CONCEPT INSPIRATION: THE CORE

Education Centre: The Core - Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners

This was an example on how a core concept is reflected back to its design. The building is a showcase of environmental responsibility and sustainability. Its form was influenced by nature and art. The design expresses an appreciation of the universal rhythms found in natural forms such as phyllotaxis (Fibonacci sequence or Natures Numbers). The spiky triangular-shaped skylights were influenced by the arrangements of a pinecone. The centre was built specifically for its location.

http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/civic/06_edCenter/default.asp

INSPIRATION: WAUKEGAN CITY HALL

Waukegan City Hall - Legat Architects

What I love about this project was that it responded to the site and existing surrounding buildings. The building is facing the existing police station forming a new plaza between the two buildings. The use of glass allows bypassers to see glimpses of government action and creates an uninterrupted connection between the public spaces and private spaces. It allows the community to have that sense of connection as people are able to use the space as a pathway (physically) and also have that visual/emotional connection due to the use of transparent materials. 

http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/civic/06_cityhall/default.asp 

WEEK10 - IN CLASS EXERCISE

CB

CM1

DM

FM

SITE 

- Large

- playground

- Landscaping

- City

- Freedom

- Water

- Children

- Trees

- Building

- Pathway

- Natural

PLACE

- Fun

- Exciting

- Interaction

- Big

- Journey

- What is next?

- Overwhelmed 

- Plants

- Natural

- Friendly

- Play 

- Learn

- See

- Touch

- Smell

SPATIAL MODEL

A Spatial model was made in order to have a better understanding on how users are going to feel in the space, and how they are going to circulate.

Questions that were needed to be asked when designing:
1. How do they feel in each individual space?
2. What is their journey like when walking from one space to another?
3. Is there a journey within an individual space?
4. Is the space triggering certain emotions that are needed to be felt in the space? (Grand, Playful, In awe etc)
5. Is the circulation appropriate? Does it make sense or have a specific educational order? OR is it just free and unplanned?
6. How can kids interact within the spaces? Be apart of the journey physically, emotionally, visually?

SPACES

What can the centre give children? 
- Understanding and knowledge about where the world is heading to.
- The importance of future design, future living.
- To stimulate and trigger their thoughts and outlooks of life in whatever field they are heading in their futures.
- To remind them that it is important to consider the environment and ethics before making a decision that can impact the world


Entry
- Grand
- Makes a statement (nature, sustainability)
- feels like stepping into a whole new world
- a place that doesn't exist in Brisbane
- Over whelming

Digital 3D Presentation Spaces
- Introductory Space
- 3D movie theatre
- enclosed and separate from exterior connection
- environment where children can focus and be excited about to start their journey

Sustainable Indoor Spaces
- Learning environment
- interactive (See, Touch, Hear)
- Recycling area (See, Touch)
- How Australia plans to stay sustainable
- Natural Energy

Historical Space
- Interactive (See, Touch, Hear)
- Before and After Space (showing past and present of the world, urban development)
- Drawing Area
- Fossils, Dinosaurs, extinct animals due to climate change and pollution

Green House/Glass House
- Tropical Trees and Plants
- Water stream
- Butterflies
- Billboards/ Panels explaining about each plant and species
- Area on how green house works

Lunch Area
- Colourful
- Interactive (smell, touch, see)
- herbs on tables for children to try and put in food

Vegetable Patch (Outdoor Space)
- Interactive (taste, feel, see)
- Area about information on how to grow plants
- planting area

Playground (outdoor)
- Outdoor Seating areas (Picnics)
- Infront of water
- View of storey bridge and city
- People can interact with the site and appreciate the surroundings (cliffs, etc)

NARRATIVE

Narrative of a child spending a day in the Environmental Education Centre

Dear Diary

Today, I went to the Environmental Education Centre for an excursion today. It was the best school day I have ever had. It was a bit of a walk to the centre but that was okay, we got to see the colourful seats outside on the way there. People were eating morning tea outside. Luckily it was a sunny day. When we arrived at the BIG entrance, we met up with our instructor who took care of us the whole day. The entrance was awesome as there were trees inside, I never knew you could have trees coming out of the floor, it was like an indoor jungle. We first went to the presentation room and saw a 3min introductory video telling us about the importance of sustainability and the different rooms in the centre. I couldn’t wait to go to the historical play space and play with the interactive computers and draw different things.We went to the sustainability room as our first destination where we learned more in depth about what sustainability is about and how we can make a difference. It was so cool what garbage can do. You can make new things out of plastic, cardboard and paper if you recycle them. I didn’t know that and apparently you can make a big difference if we put our garbage in the right bin. We got to play around with objects that were recycled but they looked brand new. We also learned about composting, natural energy and global warming.

Our second space we went to was the historical play space which I was waiting for! It was awesome, I got to play on the computers and play games about what our world looked like before today. It was fun. We also got to draw fossils and see them in real life. It is weird how

After our play space, we went to have lunch. I loved lunch! We got to choose what we wanted in our sandwich and I chose chicken and lettuce. Thats my favourite. The cooler part was that the lettuce was directly from the garden outside the lunch area. It was connected so to the cafeteria and on the tables were herbs so we picked and tasted what basil tasted like. It was weird, I don’t know if I liked it. But I liked how colourful the cafeteria was.

After lunch we went straight to the green house. I didn’t know what it was so I wasn’t too excited about it in the beginning but I think it was my favourite room out of the whole centre. The place was made out of glass and inside was butterflies and trees! The sunlight was gleaming on the water stream, it looked like glitter sparkling. Inside the greenroom and it was really nice and warm. I loved it! It was so pretty seeing the butterflies fly around. The instructor showed us the different types of butterflies and plants in the greenhouse and also told us how a greenhouse works. It was beautiful, I felt like I was in a crystal glass ball or something. We left and went to our last are which was the outdoor area where the vegie patches were. We got to see vegetable and pick some and taste them. Apparently they are organic which means they are all naturally grown. I wish I could have vegie patch at home. It was fun picking it of the trees and plants. I didn’t you couldn’t see potatoes growing because they are underground. Afterwards we all got afternoon tea which was orange juice with fresh fruit salad from the garden patch. We had free time and played outside the BEST playground I have ever seen! It was so big! I was exhausted bouncing up and down on the air trampoline and flying fox. Those were my two favourites. After a long fun day, I went home and told my mum and dad about it. They said next time we can all go as a family! I cannot wait!  

GREEN HOUSES

 

Green Houses

A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse) is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings. A miniature greenhouse is known as a cold frame.

A greenhouse is a structure with different types of covering materials, such as a glass or plastic roof and frequently glass or plastic walls; it heats up because incoming visible solar radiation (for which the glass is transparent) from the sun is absorbed by plants, soil, and other things inside the building. Air warmed by the heat from hot interior surfaces is retained in the building by the roof and wall. In addition, the warmed structures and plants inside the greenhouse re-radiate some of their thermal energy in the infrared spectrum, to which glass is partly opaque, so some of this energy is also trapped inside the glasshouse.

Information retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse

Image Retrieved from
http://modern-house-plans-designs.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/green-house-project-greentainer.html