Feedback...

From my presentation, the feedback I received was well founded and beneficial for my future development and on-going education.

One tutor expressed that he would have preferred to have seen an architectural possibility through the use of having a pod station which had a direct connection to such structures as the myer centre or additional shopping centres which could benefit and have a changed retail experience due to the connection of a direct transport link.

While this suggestion was well received, and had been a concept I had thought about before, it wasn't really where I was intending this project to go, even though there is a possibility to it. This project was more interested in providing a sample of a metro station, which could be replicated and dotted around the city in a part of a full transport network. Therefore, the overall output of the project was fairly generic and able to be mass produced, however, I greatly understood the possibility of a retail link and do believe it to be a good idea and so took the idea on board for future examination.

The final criticism was due to the fact that this project could do with some added complexity. While I had tried to allow for services and additional structural elements, I myself do agree that more things could have been though of. However, due to time constraints I tried to get the most important things represented in my output and work hierarchically in terms of detail. I believe this project could have benefitted from a series of detailed sections or typical details of construction and is once again, a point which I will take with me into the future.

Week 15...

This week was the week of the final review. After printing my panels in the morning, I was due to present at around 8 at night. I had attempted to make an infomercial style advert which would serve as my speech, it would include images of the transport network and various sections such as A New Transport System, The Pods, An Example Station, How to Use the Station, Future Stages and Schemes.

However, having never done an animation before, I struggled to use the computer programmes necessary to complete the task. As a result, the animation took a long time and I didn't feel it lived up to the expectation within my head. Therefore, I decided to leave the idea halfway through a poorly executed film and just focus on my A1 panels and a powerpoint presentation. I couldn't help feeling I had just wasted a day.

In the end, my posters were outlined as below.

 

This first poster outlined the need for a new public transport system and included images such as elevations, sections, floor plans and exploded views of the station prototype.

 

The second poster expressed the 3d views within the design. It showcases a hero shot of the station from the street as well as internal shots of the infill shops and platform level. Further views of inside the pods were presented and a short (if slightly embarrassing) narrative was provided to tie them all together.

I also included a animated flythrough of this building which helped to tie all of the elements together. It was the first one I had ever produced and was fairly happy with the outcome, even though it didn't include some of the design intent - such as the greenery. Unfortunately the file size is too big for me to upload here.

 

 

Final Images...

After finishing modelling, I then went to take views of my model to be used as my drawings. However, some design elements were missing from each and I had to photoshop them - particularly greenery.

Other issues were resolved, such as section cuts on drawings and including people within the drawings to make them appear more lively.

These images were produced as below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were my final output images which are soon to be put onto some panels to be presented to the tutors. While I would have preferred to have renders, I decided that the time taken for each one was not worth the wait and that the 2d graphics from the model were just as good at representing ideas.

 

I am particularly happy with the way in which the vegetation turned out, as I hadn't seen it represented before and it was simply a vision within my head

The Roof...

The roof is the third and final level within this transport station and is primarily designed to enclose the space, and protect it from the elements. However, due to the narrow characteristic of the site, the roof must also be able to let light into the building.

 

Some basic principles of the roof design. It should be tall enough to accomodate for cross ventilation.

 

The end of the roof should pertrude over the station to provide maximum protection from the sun.

 

The roof is to be supported by a series of central columns.

 

The roof shall be designed to allow light in.

 

This was a basic sketchup shape which I like, it reminded be of an aerodynamic form.

 

 

This is from the side.

 

I started to put numerous shapes together to create a pattern.

 

This was extrapolated and provided new opportunities for interesting forms.

 

An intial attempt to cut out windows was a failure as I had not taken the overlapping of the windows into consideration.

 

 

I decided to go back to an original and sensilble idea.

 

Here i added windows to the roof to allow light to enter.

 

The is the roof on the model itself. It seems a well designed and appropriate roof structure for this building.

 

This is an internal shot of the roof, with the central columns and additional lateral support.

 

This is a window detail of the roof canopy, showing just how light can be persuaded to enter the platform.

 

 

 

With the roof complete, that is the sketchup model complete. Now I must begin to worry about my presentation.

Week 14.....Platform level

Moving onto the platform level, I began to note down certain elements which would be apparent upon this level.

These were noted below.

 

 

 

 

This became the basic outline of circulation throughout the platform, going back to two external platforms and one central transit lane.

 

 

 

From here I started to look at the ways in which the pod station can connect to the elevated walkways situated within the main urban context of queen street.

 

 

It soon became apparent that only having one exit, which lined up with the docking station of the pod would cause a bottleneck as passengers trying to get on an off the pod were forced to pass through each other.

 

 

The idea then started to play with two entries which would reduce the amount of congestion experienced upon the platform.

 

A new system was developed which allowed a rolling system of pods, with people entering and exiting at different stages. The idea was that the pod would arrive at the station, it would unload its passengers, and then move forward to pick new ones up, but carrying on. 

 

This would create a continual loop of arriving and department transport vehicles.

 

 

This was the model of the platform so far. It should be noted that a seating section and ticket machines were put in place, as well as the inclusion of timber battens creating a back wall for the passengers.

 

 

Also included were the use of safety barriers to protect the passengers. This photo illustrates the general connections between the platform level and the walkways.

Completed Ground Floor....

 

Due to the fact the original curves were too steep to turn into a ramp, it was decided that these should be turned into stairs. Additionally, materials were added to the building to make it seem more grounded and down to earth. Overall the ground floor level design is fully modelled.

 

Here are some more shots of it......

 

 

 

As can be seen the timber helps to tie the building to the site and make it seem less imposing. The stairs also work on the curve and do produce an open effect, finally, the new lifts provide a differing means of access and a definitive stop to the rest of the building.

 

For the amount of time remaining, I think it's time to move onto the next level.

 

Materials...

I think that my building would benefit from the use of timber. Not only is it sustainable, but it also contains an innocent quality, that can bring the building back down to a human level and tie in with the ground easily. Not only this, but the site into which this building is being placed is predicted to become a green zone and so, with added greenery, trees and grassy patches, the timber will start to blend over time. Especially as it weathers.

Additionally, it can be seen that a number of small buildings and infrastructures along queen street are made of timber, and therefore this building would not be too contrasting or out there for the existing context.

 

I also enjoy the way light can interact with timber, and this is the sort of effect I expect my building to obtain at night.

 

For structural elements, such as the ground floor shops, it should be made of concrete to without the loads, while windows frames etc and roof columns should be constructed using steel. Tiles will be used along the platforms and walkways.