allow me to test different design options. I believe when I am presenting my site model in jury, it will make much more sense to people who do not know my design and it will help them understand how my design has been developing along the way as I think the progress work is always more important than the final result! 

Furthermore, the concept of making the site model 'removable' is also able to enhance people's interaction with it. Imagine at the graduation exhibition, visitors can place different design options onto my site model which seems to be interesting to me.

< GEOMETRICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SHAPE >

SITE MODEL COVERAGE

The site model will be made at 1:500 and of a rectangular shape. The size of it would be approximately 750mm x 500mm which is big enough to cover all the blocks around the site where has my proposal on. It will cover 96,900sqm and the footprint of my site area is approximately 15,973sqm. 

My selected site will be positioned in the centre of the site model which can be made by materials other than the base's (possibly wood because it will be done by CNC) and 3D printed surroundings' such that it will be very standing out. Another consideration of placing it in the centre is because this layout will help divide the site model into half of it is within the Waterloo Redevelopment Precinct and the other half is outside of it. This is to help balance the proportion of buildings that I designed (the ones within the Precinct) and the existing ones, and it will tell the comparison between redesigned areas and the areas without having redevelopment.

< PROPOSED SCALE, MATERIAL & TECHNIQUE >

Scale: 1:500

Materials: Screenboard; Customwood MDF; Pinewood; 3D print material; Spray Paint

Technique: CNC; 3D Print; Lasercut; Handcut ; Spray Paint

< TIME COMMITMENT & BUDGET >

Time: 120hrs

Budget: $250 - $300

B. WATERLOO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

THE WATERLOO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ON SITE

< KEY CONCEPT >

My site in Waterloo is not only home to my new proposal, but also home to a heritage building - The Waterloo Congregational Church. Built in 1883 to replace the chapel built in 1865, the church was designed by architect Herbert S Thompson. The church is a very neat and substantial building, and is capable of accommodating around 500 people with comfort. 

The heritage church seems to be an opportunity to my design as my proposal is focusing on public domain, cultural venues and gallery space. Thus, it is expected to see how my proposal integrates with this heritage building and how my design is able to use something modern and new to respond to the historical context.

I believe making a physical model of the Congregational Church and placing it onto my site model is necessary and helpful to further develop my design, and its physical form will best tell how I address 'mixing new and old' in real life. It is expected to see the church model will be placed and showcased in different design options, whether it is remained unchanged or modified to fit in the redevelopment.

< SELECTED DESIGN ELEMENT >

WATERLOO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

The Congregational Church model will be able to demonstrate the historical aspect and value of the local Waterloo community.

The church is of Victorian Gothic style with cedar pulpit, gallery and staircase. The building is symmetrical in plan and elevation with rendered brick construction, which addresses high quality architectural traits of the building. The main hall is 6 bay deep as demonstrated by engaged piers and lancet windows on the side wall. The gable facing the street features rendered finishes, large central lancet window and two projecting bellcotes. The building sets back from Botany Road and presents a garden, fence entrance steps to the front.

The church model will be possibly made by 3D print depends on how accurate 3D printer will be able to do at scale 1:500, as the details of the facade are extremely important to be shown in the presentation model. If 3D print is not able to go into that detailed, an alternative plan is to 3D print a basic building form of the church (including pitched roof and building's cubic shape, without having all the decoration and treatments to the facades), and glue the papers or card papers that have drawings of all sides of the church onto the building form model. If the church model is done at a larger scale such as 1:100 or 1:200, laser cut or hand cut boards to make facade details might be required.

< HOW IS THE KEY CONCEPT REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN STUDIO ? >

The Waterloo site model will be a major part of the presentation of design studio. Having the church and different design options involved, the entire model will be able to deliver a narrative presentation, showcasing the relationships between the site and its surrounding context, the church and my proposal, and it is also able to demonstrate the process being developed throughout the entire studio.

Making the physical model for the church is not only helping me to address my design, but also an opportunity for me to experience and understand Waterloo's history and backgrounds. The heritage church model is also able to help me further develop my design proposal, as when it is placed on site, its physical form will be giving me a more direct visualisation and interaction such that I might have different thinking or approaches integrate it with the overall design. This is something that might not happen when having it in a digital form on computer.

I have never done studio projects involving heritage building before, and thus, I am taking this as an opportunity to strengthen my model making skill, because the church has a number of beautiful Gothic details which I hope I will be able to replicate them in my final site model.

< GEOMETRICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SHAPE >

WATERLOO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 3D MODEL

The Congregational Church model will be made at 1:500 and a larger scale in either 1:100 or 1:200. The building footprint of the church is approximately 458sqm big with its main facade of around 13m wide, and 32m deep in terms of building length. The church's average building height is around 15.2m and the highest point is 16.5m from the ground which is located at the top point of the two projecting bellcotes on the main facade.

The two-storey Victorian Gothic style church also includes cedar pulpit, gallery and staircase. The building is symmetrical in plan and elevation, which makes 5 lancet windows on the main facade,11 lancet windows on the other two sides of the main hall.

The church building looks like a 'T' shape when looking at its plan. The '-' shape building at the back seems to be an extension which might be built during post renovation. This can be told by its facade design which looks newer, and its architectural style does not look as Gothic as the main building.

