2023
Kate Middleton
Lars von Minden
PORTFOLIO
AD1 ARCHDES 700
01
Adaptability (definition, possibilities, and precedents)
02
Initial concept designs
03
Sustainability and climate solutions (materials, systems and resources)
04
Te Aranga Māori Design Principles
05
Mid-semester presentation, discussion and feedback
06
Engineering consultations (discussion and development)
07
Design development
08
User access and movement
09
Detailing (designing and developing pertinent details for realising the project)
10
Final presentation, discussion and feedback
11
Synthesis of ideas
2023 PORTFOLIO
CONTENTS
Adaptability (definition, possibilities, and precedents) Adaptability definition and particular aspects of interest: Adaptability relates to how well buildings can respond to current needs while also ensuring that the building caters to these changing needs over time. Buildings should be designed so that they can easily be adapted to respond to the changing community where the building is located. This ensures that the building has a longer lifetime with limited renovation and changes. Adaptability in this way connects with a buildings sustainability ensuring the space has a long lifetime with helping to reduce the buildings environmental impact over its lifetime. I am interested in how adaptability can be applied to the residential aspects of the building and how this can allow the building to fit the current needs and also the future as the community of Uptown grows and changes. I would like to link this to the idea of inter-generational living which is mentioned in Uptown Business Association’s future vision.
Possibilities for adoption of adaptability in my design work:
IMAGES TO BE UPLOADED BY STUDENT
I would like to use adaptability to respond to Uptowns visions of the use of inter-generational living along with their goal of growing up in Uptown. Creating adaptive residential spaces which can cater to the current community in Uptown and their needs while also designed to fit Uptowns future and Uptown Business Associations future goals for Uptown. I would like to create residential spaces which can adapt to fit the growth of the family living in them which would allow for extra rooms for kids or for parents and grandparents to live together in the space.
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Family flat Individual flats
Adaptability (definition, possibilities, and precedents) Precedant: Abakus Co-Housing / Stereo Architektur
Description of Image
Description of Image
Description of Image
Axonometic drawing of the building showing the relationship between the vertical flat share and the core flats along with the circulation that runs through the building and how it connects to the shared communal spaces on the ground floor.
Diagram showing the idea of the adaptive floor plans and how they work in the building proving adaptive residential spaces for changing and growing families and the different needs.
Typical floorplan of the building showing the layout of the rooms with the two bedrooms and how they can connect to the rest of the flat if another bedroom is needed for the family living in the flat.
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Looking at the relationship between circulation, comjunal spaces and private spaces are arranged and also how each level allows for adaptability through the vertical flatshare that runs through the building which can allow for an extra room for a family living in the core flat.
A similar system could be adopted in the co-housing of my design to help to respond to Uptowns goal of adaptive and intergenerational living. This would allow for families to grow and change and respond to the ccurrent needs of the area while also being appropriate for the future of Uptown.
Arrangements of rooms and the relationship between private spaces compared to the chared communal spaces is interestin to understand for my design and how adaptibility plays into this.
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IMAGES TO BE UPLOADED BY STUDENT
Initial concept designs: Original goals for the design: Original goals for the design was to relate to the Uptown community vision for different housing models through the use of co-housing. This also relates to the group masterplanning of the site through the focus on living as community. Working out how the co-housing will work on the site was a significant part of the first design phase. Exploring the relationships between private and communal, adaptable design, potential for multi-generational living, and circulation throughout the building was related to figuring out how the residential spaces would work. Another goal is exploring how ceramics can be used architecturally drawn from the ceramic studio and gallery space on the ground floor. How ceramics can be used visually in the building and how it relates to the speciality and lighting qualities is hoped to be explored.
Original concept deigns: Original sketches exploring relationship between the site and building. In plan exploring the relationship with the surrounding site and group masterplan. Looking at and exploring potential connections with neighbouring buildings for circulation and potential walkways between the building. The sectional sections explore the relationship between the building and topography of the site and how the building will sit on the site. Also looking at how the relationship between Mt Eden Road and the plaza space can be present in the building design.
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The plans also explored how the residential spaces and the other programmes in the building can be organised in the building and how they relate, circulation, and privacy vs public. Originally blocking these out to explore how much space each of these programmes may need and what can be done with the size of the site.
IMAGES TO BE UPLOADED BY STUDENT
IMAGES TO BE UPLOADED BY STUDENT
Ground floor circulation exploration
Model of Circulation space
Ceramic and light explorations
Exploring how the building relates to its position between Mt Eden Road and the proposed plaza space. How to promote pedestrian circulation from the street into the retail and commercial on the ground floor of the building by making the ground floor open and accessible. Also working towards a walkway that looks safe to help promote movement through the space.
