Individual Project One Statement

Our proposed scenario for Brisbane in 2050, is a carless CBD which has mitigated and improved the issues listed above through mixed-use infrastructure, retrofits and new buildings. We propose that transit oriented developments and current major centres are decentralised nodes around the city which are beginning to be more self-sufficient, sustaining commercial, retail, hospitality and residential viability.

Mixed use serves numerous purposes. Firstly, it has the capability to create a far more diverse and dynamic city. Rather than concerntrating specific building types in regions of the city, we propose to disperse all building typologies throughout the city. Mixed-use also provides more economic viability. Currently, Queen St is a relatively dormant night space. By providing functions which accomodate day and night activities, better social and economic consquences will happen.

I believe that the only way that we can really improve the current conditions of the environment is to provide economic gain for developers. Flourishing social engagement is what will achieve economic gain so designing for the context and what the community actually needs will play a big part. 'Erasing Architecture into the system' by Arata Isozaki mentioned an interesting point - 'Though to do this, his method does not necessarily require utopian or monumental constructs, but rather proposes lightweight recombination’s of disposable components'. For change to happen, the infrastructure to support does not have to be monumental. We already have developed infrastructure over the past, why not use these and provide low impact alternate uses. Part of the challenge for future architects will be to solve issues without monumental change. A lot of change will come in leadership, which hopefully architects play a significant role.

Exhibition

Walking around the exhbition displayed very similar concepts about how to approach the future. Without reading other concepts, it appeared as though the future of sustainability includes a closer relationship with nature. Green washing cities, whilst a very good idea (our concept involved this to a degree), is not at the core of the issue. More awareness of the economic and social sustainability factors which contribute to climate change would enlighten readers that it is not just about 'planting more trees'.

Architectural Possibilities: Queen St Uses

Queen St now is a diverse region - it has mixed use mainly retail and then finance, hospitality, transport and some commercial amongst. Do we want to change that? What about the city? Developing mixed-use typologies which address insuffiencies in the urban region is an interesting study to look at.

There is a trend recently of retail moving towards online shopping. How can this be incorporated into a proposal for 2050? Do we want to move away from human personability? What if regions around retail encouraged more use of retail?

There could be two main possibilities that happen:
1. Trying to retain the experience of shopping in stores and malls.
2. Accepting the fact that online shopping will continue to develop and then potentially reducing or removing retail from a region.

This could be an interesting study for next assignment.

Queen Street currently is a busy public spot during the day, however, at night time seems to be empty which is lacking a lot of potential. By using mixed-use infrastructure, a more diverse CBD could be established which improves economic, social and environmental aspects. The issues raised in the previous tutorials can be addressed also by mixed-use.

Developing a northbank riverside attraction would also benefit the city. Providing a user-friendly riverside walkway/ public space could attract more economic and social function.

High-speed rail link from sunshine coast to brisbane to gold coast expands the social and economic possibilities.

Characters for the Architectural Fiction

Identifying the characters (users) of Brisbane in 2050 is helpful in establishing what we are designing and who it is for. Firstly, our future scenario requires significant change which can only be granted from leadership.

Architects need to be passionate about change in Brisbane. A central protagonis group of architects would make up the leaders for this change. Not only do they foresee issues for future generations, they cannot see the benefit in producing architecture which uninformed, off the shelf and 'useless' to society. They are commissioned by the Government in 2020 to develop a long-term plan for Queensland, Brisbane CBD in particular. The government leadership is interested in change. Not only would some funding come from the government, but help would be required to inform the public and gather support.

The condition of the architect will transfer from starchitect to architect. This will set egos aside and start promoting the potential of a site. By starting to promote architecture as a tool for change, societies opinion of architects will shift from a mere 'designer' to a tool for development.

Other characters in our future scenario would be a politician (vital for change) and a series of typical people from Brisbane. A mother, a student, architect (protagonist), politician, office worker, person who lives inner city and a typical shopper. All characters would need to benefit from the future scenario, highlighting the social and economic benefits which come with the proposal.

Carless City - Decentralised City

Trams once served Brisbane CBD from 1885 to 1969. Trams served the inner city region and were held with great affection by locals. An example of trams used in current society is in Melbourne. They are the second most used form of transport. To reduce congestion in peak hour there are special lanes, lights and right of way road laws. I believe this would ideal to restate into the inner city to replace no-car zones. Light rail can be high fequency, low volume which constantly serve the inner city region. Technology to make the trams run on alternate energy would make this a clean form of transport making it far more convenient travelling from one end of the city to the other.

The light rail could operate from all the inner city rail stations (South Bank, South Brisbane, Roma St, Central and the Valley) so that people are encouraged to use rail or busways.

This diagram shows how Brisbane can take advantage of the existing TOD and Major Centres. Making the city carless presents transport issues for people who usually drive. By providing more carparking and better ways of accessing TODs and Major centres (Satellite Nodes), the need for cars will be decreased. These satellite nodes can become more self-sufficient to reduce the strain upon the city. Designing according to the community needs at these points would benefit the localise areas around the satellite nodes while reducing strain upon the city. 

