Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Week 5 Studio| Project 1 Development

We had a group meeting before the studio to figure out and finalise what direction we were taking with this project. We decided that public presence is the main issue and started discussion how we could enhance it within the parliament structure. We had to research on how bills and laws were passed. We thought it would be important if a group of the public were able to influence the decision before they get passed. We found that here - the direct connection between the public and the parliament is needed.
During discussion between our tutor in studio time, we really needed to narrow down to our point. We had looked too broadly and needed to think about the things that would need and influence what our idea was.
We decided to breakdown the project sections and assign each of us. I choose Capital Strategy since I had been researching on the initial idea. Hayley was assigned Capital Infrastructure and Presence and Tash got the Architectural Investigation section. Next week we plan on collaborating and writing the Project Statement together.


Our discussion looking at a broader scale on improving and adding to infrastructure:
- transportation infrastructure: bus and city cycle
- Canberra has a more compact urban fabric so city cycle will work
- Support infrastructure: services of natural gas, electricity, water
- Digital network: internet access (wi fi at home, coffee shops, buildings), user friendly interface, correct planning documents accessibility online (for students, home owners, builders), citizen login to protect against terrorism and alien invasions


Our group discussion after talking with the tutor - narrow down to our idea:


Vision for Australian Capital - Capital Strategy
- public presence: public committee – lottery
- public presence interaction with parliamentary functions inside the chambers
- create a live forum for debate between the public and the MP’s. debate for passing final judgement of passing laws. Q&A format – tv show on ABC
- connection between federal and the people
- we are adding in a function


Vision for Australian Capital - Capital Infrastructure & Presence
- looking at building infrastructure
- opening up parliament
- flexibility: how will it effect the presence?
- modifying elements to create connectivity
- altering the function of the forum


Architectural Investigation – Architectural Types & Purposes
- presence is the people: our innovative suggestion is to open up parliament. We are reversing parliament’s presence by giving the people the presence. “people over government”
- a service of a point of contact. How is the ‘public committee’ being formed? Being randomly selected/register interest.
- Services of space: audio, visual, technological, seating, acoustics, ventilation, water
- Amenities are outside the forum space – new or connected?
- Identification of entrances: signage


Architectural Investigation – Architectural Presence & Identity
- publicity
- sympathetic to the original symbology of capital hill
- BUT this can also allow for the push into the 21st century
- Building fabric: adding to it – layers of time
Our parliament is secluded and idolised. So by incorporating the flexible strategy we can open parliament up and let the people be one with the parliament. The utilization of flexibility and flexible structures can allows us to create an architectural entity that provides that function


Individual Project Development





Problem Statement Public Presence


Public presence is essential within parliamentary chambers so that Australian citizens (the public) are able to influence the passing of final judgements of laws and bills. More importantly, the public are able to be involved in live debates on matters of public importance.


Currently, Senators and Members are involved in the process of debates and passing judgements of laws and bills. While the public can watch through the public galleries designated within the parliamentary chambers. The only way the public can influence legislation and laws prior to the parliament sitting is through their local Member of Parliament.


Through creating a live forum within the parliamentary chambers it will facilitate debate between the public, senators and members of the parliament. Furthermore, this will allow for public presence within the structure of the parliament.




Response - Innovative Idea A Forum for Debate


Provide a forum for parliamentary discussion that encourages Australian citizens to directly influence decisions before being
officially passed.


Function of the Public Gallery: whenever the Houses are in session, the public are able to view the proceedings of both the House of Representatives and the Senate from the public galleries. Yet a member has observed: “less successful is the interaction of the public & the members”. From this, the new function of a type of public committee is to be formed and inserted into the parliamentary chambers. Thus, creating a direct connection between the public and the parliament.


Location of Parliament on Capital Hill



Location of the Chambers of Parliament. East - House of Representatives. West - Senate.



Understanding the structure of how bills and legislations are passed. From this understanding, we realise that we need to insert the 'public presence'. We need to provide a space where the public are able to interact with the senators and members.


The Legislative Process - The Making of an Act (complex): http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/explore/education/factsheets/factsheet_3.6_makingofanact.pdf



Original diagram is sourced from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Legislative_Process_in_Australia_flowchart.png



The wiki diagram is simple and easy to understand. Adapting from that diagram and adding that 'public presence' within Parliamentary Debate.






Examples of Flexible Architecture:


Sliding House, Suffolk, UK by DRMM (Alex De Rijke), 2009
"Sliding House offers radically variable spaces, extent of shelter, sunlight and insulation. The dynamic change is a physical phenomenon difficult to describe in words or images. It is about the ability to vary or connect the overall building composition and character according to season, weather, or a remote-controlled desire to delight."




Source: http://www.dezeen.com/2009/01/19/sliding-house-by-drmm-2/


32sqm Apartment, Hong Kong, China, by Gary Chang, 2007
"The key idea is that everyone could look into their home more carefully and into how better to optimise their resources, because space is a resource. There is no use making your home as if it is a perfect show flat but at the same time never using the space."
Sources: http://www.designbuzz.com/entry/call-a-flat-with-24-rooms-tiny-because/
http://www.archdaily.com/59905/gary-chang-life-in-32-sqm/


Living Light, Seoul, South Korea by ‘The Living’ (David Benjamin and Soo-in Yang), 2009
"Living Light is a permanent outdoor pavilion in the heart of Seoul with a dynamic skin that glows and blinks in response to both data about air quality and public interest in the environment."




Source: http://www.public-art-directory.com/the-living-david-benjamin-soo-in-yang-living-light-2009-seoul-south-korea_city-104.html


Habitat 67, Quebec, Canada by Moshe Safdie, 1967
Prefabricated units for living.
"Integral to the sense of community Safdie sought to create at Habitat are its external walkways, called pedestrian streets, which interconnect the multi-leveled residential modules on five different storeys."


Sources: http://www.msafdie.com/#/projects/habitat67
http://twistedsifter.com/2009/05/the-habitat-67-residences-by-moshe-safdie-montreal-canada/


Institute de Monde Arab, Paris, France by Jean Nouvel, 1987
"Oriental ornaments, imitated with Western high-tech materials, create wonderful light reflections and shadows into the building’s interior."
Sources: http://moreaedesign.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/more-about-institut-du-monde-arabe-paris-france/
http://architecture.mapolismagazin.com/ateliers-jean-nouvel-inter-cultural-institut-du-monde-arabe-paris

No comments:

Post a Comment