Week 8- Stage 1 (DA Submission)

"Between now and week 10 you are required to research all of the relevant information in relation to the site. It is up to you to determine what information (and controls) are relevant, and what they mean in relation to the site. The links above give you everything you need to carry out this task. You must provide a checklist of all of the relevant controls, with their rules, and the resulting calculation specific to the project site. You must also produce a drawing showing the application of those controls in graphic terms (such as building envelope setbacks, height controls, etc), and another drawing for the site analysis (Item 4 from the DA checklist, as well as pages 6-7 from the Mosman Residential DCP). These must be submitted (via your blog) no later than midnight, Thursday, October 10th."

HEIGHT

·      The maximum height of the building is 8.5m from the land as it is found. (Mosman LEP 2012 HOB)

o   Council may allow an additional storey in attic roof space (DCP pg. 25 p.1B)

o   Council may also consider a pitch roof to extend beyond the building height when consistent pitch roof style is an important local character element (DCP pg.25 P2)

-  Pitch or gable roof form (DPCS pg.25 obj.3)

o   Building on a sloping site that complies with building height control can exceed maximum wall height, if it does not obstruct views from neighbouring property (DCP pg. 35)

-  Where there is a potential view loss, council may require a maximum building height of less than 8.5m (DCP pg.35)

-  New development should be designed to minimize view lost to adjoining and adjacent properties (DCP pg.36)

o   The maximum wall height is 7.2m above the existing ground level (DCP pg.27 item, P8B)

FLOOR SPACE

·      The floor space ration is 1:50 (FSR map Mosman LEP)

o   Definition: Floor space ration of buildings on a site is the ratio of the gross floor area of all buildings within the site to the site area.

o   Total area of land is 713m²

o   50% of 700 is 350m²

o   40% of the remaining 13 is 5.2m²

o   The maximum floor space is 355.2m²

·      Primary balcony should be located off the main living areas and be sufficient enough to promote indoor and outdoor living, in this instance a minimum depth of 3m. (DCP pg.68 obj.P23)

·      The distance between the building and the front property boundary is minimum 5.5m. Council may consider a single carport in front of the building if requirements are met. (DCP pg.53 obj. P5D)

SETBACK

·      From street: Appropriate to neighbours (DCP pg.27 item, P8B)

·      To neighbours:

-  One storey: 900mm

-  Two storey: 1.5m

-  (DCP pg.27 item, P8B)

·      From any sewage + other structures that need to be excavated – 2m (DCP pg.27 item, P7B)

TOPOGRAPHY

·      The building should be sited with regard to topographical features minimizing cut and fill and should be sited to preserve existing significant trees, rock formations and other significant vegetation. (DCP pg.30 obj.9)

·      Existing established trees which contribute to the amenity of the area and trees listed on council urban forest management register are to be retained and incorporated into the building design (DCP p.29 obj.P2)

·      Where an existing tree are approved for removal adequate space in the landscape design is to be provided from a re-placement tree(s) (DCP pg.39 obj.3)

·      When trees are planted as part of development they should not unreasonably obstruct views from neighbouring properties or public views. (DCP pg.39 obj.7)

·      Vegetation and landscaping should:

o   (A). Soften the build form

o   (B). Be consistent with the theme of vegetation in the street scape

o   (C). Form part of the overall street scape thus contribute as a unifying element within the street (DCP pg.39 obj.P4)

·      Our site is part of the proposed habitat link which require wildlife friendly garden (DCP pg.42)

·      The landscape design needs to allow visual surveillance of the street. (DCP pg.43)

·      Minimum soil depths for planting on slabs for:  

o   (A). For ground cover and small shrubs 500mm in height is 400mm depth of soil

o   (B). For medium shrubs up to 1,5m the depth minimum is 650mm.

o   (C). For tall shrubs and small trees up to 5m the depth is 750mm. (DCP pg.43 obj.11)

GENERAL INFORMATION

·      Low density residential R2 (Mosman LEP 2012 HOB)

·      Major side for views – East

·      Sun orientation – North side

·      Weather:

o   Sea breeze from the East

o   Hot winds from the West

o   Rain and storm from the South (South West)

Studio Exercise 4: Week 7

Part 1

·      Ben Van Berkel

·      Nationality: Dutch

·      Born: 1957

·      Buildings:

o   Moebius House

o   Erasmus Bridge

o   Mercedes- Benz Museum

·      As a network practice, a highly flexible methodological approach has been developed which incorporates parametric designing and collaborations with leading specialists in other disciplines.

