Master's of architecture. Thesis folio

P O R T F O L I O A R C H I T E C T U R A L

T H E S I S

HOW CAN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROTECT THE PLACE WITOUT DEGRADING THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE EXPERIENCE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT?

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W H A T ?

Architecture in the natural environment WHERE?

W H E R E I S A M I N I M U M O F A R C H I T E C T U R E ?

The Coastal Track, Royal National Park NSW, Australia THE GOAL? Protect, not develope

APPROACH Reduction P.s. look at chapter 6 - Preliminary design

IT IS NOT ABOUT COMFORT AND ADAPTATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO HUMANS.

STUDENT ALEXANDRA BODGANOVA SUPERVISER BEN CARSON MENTOR BRAYAN TOYOTA

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C O N T E N T :

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FINAL PRESENTATION

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THEORY RESEARCH QUESTION

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SITE ANALYSIS WORLD LOCATION OCEANIA THE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK THE COASTAL TRACK CLIMATE

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PRECEDENCT STUDY LIGHT MATERIALS PATHS SHELTERS CORTEN AND NATURE

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BRIEF

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PRELIMENARY DESIGN

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FINAL PHYSICAL MODEL

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THESIS STATEMENT

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RESEARCH

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1 F I N A L

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P R E S E N T A T I O N

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Site context

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Sydney

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5 Bundeena

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Coastal Track

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Otford

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The Coastal Track.

The Royal National Park, NSW, Australia.

Dharawal art

Brione House / Wespi de Meuron

Third Wave Kiosk / Tony Hobba Snowdonia Stones / Richard Long Architects

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Length - 27,4 km Total Elevation - 12244 m Time -1-3 days Difficulty - moderate Average temperature in summer/winter - +25 /+12 C Average annual humidity - 60 - 70 %

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Map of the Track

The Coastal Track

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Map of Existing Infrastructure

Facilitated areas Car parking, BBQ, lavatory, lookout

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Medium facilitated areas Lookout, becnh, board walk

Low facilitated areas

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Board walk

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Map of New Interventions

Start/End objects

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Lookout, lavatory, showers, BBQ, information stand

Interventions Bench, platform, arch.

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Ocean Frame Otford lookout point

Floor plan sc = 1 : 100 B

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Start/End journey point

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2 Rain water systems diagram

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Window in the Forest

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Elevation sc = 1 : 25

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Top view sc = 1 : 25

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Story of Contrasts Glimps of Civilisation

Semi Detauched Point

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Top view Sc = 1 : 50

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Seat of Inspiration Eagle Rock

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Rocks We Watch By Wedding Cake Rock

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Site sections Sc = 1 : 1000

2 Ocean frame Ocean bath

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Window in the Forest

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Sign Post Stop

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Story of Contrasts

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Seat of Inspirations

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Transitional Journey

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2 Transitional Journey Bundeena 3000

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"Big colomns"

Wall-brases

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Floor plan sc = 1 : 100

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2 T H E O R Y

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R E S E A R C H

Q U E S T I O N

T

he main aim of this study is to determine the design approach that can be used at a natural landscape area. A number of problems juxtapose within the problem.

Solving one may lead to deteriorating another. The research examines a balance between personal experience of a place and protection of this place's environment.

This project explores relationships of the environmental protection and authenticity of the park, evaluating nature of hiking, along with opportunities of the design decisions that can be used in the current case and the extent to which landscape architecture can be represented on the Coastal Track in the Royal National Park on the Southern outskirts of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (The Coastal Track).

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3 S I T E

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A N A L Y S I S

W O R L D

L O C A T I O N

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NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

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O C E A N I A

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THE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK

T H E

R O Y A L

N A T I O N A L

P A R K

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T H E

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C O A S T A L

T R A C K

C L I M A T E

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4 P R E C E D E N T

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S T U D Y

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5 B R I E F

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6 P R E L I M I N A R Y

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D E S I G N

P H E N O M E N O L O G I C A L

S E A R C H I N G S

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O T F O R D

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B U I L D I N G

T R A N S F O R M A T I O N S

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F O R M M A I N

O F T H E B U I L D I N G F O L L O W S T H E I D E A - F R A M I N G O F T H E V I E W

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T H E

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C O N T E X T

O F

T H E

S I T E

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C O N C E P T

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M O D E L S

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U N D E R S T A N D I N G I N T E R V E N T I O N S

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C O N T E X T

O F

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I N T R O D U C T I O N O F T H E B U N D E E N A B U I L D I N G / T R A N S F O R M A T I O N S O F T H E O F T F O R D B U I L D I N G

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M A P P I N G

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O F

T H E

S T O R Y

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7 F I N A L

P H Y S I C A L

M O D E L S

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8 T H E S I S

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S T A T E M E N T

T H E S I S

S T A T E M E N T

I'm

v e r y passionat e about hiking, nature and architecture and this p r o j e c t j oins al l these t hin gs together. I want to tell a story in 8 c h a p t e rs about 2 smal l buildings and 6 interventions that are l o c a t e d on a hiking tr ac k. Because of my philosophy as a h i k e r , t t he impact on t he environment should be as low as p o s s i b l e. Ther ef or e, t he goal for these small objects - lookouts i s t o p reser ve, r at her t han develop. S o I'll start with my u n d e r st anding of l ookout : it is a still moment in the present, to r e m e m ber t he past and t hin k about the future.