< PROPOSED SCALE, MATERIAL & TECHNIQUE >

Scale: 1:500 and 1:100 or 1:200 (depends on what is required in studio's final submission)

Materials: 3D print material; Paper; Card paper

Technique: 3D Print; Lasercut; Handcut

< TIME COMMITMENT & BUDGET >

Time: 70hrs

Budget: $150 - $180

C. STRUCTURAL MODEL OF NEW MUSEUM BY SANAA

NEW MUSEUM IN NEW YORK, DESIGNED BY SANAA

< BACKGROUND >

PROJECT: The New Museum of Contemporary Art

ARCHITECT: SANAA

TYPOLOGY: Museum and Gallery space

LOCATION: 235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002, USA

PROJECT YEAR: 2007

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS: Guy Nordenson and Associates Structural Engineers LLP, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, INC.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER: ARUP

FACADE CONSULTANT: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, INC.

STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATOR: Steelco./Metropolitan Steel Industries, INC. 

STRUCTURAL STEEL ERECTOR: Midlantic Erectors, INC.

< KEY CONCEPT >

Structure is an integral element of architecture but not an applied technology. Where structure contributes architecturally, other than in its primary load-bearing role, it contributes another layer of aesthetic and functional richness to designs. It increases interest in and enjoyment of buildings, improves their usability, and raises the spirits of their occupants. (Charleson, 2005)

The New Museum in New York, designed by Japanese architect SANAA, is one of the structural precedents that I looked at. As my project is of gallery use and it is sitting right next to the Congregational Church, I am thinking to extend part of my building to be attached to the roof of the church such that my building can be integrated with the existing building and context. The structure of the extension part will be of lightweight steel structure, because it is designed as an over 10m long cantilever structure, and thus, in order to avoid using very thick concrete beams and columns to support it, steel structure seems to be a good solution to it. 

The New Museum precedent is one of the great examples to demonstrate how lightweight steel structure can be applied to gallery-use building as the building itself is of column-free structure, but it is still able to make cantilever structure and create big-enough space for accommodating and displaying different scales of artworks. 

< SELECTED DESIGN ELEMENT >

The structural system of the New Museum is of perimeter bracing, which supports this challenging architectural design with a strong stability. The perimeter bracing proved the most complicated part of the project as the staggered boxes posed significant challenges for controlling lateral seismic and wind loads.

BREAKDOWN OF BEAM TYPE USED IN THE NEW MUSEUM

It is expected to see how these structural elements work together when it comes to physical model. Thus, I am planning to 3D print one of the levels of the New Museum including all the beam types listed above, and this would be an overview of its structural system. In regard to construction detail, some connection joints can be made to demonstrate how beams are connected. 

Furthermore, I believe it is a good idea to make two different structural systems. One is the traditional typology system which will have columns to support, and the other one is the perimeter bracing system without columns to support. The two different structural systems will possibly demonstrate the comparison between them and they can also illustrate how different structural systems can be adopted in projects to support different uses.

< HOW IS THE KEY CONCEPT REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN STUDIO ? >

Making structural models of the New Museum is able to help me gain a better understanding of how perimeter bracing structural system works in general, which is possibly able to support my future design. As I am planning to 3D print them, I have to model them up in Rhino first which I believe I will be more familiar with different beam types and how they are connected while I am making it.

Understanding and applying similar structural system to my graduation studio project is also one of my goals, as I believe it will help me solve my cantilever part that is standing out over 10m to be attached to the roof of the church. I have been trying to avoid using concrete structure there in my design, as I do not want to have any thick concrete beams and columns which would make my design look too heavy and overwhelming in my opinion. Thus, I think steel bracing structure is a good option to go with, and I hope I can learn from the structure of New Museum and apply it to my future design if required.

< GEOMETRICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SHAPE >

The New Museum has three main gallery spaces from level 1 to 3. The gallery space on level 3 has the highest ceiling height throughout the three which is around 7.315m, and its floor area is around 321sqm (approx. 17.6m x 18.5m), which is similar to the area of my cantilever part. Thus, I decided to make a physical model of level 3, showing its perimeter bracing structural system and beam connection joints.

I am planning to make two models with two different structural systems both at 1:100. One is having columns to support, and the other one is without columns which is exactly like the bracing perimeter structural system being adopted on level 3. Beam connection models are going to show more details which their scale might go up to 1:50 or even 1:20. It is expected to see how the beams are bolted to each other and the arrangement of different types of beams being used in different part of the structure. Primary structure and secondary structure can be possibly 3D printed by different colours which is to illustrate the hierarchy of the structural system.

< PROPOSED SCALE, MATERIAL & TECHNIQUE >

Scale: 1:100 for overall structural system and 1:50 or 1:20 for connection / joints

Materials: 3D print material

Technique: 3D Print

< TIME COMMITMENT & BUDGET >

Time: 50hrs

Budget: $100 - $120





< BIBLIOGRAPHY >

Taurens, J., 2008. ‘Meaning’ and ‘Context’ in the Language of Architecture. KOHT ja PAIK / PLACE and LOCATION - Studies in Environmental Aesthetics and Semiotics, 2008, VI: 71–82.

Demiri, K., 2013. New Architecture as Infill in Historical Context. Rigas Tehniskas Universitates Zinatniskie Raksti, 7, pp.Rigas Tehniskas Universitates Zinatniskie Raksti, 2013, Vol.7.

Charleson, A., 2005. Structure as Architecture: A source book for architects and structural engineers.