Week 8

LECTURE 

The lecture today spoke about digital facades and their uses in environments portraying types of media such as social expression, interaction and advertisement.

Examples below showcase how lighting is used on facades to display patterns, images and messages from public and private entities. 

Digital Facade 1

https://gjamesau.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/4343393904_0b0857951b_b.jpg?w=662&h=442

Digital Facade 2

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/img/photos/2012/08/12/9e/56/slideshow_1002161503_AJC02.jpg

Digital Facade 3

http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/7/1391782909178/15a3d804-13ad-4471-b251-3bee6a4ceacc-620x372.jpeg

The Cube P Block QUT Gardens Point

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7282/8737913738_b6943d277f.jpg

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TUTORIAL & HOME TIME

Reflecting upon assignment 1 and the lecture which had just passed,  i failed to embrace growing trends in social technology such as social expression and interaction.

Having thoughts heard from the effects of Gentrification, such as the constant struggles of daily life including unemployment and poverty could be a powerful tool.  These thoughts could be beamed or digitally scrolled across the proposed buildings facade.

Mapping analysis from assignment one is one example of information which could be shown on the buildings facade showing current and future projections, as well as peoples thoughts as they transition from lives of poverty to lives of virtue.

Assignment 1: Mapping Analysis icons

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Example buildings which display messages of community changes are present in Gowanus such as the BRT Powerhouse as messages are painted on the top of the buildings brick facades.

BRT Powerhouse Written Message 1

http://bridginggowanus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Powerhouse-cropped.jpg

BRT Powerhouse Written Message 2

http://powerhouseworkshop.org/wordpress_561337030/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/west-face-9-13.jpg

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Reducing sites from 3 to either 2 or 1 sites by utilising SWOT Analysis

http://www.parkhurst-consulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SWOT-Analysis-CMYK.jpg

Site 1

Strengths -Close to public transport. -Large site. -Close to mapped study areas. -Close to canal for water access -Close to planned pedestrian and bike paths. -Close location to commercial activity. -Close to site 2. -High level street presence. -Passive design techniques as site is open and sun is not blocked out by surrounding buildings. -Site accessible from 2 sides.	Weaknesses -Site lacks place making and landmark identification for long term residents. -No reusable architecture that relates to long term community or culture.
Opportunities  -Create a connection between disadvantaged communities and the commercial sector. -Site could work in conjunction with site two through intervention connection (site buildings could be spread out instead of 1 or 2 larger forms) -Opportunities for site beatification.	Threats -Flooding issues. -Current state of canal (off-putting odours) could slow initial site progress until canal is clean.

Site 2

Strengths -Close to mapped site conditions. -Close to commercial district. -Close to site 1. -Close to canal for water access.	Weaknesses  -Little public transport connections -No place making or landmark through lack of existing architecture. -Limited street presence. -Potential crime hotspot as site is not located on main thoroughfare. -No reusable architecture that relates to long term community or culture.
Opportunities -Create a connection between disadvantaged communities and the commercial sector. -Site could work in conjunction with site one through intervention connection (site buildings could be spread out instead of 1 or 2 larger forms). -Opportunities for site beautification.	Threats -Flooding -Current state of canal (off-putting odours) could slow initial site progress until canal is clean. -Canal dead end located near site could increase already distinctive bad smell of canal.

Site 3

Strengths -Close to mapped site conditions -Site has historical significance -Architecture can relate to long-time residents -Place making attributes. -Current architecture has unobstructed views of Manhattan. -Site access to canal. -Site close to existing bridges so residents on both sides of canal can gain access.	Weaknesses -Site previously used as a drugs/crime hotspot -Site not close to sites 1 and 2 for potential connections. (Used as singular) -Limited site presence because of Storage      Deluxe Building. -Limited site access through lack of pedestrian paths and street access
Opportunities -site could promote Brooklyn’s art scene providing means to showcase artworks. -Opportunities for site restoration. -Treating the site as one art work in progress. -Site beautification.	Threats -Flooding -Current state of canal (off-putting odours) could slow initial site progress until canal is clean. -Repeat of crime in future settings

Summary:

Moving from 3 sites to either 2 or 1 sites based upon the SWOT analysis came up with the following conditions in brief

Sites 1 and 2:

-Sites 1 and 2 are highly connected to Gowanus surrounding context as well as being highly connected to each other which is described in assignment 1.  The potential to spread the urban field station over 2 sites into components as identified in assignment 1 is also to be considered, although this would mean the doubling up of some building services such as administration and toilet facilities.

Site 3:

-Site 3 is also highly connected and can be accessed from both sides of the canal through existing bridge infrastructure.  The site is not as well connected to the other two sites as it is not in close proximity although the planned canal pathway would connect these sites.

Site Proposal:

Based upon SWOT analysis, site 1 in terms of connectivity and proximity to mapping conditions was chosen.

Assignment 1: Site 1

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Week 7: Part 2

Presentation Reflection

Final thoughts

Personally, i struggle with presentations as i can never seem to get my point across (Whats in my head does not translate through speech...)  Regardless i think i still got valuable feedback about how i could further connect the site thinking about the broader context rather then just focusing on particular areas such as segregated demographics.