Th e s i t e f or t his proj ect is located just on the S outhern edge of Sy d n e y . It is Coastal Trac k in the R oyal N ational P ark. B ecause of t h e p r oximity t o t he met r opolitan area, it is a very popular place t o e s c ape fr om t he ur ban c ivilisation. T herefore, about 4 mln p e o p l e visit t he National Park annually. As a result, it damages t h e f r agil e ecosyst em.

Th e p a rk and tr ac k ar e al r eady partly facilitated. T here is a car p a r k o n t he South site of the park, on the O tford lookout, where p e o p l e can al so get by direct train from S ydney. T he N orth point i s l o c a ted in the Bundeena. It is a suburbia of S ydney, separated b y w a t e r f r om t he main city on the N orth. H owever, it is a c c e s s ibl e by f er r y. So t he T rack can be completed in both d i r e c t i ons: Ot f or d - Bundee na or vice versa, or even both. T he Tr a c k ' s l engt h is 27 km one way. Along the track, there are a c o u p l e of ar eas with vehicular access. T here are car parks, b a r b e que, and t oil et f ac il it ies. O n the track, hikers can find a q u i t e d iver se pat t er n of boardwalks: made of timber, stone or metal.

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Th e e x istenc e of t he pr obl em suggests organising additional rest p o i n t s , t o avoid spreading a round the area. T herefore, the 6 most s p e c t a cul ar points have been chosen to enhance the experience of t h e j o urney t hr ough pr ot ection of the natural area.

L e t ' s star t our t r ac k f r om O tford lookout. T he area is e l e v a t ed 250 meter s above the ocean. T herefore, the s p e c t a cul ar vista opens f r om the spot. An 'O cean frame' b u i l d i n g ar t icul at es t his feature. B asic toilet and shower f a c i l i t ies are f itt ed t her e, as well as B B Q area. T he main attribute i s a m a ssive veranda with benches and a big table with the perfect v i e w . T o enhanc e t he exper ience, even more, the building's roof is a c c e s s ibl e, fr om which an ocean pool can be seen. A long set of s t a i r c ases l eads al l 250 meters down to the water edge, where t h e p r i ze is waiting for hardworking hikers, of course, they have t o g o u p on the way bac k, but there is no reward without hard work.

Th e f i r st or t he l ast inter vention, depending on where h i k e r s st ar t , is a 'W indow from the forest'. T he small gap between d e n s e l y l oc at ed t r ees pr ovides an astonishing view to the ocean a n d w i l d beac h down t he hill. N othing else is needed except a m i n i m a l t imber pl at f or m, which will work as a border, so people d o n ' t go fur t her and st amp the surrounding grass. T rees provide n i c e s h ade, so it is a nic e place to sit and smell the ocean.

Th e f i gur e of 8 pool s is a s pecial natural phenomenon that is h i d d e n on the oc ean shor e and can be missed easily. T herefore, t h i s b e nc h t hat st ands a bit on the side of the track invites h i k e r s t o c ome, have r est and look around, after that they might d e c i d e t o go down or c ont in ue the journey.

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A b i t f u rt her on t he South, a unique feature creates another c h a r a c t er of t he t r ac k. Residential self-sustainable houses are d r o p p e d on t he l and. A fr ame, which I suggest, points at them and f o r c e h ikers t o pay at t ent ion to be respectful and think about p e o p l e , who may l ive t her e. At the same time, the arch provides s o m e s hade wher e some moments can be spent during the rest.

A n o t h er f r ame direc t s you to the ocean, wild and endless view. It i s a g a me of c ont r ast s.

E a g l e Rock is a magnif icent rock formation suspended from the m a i n l and with l ong t eet h, where a river has a 30 meter drop down d i r e c t to t he oc ean. Another bench with a shaded structure gives h i k e r s a c hanc e t o spend some time and look at this picture.

W e d d i n g Cake Roc k is the most frustrating point at the moment.

Th i s h a nging whit e piece of rock has been considered as dangerous a n d b l oc ked by an ugl y 2 meter fence. As a result, there is even n o c h a n c e t o t ake a phot o of the rock without the fence. My intent h e r e w as to c r eat e a separation that wouldn't read as a fence. B ig a m p h i t heat r e t ype st eps c reate a lookout area as well as s t o p p i n g peopl e fr om going further on the rock. At the same time, i t d o e sn't distur b t he most spectacular view on the rock from the side.

A s a c o ncl usion or t he beginning, another facilitated building c r e a t e s a t r ansitional motion from civilisation; the path from the n a r r o w c or r idor f r om Bunde ena's side to an open and wide space t h a t h a rdl y has a bor der between nature.

I w a n t to f inish with t he same words I started with. A lookout is a s t i l l m oment in the pr esent, to remember the past and think about future.

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9 R E S E A R C H

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AB S T R ACT Th e National Par k l andsc ape is a set of processes and interact i o n s , o f nat ur e and humans. It is important that both lay people a n d a r chit ec t s under st and the problem and a goal of using the l a n d . T his paper discover s people's opinion on the design question o f t h e Coast al Trac k and argues that a designer estimates the r e q u i r e ment s of t he design brief against the majority opinion of u s e r s to preser ve t he nat ural environment. T he future design will p l a y a n educ at ional rol e as well.

Th e d e scr iption of a site visit and evaluated thoughts about u n i q u e char ac t er of t he ar ea is presented. T he importance of the Tr a c k s l ocat ion is discussed, and the role of multi-sensory exper i e n c e questions.

