Week 1 Lecture - Reflection

The following are some key notes I gathered from our first lecture on this subject and hope to use for assistance in my folie design for Howard Smith Wharves.

fortitude valley

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                   Spring Hill/Brisbane CBD-------------Howard Smith Wharves------------New Farm

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Kangaroo point

As seen in the diagram above, the Howard Smith wharves is located in a central location. It is surrounded by Fortitude valley, Brisbane CBD, New farm and Kangaroo point.The location of the site create many acess points and transportation methods such as walking, catching the bus, train and ferry service. Next week on Monday (7.3.2011) we will be attending a walk-shop which will help further analyse the site.

Some questions raised are:

• How does Howard Smith Wharves relate to our lives?
• How can we get there?
• How can we arrive there?
• What do we do there?

One of the key question I had attending my first lecture was - WHAT IS A FOLIE?

I think the following statement quoted by Giles Gilbert Scott in his Red telephone booths design easily summarised the answer to my question

"Activators of space" rather than as a sculptural objects"

Plan for the rest of the semester:

Week 3 - Theme groups  will be introduced

Week 5-9 - Work on the project

Week 9 - Proposal Presentation

Week 9-15 - Work on the project

Week 15 - Final project due (Thursday 15th of June 10am-5pm and Friday 16th of June through Assignment Minder)

Assignment 1 - Folie Design

AIM:
The assignment 1 consists of a Folie Design. we are required to design a Folie in a chosen location in Howard Smith Wharves (Brisbane, Australia). During this project we will observe the site, analyse the context and propose a simple architectural installation that has a function. Conduct an artistic investigation to communicate our message (individual or personal feelings/opinions) and a design investigation to provide a service for people (neutral, facts, long term etc.). Overall, its is an artistic endeavorer to design a functional space.

Some Guide lines to be followed :

• The folie to fit within 5m x 5m x 5m bounding box
• The foile has to fit at least one person
• The folie has to meet the design criteria listed below
• The folie has to achieve all the design qualities listed below
• The folie design has to be presented in one A1 poster (due during week4)

CRITERIA:

Design concept:

• The Design concept should have a strong narrative
• Provide a project statement of 300 words should be provided
• Use the project statement to help describe the concept but dont rely on it to tell your story

Site context:

• Good understanding of immediate context and beyond
• appropriate for the context amongst which it is built
• Include the immediate environment as well as the Haward Smith Wharves

Design Techtonic:

• Simple but creative use of structure and materials
• Choice of structure and materials considered carefully and rigorously

Design Function:

• To creative an unique space for the user to do something
• Allow for simple daily activity such as - reading, resting and eating

Design experience:

• Unique possiblity of users to experience Howard Smith Wharves at large
• Also to induce speicific sensations to people experiencing the space
• Assosiation to aspects of Haward Smith Wharves

Design Qualities:

• Tension and/or compression
• Heavey and/or light
• Solid and/or void
• Bright and/or dark
• Natural / artifical
• Soft / hard
• Comfortable /disturbing
• Choice of materials can include - Concrete, Timber, Steel, Stone, Glass, Other modern materials

Welcome!

Hi all,

Welcome to my blog. My name is Hasini Vithana and I am currently studying architecture at Queensland University of Technology. As a part of my 3rd year Architectural Design course I will be posting my project progress on this blog. I hope to take you through the journey of my Folie design (Assignment 1), Interim presentation (Assignment 2) and Final presentation (Assignment 3). Hope you enjoy it! Please feel free to leave any comments and feedback as it can only improve my design.

Thank you,
Regards

Hasini Vithana