Mid-Semester Break: Project 2 - Idea Development Log

Existing thoroughfare through the site to enable access from both sides of the block. I am thinking about retaining this thoroughfare through the site as the entrance/exit points for the pods

Although Warmington Street is quite wide compare to other suburban streets in the precinct, this photos shows the high amounts of on-street parking, even on a Sunday the day on which this photo was taken. It is proposed that cars would no longer be allowed access to Warmington Street in 2020.

Public Transport running through Latrobe Street. During my site analysis, there was a number of people waiting for the bus on both sides of Latrobe Street, with this bus being the only one that arrive during my time there (assuming because it was a Sunday).  With the PRT System in place, transit times would be reduced drastically which would consequently reduce waiting times as well.

The image above shows the type of views the site has access to given the sloping nature of the site. However, the existing bulk of the current building their does not take advantage of this.

Even on weekends, the existing site of Paddington Central remains fairly empty. Most users are coming into the centre for appointments or to buy groceries and are out of there as quick as they came. The green spaces in the transit centre will attempt to be a place where people will want to stay.

Week 9: Project 2 - Idea Development Log

SOURCE: http://translink.com.au/

The above images looks some existing bus routes through the area. As can be seen from the bus maps, a variety of existing routes are available through the precinct however this is mainly by the main roads through and around. There doesn't appear to be services that go through the inner suburb roads of the precinct. Considering the hilly nature of the suburb, walking could be difficult for older residents or those with disabilities. The PRT would allow those catching buses from outer areas to reduce their travel time home and out of the precinct.

Also, what can be seen from the image above is that there are not many existing parks and green spaces within the precinct. The ones that are currently there are also located towards the outer regions. The inclusion of a green space/park land in my Transit Centre will be centrally located in the precinct making it accessible to all users.

EXISTING GREEN SPACES SHOWN IN DARK GREEN

Week 9: Project 2 - Design Progression

Building on from my concept design ideas from last week, my ideas this week were drawn from the natural slope of the site (in this case, inverting one of the peaks). I also experimented with polygon shapes. I like the idea of designing the form around the natural slope of the site as I feel the form would be better integrated into the surrounding context this way. I feel that the current building is too bulky.

EXPERIMENTING WITH POLYGON SHAPES

Week 9: Reading 01 - Function Follows Form

The Week 9 reading discusses the general process of how architecture is created. The following techniques were mentioned:

• Function maps (bubble diagrams, etc.)
• Envelope (The form)
• Structural elements

It emphasises that function is adaptable so, as mentioned in the title of the article, it has the ability to follow form. One strong aspect that stood out to me was the discussion of the unpredictable outcomes of architecture. The article noted that the people involved in determining what the form should be and what function should be carried out in the form can never determine the outcome as architecture is “ever-changing”.

Cities are also mentioned briefly towards the end of the article in relation to its opposite characteristics to buildings, in that it does not have one function, it is mixed use. Cities were also seen as formless, their organisation being determined by the behaviour of the occupants. In this case, townscape and behaviour were defined as mutually adaptable.

I found this reading to be very interesting as the notion that “form follows function” has been taught to us from the very start the course. Previous assignments had been based entirely around the theory. I’d imagine creating architecture with the notion that “function follows form” could lead to extreme and radical concepts which may be poorly justified with that single theory.

My first impression from reading the title was an article on a new method of architecture that endorses egoism with no reigns. However, the author delves into the adaptable nature of behaviour which shines a new light on the older theory. I agree with the notion that behaviour is adaptable as can be seen in the example of the congregation of people in the foyer area of the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, given by Yasu in the Week 4 lecture. Yasu mentioned that the architecture, Norman Foster, would not have been able to predict this sort of function and behaviour to occur in this space.

The hall was created for one purpose and now caters to another purpose with the behaviour of the unforseen users adapting to the space. It would be interesting to compare two different types of architecture, one based on “form follows function” and the other based on “function follows form”, in order to gauge each ones degree of success.

