ARCH JT: November 2008

Final evaluation of the project:

Concept:

A way to bond/blend the building to site using the experience of memorial spaces and to show a clear connection of familiar atmosphere a continuum, from the exterior to the interior, the environment to the building. In order to do so one must understand the identities found in Coogee the nature formation of the site, the journey of the beach the curvature the level changes of the landscape (rock cliffs) and lastly look deeply into materiality as been a source of strength.

The journey begins with the experience the walk of Coogee from the busy streets of shops to the mind blowing views of the beach to the high cliffs and hills. My first impression of Coogee to me is a safe place quiet and settle compared to the Bondi beach and Mainly beach more glamorous and floods of people may be due to the time of day and certain season who knows for certain but one thing for sure was that the Coogee community consists of a range of people and ages in contrast to the image of young spirited Bondi and Mainly. With limitation of shops and crowds Coogee still stands firm as a tourist site for many but to me it’s better known to locals as a friendlier family place. History of Coogee is really interesting as it was use to be a well publicized place as tram trains were accessible few years back. The site itself was a lagoon which had creeks running through it.

I must say I’ve spent a great deal of time studying the site, analyzing everything, but this time I’ve made a conscious decision to direct my focus away from study the obvious sun, wind, direction architecture elements or terms but to search deeper finding more meaning of Coogee the identities, ‘memorial’ spaces/places/things of the site. As the result my collage was made. Using simple black and white photos as words is limited meaning to one man’s dictionary as photos/pictures can explore more than stories history background and feelings and emotions. The collage is made into a oval shape a circle as it symbolizes the unity the community as a journey, which is connected. Connected visually also texturally explaining the materiality as an emotion of strength. The decision of presenting it in black and white is to draw the attention not on the beautiful scenery but to the bond/blend created by lines, the connection the exploration of the nature ‘curve’ of the site.

ROCKCLIFF

THE MAN THE ROCKCLIFF

From this collage there were two things that what really inspired beyond one was the ‘Great rock cliffs’ as being a part of history, site and community as it is composited many things bricks, concrete stone sand this challenged my thinking and the second thing is how man blends/bond to all of this. These two things are very interesting to me, the fact that they are completely different things but when together it blends/bond completely telling a story in itself a metaphor being as a whole community.

Sadly I failed this exercise I guess different ways of exploring one thing is not greatly accepted, I guess I must draw myself back to being safe doing obvious architecture grammar.

The second exercise is a very inspiring exploration of the site the sections as it informs my decisions and become more conscious of the nature slope of the site. The introduction of the site starts with a challenge the connection of the oval and road. For this I’ve revisited the site several times later trying to find the nature balance. As my solution turns out to be ‘ramps’ using the concept of level changes of the rock cliff the experience.

The design starts with playing around with massing inspired by the site curve and old grandstand, as I have decided from the start to replace the grandstand for the reason of being a bad spot to view the oval games.

The planning starts with a logical grouping in my mind four main groups the office, the café, grandstand and the gym. Then connect them in a sensible manner. The decision to lift my building the main functions it is to create a journey the experience of the rock cliffs the beach of Coogee, also a metaphor of a journey to a place of gathering as the Cogge oval is a gathering place as an important centre point. The hall way or the pathway movement flow is very simple in the middle of the building to minimize wasting space to maximize working space.

This project I have encountered many problems such as if the community centre is run publicly or commercially, the size from the brief for the gym is not sufficient for a normal basketball court. My answer to these questions is community centre is more of a commercially building as the original building had gates it was a sign which a public building but privately was owned. The size of the gym could be solved by combining the two large gym halls into one made into a flexible space.

The new grandstand is situated in front of the building as it provides new exceptional views of the oval and which is connected to the café which is positioned at the old grand stand as views are limited but can also enjoy the great views of the oval to the beach/sea a great selling point to the café. Office is below which staff can easily monitor the building and the oval. For the access I’ve made a main ramp entrance for the public to the building and stairs for players and staff to the oval using level change to identify public and private areas. The building expands to the whole site being a settle size two levels but grand of its size and material used. The building is connected in a way which is connected to the old seating at the front creating a nature curvature which can be better understood by the above roofing.

The roofing is how building opera rates and seen by the public as I used elements of above lighting to create large space illusions and side windows for gym and café to collect all seasoned warmth and lighting. The roofing is my way of exploring the concept of interior to exterior the familiar atmosphere a continuum.

The materiality is really derived by exercise one the composition of the rock cliff, brick, concrete, stone, sandstone the feeling of harsh and age/history grounded.

FINAL PRESENTATION:

Final design I’m really pleased how it has turned out as it is well thought through, planning to the looks taking elements of nature and historical columns/piers to break the complexity. It was a fun project as first time encountering the usage of ramps to create journeys. For my presentation I concentrated on the perspectives as my concept is all about experience of the building therefore for not doing elevations as it only explains materiality also can be seen from the model which I made. It was ashamed that I wasn’t able to present my 1:20 section model which explains my usage of material well it is now uploaded because wasn’t able to take it back.

PERSPECTIVES AND SECTION