Th e o n -l ine inter views are used to reveal the current state of the p r o b l e m s under st anding and diverse opinions about the future of t h e C o a st al Trac k. The c onclusion drawn is that users' thoughts a r e s i gnificant ; however , t he result does not have to rely on it.

I n s u m mar y of r esul t s, it is clear that the main features celeb r a t e d by the inter viewees are the rugged, natural existing ele m e n t s wit h spec ific r ef er ence to the water features and cliff s i d e v i ewpoints. Most of t hose interviewed started that the track c o u l d benefit f r om pot abl e water facilities and shelter/seating e l e m e n t s; with onl y one of the three interviewees stating that no h u m a n or buil t inter vent ion is needed at all. It was consistently a g r e e d by al l t hat f enc ing a nd protection elements severely dist r a c t e d fr om t he over al l experience of the site.

IDENTIFICATION O F T H E R ES EAR CH Q U ES T IO N Th e m ain aim of t his study is to determine the design approach t h a t c a n be used at a nat ural landscape area. A number of probl e m s j u xt apose within the problem. S olving one may lead to det e r i o r a ting another . The r esearch examines a balance between p e r s o n al exper ience of a place and protection of this place s envir o n m e nt.

Th i s p a per wil l expl ore r el ationships of the environmental prot e c t i o n and authent icity of the park, evaluating nature of hiking, a l o n g with oppor t unities of the design decisions that can be used i n t h e c ur r ent c ase and t he extent to which landscape architect u r e c a n be r epr esent ed on the Coastal T rack in the R oyal N ationa l Pa r k on t he Souther n outskirts of S ydney, N ew S outh Wales, A u s t r al ia ( The Coast al Track).

LITERATU R E R EVIEW MET H O D S Th e s t udy uses a mix of methods to identify, evaluate and int e r p r e t al l r el evant infor mation regarding a particular research q u e s t i o n. The first is a sys tematic literature review that comprise s f o u r main ar eas: wal king and nature, history of the selected s i t e , a phenomenol ogical aspect of architecture and a world-wide d e s i g n prac t ice in rur al ar eas.

Bo n d U niversity s l ibrar y online data base and physical collect i o n , ProQuest dat abase and S copus database have been used for s e a r c h ing infor mat ion. Key words included: landscape architecture, e n v i r o n ment pr ot ec t ion, hiking, phenomenology.

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LITE R AT U R E R EVIEW I NTROD UCTION AND HISTORICAL N O T E A c c o r d ing t o dat a of t he Australian B ureau of S tatistics (Aust r a l i a n Bur eau of Stat istics, 2010), more than half a million Aust r a l i a n s had been bushwal k ing in a year period at 2010. T he AB S a l s o r e port s t hat wal king is the most popular type of activity in A u s t r a l ia. Aust r al ia has ov er 500 national parks (Mijo Consulting, 2 0 1 5 ) . R oyal National Par k was the first park in Australia and the s e c o n d in t he wor l d. The park is located in the heart of N ew S outh Wa l e s a nd originat es in 1 879 (N ature N ew S outh Wales, 2014 ). T he o r i g i n a l idea at t he par k was to preserve nature next to an intens i v e l y g rowing city Sydney . H owever, the true purpose related to c i t i z e n s and giving an opportunity to escape from the crowd and f e e l i n the nat ur al environment (N ational Museum Australia, 2009).

Th e n u mber of visit or s has grown rapidly. O nly in the first years o f t h e par k s histor y, annual number of visitors jumped from 3 8 , 0 0 0 peopl e in 1 892, t o 250,000 in 1910 (O ffice of Environment a n d He ritage, 201 5) . The l on gest route - Coastal T rack covers the w h o l e coast al l ine of t he park and includes different types of l a n d s c ape. Easy ac c ess t hr ough P rinces H ighway and the F6 Freew a y o r a t r ain l ine makes t he T rack appealing for tourists. Mana g e m e n t of t he par k f ac es with an issue of high popularity. S tat i s t i c s indicat e t her e ar e about 4 million visitors per year. S uch a h e a v y pr essur e is pl aced on a fragile ecosystem (Everingham, 2 0 1 4) . Suc h number s r epr esent pressure on the environment and t h e p a rk s pr ot ec t ion fr om the intense human impact is a necessit y . Ho wever , t he par k s authenticity is based on a strong sensory e x p e r i enc e. Ther ef or e, a balance between protection and authent i c i t y must be f ound.

A BRI E F INTRODUCTION TO N AT U R E O F WALK IN G AN D T H E N AT U R AL E NV I RONMENT Th e p r imar y el ement of bein g on a street on two feet is informat i o n . Humans observe mor e when walking on foot, compared to bei n g i n a car or even on a bicycle. Additionally, walking is a part of s o c i a l i s ation ( Rubinstein, 2 015).

I n t h e P hil osophy of wal kin g, Frederic G ros describes a transit i o n f r om inside t o out side that hardly exists. It is another aspect t h a t m a kes peopl e wal k, t o understand what humans really need l i t t l e of not hing ( Gr os, 2014 ). T here is too much pleasure in the c u r r e n t worl d. W al king hel ps to accrue the moment of personal and e n v i r o nment al r eunion, whe n man feels that he is natural, rather t h a n i n Natur e ( Gros, 201 4, p. 93). Likewise, Yi-Fu T uan describes t h e c o nc ept of c omf or t . He represents it as a protection, supp o r t f rom t he ext er nal f or ces (T uan, 1986).