Week 8: Project 02 - Design Progression

MODELLED TOPOGRAPHY OF SITE IN SKETCHUP

So far, my work on Project 2 has been focused on researching various aspects of my architectural fiction in order to make something justifiable. This week I have begun my initial concept design sketches and modeling for the architectural entity. In particular I focused on the:

• Foot print of the building on the site
• Contextual relevance

My initial ideas was focused around retaining the existing thoroughfare through the site between Morris Street and Warmington Street. As seen in the images below, the two peaks on either ends of the site fall gradually and meet together as this thoroughfare highlighting it as the central focus of the design.

The curved lines across the forms represent the different levels of the form at about 3m apart.

Week 8: Project 2 - Idea Development Log Continued

GOOGLE MAP VIEW OF REGION

 As the proposed PRT system for 2020 would be run on a smaller scale to the one proposed in our Group Project 1, the location of the precinct has been scaled down substantially. After examination of the site, the following image details the location and boundaries of the proposed precinct.

RED: NEIGHBOURING AREAS, GREEN: PRECINCT AREA

The location of the boundaries of the site means that the existing Paddington Central Site, the location of the future Paddington Personal Rapid Transit Centre, will be centrally located within the precinct.

The streets acting as boundaries to the site include:

• Waterworks Road
• Musgrave Road
• Jubilee Terrace
• Mac Gregor Terrace
• Hale Street

Drawing on from Project 1, it was proposed that the main roads running through the area would be retained to allow vehicular access and egress through the site.

RED LINES: EXISTING ROADS TO BE RETAINED FOR VEHICULAR ACCESS

The streets within the precinct that allow vehicular access include:

• Enoggera Terrace
• Latrobe Terrace
• Given Terrace
• Caxton Street

This divides the precinct into three main quadrants that would be serviced by the PRT system, as detailed in the image below.

Week 8: Project 2 - A Consideration of the Future

A very brief summary of the present day issues I am taking into consideration for the proposal of my Personal Rapid Transit Centre:

Problem: Congestion

Proposed Solution: Efficient means of destination-based “public transport that is waiting for you, rather than you waiting for it”. (A quote by Russell Goodway in http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/oct/11/guardianweeklytechnologysection.news1)

Problem: Pollution

Proposed Solution: The PRT System will run off sustainably generated electricity with zero emissions.

Problem: Increase in population resulting in a higher demand of on-street parkin

Proposed Solution: Eradication of vehicles in the precinct, to be replaced by the PRT System

Problem: Obesity Health Epidemic

Proposed Solution: The creation of a walkable community that promotes exercise and outdoor activities. This is crucial to the sustainability of the precinct due to the way electricity is generated in the precinct by the residents themselves

At this point in time, I think I will require more research into how the complete eradication of vehicles into the area would come about (Edit: Refer Week 10: Reading 02 – The Bid to Ban Vehicles) and also how electricity could be generated to feed into the proposed Power Grid in order to make my proposed future more realised (Edit: Refer Week 11: Reading 01 – Biomechanical Energy Harvesting).

Week 8: Project 2 - Idea Development Log

This week I have gone through and brainstormed the different types of spaces I would like to incorporate into the Transit Centre:

• Green Space/Park Land
• Mixed-Use Communal Area
• Clean Tech Gym
• Bicycle Cage/Racks
• Lobby Area
• Paddington PRT Centre Head Office
• Information Centre
• Pod Entry and Exit Zone
• Pod Repair Shed
• Pick Up/Drop Off Zone

Week 8: Reading 01 - Architecture as a Device

The article opens up with the topic of Unification, the act of architects getting together to work on the same topic despite their intrinsic nature not to. The question is will this collaboration lead to new ideas and innovation or will it be a form of exemption from taking responsibilities for their actions?

A variety of currently occurring worldly issues results in this unification, consequently following with The Act of Swallowing in which new ideas, methods and aesthetics are “swallowed” via collaboration. This challenges originality and authenticity as well as the role of the architect.

The article talks about how architectural criticism should be more about “judging intentions” based on “their purposes, roles and effectiveness” and that in the face of a crisis dire circumstances can cause the architect to limit themselves by limiting spatial possibilities, in turn deducing their role to a “service provider”.