Model exploring how light can be brough in through the lightwell into the building and how this relates to each lefel of the building. It also helps to explore how the building is expressed sectionally and helps to give isnsight into how this can be further developed.
Exploration of potential ways that ceramics can interact with light to create interesting light qualities with the building. Here a perferated ceramic model is made and placed over a light source to create patterns on the ceiling and surrounding walls as well as create an interesting glow through the ceramic model.
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Original floor layouts had a small pathway that was used to access the retail spaces on the ground floor. This was not an approach that would help to draw people into the space. Instead the creation of a wider walkway through the building is adopted. Looking at how this can open up and draw in pedestrians from Mt Eden Rd and open up to the plaza.
More work needed to explore the internal spacial and lighting qualities of the space and also how it can play with light. Potentially how light can be reflected in the lightwell through the ceramic panels.
Further exploration needed to look into potential lighting qualities for the building and how this can be achieved to fit into the desire for ceramic explorations. This model creates interesting lighting effects but further work is needed to understand how this could potentially be applied to the building.
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Initial concept designs:
Sustainability and climate solutions (materials, systems and resources)
SOLAR SHADING Exploration of solar shading on the north of the building.
Exploration of shading on the internal lightwell and courtyard.
Exploration process of different potential solar shading on the north of the building. This will hopefully improve the comfort for the residents and people inhabiting the space while reducing the energy costs. Ceramic and brick materials are explored to relate to the concept with a decision to continue on exploring the ceramic battens. Sketchup modeling, sketches, precedants and physical modelling helped to explore a potential solution for the solar shading on the northern side of the building.
The main central circulation connects three main different levels of privacy, public, shared residential spaces, and private residential spaces. To create privacy in these spaces and relate back to the concept ceramic paneling is used in this internal courtyard. To still allow a comfortable amount of light into the spaces perforation and a panellised system is used. This will allow more perforations and less panels in selected spaces to help bring in more lighting the space while still allowing privacy. The perforations will grow larger closer to ceiling height to respond to need for light and privacy. Glazing will also be used on the panels to help try and reflect light in the space. Detailing and looking at precedants will hopefully allow a better understanding on how this type of treatment could work for the building.
This allows residents to grow plants on the battens which can also help to provide some shading if desired. These battens will be used on the southern elevation as well but focused on providing privacy and therefore different spacing and dimensions are used to respond to the different needs.
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On the south facing facade I would like to use a similar system but will have to explore how it could be used instead for creating privacy while still allowing a relationship between these two facades.
ESD strategy diagram
Structure and material exploration
Orientation and layout
Exploring how sun will come into the building along with how ventilation will work, especially in the internal courtyard space and how this lets in light and provides natural ventilation. Also showing the green spaces and green roof on the top level of the building.
Sketches and detailing of the structure and the floor system on how it can respond to environmental needs while still providing comfort to the people living in the space. Looking at CLT structure and concrete topping
Because of the building site being nestled between two neighbouring buildings and the dimension of the sites, there are concerns bout how to achieve a comfortable and pleasant amount of light for all of the residential spaces in the building. Different layout and courtyard spaces are used to help try and solve this issue.
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
The central courtyard currently allows in natural light helping to increase comfort for all residents. For the internal courtyard it will be important to ensure that the facade treatment allows a level of privacy from the ground floor and a way to control light without reducing the potential for in take of natural light. Moving forward this will be important to explore and how a panel system might work.
It is important to work out how thick the concrete topping for the floor build up to allow for it to act as a thermal mass for the building and how different thicknesses will impact how the building performs. Further work will be needed on details to ensure that this system works for the building.
Despite the addition of a light well allowing more natural light to especially to the spaces on the more southern side of the building, the comfort and natural light could be more balanced for all residents. To develop the design there is a potential to create a double height space in the more southern living spaces to help improve the natural lighting. Responding to critics advice the light well will also be reflected to face north. PAGE 9
Sustainability and climate solutions (materials, systems and resources)
Te Aranga Māori Design Principles Original research into Te Aranga Māori Design Principles Te Aranga Design Principles based on Māori cultural values and principles are incredibly important to create designs that show respect to mana whenua. A large part of creating sensitive architectural responses is through engagement and collaboration with the local Māori community, and people of the land to help gain a better understanding of the cultural values and their aims for the design and to respond to these wishes through the design process. Based on the Te Aranga Maori design principles it will be incredibly important to arrive at a final design that is respectful of the site and whenua, trying to reduce the environmental impact of the building, and a design that celebrates and protects the cultural landscape in Aotearoa, creating a safe and inclusive environment for our diverse community and that will align with the wishes of the Māori community.
