Mid Semester Break

hi All,
hope all is going well. Just to recap on a few things from last week and also that you have them in your mind as you are working on your design over the next 2 weeks.

1. Keep a consistent architectural language for your building as it develops. this is one of the most important concepts in architecture and it is what makes good buildings. So it means that the devices or techniques you use that relate to plan, section and elevation are consistent in the building.
2. Understand the materials and types of structure you are using for the facade and how they work in combination with each other and other materials if you have them.
3. Integrate structure, this is critical. do not have 200mm thick concrete floor all through the building and each floor looks the same. the pool has depth so you must consider what happens below it!
4. Green space is lacking in most designs and needs to be properly integrated. dont just put it on the roof and think it is done. It must have a relationship to important parts of the building and be usable and accessible.
5. keep vertical circulation very simple and compact, there are too many designs with very long distances between lifts and stairs. that is not a good idea
6. keep the spatially dynamic experiences that most design have in the first half of the building going up into the residential. very few designs have any proper and decent thoughts around how the residential component is designed. This must be resolved by the time studio resumes.
7. Be imaginative with the spaces for the residential, I repeat again, it is not a conventional residential accommodation and so has flexibility in design and NO internal rooms!!! each residential unit needs to have access to a facade

Can everyone please send me a pdf of no more than 2MB max with progress drawings and some 3D images as i need to see there is progress.

task for Thursday

The information for what is required for this Thursday will be up on blackboard very shortly if not already up so please check the site. make sure you follow the instructions and understand exactly what is required.

I think everyone is working very well so keep it up and it will be a rewarding day. It is important to get to this stage with a final concept design and developed plans and drawings to really understand your scheme and then after this really be able to move it forward in a positive direction. Dont get caught up in small details but get the overall planning to work especially circulation and arrangement of spaces and program. be creative and free with your design and dont be scared to be innovative.

Importantly be sure to represent your building in context with other buildings around, this is very critical to the whole exercise and must be done without fail by everyone.

good luck