·      “Quite clearly a question of character, as this man has a lot on his mind. He listens attentively then explains his thoughts with broad gestures, repeatedly picking up his pencil to draw small illustrative sketches on a piece of paper thrust hastily towards him.”

o   Draws a lot – switched to painting.

o   Art fascinates him.

o   Paintings are conceptual- geometric constructions.

o   Fascinated with the use of colour in architecture because by using colour you can change the impression a building makes.

·      Interested in solutions which integrate architectural and technical aspects on an equal basis.

·       Develops several design models.

·      Experiments

·      “If the client is really interested in originality and understands what is required then we are very happy to try out things which have been tried before.”

·      Reference: http://www.baunetz.de/talk/crystal/pdf/en/talk19.pdf

 

·      Deep planning is essentially a methodology of information gathering and organisation, investigating the specific conditions of a project in relation to infrastructure, urbanism, economics and program.

·      Uses digital techniques- comparitvely analysed and structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of a given project.

·      The interest of UN Studio in creating a dialogue between architecture, art and their cultural context is a guiding principle.

·      Reference: http://www.thewadsworth.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Matrix-146.pdf

 

·      “We strive to make a significant contribution to the discipline of architecture, to continue to develop our qualities with respect to design, technology, knowledge and management and to be a specialist in public network projects. We see as mutually sustaining the environment, market demands and client wishes that enable our work, and we aim for results in which our goals and our client’s goals overlap.”

·      Reference: http://plusmood.com/2010/04/reflections-small-stuff-ben-van-berkel-caroline-bos/

 

·      “I like restrictions and I like to play with the puzzle of restrictions. The more difficult, the more I am pressed to innovate. So I like that.”

·      What we are going to do is go more public with these knowledge platforms and communicate what we can achieve with our knowledge, and the knowledge others might have, about how we can build more intelligent buildings, for instance.

 

Above: the UNStudio Knowledge Platforms are formed around the topics of sustainability, materials, organisation and parameters.

·      Reference: http://www.dezeen.com/2013/03/12/architecture-is-still-in-the-walkman-phase-unstudio/

 

·      Reads- especially design magazines

·      “I’m obsessed about public constructs, public conditions and how they separate from private.”

·      Pet cat

·      Fascination for construction- interested in bridges- interested in everything that came from the ground.

·      Where do you work on your designs and projects?

o   When traveling- makes notes anywhere- plan or bed.

o   Writes them down, sketches and photographs.

·      Describe your style, like good friend of your would describe it.

o   Not so easily to dress to one style...

o   I've a few topics where I'm highly interested in, and that is
organizations - the way how a building is structured together -
then in geometry - the way how let's say a building is used -
not in the classical sense of function, but very much in the idea of
how it gives the people an atmosphere to function, so how can
we stretch utilities in the building.

·      No dead ends in his buildings- trying to make projects endless to create a bigger kind of capacity of continuity in them.

·      Reference: http://www.designboom.com/interviews/ben-van-berkel-designboom-interview/

 

·      Van Berkel and his wife, art historian Caroline Bos, are the founders of UN Studio, and together they’ve developed an inclusive concept of architecture that incorporates designers, engineers and specialists in various relevant disciplines to collaborate on large-scale, ambitious projects.

·      Reference: http://bombsite.com/issues/80/articles/2483

 

·      "The living room used to be the most important meeting place in a house – as a semi-public, semi-private space. Now the kitchen has taken over that function. It's the most important place. You don't just cook there; you can sit down and relax."

·      In his own kitchen, van Berkel, who prefers to cook Italian food, even has a sofa. "Together with my wife and daughter I can sit back and feel wonderfully relaxed while one of us cooks," he explains. Ben van Berkel and his wife Caroline Bos run the architectural firm UNStudio in Amsterdam and Shanghai, which gained international renown with the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, shopping centres in Seoul and China, and the building of the Music and Performing Arts faculty at the University of Graz. "I tend to eat more and more consciously," says van Berkel. I eat breakfast too, and now I even take time for lunch."