Researched case study and how it has influenced my design thinking
Te Oro, Archimedia
Te Oro music and arts centre is a creative facility designed for young people, its aim is to encourage the local community creatives and to increase identity and pride. Community, mana whenua, and local artists were all a part of the design process. The form can be interpreted as a grove of trees creating a space for people to shelter and come together through learning, making and talking. Due to a gallery and studio space being in my design I would like to explore how this could be used as a way to support and celebrate local artists.
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Kāinga Tuatahi is a residential development is described as aiming to represent the identity and community values of its residents. The building form is inspired by the volcanoes and ridge lines surrounding the site and the long gable form connecting multiple terrace houses acts as a cloak, kaiaka, providing shelter. The importance of creating a community within the project with communal gardens and play spaces. I would similarly like to have a strong community focus in my design responding to the community needs, providing shared cooking facilities along with a shared garden and green space. This focus on community will allow a sharing and learning of different cultures and cultural values.
Kāinga Tuatahi, Steven Lawson
Mid-semester Presentation, discussion and feedback Design at mid crit: As part of the Uptown community vision the opportunity for new housing models to be introduced in the area is recognised and promoted. A potential solution arises through co-housing, a community centred housing model. Co-housing provides the opportunity to live closely with others providing the opportunity to learn and thrive, creating a space for better living. Adaptability and inter-generational living should also be considered in the designing of residential spaces so the building works for the current local community along with the future community of Uptown. As part of the mixed program of the building there is a ceramic studio and retail/gallery space on the ground floor. A way to express this craft through the architecture should be found and expressed in the building to create a sense of identity within the larger development around the station.
Questions I had about the design at this stage:
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At this stage a start has been made in exploring the potential use of ceramics to inspire an architectural solution for the building. At this stage I need advice on how thus can be approached and an idea can be developed from this concept.
Mid-semester Presentation, discussion and feedback
Mid-semester Presentation, discussion and feedback What was the critics response and how has this influenced your design? Critics expressed that the circulation space in the building is a key part of the building and further development focusing on this circulation and light well space is needed. Hesitation on the ground floor being split into four while the residential above is split in half was also expressed from the critics.
Mid crit comments from the critics has helped me understand how to continue developing the design of the building. From the critics comments two major areas of development that need to be further explored is the circulation and light well space in the building and the exploration of ceramics in the building.
Comments that the current pathway from Mt Eden Road into the circulation space is to small a space and doesn’t appear safe and comfortable to use for residents. This ground floor circulation needs development on how it relates to the the surrounding context.
More work and iteration is needed to develop these areas to help make an architecturally interesting building which responds to the brief. I also want to develop the ground floor and elevations and how these can relate to the wider site through the connection to the plaza space and also to Mt Eden Road.
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The facade treatments need further development and exploration to create a more elegant and appropriate solution. The critics expressed that the facade treatment would have to be different on the southern facade compared to the northern facade and serve a purpose for the building to justify their use on the building such as how they may be used for solar shading, sound dampening, etc. Further exploration of ceramics and how this can architecturally be applied to the building was also expressed as a necessary step moving forwards by the critics.
Engineering consultations (discussion and development) What were your main structural concerns/questions for the engineer? Going into these engineering consultations I had main concerns over the main structure along with the ceramic facade treatments. Prior to the consultation I hadn’t fully worked out the structural system that would be used and so I hoped to gain a better understanding on what would work best for my project. For the second consultation I wanted to ensure that the clt system would work for what my design was at this stage and ensure how this will work. Along with how the courtyard might work and the pathway/bridges in this area. Along with this concerns on the overhang over the ground floor where the building is cut away coming off from Mt Eden Road.
What was their suggested response? how has this consultations influenced your design? During the first group engineering consultancy the feedback from the engineers helped on deciding the structure that might be used for the building. After this original consultation I decided that for the main structure a clt system would be used and the designing after this is focused on using a clt structural system.
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Later there was another chance to have an individual consultation with the engineer for more specific questions regarding the design. I presented to him my Sketchup model at the stage of development it was at to help express the design. He helped answer concerns over the structure and advised on a column system for the ground floor and the important directions that the loads would need to be transferred.
