Design Solutions Capstone
A Single Storey Public and Commercial Building
Design Brief
& Background
Existing Site Analysis
As part of my Design Solutions class of my advanced diploma of building design it was required to create a public and commercial building to be incorporated into an existing heritage listed converted service station to a new community oriented building.
The construction was required to provide both public services with a public toilet and change room as well as commercial spaces for a bike service facility as well as a cafe to match the existing cafe facility that would be replaced from the original site.
The duration of this assignment took up only half a semester (8 weeks) and the core of the assignment was within the concept development stage of design. Unlike the UCAP project beyond NCC and Australian Standard regulations the design was not required to be structurally sound rather it was meant to be an assignment where we were able to stretch ourselves and express our more experimental design ideas. As will be shown especially in the detail sketches I tried to make a design that was truly unique and something I may not have the freedom to design again.
Southern Elevation of Existing Site
Eastern Elevation of Existing Site
Site Analysis
Elevations of Existing Site
3D Views of Site Location
Core to the redevelopment is an upstanding and subsequent preservation of the existing site. Three major aspects of the site had to be preserved, the existing palm trees on the east and west sides, the original substation and the existing function of the location being a cafe and social meeting location.
The site contained two very different sides to its south and north neighbors, appealing to both the public social gathering hub of the park whilst also aiming to not overwhelm the existing private venues on the opposing side.
Concept: Landmark
Inspired from the work done on the Tokyo Toilet Project I seeked to create a public space that was aesthetically unique to signify its universal purpose within its context.
Utilizing the unique form offered by the grid shape allowed me to experiment with this idea in more expressive ways than the other options available to us.
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Concept Development
As part of this assignment we were given base forms to work with that would function as our core design.
I chose the grid form as a means of making my structure visually unique from the traditional Victorian style aesthetic of the area
Following the selection of the form was the ways on implementing the basic shape into the existing site.
I focused on three major styles ultimately deciding on the 2nd placement option as it gave the mix of size I needed to fit all the requirements of the design plan whilst not overwhelming the site.
Design Development
To work along side the rebar grid structure is a core of more solid 150 mm gal steel posts, upon these posts is a Kevlar cable system that supports the singular roof and wall system.
The wall and roof system functions as one singular stretch of curved corrugated iron that leads into a central drainage system.
Footing and Wall Detail
Roof Section Detail
In order to incorporate the grid shape into the design I wanted to create a structure that treated the grid as a skeleton with other structural elements working alongside it. Utilizing this lightweight and visually open structure it can serve to be strikingly unique and explicitly different to the existing structure while allowing the original structure to stand out.
Final Design
Ground Floor Plan
1 - Men’s Change Room
2 - Woman’s Change Room
3 - Cafe Work Area
4 - Cafe Service Area
5 - Men’s Washroom
6 - Women’s Washroom
7 - Bike Store
8 - Bike Service Area
9 - Storage
10 - Disabled Washroom
11 - Information Kiosk/Original Substation
Section Short
1 - Woman’s Washroom
2 - Woman’s Change room
3 - Public Waiting Area
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Park View
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Rear Night View
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Cafe View
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Contextual 3D View
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Structural 3d View
