project progress - week 11

After analysing my initial scheme which can be seen in 'site location - ghost week', it was evident that the scale of the design was over estimated.  After quickly sketching the building footprint into autoCAD, I was easily able to see that it had an extremely large building footprint.  Designing a new building within in this natural environment, I wanted to keep the design less intrusive upon the landscape.  We have no set limitation for the buildings design.  However, I want to keep the height of my building to a maximum of 2-3 storeys where possible and maybe a little more where the main stage would be placed, due to specific requirements to create the necessary stage when Woodfordia Folk Festival is on.

01 - the picture at the top demonstrates how the site responds to the natural amphitheater and how the design needs to be orientated to draw viewers into the buildings.  The design in a sense sits alone with no immediate buildings adjoining it.  I don't believe it sits alone on the site however, it is surrounded by incredible natural interesting elements.  The design needs to facilitate and control the light from the east and the west.  However, I don't want to place large walls on either side of the stage, which would block views from the amphitheater out towards the landscape and vice versa.  The viewers on the west side, should be able to interact with the viewers on the east side.

The existing path that passes the south of the design (right hand side of the computer screen - sorry forgot to put the north sign on the drawings, at least I know what I'm talking about) also needs to be interacting with the design.  Although people may not be willing to enter the building, they are still able to engage with the design as the journey pass it on it's south side.

02 - 03 The middle & bottom pictures represents a viewers encounter sequence senario.  Arriving from the main path the east, the viewer is drawn to the entry and has a number of options once entered the building.  The entrance becomes a meeting/gathering place, where one can interact with other users before entering the design.  once in the design.  An intriguing sculpture of mantras directs the user towards the south-western side.  This place would also be a place where you could interact with people passing by on the south side.  Here is a place where you can also see in the distance the main stage but not directly journey towards it.  To acces the open stage, you must move past the Hall of Artefacts (a place where we can not forget where we have come from).  From a narrow confined space, the user is directed into an open courtyard like space.  You are able to view where you came from and are enticed towards the stage - the main interactive platform - 'Window of Opportunity'.  Going back to the entrance space.  If one does not move down the Hall of Artefacts, the user also has the opportunity to explore the upper levels which unfold sequentially.  When the user is in the open courtyard like space.  the viewer can see up the amphitheater and through the 'Window of Opportunity'.  Here the user can branch into a number of different spaces to interact with the 'Window of Opportunity' in different ways.  More private - to a more open forum style spaces.  Different spaces to encourage different thoughts.