Design development
Design Development Planning development responding to mid-crit feedback. After the advice of the critics who highlighted that the vertical circulation at the centre of the building was one of the most important elements of the design my main focus was on further developing this element. To develop this also exploring and expanding on the idea of ceramics and how that can create a central core that allows circulation to the different levels of public and private while also creating a peaceful ceramic oasis in the centre of the building.
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In response to this the form of the central courtyard has become more sculptural using the curves of some of the earlier conceptual exploration to drive this form. The materiality of this, outside of being ceramic, is currently ambiguous and will need further development but hopes to work with allowing in different levels of light and the level of reflection that can be created through the surfaces and glazing. The elevator is moved to the side of this courtyard space to be more tidy and out of the way allowing a more sculptural ceramic staircase to be centred in this space.
For the planning in response to critics feed back the ground floor is opened up more to invite people off of Mt Eden and also allow access through to the plaza on the other side, bringing more people in to explore the building. Mainly the residential is kept the same for the co-housing but the top level is changed to shared communal spaces which connect and open up onto the rooftop gardens. There is also exploration on the facade treatments and how different solutions can be used on each facade, therefore allowing privacy on the south facade on Mt Eden Road and providing solar shading on the north facade. These need further development and need to be worked in relation with the internal courtyard ceramic treatment to either match or contrast.
Sketches and precedants
Rhino model
Ceramic explorations
Original sketches of the internal slumping courtyard and the precedent image that inspired the idea. The precedent is the Vanke Pavilion by Daniel Liberskind and creates a slump ceramic tiled form that reads similarly to a failed ceramic from a ceramic wheel.
Modelled the design up originally in Sketchup before moving it to Rhino to develop the internal courtyard form. Above are some of the different forms explored and achieved through using Rhino.
Physical ceramic exploration created through pinching the clay very thin in a circular motion and then letting it to sit and collapse in on itself. Photographs are taken to show the shadows and curves that is created through this experimentation.
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
This slumped form on the interior courtyard will create a contrast with the more perfect external ceramic treatments which will be interesting and allow an exploration of different ceramic qualities. These curves will need to be further explored in 3d to get a better understanding on how it will work in the space.
Rhino was a much better software to try and explore the form of the curved and slumped panels on the internal courtyard. Exploring ceramic precedents alongside the development of this form helped to inform the potential for these panels. Lots of experimentation is done with these curves along with potential perforation patterns through grasshopper. Moving forward i would like to inhabit the section to get a better understanding on how this space would work for people living and moving through the space and also understand the materiality.
Although originally this was done to help explore the central courtyard form it didn’t provide as much information to inform this design as originally hoped. Instead they may be used to inspire furniture or hanging sculptural ceramics to enrich the spaces in the building with ceramic works. After this I will try experiment with collaging these images into sections and perspectives to see how they might work in the space. PAGE 15
Design development
User access and movement
Notes from NZBC Building Compliance Section D1 The main considerations relevant to my design are concerns over safe entry and movement within the building and providing wheelchair access into the building. Specific areas of consideration are how residents of the building will be able to access their homes comfortably and easily and how this will interact with the public facing program on the ground floor. Along with this how people will enter from Mt Eden Road and from the plaza space, and how it can be designed to provide enough space for how many people will be using the space along with creating an inviting facade for people walking by the building.
Acess and movement in relation to the design
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Prior to mid grit the ground floor only had a small 4m wide access way to the circulation in the centre of the building which didn’t allow for easy and comfortable circulation through the space for residents and also didn’t allow inviting access in for the public to come into the restaurant and ceramic gallery and retail space. At mid crit the critics gave feedback that the central vertical circulation was a key part of the design and that the existing circulation on the ground floor didn’t work well for the space. In response to this the vertical circulation became a focus to add character to the building with the ground floor circulation supporting this. Opening up the building onto Mt Eden Road inviting people in providing comfortable circulation through the space the continues through to the plaza. The space provided allows for residents of the building and the public to safety move around in the space. Currently there is access into the restaurant and ceramic studio which is wheelchair accessible along with an elevator although the addition of ramps to move along the ground floor step downs would be necessary to improve wheelchair access through the building. This has the potential to be developed.
