Literac i t y.

Literac i t y Tutors: Suzannah Waldron + Nick Searle

Studio Outline Lower Pool Design Studio Semester 2, 2009

New Centre: In 2008 Melbourne became the second UNESCO City of Literature and now needs a Centre for Literature to showcase the depth of talent & support the city’s literary culture.

Diverse Field: 7KH ÂżHOG RI OLWHUDWXUH LV diverse - encompassing printed media, electronic media & spoken word while crossing JHQUHV RI ÂżFWLRQ SRHWU\ WKHDWUH ÂżOPV journals - involving booksellers, printers, publishers & literary festivals.

Civic Narrative: The ‘Centre for Books, Writing & Ideas’ project brings literature to the city in a time when the written word is

receding in the civic consciousness. With the decline of independent bookshops & the rise of Amazon, there is a need for new ways to promote literature within the city.

Hybrid Programme: Integrating hybrid programs & diverse activities – the centre is a platform for displaying, studying, presenting, promoting, selling, reading, writing & discussing literature.

Graphic Literacy: The studio foregrounds the diagram as a design tool to convey architectural issues of Civic Presence, Hybrid Programs & Literary Ideas.

Diagrams were used as a driver to distil design moves to singular steps - provok-

ing a graphic approach to designing complex hybrid programs within the CBD. Medium Scale: Emphasising a creative reinterpretation of civic qualities in public buildings –the studio explored ‘civic engagement’ in the medium scale via façade materiality & public circulation with a cultural program of 3000m2. Investigation of hybrid programs opened up a network of new relationships and connections. Scrutinising a sub-culture by design; shifting coalitions between a range of users, reinterpreting social functions and changing the foundation of literary organisations.

1

introverted

the HIVE for books writing and ideas

ex troverted

introverted

hive laboratory

WEST FACAD FIN

engine room

EAST FACADE

RESOURCE COLLECTION READING ROOM

CONFERENCE SYMPOSIUM RESTAURANT/BAR

RESOURCE COLLECTION READING ROOM

WRITERS HOT DESKS SMALL LITERARY ORGANISATION

MUSEUM MEZZANINE

LECTURE EVENT SPACE PERFORMANCE

SMALL LITERARY CBWI ADMINISTRATION

MUSEUM/ EDUCATION ZONE EXHIBITION SPACE BOOK SHOP/CAFE RECEPTION

CBWI ADMINISTRATION

EAST FACADE

CBWI ADMINISTRATION

The Hive for Books Writing and Ideas aims to reinforce and invigorate Melbourne’s literary scene by creating a centre where the community is encouraged to participate in all things literature. The building explores the idea of introverted and extroverted spaces combining in an interesting outcome.

Lance van Maanen

2

The Interactive Void seum + education zone

resource collections

2

3200m

ENGAGE

2

3200m

hibition + flexible space

exhibition space

workshops

performance + media art gallery

ENGAGE

e & seminar + symposia

bookshop cafe & bar

SOCIAL

ecture & recital + screen reception

INFORM

foyer restaurant

ACTIVATE

cafe

DISTRIBUTE

ts / services / amenities reception & ticketing

yer & public circulation

writer’s hot desks

ll literary organisations

administration

original program

DISTRIBUTE ACTIVATE INFORM

bar resource collection

SOCIAL

conference + lecture

program rotation + voids

reading space

literary organisations

hot desks

bookshop

publishing + printing administration

program re-shuffle

program + voids overlap

art gallery

roof garden L B

restaurant B

L B B B B

bar

L B

B

B B

L B

reading space

workshop + education

flexible space

exhibition space

workshop + education

B L

conference + lecture

resources

offices

literary organisations publishing +printing admin +offices

hot desks flexible space

cafe book shop

laneway

performance + media

reception

foyer

Melbourne has an active and creative literary culture and ambition to live up to the criteria for the UNESCO City of Literature. However - there are no spaces for literary and creative interaction and cross disciplinary discussion in the CBD. The spaces in the city where people gather and communicate and where information can be sought are spread over the entire CBD grid with no links or overlaps. These interactive voids lose the potential they could have and the culture and creativity they could bring to Melbourne as a city of literature. The Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas aims to bring these interactive voids from the urban context into the building and hybridising the programs by connecting the voids to the active spaces.

6RÂżD 6MRGLQ 3

Melbourne’s secret CORE OF IMAGINATION

Designed to evoke the experience that is Melbourne’s creative literary sub culture, the centre for books writing and ideas is a journey of discovery. The Russell street facade shows only a small glimpse of the imaginative world within. Comparatively the Hayward lane facade is open, exposing itself to the adventurous few who wander down the laneway.

Tess McLaren

4

Exposed Oppositions

The design focuses on the trajectory of sound through loud, quiet and white noise spaces. Resonance on Russell Street LV UHÀHFWHG WKURXJK LWV DQJXODU VROLG DQG RSDTXH TXDOLWLHV This translates the sharp bouncing of sounds. Contrastingly, VRXQG RQ WKH TXLHW ]RQH RI +D\ZDUG /DQH UHÀHFWV WKH RSHQ WUDQVSDUHQW FXUYHG ZDOOV DOORZLQJ VRXQG WR ÀRZ 7KH ZKLWH noise breaks this up.

(OHDQRU -RL /XQD

5

The Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas is a place which will bring together many otherwise unrelated elements. This building brings together not only the myriad of programs, but also the book with the city, the writer’s industry and the public, Russell st. and its backing laneway and the virtual and conventional book. The converging point of all the above is the Social HUB, found at the heart of the building.The HUB, a vibrant melting pot, spreads itself throughout the whole building, bringing with it sparks of imagination and the creation of ideas.

Tamara Cher

6

Learning to Reed Good

educational spaces and architectural moments

entry

exit

This design was based upon education. Given the drastic statistic that half of the Australian population can only read to a level to perform basic tasks. As such this building gives the public spaces and afcilities in which to read and educate themselves. /XFDVWD &ORWKLHU )DLUV

7

Revival of the Creative Phase

With the decreasing number of new published writers, the Center for Books, Writing and Ideas is targeted to help writers to create high quality editorial work, to assist them in the publishing world and getting their works to the public. Three stages, exposure, creativity and assistance, were introduced to help the writers in achieving their goals.

Shann Yong

8

Cross-Over Promotion

COLOURED GLASS BLOCKS

COLOURED TIMBER BLOCKS

COLOURED GLASS BLOCKS

GRASS COVERED BLOCKS

TIMBER BLOCKS RED GLASS BLOCKS

The Centre for Writing, Books and Ideas focuses on the promotion of literature and its events throughout Melbourne, as well as giving opportunities for all kinds of organisations and writers to meet & mix and share ideas.

0L[LQJ XS SURJUDP DQG FDUHIXO FRQ多JXUDWLRQV RI VSDFHV are the key to give opportunities of meetings. +D]H 0LWUD

9

Studio thanks: Richard Black Sand Helsel Ben Milborne Anna Johnson Davin Smith Hidden Secret Tours Arcade Publications

Thanks to students: Haziel Mitra Eleanor Luna Zeynep Cakir Shazana Aminuddin Tamara Cher Hannah Carracher Romy Peterfreund Shann Yong Tess Mclaren Lucasta Clothier-Fairs 6R多D 6MRGLQ Lance van Maanen

Studio Details Title: Literac i t y Tutor: Suzannah Waldron / Nick Searle Pole: Urban Environments Date: Semester 2, 2009 This and other documented examples of design studios run as part of the RMIT University Architecture program can be found on issuu.com