Final A1 Board

For my A1 board I montage a lot...merging renders and site photos. I think this technique worked well and gives a good understanding of the context.

Renders

Diagram showing movement. 

Timber screen roof casting shadows on the floor

North Elevation

Floor Plan - the pattern on the central floor is the same as the shadows cast by the timber screen

A few renders I took in 3dsMAX. I imported the model from ArchiCAD into 3ds. However I modelled a lot of things in 3ds like curved beams, wave stairs and re-modelled all the roofs as it's easier in 3ds MAX and archiCAD can be very limiting.  

Site Photos

Picture of city cat...will need to for montages 

Close up of site...about as close as one can get.

Site in context

Front view of site....could use this as a background to a section to put it in context. 

Heritage building and damaged bank

View to from site

I went for a ferry ride to take pictures of the site, as I could not get photos of the site from anywhere else. As the site is closed to the public, this was the first time I was getting a real feel for the site. The site was quite different to what I though, and the bank is a lot higher that the water level. 

Building in ArchiCAD

Building the multi level floor

Building the roof, keeping the concept of multiple roofs that overlap to provide shelter. I use metal sheeting (currently on heritage buildings) and timber battens as I detail earlier. 

Strong use of curves to allow for smooth flow of people. The curves are also an abstraction of the wave form.

I started building the ferry terminal in ArchiCAD. I did not build everything in ArchiCAD as some things will be easier to build in 3dsMAX using cut out maps. 

Refining the Ideas

Working in section - Trying a multi level space

Rough floor plan of a multi level space

Experimentation with the form of a wave for the stairs

I developed the ideas I had with the feedback I received to develop a revised design. I focused on movement through a multi level space. I also tried a stair that takes the form of a wave. 

Review with Tutor (Ruwan)

Sketch/conversation with tutor

After a conversation with Ruwan, it was clear that I had to focus on making relationships with my folie and the site.  As a ferry terminal it also had to have good pedestrians paths that flow seamlessly from footpath to ferry. 

Converting Ideas into 3d

The renders show how the ideas I've been having converts into a 3d. It looks a little out of place for Howard Smith Wharves. The two curved beams hold up all the roofs providing a column free space below. 

Columns

Other forms I explored for the columns shape. This has a different feel, but the same consept. I think this will look better in a repeated pattern.

Roof and Columns

The roof that was going to wrap around the structure was going to be a batten screen roof. The supporting structure or columns were going to be a repeated pattern to create a flow effect.  


The detail shows how I planed to use timber battens and glass to allow light but to block all the other elements.  This detail i used in my final design. 

Sketch Design

The image above is me working out a new roof plan while keeping the constraints in mind. I also experimented with different roof shapes and angles in section. 

Starting Project 3

I struggled to continue on to project 3 as I did not really like my design for project 2. My thoughts kept moving towards a new design rather than building on the old one. 


So I decided to change the form...but keep the concepts and features of the old design. I kept the bike facility, the timber battens, the multiple roofs, the curved beam and many other things. But I let myself change the form using these "features" as constraints. 


I also reduced the size of the ferry terminal. In project 2 I think I had too huge a space for a ferry terminal. This allowed me to focus on a few details.

Bike Racks

At first I placed standard bike racks from archiCAD. This looked very standard and obviously place from a generic library.  So I sketched out some ideas for a bike rack based on the Brisbane river and the organic nature of my structure. I narrowed it down to 3 options and finally chose option 3. 

I sketched option 3 to lock 2 bikes, but then thought bikers often like to chain their wheels and frame too. So I have allowed 1 bike per bike stand.

The render below shows the bike racks in context.

Slice Through Animation

I tried a slice through my model to explain how different roofs and levels have been created. The quality is not very good so I will have to render at a higher resolution. 

Sketch Section

This is a section of my terminal. Although this is not what it looks like now, i drew this as a starting point to put some of my ideas on paper. The connection shooting out the top is to link it to the other developments in the tutorial. I did not develop this idea as i was not too sure if it was necessary and weather it would fit with other's proposals. 