Detailing (designing and developing pertinent details for realising the project)
Notes from detail exercise CLT was also chosen as it it is strong and lightweight and has the opportunity to be from locally sourced material helping to reduce the embodied carbon of the building. This was also chosen in response to the engineering consultants advice to the group on structure for the projects. A brick cladding is used to connect the building to the site context with brick buildings found throughout the Uptown area. This will help to connect the building visually to the larger Uptown area. They also connect well with the ceramic material that will be used in the building. Ceramics are used to connect back to the gallery space and ceramic studios on the ground and first floor, connecting back to the desire to celebrate local artists in the area. This will help create an identity for the building and also help with concerns of solar shading and privacy. Original sketch details
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Original detail sketches exploring how the ceramic facade treatment will connect back to the CLT structure. Key points from the design picked to sketch and explore how they work. These will need to be developed further but help to provide a better understanding on how the building works and how the materials interact.
Double glazed window Thermally broken window frame. Powdercoated aluminium joinery. Waterproofing membrane to sill
Detailing (designing and developing pertinent details for realising the project)
55mm Reinforced Concrete Topping Slab. Polished and sealed. 25mm Rigid acoustic insulation
Hardwood timber decking 125x25mm Stainless screws to battens. Support Battens @ 490mm ctrs
Stainless steel angle bracket
Galvanised steel bracket M10 bolts through batten 14 gauge tek screws to CLT panel 166mm 5-ply CLT panel Glulam beam Interior plasterboard lining
Glazed ceramic battern 50x50mm
External Brick cladding 230x70x76mm tied back to fiber cement board Fiber cement board 50mm continuous air gap 100mm Rigid Insulation with weather barrier 126mm 3-ply CLT panel 13mm Internal plasterboard treatment Scale 1:10
Roll formed galvanised steel struts 50x50mm Perforated glazed ceramic panels Double glazed window Thermally broken window frame. Powdercoated aluminium joinery. Waterproofing membrane to sill
Hamonic Masson & Associés
HIT3 / Alejandro Gawianski
Hardwood timber decking 125x25mm Stainless screws to battens. Support Battens @ 490mm ctrs
55mm Reinforced Concrete Topping Slab. Polished and sealed. 25mm Rigid acoustic insulation
55mm Reinforced Concrete Topping Slab. Polished and sealed. 25mm Rigid acoustic insulation
Stainless steel angle bracket
Stainless steel angle bracket
Waterproofing membrane
# House # 1.130 / Estudio.Entresitio
Hardwood timber decking 125x25mm Stainless screws to battens. Support Battens @ 490mm ctrs
Galvanised steel bracket M10 bolts through batten 14 gauge tek screws to CLT panel
Tiam Coffee Shop & Home / Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates
Forfatterhuset Kindergarten / Cobe
Detail Precedants Precedents were found to help understanding how the ceramic facade treatments might connect back to the main structure and how this will work as a system. These precedents helped for the exploration and sketches on the previous page, seeing how these curved ceramic panels could connect to the structural elements. This helps to give a better understanding on how this space will work which will help to continue developing the form and aesthetic qualities of the space based on the detailing of it.
External Brick cladding 230x70x76mm tied back to fiber cement board Fiber cement board 50mm continuous air gap 100mm Rigid Insulation with weather barrier 126mm 3-ply CLT panel 13mm Internal plasterboard treatment
Galvanised steel bracket M10 bolts through batten 14 gauge tek screws to CLT panel 166mm 5-ply CLT panel Glulam beam Interior plasterboard lining
166mm 5-ply CLT panel Glulam beam Interior plasterboard lining
Glazed ceramic battern 50x50mm
External Brick cladding 230x70x76mm tied back to fiber cement board Fiber cement board 50mm continuous air gap 100mm Rigid Insulation with weather barrier 126mm 3-ply CLT panel 13mm Internal plasterboard treatment Scale 1:10
Scale 1:10
Final details that were developed for the presentation Roll formed galvanised steel struts 50x50mm Perforated glazed ceramic panels
Finalised developed details which were developed based on tutor feedback to create a better system. These show how the CLT structure works along with how the ceramic facade treatments interact with this and work for the building. Hardwood timber decking 125x25mm Stainless screws to battens. Support Battens @ 490mm ctrs
55mm Reinforced Concrete Topping Slab. Polished and sealed. 25mm Rigid acoustic insulation Stainless steel angle bracket
Waterproofing membrane
Galvanised steel bracket M10 bolts through batten 14 gauge tek screws to CLT panel
External Brick cladding 230x70x76mm tied back to fiber cement board Fiber cement board 50mm continuous air gap 100mm Rigid Insulation with weather barrier 126mm 3-ply CLT panel 13mm Internal plasterboard treatment
166mm 5-ply CLT panel Glulam beam Interior plasterboard lining
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Scale 1:10
Final presentation, discussion and feedback Design at final presentation: Post mid grit and through the developed design process I have been focusing on developing the vertical circulation and how this can respond to the concept of the ceramic forms and qualities. Through this I have explored how the vertical circulation can connect to this idea through the courtyard space and the creation of a ceramic oasis in the centre of the building. The aim is through the exploration of patterning, light, and reflection this courtyard space can be a peaceful and atmospheric space for people to enjoy while also responding to needs of public and private. The different types and qualities of ceramics is also explored through the exterior vs the interior of the building. Ceramic buttons are used to create a different quality and experience compared to the internal courtyard which is more slumped and demonstrative of the organic forms that ceramics can create.