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A c c o r ding t o Nesbit t ( 1 996), Japanese culture has a different p e r c e p tion of nat ur e in comparing with Western society for ins t a n c e . Humans in J apanese understanding are a part of nature.

A r c h i t ec t ur e c r eat es l andscapes that are part of nature. T here is n o i n d oors and out door s per se. Instead it is very blurred trans i t i o n that c an be t r ansl at ed by several ways. In Japanese cult u r e , a rc hitec t ur e pr esent s a new landscape and its purpose is t h e c o n str uc t ion of t he pl ace. In western culture architecture is a p h y s i c a l boundary, which is a more anthropocentric approach. H um a n s h ave t aken c ont r ol of the landscape by force and changed i t s n a t ur e. However , t he goal of design process is to harmonize t h e r e s ul t of t he c ol l ision (N esbitt, 1996). Anyway, an any culture h u m a n s infl uenc e t he environment and then the environment influe n c e s h umans behaviour ( K opec, 2012).

PHE NOMENOLOGICAL ASPECT O F AR CH IT ECT U R E Th e r e ar e numer ous st at ements about the term place . S ome res e a r c h ers obser ve t his ter m from a phenomenological point of v i e w , o ther s have mor e empirical methods. In the first group, place i s e x p l ained as t he sum of human and natural order, it represents a n e x p e rience of t he wor l d (R elph, 1976). It means that landscape a n d l o c at ion are not important per se. Activities and involvement i n t h e pl ac e ar e signif icant . T herefore, the concept of place can b e r e p resented by nat ur e, man-made objects, activities and function.

Pe r c e ption of a pl ac e buil ds from various components. Visual sens a t i o n t akes t he c onsiderable part of the world analysis; howeve r , t e x tur es and smel l s build a holistic portrait of a place. S uch a s p e c i f i c f ac t as c r owdedness influences an attitude to the world a s w e l l ( Hal l , 1 990) . By the reason humans rely mostly on visual e x p e r i e nce, t hey obt ain few real contacts that create a sensit i v e m e mor y. In t he phenomenological theory, memory is a base of h i s t o r y and knowl edge. Having memorable moments is very import a n t t o individual s ( Nor ber g-S chulz, 2000). Architecture is a repr e s e n t ation of t he epoc h ( P allasmaa, 2005). Architecture is a mus e u m o f t ime ( Hol l , 2006) . Architecture is, like music, transparent a n d c l ear, wher e st r uc t ur e is visible without disturbances from o v e r a l l appearanc e. If det ails do not disturb, they can lead to an o v e r a l l perc ept ion. Str uc t ure should follow the perception idea.

Th e d o or handl e is not j ust a piece of metal or wood, but a special k e y t h a t l eads t o anot her world (Z umthor, 2010). S ensitive side of a r c h i t e ct ur e makes user s of an object remember a place and mom e n t . I t r epr esent s one approach of design. A lookout is a still m o m e n t in t he pr esenc e, t o remember the past and think about the future.

I n M a k ing sense of pl ac e authors suggest that architecture of l o o k o u ts domest icat e nat ure with the help of architecture, or c r e a t e or der in disor der . Perhaps, with lookouts humans prepare v i s u a l experience. As a result, people create a predictable place, w h e r e visitor s want t o have more control and sense of safety ( F r a n k , Mat t hew & Adam 2008).

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Ho w e v er, any nat ional park could not be named wilderness, there i s a w a y of er ec t ing art ificial objects. It is a matter that stands o n t h e bor der of c ivil isatio n and retreat areas. S implicity in mater i a l s a n d for ms and pur e c olours work to enhance the way people s e e , f eel and know a pl ac e. Architecture can and should educate.

Wi t h t h e right appr oac h in the right place architecture teaches its u s e r s t o c ar e f or t he nat ure and each other. It creates a vehicul a r o f ideas that guides peo ple to a better life.

I t i s i n t er est ing to ment ion , that using the word nature might be n o t a p pr opr iate in this pap er. T here is a statement in N ew archit e c t u r e in Sout h Tyrol t hat the word nature relating to architect u r e a nd design must be r eplaced with ` earth instead. T he meaning o f t h e natur e c ur r ent l y is filled with historical sense, memories o f o r i g ins and makes the perception of N ature not touchable and t h a t h umans shoul d avoid t o change. B y using the word earth, the p l a c e w e l ive in, meaning changes, it is not as sacred and hidden s p a c e anymor e. Soc iety may have thoughts about designing the e a r t h , but t hey shoul d not touch the nature or landscape (Flavio e t a l . , 201 2) .

THE SI TE SPECIFICS C l a s s i cal Austr al ian paint ers, such as John G lover, Charles Conde r a n d El ioth Gruner r emar k the sharpness and colour of the sky d o m e . I t is a char ac t er of any Australian terrestrial landscape, w h i c h i s even more not iceable in comparison to earthy tones. T he l a n d o f t he gol den f l eec e emits a glow, Arthur S treeton transfers t h e f e el ing of mor ning, wit h an already strong sun to observers ( Bu r t o n , 1 981 ) . Another par t of the Australian landscape that arti s t s a r e pr oud of is tr ees, eucalyptuses in particular. T all, naked t r u n k s rise up wit h t heir l ig ht tones. T heir scanty crowns do not p r o v i d e a l ot of shade, c r eating a translucent layer between the g r o u n d and t he sky. Suc h in finite bark from trunks shapes dist i n c t i v e l ayer s on t he gr ound. In S unshine and shadow scattered, a u d a c i ous str okes of gr ound appear in contrast with smooth, long, c a l m e ucal ypt us t r ees ( Burton, 1981). O n the Coastal T rack hikers c a n f o und such t ype of t hr ees, as presented on classical paintings.