·      Reference: http://www.gaggenau.com/th/en/essays-on-culture-and-lifestyle/architecture-and-spaces/the-invisible-kitchen/index.html

Part 2

Ben Van Berke and his wife, Caroline Bos are the co-founders of UN Studio, and together they have developed an inclusive concept of architecture that incorporates designers, engineers and specialists in various relevant disciplines to collaborate on large- scale, ambitious projects.

Ben Van Berke has a wife and one daughter, so the design of the house will need to accommodate the needs of the three members of the family. The design of the house will have to be one that is based on structure and function, particularly emphasizing on how it gives people an atmosphere to function. A lot of thought will be put on how certain spaces in the house will allow each member of the family to perform certain tasks and function.

Ben Van Berkel is particularly fascinated in drawing and painting. He is intrigued by the use of colour in architecture because by using colour he feels it can change the impression that a building makes. An art studio/ space would be particularly fitting for Van Berkel to create artworks and plan his architecture.

“I am obsessed about public construct, public conditions and how they separate from private” this quote form Van Berkel is important in considering how to separate the public and private spaces in the house.

Ben Van Berkel has once said in an interview that he thinks the living room used to be the most important meeting place in a house- as a semi- public, semi- private space. Now the kitchen has taken over that function. In his own kitchen, Van Berkel has a sofa. The reason for this is that together with his wife and daughter he can sit back and enjoy each others company while on of them cooks.

Room List:

·      Kitchen

·      Living room

·      Dining room

·      Art Studio

·      Studio (Architecture)

·      Library

·      Study room

·      Master bedroom with ensuite

·      Bedroom with ensuite

·      Guest bathroom

·      Laundry

·      Garage (2 cars)

 

Assignment 1 Submission

For assignment 1 we had to design and model a private residence using 3 geometric primitives. At first I chose a wedge, box and cone but I had a lot of difficulties making these 3 primitives connect in a way to make it look like one shape. This was due to the curved surfaces of the cones, as it did not connect well with the straight/ sharp edges of the box and wedge. I ended up swapping the cone to a truncated pyramid. These 3 primitives worked very well together as they all had straight and sharp edges that connected easily to create a merged design/ shape.

All along I decided to have the truncated pyramid as the base of the design. At first I had the box coming out of one side and the wedge sticking out of the other side but this looked extremely odd so I decided to have a taller structure which I felt worked better.

My design is quite a large structure, with 7 floors however I felt this was necessary because I wanted to spread out each area that we were required to include in our design. As I am aware most residential homes are not high and large I felt that with my design I was willing to break the boundaries of what is considered the standard.

The lower floors are the more public areas, for example, the kitchen, dining and living room and as you descend up the building more private areas are allocated there, for example, the bedrooms, quite areas such as the reading rooms etc.

The first few floors (3 floors) have stairs to move up and down levels. Originally I only had stairs as a means of moving up and down the whole building, but after my interim it was made evident that walking from the ground floor to the top floor is not practical and it was suggested to me to put in an elevator. From the fourth floor to the top floor the only means of moving up and down those levels is by using an elevator. This is much more practical as the top levels are storage areas and it would make it easier for the residents to transport items. The first 3 floors are left with stairs because it more reasonable to move up and down 3 levels.

My final submission for Assignment 1 (Poster board version) can be viewed below (click to enlarge and download):

I have also created a separate PDF file that gives larger copies of the material provided above, for ease of reading instead of zooming in and out.
Download PDF here

[Note: The video (and all the the other outputs) are on the poster pdf not the compiled one.]

Overall, this assignment 1 was quite challenging as there were a lot of boundaries such as the limits of floor space and volume. However this has increased my skills and knowledge in using Google Sketch Up, Photoshop and presentation boards (embedding videos into a PDF document).

Animation

Sketch up model download link
Sketch up model

PDF download link
PDF (Poster) 
PDF (Compiled)


(Note: On my poster board I used a 'Free License' graphic taken from http://dryicons.com. All other graphics are created by me.)