Splitting the field station component into 3 separate areas could also cause issues with the doubling up of resources such as admins, sanitation facilities and eating facilities to name a few.  I feel that my Educational facility had a stronger connection to site mapping and conditions compared to the recreational, arts and culture facilities.

Presentations

The presentations that i found the most interesting were firstly, the use of social media to detect hotspots, and use that information to reuse historical buildings for new activities. 

http://www.graphicsfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/20-social-media-icons.png

Secondly the predicted water rise from global warming over a 100 year plus time period, and how the sites and interventions would adapt to this change.

http://static.neatorama.com/images/uploads/2007/01/manhattan_global_warmingjpg.jpg

Week 7: Part 1

This week i finished up on the finer details to bring the 2 A1 posters together ready for submission

Perspective View of Educational Institute

2x A1 Panels

Rough Massing Model of Sites

Instead of having a dozen maps on my panels, i decided to summarize my maps down into simple icons which supported my 3 main maps, Gentrification, Connectivity and Revitalization. 

Week 6: Part 2

Once sites were chosen i began to draw up a master plan focusing on the 3 sites
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Climatic Data

For cooling in the summer periods, prevailing winds come from the south.  In conjunction with the psychometric chart, accessing prevailing winds will aid in the natural ventilation process of the intervention which is recommended.  

Winter winds will be avoided as Brooklyn experiences very cold winters with passive design techniques used instead.  Optimum orientation to access the southerly sun in winter is South East orientation with 40% plus glazing on the southern facade with materials with high thermal mass properties.  Prevailing Winds can be avoided by planting vegetation along the western facades.

Information sourced from Ecotect Analysis, Weather Tools.

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Educational Institute Site Mapping

Rough Massing Sketches for Building Mass

For the building masses i had a few concepts in mind which are taken from Brooklyn's architecture.  Firstly the use of arches in windows such as the window arches in the BRT Powerhouse.

 

http://www.6tocelebrate.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/brt-powerhouse-4.jpg

The building form will be close to the street scape whilst having an internal courtyard.  This is similar to many of the Row houses in Brooklyn which are commonly refereed to as brownstone homes.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Bedstuybrownstone1.jpg

 googlemaps.com.au

The building form will also incorporate modern elements which take into account site conditions such as the southern sun and prevailing winds.  louver systems fixed to curtain walls will control the amount of light that penetrates and the prevailing winds which can enter.

http://zwhcherry916.en.ecplaza.net/17.jpg

'http://image.made-in-china.com/4f0j00TCaQBYGPRcbW/Aluminum-Aerofoil-Architectural-Sun-Louvers-for-Curtain-Wall-with-Fixed-or-Motorized-System.jpg

The final concept would be to imagine what the building could look like in the future whilst having remnants

  of the past of past architectural styles. 

These concept forms will carry over onto the 3 building zones.  Educational, recreational and Arts and Culture.

Educational Institute 

Culture and Arts institute, BRT Building on the left, extension on the right.

Recreational Institute.

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How to proposed buildings react to mapping analysis?

Education Center Purpose

The center reacts to a number of conditions as a result of gentrification and aims to improve these conditions through improved education initiatives.

Firstly, segregated communities which have been selected as a result of gentrification show that there are high levels of unemployment, low income levels and low levels of attained education.

http://www.homefacts.com/unemployment/New-York/Kings-County/Brooklyn.html

As a result of gentrification, the industrial zones around the Gowanus area have been improved through increased investment opportunities, shifting  from industrial sectors to commercial sectors.  This shift has meant that previous industrial type jobs have now been made redundant, which were once belonging to lower socio-economic demographics such as the ones mentioned in the mapping analysis.  

The Educational Center will provide lower socio economic demographics the chance to learn new trades which could potentially lead to full time employment in Gowanus's commercial sector.  Through a generational transition, lower socio economic classes who wished to stay in Brooklyn can now remain and truly experience the rejuvenation of Brooklyn thanks to gentrification.

Arts and Culture Center Purpose

The Arts and Culture facility provides an avenue for graffiti artists to work and display their artworks to Gowanus and surrounding areas of Brooklyn instead of defacing public and private property.

http://american-journal.org/wp-content/uploads/20070908322.jpg

https://cdn.usetopscore.com/uploads/1065/media_items/bkg.600.450.s.jpg

Artists of Gowanus can also visit this facility to showcase their artworks to the Brooklyn community.

Recreational Center Purpose

The Recreational Center provides free recreational activities which can be accessed by multiple demographics.  The recreational center is a reaction to limited free activities in the Gowanus region.  

Free activities that are provided are canoeing, indoor rock climbing and outdoor basketball. 

Canoeing

http://travelalberta.com/Things%20to%20Do/Outdoor%20Adventure/~/media/Consumer/Images/Backgrounds-newHeader/canoeing-bg.jpg

Indoor Rock Climbing

http://www.kincumberindoorsports.com.au/images/general/indoor-rock-climbing-2.jpg

Outdoor Basketball

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cd/Outdoor_basketball_game_(Stamford_International_University,_Bangkok_campus,_Thailand_-_29_April_2009).jpg

 These provided activities will be beneficial to lower socio economic demographic youths, who are currently lives of poverty which results in street crime