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PRE C E DENT STUDY OF W ORLD -WID E D ES IG N P R ACT ICE IN R U R AL AR EAS A f o r m f ol l ows f unc t ion and the environment. S tatistics show t h a t m o st buil t obj ect s in A ustrian T yrol are located outside b u i l t u p areas, t ec hnical l y known as Areas of N atural Landscape, v e r y l o w density ar eas. Fun ction, instead of over decoration and p u r e , c l ean shapes, without distractions from a breathtaking view a r e t h e main at t r ibutes of architecture in that region (Flavio Alb a n e s e, 201 2) . Ther ef or e, Austrian T yrol has been taken as one of a r e a s f or pr ec edenc e st udy.

I n t h e conc r et e Stone c hip protection tunnel T rafoi, pure funct i o n a l infr ast r uc t ur e wor ks as a sculpture. It is a connection, link, c o m m u nic at ion between t wo zones. S tructure is not merged with l a n d s c ape, even with a gr een roof that continues a slope site, but t h e o b j ect enhanc es t he perspective of the place and strengthens v e r t i c al diagonal movement of trees and hills. Materials add pure l i n e s s tand between r oc ks and trees.

C u r r e n tl y agr icul t ur al infr astructure can only dominate and deg r a d e a l andsc ape st ands on. T he Merano district heating project w o r k s opposit e t he Stone tunnel in T rafoi. It represents vern a c u l a r tr aditions of t he r egion (relationships with landscape).

St r a i g ht f or war dness is a d escription of the building in one word.

A p u r p ose of t he buil ding is not hidden. All systems are revealed.

I n f r a s truc t ur e is a main el ement here.

Tr a f f i c infr ast r uc t ur e br in gs the biggest influence to a landscape.

Du e t o its c ont inuousness, traffic should be integral with the l a n d s c a pe in mind. Br idge in Avelengo connects two slopes, does n o t s u b t r ac t , but adds t he specific quality to the mountainous l a n d s c a pe it inhabit s.

W i t h t h e hel p of ar c hitec t ure people may experience a place in a d i f f e r e nt way: to pay at t ention to elements the do not usually o b s e r v e, use ot her sensor s, all, but eyes, like it has been done i n Ro s m ini c af et er ia. W ith solid walls that block all view, there i s n o t hing to do, but l isten, smell, be engaged with the sky and i t s a m a zing natur e t hr ough voids in the roof of the building (Alb a n e s e , 201 2) .

Dr o p p ed in the middl e of nowhere. Experimental project on the F o g o I sl and is an unusual example. It is a designed house that s t a n d s in the middl e of nowhere. P opulation of this Canadian spot i s a b o ut 2700 peopl e spr ead around vast, rocky wild natural e n v i r o n ment. The r ec t angular, in section, long black box stands t o a c l iff and l ooks on t he ocean by a massive glass wall wind o w . F u l l y tr anspar ent f r om East to West, it brings a lot of light a n d v i ews, fr aming the oc ean perspective and refracts it through s e v e r a l l ayer s of gl ass. The minimalistic appearance apprehends a v i e w as a c osmic obj ect t hat touches the ground with a short s i d e o nl y, whil e t he r emaining part is suspended on thin circular c o l u m n s. Intensive horizontal movement articulates the character o f t h e l andsc ape and dur ing the night, light squeezes joining the s k y l i n e and making it even longer (G rima, 2010).

Th r e e pr ivate t iny dwel l ings are located on a desert in the S outh o f t h e USA. The ar c hitec t and the client intended each of these h o u s e s for diff er ent weat her conditions. T he site they stand on i s n o t a nat ional park, meanwhile it is difficult to imagine someo n e l i v ing her e. Vast, endl ess skyline with rear vegetation and dry m a s s i v e stone bl oc ks c r eate a specific atmosphere. S canty desert l a n d s c a pe is str essed with the deep sky. It was the very signific a n t , e ven dominant design aspects. T he client wanted a temporary p l a c e , w her e t he f amil y can spend one and other nights under the s k i e s , w ith a bit of pr ot ec tion from the wild nature, animals, with t h e l a ndscape as an inter io r. Minimal destruction and separation w a s t h e goal . Prot ec t ion in houses goes from fully enclosed conc r e t e b l oc k with a big gl ass wall for a winter period, to absolutely o p e n c o nc r et e el evat ed surface above the ground on some steps.

I n t h e l ast one, t her e ar e no walls and free connection to the surr o u n d i n gs. Chal k gr ey mat erial merges with pastel, smoky tones o f t h e pl ac e. It is dif f icul t to notice structures from a distance, h o w e v er get t ing cl oser you clearly identify it as a man-made obj e c t t h at does not distur b your attention from the wild panorama.

Th e p r oj ect wor ks as an escape island from civilisation with a bit o f h u m an impr ession ( Zel l ner, 2011).

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RE SE A R CH PROBLEM Th e l i t erat ur e r eview has s hown the lack of research in the geo g r a p hical aspec t . Most analysed projects are located in the No r t h e r n hemisphere, in Europe in particular. Climatic and cultura l d i f f e r enc es make it impo ssible to compare and transfer existi n g k n o wl edge on t o t he Australian land. T herefore, the research p r o b l e m l ies specifical l y on the territorial side of the question.