I believe that in terms of economic crisis, one of the first to be hit hardest are architects. Although the author makes a valid point that by limiting their “spatial possibilities” they are of no benefit to themselves, I believe it is also due to the increasing redundancy of the profession. The role of the architect is no longer what it use to be. The once holistic role of “designer + engineer + builder” is segregated to just “designer”, with educational institutions doing little to reverse the segregation. Design based tertiary courses producing graduates with limited knowledge of how buildings actually work and how they are constructed.

As the profession of architecture is such a broad field, limiting education of the field to just design will be of no benefit to the future generation of architects, regardless of the state of the economy.

Week 7: Idea Development Log

This week I have looked into the type of users that would be utitlising the PRT system along with depicting a few possible scenarios.

Target Users

Residents of Paddington, Ashgrove, Bardon and Milton

Workers in and around the precinct

The elderly, handicapped and ambulant disabled people who may struggle to navigate around the precincts hilly landscape

Environmentally conscious individuals

Those without access to a vehicles (with the eradication of vehicles in the precinct, the convenience of the PRT system will hopefully reduce the need for residents to purchase a vehicle, especially if they work within the precinct)

Possible Scenarios

Elderly persons catching a pod from Waterworks Rd, down to 25 Mornington Street, Red Hill.

SKETCH BY AUTHOR

University student catching a pod from 25 Mornington Street, Red Hill up to Waterworks Rd to catch the 379/380/381 bus into the City.

SKETCH BY AUTHOR

Week 7: Reading 01 - Welcome to the Transport of Tomorrow

In researching Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems, I came across this article titled “Welcome to the transport of tomorrow” by Sean Dodson, published on The Guardian website on Thursday, 11 October, 2007.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/oct/11/guardianweeklytechnologysection.news1)

The date alone demonstrates to me that the concept of the PRT system is not foreign or one deemed too futuristic. The article mentions that the idea of a PRT system was first conceived in the 19^th century. Networks had also been planned in the UK and various other parts of Europe before being abandoned for reasons not mentioned in the article. However, renewed interest has been sparked recently due to environmental concerns.

Martin Lowson, the inventor of the first production pod car to be used at Heathrow Airport is quoted as saying “the trouble with our cities is that they have been designed around the car for the last 50 years or so”. Drawing on from this statement, it is evident just by driving in and around the suburb of Paddington that the urban layout of the suburb does not accommodate for vehicles successfully with many two way roads being diminished down to one way laneways due to high numbers of on-street parking.

A quick look on Google Map shows this clearly.

GOOGLE MAP STREET VIEW LOOKING DOWN MORNINGTON STREET, RED HILL.

GOOGLE MAP STREET VIEW LOOKING DOWN YOUNG STREET, RED HILL

The existing road network in the precinct is large enough to adequately support two lanes of pod cars with the removal of vehicles.

The main issue concerned with the development of PRT systems, as detailed in the article, is the cost of building the guidways on which the pods would run, with building overhead being suggested as an alternative measure in busy city centres. For our Project 1 assignment, my group proposed the development of a Power Generating Grid through the precinct which converts the energy and pressure placed anywhere on the grid into electrical power. It is proposed that the pod cars in the Paddington precinct will run as individual units (just like vehicles), making the guideways (similar to those used in light rail systems) unnecessary. The pods would then draw power from the power grid (run independently from the Brisbane’s main grid) implemented into the existing road network.

A VERY POOR 2 SECOND SKETCH BY YOURS TRULY

More research will have to be conducted into the idea of the Power Generating Grid in order to make the concept more feasible.

The PRT system currently implemented at Heathrow Airport was detailed briefly in the article. From there I have taken ideas from this existing network to bring into my Architectural proposal. It is intended to be built upon at a later date.

• Pods will be driverless with pick up destination requested by the user
• Pick up and drop off destination requested by user by iPhone app, phone call, text message or at transit centre
• Pods have an onboard sensor system which can sense other pods around them and their exact locations thereby eliminating “traffic waves” which cause congestion (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/traffic1.htm)
• No time tables
• No stops
• No traffic lights
• Reduced waiting and travel time

Week 7: Project 02 - Design Statement

Building on from our Project 1 Assignment, I am proposing the development of a Transit Centre in place of the existing Paddington Central site to compliment the proposed Personal Rapid Transit System to be implemented in the Paddington area in our proposed future (2062). In developing my Design Brief for the Transit Centre, I have taken into consideration that the architectural proposal for Project 2 will be based in 2020-2030 so I have taken initial ideas from Project 1 and refined and built upon them to suit a future 3 decades younger than what had been proposed. My initial design brief for the Transit Centre:

The area to be focused on specifically will be:

Paddington Area north of Elizabeth Street, Red Hill Area West-South West of Waterworks Rd and Musgrave Rd and the Southern tip of Ashgrove bordered by Waterworks Rd and Jubilee Terrace.