The section does explain my design with 2 roofs. one large external roof, over an internal structure that can be locked or used for commercial / facilities for the terminal. 

Defining Space

I looked at some possible services and commercial opportunities to include in my ferry terminal. This plan shows the ground floor plan of my ferry terminal. The passage in the middle is to allow a smooth flow of people through the structure to the ferry loading area. 


The large bike facility is to allow a bike company to set up a shop at the terminal that can also service/fix bikes while bikers are at work. Showers and lockers have also been provided making it easier for more people to ride bikes. Large number of bike parking spaces have been provided outside the bike shop. With some negotiation, members of the bike shop could possible ride the ferry for free as they will probably only be traveling one or two stops to the CBD.

Idea Generation

Using 3ds MAX I modelled a basic shape. I then use the scatter tool to apply a "skin" over the shape. The program produced many different options on how to scatter the skin over the shape. I chose my favourite configuration and developed it further by hand. I found in this situation, working in section was the most effective. 


I then identified places that I need to detail further, for eg, where beams and land meet pose good opportunities to treat the connection as a sculpture. After drawing a few ideas, I tried to model the connection on 3ds MAX but was unable to create something appealing or close to my sketch. Further work/practice is need in this area. 


The image above shows this progression. 

Space Planning

I did a space diagram to understand the different spaces that I will need to include in my ferry terminal. After drawing the diagram, I have noticed that a lot of spaces will flow into each other. eg entrance area can also act as the link to other developments (depending where other developments are positioned.) further development of the arrangement is needed after the exact site is chosen. 

Structure in the centre of the terminal to house commercial development.

Sketch of possible plan and section

Further development of the above sketches. The section shows how the shelter will provide shelter without being fully enclosed.

Ninja equation

How I translate Calatrava's proposal for the new transport hub on the world trade centre site into a ninja equation.

Initial sketches of Folie

Before I made the model i sketched (shown in images above) some ideas I had on how I wanted the folie to look like. However as design is never a liner process after the sketching and model making, I kept making minor changes to my folie. But the main idea/look was maintained.

DAB525 - Walk-shop

Walk-shop from QUT to story bridge. Click on image to enlarge.

Experimenting with seating

Having a physical model allowed me to freely experiment with different seat positions. I intend to have the seats free of the structure for people to move around, depending on the activity taking place at the folie.

Experimenting with physical model

I made a physical model to experiment with how the solid mass of the structure will be supported by thin steel wire. This also gave me a chance to see how the timber battens look curving with the structure to reflect the Story Bridge. I think it worked well :-)

Access Study

Access study highlighted that the site was mainly a thoroughfare. Most major connections go straight past or around the site. To give people a reason to visit the site, I'm providing a structure that will frame a stage for performances. located between 4 major regions in Brisbane, public transport to areas around the site is not a problem, however direct transport to the site is not readily available. Majority of access will have to be by foot, bike or via proposed ferry stop.

Change in direction

Since my last post i have decided to change my approach.

The Story Bridge has distinguished shape that has been constructed out of hard materials (steel and concrete). I'm using this concept as a starting point to my folie design. A mixture of concrete and timber will reflect a shape that relates to the story bridge, while integrating with the site.

The folie is to act as a stage the provides a shelter for performers (either musicians or actors/street performances) to run shows. It should protect from rain, so performers don't have to worry about their equipment. While it's not a stage it should be a spot to rest while on a walk/ride.

Inspiration

For the folie design, I'm taking inspiration from the kurilpa bridge and the story bridge. My reason for choosing the Kurilpa bridge is for it's tensegrity proprieties that i find fascinating. Tensegrity structures also allow for a very transparent construction. I hope that my folie will relate to the story bridge but also blend into the surroundings through it's transparent nature.

Existing Site Plan