H YP O T H ES IS HYPOTHESIS 1 Hi k e r s enj oy t he t r ac k bec ause of its convenient location and div e r s e nat ur e t hat al l ows users to escape from the urban environment.

HYPOTHESIS 2 Us e r s can ac c ept ar c hitec t ure along the track if these objects are n o t d o minant el ement s of a landscape and they are not purely a r e p r e s e nt at ion of an ar c hitect.

MET H O D S A n o t h e r par t of t he r esearch is a descriptive field trip. T hat has b e e n d one prior t he l iter at ure research. T he site visit is a helpful m e t h o d t o under st and t he place to work with, its specifics, benef i t s a n d pr obl em points. Pr ior to the field trip, investigation res e a r c h has been conduc t ed. T he goal of the preliminary research c o n s i s ts of sever al aspec t s.

Th e f i rst aspec t is to c hoose the site. Area of interest covers a n a n t agonism of humans and the natural environment in a wild a r e a . Maj or c r iter ia were: a n area must be considered as a N ationa l Pa r k, t her e ar e hiking t racks in the park and popularity of a c h o s e n t r ac k must be high, so that the problem exists. T o narrow a r e a o f inter est , l imit at ion s have been identified. T hey are: inab i l i t y to visit t he site, al r eady existing infrastructure does not r e q u i r e er ec t ing anything e lse on the track and the last specificat i o n i s a one-two days l ong track.

On l y t wo ar eas c ame under the criteria. T hey R oyal N ational park i n c e n t r al East er n c oast and are Warrumbungle N ational P ark on t h e No rt h-W est of Sydney. B oth of them have been visited. Warr u m b u n gl e NP did not dr aw attention as much. T here were not f o u n d as many issues and contrary points, the N ational P arks and Wi l d l i f e Service maintains the park in a more elaborate and reas o n a b l e way. As a r esul t , only R oyal N P is discussed further.

Th e s e cond aspect of t he preliminary research was an investigat i o n h i s t or y of t he par k, existing facilities and climatic conditions i n t h a t ar ea.

A f t e r cal cul at ion of al l needs that are required for organizing the t r i p , v isit ing dates have been selected.

Du r i n g the f iel d tr ip al l inf ormation was collected neatly and regu l a r l y . A phot o r epor t has been done to easier analyzing and ref r e s h i ng t he infor mat ion at home. A number of plants, pathways, b o a r d wal ks, t r ees, st ones and fauna creatures were registered to t h e p a r k dat abase .

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A q u a l it at ive survey is the third method, a goal of which is to a s c e r t ain visitor s f eel ings and ideas about the program of the t r a c k . T o det er mine emotion al sense of hikers, a questionnaire is c o m p o sed in an open f or m in a dialogue style with some navigationa l q u e stions, instead of scale form or closed queries. T he sampling f o r t h e c ur r ent st udy sel ects a small group within the study area, b a s e d o n peopl e, who have experienced the Coastal T rack. T here a r e s o m e l imit at ions that are based on the distance to the disc o v e r i n g site. As a resul t , for the on-line interview 3 people have b e e n f o und on-l ine thr ough social networks.

FIEL D T R IP R ES U LT S C OA STA L TRACK DATA Th e l e n gth of t he t r ac k is 2 7.4 kilometers in one direction; with a t o t a l el evat ion of 1 244 metres. T he N orth start of it is located on t h e b o rder of Sydney, in t he B undeena precinct of R oyal N ationa l Pa r k . The South point is situated at the O tford lookout. T he w a l k p roceeds al ong t he oc ean coast across varied environments s u c h a s bushes, r ainfor est s, grasslands, beaches and bare rocks.

Th e r e is one campgr ound f or an overnight stop at N orth Era. T wo a r r a n g ed l ookouts ar e l oc ated along the track. T hey consist of Ot f o r d l ookout with c ar parking infrastructure; and P rovidential Po i n t l o okout near W at t amolla beach with a car park, toilet and b a r b e q ue f ac il it ies. Garie Beach is also located on the route with a p i c n i c ar ea and shel t er ed elements.

F L ORA / FAUNA Du r i n g hiking, diver se f l or a has been noted. D ense rainforest is r e p l a c e d wit h a vast open rocky plain along the top of the cliff.

Ta l l e uc al ypt us and c abbage plants provide shade and cool respite e v e n d u ring the hot summer days. Fresh, humid atmosphere transf e r s i nto hot , windy, sunny conditions. S uch colossal changes happ e n m a ny t imes al ong the t rack due to the changing nature of the b i o m e o nsit e. This biome c onsists of warm temperate rainforest t h a t m er ges into dr y gr asslands and finally rocky cliff sides.

C l o s e - u p shots ar e al so r emarkable on the Coastal T rack. Vivid c o l o u r s of W ar at ah f l ower s and G ymea lily paint monotone rhythm o f g r o u nd greys in the r ain forest. T extural, dramatic oranges of t h e s t o nes are il l uminat ed against the ultramarine ocean mass.

C L I M A TE / W EATHER A n o t h er point t hat has been noticed is the weather, with specific s i g n i f i c anc e t o its instabil ity. Volatile conditions on site result in s u n n i n g c onditions tur ning stormy and then sunny again, all within t h e p e riod of one day with this shift happing countless times.