Questions I had about the design at this stage:
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At this stage I still have concerns over the treatments of my facades and the interior courtyard and how this space is treated. At this stage I have resolved it to a certain level and am now most interested in getting feedback from the critics in regard to how to improve these elements of the facade and how they relate to the design. Therefore my main questions towards the critics will be in relation to the elevation drawings and my perspective and seeking there advice on how a better solution can be achieved.
Final presentation, discussion and feedback
Mid-semester Presentation, discussion and feedback
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What was the critics response and how has this influenced your design? The critics believed that the planning was resolved well at this stage and that they believed the co-housing residential spaces would work and the adaptability element of the design. The biggest concern they had for the planning and layout was in regard to the light well. The light well should be facing towards the north in order to take in as much light as possible into the space, but suggested that this could easily be done through mirroring the space without any major impacts or changes to the rest if the planning.
It was recommended that for the final pin up and drawing set that the sectional drawing be most developed as it is an important drawing to represent the main concept and how it relates to the building. Along with this for more renders to be done, especially one that shows the internal materiality of the ceramic studio and workshop space as that plays an important part in the how the main concept was formed and is also the space that will help invite people off of Mt Eden Road in to explore the building.
Both the critics agreed that a return to revit would be good to explore different potentials for the form of the courtyard panel treatment to work towards more of an organic and slumped feel, similar to the precedents shown. That through this exploration it would have a larger impact sectionally and improve the idea of external vs internal, properly differentiating the different treatments. They both agreed that further work was needed to highlight this differentiation while also suggesting that there could be a alternatively a different relationship between ground floor and the floors above in terms of treatment.
Ultimately based on the feedback I will predominantly work on resolving as best I can the internal courtyard space and how this relates back to the rest of the building. Continuing to explore and develop the form of the space and ultimately working out through the use of the detailing how this can properly work and be put together. How this can better contrast the harder batten facade treatment out onto Mt Eden Rd.
Synthesis of Ideas Adaptability has been incorporated into the residential co-housing in the building, this has been inspired by exiting co-housing precedents. In the final design the residential space provide for two bedroom units and units for individuals, the idea is that these can be opened up into one larger family unit if needed. This allows a level of flexibility and can respond to changing family needs and provide the potential for inter-generational living. Sustainability and climate solutions was considered in relation to the orientation of the site and how the building will be able to receive a comfortable amount of daylight to improve how those living in the building experience the space. This can be seen through the internal light well space that aims to get light into the building, along with the ceramic battens that act as a solar shading on the north facade while relating to the design concept. Te Aranga Māori Design Principles can be seen in the aim to design an inclusive and safe environment open to the community. The co-housing aims to create a strong inclusive community based on sharing and learning of different cultures and cultural values. The shared communal kitchen and gardens and green spaces will help to encourage this strong sense of community. Engineering consultants, speaking with the engineers helped to gain a better understanding of the structure and chosen materials. As a response to this a CLT and glulam structure has been used and is evident in the section and details. User access and movement has been considered in the public spaces on the ground floor and how the community can be safely invited in through the circulation and in the residential spaces and how easy and safe access and movement can be achieved. The vertical circulation is a key part of the design and how this can be used for ease of access while interacting with the different levels of privacy has been explored in the final design. Detailing helped to understand how the ceramic panels in the courtyard could be applied to the building and how these would work in the space. This helped develop a better understanding of the ceramic panel system for the design allowing this internal courtyard to be pushed and further explored, helping to arrive at the final design.
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Final presentation feedback was helpful in developing the internal courtyard space. In response to feedback a focus was made on developing the contrast between the external ceramic treatment and the more slumped and organic internal courtyard treatment. Along with this the courtyard has been faced north in the final design to help receive more natural light.