Project 2 + 3: Site Visit

These are a selection of photos I took while we were on the site visit to Torquay College.

Project 1: Finished Model

This is a quick video of our finished model which I put together in an attempt to exhibit the flexible and adaptive quality of the classroom's building envelope.

Project 1: Finished Model

Here are some final photos of our finished physical 1:20 scale model.

Project 1: Model Making

This was the first time any of us had utilized the laser cutter in Des’s workshop to produce a model. At first you could say that we were a bit hesitant but after our first day of model-making we were immediately convinced that the laser cutter was a time saver!

We got cracking on the model right away imagining that once we got the steel structure up it was just a matter of attaching the panels…or so we thought!

We spent a couple of full days working on the model, during which we consumed way too much junk food (as noticeable in many photos), and watched numerous athletes compete in the Olympics (including cheering on Emma Snowsill as she won gold in the triathlon), all the while trying to figure out the best way of transporting our model to and from Deakin University in Geelong and Emma’s apartment in Melbourne around the mayhem that is Melbourne’s public transport system during peak hour.

Ultimately, Koula, Emma and I were really happy with how the model turned out. I believe that the physical model is quite honest in representing our design; from the accurate material thicknesses at a 1:20 scale, to the burn marks (left by the laser cutter) which characterize the use of recycled steel in real life and finally the sliding plywood panels which truly slide.

I’m getting the hang of this movie maker program now, so I decided to put together a simple photo slideshow of Emma, Koula and I constructing our physical model.

Please note: this photo slideshow also contains what’s known in the group as the infamous ‘construction blooper’ video.

Project 1: Development

For awhile there it seemed that we were completing a construction assignment because there was a lot of little contruction detail sketches, but this was all part of helping us to understand how the building would get put together.

And so after a few more sketches, our building design was taking shape...

We decided to move away from the traditional design of a 'Mod-5' which incorporated two classrooms and a shared wet area/storage/office, by designing a singular classroom which incorporated its own wet area and storage within. Therefore our design was more flexible as it worked independently. Our design was based on a 8 x 6m grid. Setting out this grid early on in the project proved very useful as it not only helped us in determining our steel structure quite easily but it also allowed us to repetitively utilize 2m long panels on the facade evenly. And so the main feature of our classroom became the movable recycled plywood panels. But not all the external wall panels could be movable and so it was decided that they would be a form of SIP- Super Insulated Panel, providing enough thermal resistence to balance out the heat loss/ heat gain from the weaker parts of the structure. The butterfly roof allowed for openable windows to provide natural ventilation and also provided the correct angle for the solar panels.

Internally our design incorporated an enormous lattice-like shelving system (inspired by the work of Shigeru Ban) which provided storage as well as a space to display work thanks to the small external windows. Our design also includes a clever panel which when used internally, divides the wet area from the computer/reading space, but when slid out of the building, creates a unique outdoor learning space.

Project 1: RARE Architecture

A couple of weeks ago, we were asked to re-define the design of a ‘Mod-5’ relocatable classroom through the integration of RARE Architecture.

You remember those ‘Mod-5’ relocatable classrooms, those ugly, energy inefficient buildings that thousands of students across Australia sit inside each day and are expected to learn in, well how can we improve them?

Koula, Emma and I researched far and wide but in the end our design drew inspiration from two sources.

Firstly we took inspiration from the work of Shigeru Ban, a contemporary Japanese architect who caught my attention with his revolutionary permanent and temporary structures constructed out of paper. Cardboard/paper is an almost perfect material; it is recyclable, low cost, transportable and can be handled easily by people on site. But we asked ourselves, are cardboard/paper structures thermally efficient? Maybe not. Secondly, we drew inspiration from a structure by Olsen Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects in Washington. We were all instantly attracted to the simplicity of its form but also conversly the intricacy of the sliding panels. I think our minds were blown away by the possible oppurtunities such an idea presented, especially in regards to giving the occupants of the building full control of natural lighting and views.