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SURVEY DATA AN ALYS IS AN D R ES U LT S I NTE RVIEW 1 M a l e 2 3 year s ol d. Austr al ian nationality. S ydney resident. O ccas i o n a l u ser of t he t r ac k, usually walks it one time per year. T eam h i k e r ( in a smal l group of f riends).

Ke y l i k es: the sec l uded r ive rs and waterfalls along the way, wat e r f a l l t hat f r ee f l ows into the ocean with about a 100 metre drop.

Ke y d i sl ikes: f enc ing bl ocking off wedding cake rock due to the s t r u c t u r al instabil it y of t he cliff, tall metal fences with bright o r a n g e signs; the t r ail isn t marked that well at some places.

Ne w f a c il it ies: woul d not be an admirer of new facilities on or a r o u n d t he t r ac k. Does not oppose the implementation of potable w a t e r taps al ong t he way.

Ke y m e ssage: one of t he great things about the track is how wild a n d n a tur al it f eel s.

I NTE RVIEW 2 M a l e 1 9 year s ol d. Austr al ia n nationality. Wollongong/S ydney resi d e n t . O cc asional user of t he track, walks it three-four time per y e a r . S ol o hiker.

Ke y l i k es: vast gr assl ands with the ocean view; spring that falls t o t h e ocean; Eagl e Rock.

Ke y d i sl ikes: W edding Cake R ock protection .

Ne w f a c il it ies: t her e ar e al ready too many facilities, with addition o f m o r e toil ets, l ookout s or picnic areas the rest of the wildern e s s o n the t r ac k disappea rs.

Ke y m e ssage: t r ac k shoul d not be easy; the beauty is a reward for a h a r d wor k.

I NTE RVIEW 3 M a l e 2 6 year s ol d. Russian nationality. G old Coast resident. H as w a l k e d t he t r ac k onc e, in September 2015. H ikes with a partner.

Ke y l i k es: Eagl e Roc k - t he shape of the rock and its different l e v e l s , l edges, overhanging canopies and the possibility to just sit o n t h e edge of t he c l iff and spend many hours observing and app r e c i a t ing the beaut y of t his place. A waterfall nearby creates a l i n k b e tween the t op l evel of the massive cliff and surface of the ocean.

Ke y d i sl ikes: c ar el ess c onstructions on the Wedding Cake R ock.

Ne w f a c il it ies: add mor e br oad or stone walks; add some sheltered p l a c e s wher e peopl e c an have a rest during heavy rain or midday heat.

Ke y m e ssage: t he best t hin g about existing facilities on the track i s t h a t t her e ar e no f enc es at edges of cliffs.

Ke y o v e r al l message: In summary, it is clear that the main feat u r e s cel ebr at ed by t he interviewees are the rugged, natural e x i s t i n g el ement s with specific reference to the water features a n d c l i ff side viewpoints. Most of those interviewed started that t h e t r ac k c oul d benef it f r om potable water facilities and shelter/ s e a t i n g el ements; with onl y one of the three interviewees stati n g t h a t no human or buil t intervention is needed at all. It was c o n s i s tent l y agr eed by al l that fencing and protection elements s e v e r el y distr ac t ed f r om t he overall experience of the site.

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D IS CU S S IO N F I E L D T RIP Fr om t he investigatio n undertaken, it is clear that the ini t i a l h y potheses ar e supported. Findings show that users of the t r a c k d o so f or its r ugged, natural beauty - so removed from the u r b a n e nvironment and pr efer a subtle/unobtrusive architectural touch.

A C C E SS . One point of anal ysis during the site visit was the access t o t h e National Par k. The accessibility of the track influences all f u t u r e r esear c h and design processes. T he Coastal T rack in the Ro y a l N at ional Par k is l ocated on the edge of S ydney. T he neighb o r h o o d with ver y busy metropolis impacts heavily on the number o f v i s i tor s t o t he par k. An easy vehicular access in addition to a t r a i n ( the South point) and a ferry (the N orth point) stations make t h i s p ar k wel c oming for c itizens. Activities in the park vary from s u n r i s e watc hing at t he North car park, to a two three days walk a l o n g t he Coast al Trac k.

A s m a l l vil l age at t he Nort h side of the track seems very int e r e s t ed in hiker s ac t ivit y. T his sport is not only very popular a m o n g l oc al s, but al so br ing s people to the city. T his results in an e c o n o m ic and soc ial boost to B undeena due to the influx of hikers.

M A J OR EXISTING ISSUES. The most disappointing moment was at the W e d d i n g Cake Roc k l ookout due to the two-meter fence erected.

A s a r e sul t, t her e is no access to the rock as well as distractive v i e w s o f t he l ookout f r om the side. T his spot has been identified a s t h e most pr obl emat ic, r equiring a specialised approach. At the s a m e t ime with an at t empt to protect visitors on the Wedding Cake Ro c k , t her e is a l arge number of dangerous areas. For instance, at p o i n t s it is impossibl e to notice the very thin stone edge of the c l i f f . As a r esul t , when hik ers come to the edge to look around, t h e y h a ve no under st anding about the hidden, impending danger.

On l y f rom the side, aft er t hey already have been on the cantilev e r , t h ere is a chanc e t o r ealize, how hazardous their idea was f i v e m i n utes ago.

So m e par t s of t he pat h t r averse in dense green forested areas t h a t m ake r est ing dif f icul t without stepping from the boardwalk a n d p o tent ial l y damaging t he nature.