Paddington will be the first site in Brisbane and Queensland to eliminate cars from suburban areas. Initially cars will be banned from most of the very steep streets in the area mentioned above, eventually moving towards eradicating cars from the area mentioned above altogether.

In developing a successful Transit Centre and PRT system to service the Paddington area, it is hoped that the PRT system will spread from here into outer suburbs including the existing CBD area.

No vehicles allowed in the area mentioned above with the exception of Latrobe Terrace, Enoggera Terrace and Given Terrace which will be retained for access and egress through the suburb.

The elimination vehicles into the suburban roads of the precinct is an endeavour into creating a walkable community (one of the goals of our future of 2062) where streets are turned into cultural hotspots, communal gathering spots, much needed park land and residents have the ability to walk and relax through the spaces, roads and laneways freely.

The implementation of the PRT and Transit system hopes to preserve Paddington as a liveable, socially and environmentally sustainable suburb. With increasing populations, diverse demographic and very hilly landscape, it hopes to keep the suburb accessible for all ages.

The transit system and PRT System also hope to integrate into the existing urban plan and which isn’t really made for cars and explore its successfulness as an alternative form of public transport one of Brisbane’s suburbs.

As the proposed 2062 future for the suburb is based on sustainability and self sufficiency, the transit centre is a part of this plan which focuses on self sufficient transport. It is seen as a crucial step toward making this future possible.

The PRT system will run off the Power Generating Grid proposed in Project 1 which pulls energy from activities occurring on the grid as well as solar and Clean Tech[nology] Gyms.

The goal is to make the most of modern technology by using its advancement to bring us back to reality, not by putting a virtual distance between us and the community.

The goal is to use modern technology to solve real problems.

Week 6: Boards and Presentation

Scott's speech for our presentation;

"Our Sustainable Precinct located in Paddington, 2062. It's time to give a more defined shape to Zero Emissions and a Sustainable Future within Paddington. The Year is 2062, so far the development analysis has been pretty much focused on the technical aspects, such as the elimination of physical shops, due to the ‘virtual shopping’ revolution, retail shops no longer exist. Consumer items are now downloaded online within the comfort of the home, Increasing consumer satisfaction. Another major factor is a Zero Carbon CBD, which has been introduced into Paddington to aid the Brisbane city council in decentralizing the Brisbane CBD.

The consumption of electricity is another contributing factor. We have gone through ideas about the energy generated by different kinds of micro-generation systems, and how they can benefit the local community and Businesses of Paddington. Although the new aspects of design, technology and energy consumption, are primarily set for the local interests of Paddington, the suburb still brings social and economic benefits to a wider area, such as Milton, Petrie Terrace, Bardon and of course Brisbane CBD. The actual scope of Paddington and its subsequent outcome in the growing future will depend on the number of local communities and the introduction of more Zero-Carbon Companies that will take part in the ever growing and changing Paddington Community.

Since there is no doubt that the local community, local businesses and local authorities will be among the main beneficiaries of the suburb, each group is working together to make Paddington the benchmark for a sustainable future.

Furthermore Vehicular access is also restricted to the suburb with the exception of La Trobe, and Given and Enoggera Terrace for the thoroughfare purposes. Existing suburban roads are now public spaces of engagement and community interaction, as well as being the foundation of the sustainable Paddington Transit link’ and energy generation grid. Even though we have implemented Paddington as the area of development, all the key aspects can be applied to any area with similar characteristics and community and business regeneration needs."

Our presentation boards are shown below. The first details the time line, progression maps and our sustainable objectives. The second details the people and lifestyles and architectural possibilities.

PANEL 1

PANEL 2