Week 3 - Folie Concept

The concept behind my folie is providing an interactive means to experince Brisbane's history of floods.


Creating a view that mimics previous flood levels.

This concept came about due to the sites strong historical nature combined with its obvious connection with the river, as well as it's views.  HSW provides a visitor with extensive views down both the New Farm reach of the Brisbane River as well as views back to the CBD and Botanical gardens precinct.  Combining these 3 elements of the site has created the concept.

INITIAL DESIGN

My initial design consited of sorting an array of arcs at levels of previous floods in order to give the user an idea of the height necessary to stay dry.  This idea however lacked the inclusion of giving someone that view of water heights back to the city or to New Farm.  It will be required to elevate the user to the proper eye-line of the height for them to achieve a level view over a large distance.



3 arcs reaching the heights of significant previous floods.

It became apparent that to provide an accurate veiwing piece that will show the user exactly the height of a previous flood a viewing mechanism would be needed in order to provide an accurate view.



The 2 lines are necessary to be able to display a height over a distance.



REFINED DESIGN

After discovering faults in the initial design my thought was to create a wall in which the above views can be placed in.  This would allow a passer by the oppurtunity to witness how high the water was and upon closer inspection view from that height back towards the city or New Farm.  This refined design still includes the arcs by using them as a means to elevate the user to the required height. 



Steps up elevate the user to the required height to gain the view of the relevant flood height.



Week 2 - Folie Design (Site History & Analysis)

The site for our folie is the Howard Smith Wharves situated below the Story Bridge.  The Howard Smith Wharves were constructed in the 1930's in conjunction with the Story Bridge.  The site also hosts several WWII air raid shelters which are the most intact group of shelters remaining in the city (http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/).  With such important historical artefacts within and above the site this plays a very key role in defining the site.



Project site with historic elements highlighted.



After analysing a stretch of the Brisbane River using Lynch's principles I have now analysed the Howard Smith Wharves precinct, our location for our folie.  While analysing the site I have taken into consideration activities that took place pre-flood and also the planned redevelopment of the site by Brisbane City Council.  This planned re-development can be viewed at http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/. 

Project location analysed using Lynch's 5 principles

Week 2 - Walkshop

In week 2 we partook in a walkshop in conjunction with another subject DAB525 Architecture & The City.  This walkshop resulted in us walking from the Goodwill Bridge entrance to QUT along the river bank to Howard Smith Wharves (the site for this assignment).  Along the way we were asked to analyse the city through the use of Kevin Lynch's 5 key physical principles identifiable in a city.  These are:

• paths,
• edges,
• districts,
• nodes and
• landmarks.

During the journey from QUT to Howard Smith Wharves I stopped and made to following very rough sketches.

Intersection of paths
near QUT.



Plan view of Goodwill
Bridge entrance at QUT
showing Paths.



Edge of districts at
bottom of Alice Street.





While the sketches were very rough I attempted to show each of the 5 principles Lynch talks about.  One principle I found hard to come across was a significant landmark.  I personally see a landmark as a point of reference you should be able to meet anyone at and they should be able to know exactly where you are talking about.  In the end I realised the Goodwill Bridge itself could be seen as a landmark.

Week 1 - Introduction

The first lecture has just been presented where it is apparent this blog needs to be created.  Here I will be reviewing the weekly lectures, weekly studios and other activities and most importantly discussing my design.  The first lecture almost entirely spoke about our first assignment and the site we have been assigned for the semester.  We have been fortunate enough to be allocated the site of the Howard Smith Wharves located underneath the northern end of the iconic Story Bridge.  This location is ideal as it is currently a derelict underutilised area within the heart of Brisbane.  The only forseeable problem is the site is currently under redevelopment and therefore access to the site is unattainable.  It is however somewhat exciting to be given this site.

Image: Howard Smith Wharves

Source: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/