PHE NOMENOLOGY . The f indings support the second hypothesis.

Be f o r e the f iel d tr ip, ther e was no understanding of any reasons t o p r o tec t t he nat ur e f r om a human impact, several busier nat i o n a l par ks wer e given as an example, where visitors cannot find b o a r d w al ks or t ent pl at f or ms. Climatic and geological conditions a r e c o mpl et el y diff er ent f rom the N orthern nature; therefore, it w a s c o mpl etel y inappropr ia te comparing these areas. Conditions o f a f r agil e ecosyst em f or ce the organization of protection. Every h u m a n st ep l eaves a mar k on the ground that stays for a very l o n g p er iod. The defensel essness of G rass trees and other gentle p l a n t s do not st and any c hance against human journeying, other t h a n i t s gr owt h in l ow tr af fic areas to avoid human contact.

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Th e m u l ti-dimensional expe rience reveals different elements that c r e a t e a whol e pict ur e of t he track. Visual information is not t h e o n l y kind hiker s c an f in d there. S mells of humid forest, salty b r e e z e and wet st one ar e memorized. S mell is a part of adaptat i o n . Humans use t his sense to receive information about weathe r a n d c hanging cl imatic c onditions. It is as significant element as p e r s p ec t ive views.

Th e n u m ber of par t icipants does not allow stating the general o p i n i o n of user s about t he topic. H owever, it is significant to know t h a t d i f f er ent r esul t s have been received even from such a small g r o u p of same-aged, spor t ive people, who enjoy hiking in wilderness.

Th e p i c t ur e t hat has been described by the majority of responde n t s d oes not suppor t t he hypothesis. H owever, some people think o n l y a b out c ur r ent c onditio ns, and the intensive use of the land s h o u l d not be f or got t en. The track is at risk of being trampled i n s e v e r al year s. Ther ef or e, arguments cannot be accepted with u n d e r st anding of t he f ut ur e. B y demolishing part of the wildern e s s , the whol e ar ea c an be protected for a longer time, or both e l e m e nt s c an be l ost in a s hort period.

I NTE RVIEW S I n o n e - t o-one on-l ine in depth interviews it was clear that users l o v e t h e t r ac k bec ause of its vicinity with S ydney and its state of c a l m a nd wil der ness at t he same time. T his fact supports the first h y p o t hesis that t he t r ac k s convenient location and divers nature a l l o w s hikers t o enj oy the natural environment.

A d d i t i onal l y, it has been f ound that most participants oppose the n e c e s sity of any f ac il it ies on the track and the second hypothe s i s . The main ar gument t ells about preservation of the existing e c o s y st em and keeping everything in current conditions. Additiona l i n f r a st r uc t ur e wil l dist urb, or even destroy the perception of t h e p l a c e, by making it mor e humanized. H owever, participants are q u i t e h appy to see pot abl e water sources on the track.

Th e o n ly except ion in ar guments among all participants was the We d d i n g Cake Roc k l ookout . All interviewees see urgency in organi z i n g a l ookout in a gentl er manner; the fence is disrupts everyo n e . A s a resul t , one of t he most remarkable places on the coast b e c a m e one of t he most c onfronting topics to discuss.

On e p a rticipant woul d l ike to see more boardwalks that can prot e c t t he soft gr ound f r om becoming a mess, so that users do not m i x m u d underneat h. Addit io nally, this individual sees value in h a v i n g some shel t er ed el ements to allow hikers to have a rest d u r i n g heavy rain periods o r overly hot days.

A l l i n t e r viewees have a favorite destination on the track, however i n g e n e r al exc ept ional areas have been identified similarly. Among s e l e c t ed spots ar e Secl uded R ivers, Eagle R ock and waterfalls a l o n g the way.

Th e i n f or mat ion that is des cribed above partly confronts with the s e c o n d hypot hesis.

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i m p o r t ant t o t ake into ac c ount the intense use of the area, which h a s b e e n descr ibed in t he l iterature review of this paper at the i n t r o d u c t ion and hist or ical note section, has a serious impact on t h e n a ture. To save t he pl ace for future generations there is a n e c e s s ity of t he infr ast r ucture.

L I M I TA T IONS Th e b i g gest l imit at ions in the research were a lack of participants t o i n t erview and dif f icul t access to the P ark during the research.

Th e f i e l d tr ip has been und ertaken once. It means that only one s e a s o n has been register ed and noted. Weather and the changing s e a s o n al conditions may ha ve very significant influences on the t r a c k s user s behavior and feelings.

C ONC L U SION To e n h ance t he r esear c h, a group of more participants of differe n t a g e s, sexes and physical conditions should be interviewed. T he s u r v e y quest ioner c an be placed on the start / end points of the t r a c k , so visit or s c an c omplete it by themselves and leave in a s p e c i f i c box. Aft er anal yzin g the given information, a preliminary d e s i g n can be done, met hods and approach can be found to use to w r i t e a n arc hitec t ur al l anguage. After that another survey can be u n d e r t aken. Temporar y obj e cts are placed on planned spots, and w i t h t h e same tec hnique, visitors opinion can be found. T his helps i d e n t i f y the need f or er ec t ing permanent elements.

Th e r e sear c h is impor t ant because of its current issue. T he press u r e o n t he t r ac k s environment is able to destroy the track s e c o s y s t em. Ther ef or e, it is essential to act, before irreversible d a m a g e oc c ur s.

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