Pathways. Where they lead, how they operate and the potential they provide to unravel. “mapping is less to mirror reality than to engender the re-shaping of the worlds in which people live...uncovering realities previously unseen”(Abrams & Hall). Through the process of mapping, in relation to themes of reciprocity, threshold, and materiality, these pathways became central. Pathways provide a growth of interactions, a web of networks that divide and multiply, reaching all grounds, allowing the relationship between landscape, architecture, and people to merge. Hence pathways attain a reciprocity which is seamless creating a bound and reveal; A threshold which sees a beginning and end or alternatively a continuation; A materiality which evokes.
In response architecture would become shaped by three guiding factors aiming to create a building that would become a gesture to the public:
- Envelopes which encase space and create pockets of light;
- Moulding space so that separate functions link seamlessly to each other;
- A play between Solid and Void, juxtaposing polar opposites of light and dark, open and close, seen and unseen, outside and inside, warm and cold.
DRAWINGS
Site Analysis 1:500
Site Plan 1:500
Ground Floor Plan 1:200
Mezzanine Floor Plan 1:200
Elevations 1:200
Sections 1:200
Perspective Vingettes
Entry
Where inside meets outside is undefined. The main entry, cafe, passageway to the grandsand as well as the main passages from the man hall to outside are all free from permanent enclosure. This choice of thresholds provide intrigue in navigation.
Main Gym Hall
Similar to paths which grow feely, volumes unfold, such as the submerging of the entire mezzanine level into the ground level, where what is seen from the main gym hall - a play of solid, void also creates an intrigue of what is seen and unseen from below and from within. The arts workshop in intersected in to the main gym hall, so that no function is disconnected for each anpther, rather a communication of architectural forms mirror the communication of life occuring within spaces and the external Coogee street scenes.
Arts Workshop
The arts workshop is the only part of the building that is bounded up to the street footpath. Unintrusively the vaiations of set back from the street provide for an interesting facade with the only element touching, a step balcony which allows ease of transition. It provides a constant view of the occurances within, to the outside passersby and vica versa, as well as access to the adjacent grass area.
Small Gym Hall
A framed uniterupted view beyond the oval out to the open ocean
Fitness Studio
Floor windows provide the perfect ambiance of privacy and relaxation whilst still allowing reciprocal glances of the activity occurring within and without of the buidling to the grass area.
MATERILAITY
White Gravel - is a subtle way of communicating access restrictions. The colour choice is an abstract reresentation of the existing white definition lines on the granstand walls.
Concrete Finish - changes colour with the light mirroring the same quality in which the beach attains
Timber features - warm and neutral accents complete the overall aeathetic of the architecture
MODELS
Room to Love - Model 1:100
This outdoor room is the threshold between architecture and landscape, from the main gym hall and arts workshop to the grass area, located north of the site.
Building Model 1:200
Overall buidling as see from the oval
Ground Floor, without the roof
Mezzanine, without the roof
The old grandstand is acknowlegded whilst still transformed into the new aesthetic. The footprint and two main feature walls remain, one within the building and one on the street front. The existing white definition lines on these walls guesture the framing of the sourounding buildngs which is a recurring motif that is also provided design inspiration.
Landscape is the grounding feature of Coogee, just as structure becomes the groudning of a buildng. Here structre has been celebrated and become defining moments in creating space.
Construction Model 1:30
Main construction required is load bearing concrete blockwork to support the weight of the mezzanine
...A desire to explore