The issue in this would be to make sure the city is still viable. I think that the city will always be a popular, high population region. Current trend in Brisbane is for urban sprawl - higher population is pushing the city outwards, eating into precious bio-diversity. Densifying the urban condition in the inner city would counter the need to spread. More high rise residential will therefore mean more people will be inner city. Eventually, the satellite nodes may become macro versions of the CBD. Keeping these developments sustainable is the key so the issues mentioned in the previous weeks tutorials must be developed in parralel.

Reading Week 4

Architectural Weaponry: An Interview with Mark Wigley

This blog was an interesting change up in thought about Architectural theory. Mark Wigley discusses how architects should change their way of thinking for more exciting industry progresses. I agree and disagree on a number of terms. Obviously I would like architecture to be a dynamic profession which tests ideas, no matter how abstract. However, it is a risky and often unrewarding experience by delving into new and 'science fictional' type ideas. Clients, tutors and peers are constantly judging our ideas critiquing it with their subjective point of view. Not that this is a bad thing, it kind of questions whether architecture is the way it is because pragmatic responses are guarenteed to be at least somewhat correct.

Wigley discusses how people love to know what their future is going to be. I agree as I am often wondering what is in store for myself. Wigley says that we should all be in the present, and let the future take its course. This is an exciting prospect but is somewhat ignorant of the fact that we are currently in a stage of human history where we need to develop a plan for future issues. I am unsure of what to think of this other than the fact that architects could provide a framework for the future, which is broad but mitigates current issues.

Week 03: Sustainable Future

This tutorial involved looking at the sustainable future of Brisbane. To reach the future, the past and current issues must be addressed and re-configured for the future:

- Transport (Smart Cars, better transport infrastructure)
- Energy Use (Alternative energy sources, smarter electrical grid, end of oil era approaching in future)
- Waste (Dealing with our waste better)
- Water (We are running out of water world wide)
- Resilience (Against future scenarios presented)
- Biodiversity/ Environment (Protection, generation)
- Health (Obesity, drugs and alcohol, mental health)
- Food (Resource consumption)
- Population Increase (From other states or countries)
- Fossil Fuels


Transport:
Transport is the second largest consumer of energy in Queensland behind electrical generation. Developing strategies improve public transport and private transport is necessary. Potentially looking at a carless city. Tax on cars which run on fossil fuel. This rewards cleaner transport. Will force manufacturers to develop cleaner cars and market better. May need permits for people who live in city.  Need to consider ways for Emergency Vehicles and Disabled and Service vehicles.

Look at light rail, high frequency, low volume.

Bikes (providing storage in buildings, carparks can be bike stores now)

Rowing to work. clubs;. need better accessibilty from river. Potentially canals in city??



Energy Use:

Alternative energy sources, smarter electrical grid, end of oil era approaching in future.

Facade film that generates energy and solar panels.

Turbines.

- The largest consumer of electrical energy is actually the electricity generation industry which contributes 71 million tonnes of carbon emissions. 
- Looking at implementing more alternative energy systems from the money generated from carbon tax. Introduce new design regulations for new developments to store an amount of water and treat on site.

Waste:

- Collection points that suck waste to collection points to remove need for collections.
- Feeding more waste back into the loop. Providing alternate uses for waste? 
 
 Water:

The table below shows water consumption by sector. Agriculture industry consumes most water which could be addressed by better irrigation. Within Brisbane, better storage of water on site to use as grey water.

Biodiversity/Environment:

Upholding biodiversity in Brisbane is utmost importance. In Brisbane, Brisbane City Council aims to have 40% of Brisbane land with biodiversity. Hotspots within Brisbane will be protected with the intent to connect ecological corridors.
- Reduce urban sprawl so that we can be surrounded by more farm land.
- More greenery in city to reduce. Laws that requires green roofs.

Health (Obesity, drugs and alcohol, mental health)

- Creating a social loop at water’s edge.
- Row to work.

Food:

With a reduction in cars and congestion in the city, cleaner air will occur. This could provide more ideal environments to design sustainable landscapes which bear fruit or vegetables.

- Smart landscape design which is more than ornamentation. Using trees that bear fruit, or urban farms.
- Improving hospitality in mixed use.

Population:

The diagram below shows population growth in Queensland over the last 10 years. Brisbane has seen the most growth. Inner city population has increased the most with outer suburbs as well indicating sprawl and strain on inner city living. Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast have also increased dramatically. A lot of people commute from the coasts to Brisbane.

Fossil Fuels:
Need to reduce or find alternative uses for fossil fuels. Queensland industry is driven by the mining sector. If coal was suddenly an unused entity, then there would be financial and social repurcussions. By slowly phasing out fossil fuels, people who lose their jobs could re-directed towards alternate energy use.

Lecture Week 03

This weeks lecture was on 'How to measure sustainability' by Murray Lane. This was quite an interesting lecture which provided another perspective on the triple bottom line basis of sustainability. Murray was proposing that sustainability can be split into principles and context when analysis a project. Principle is the core values or never changing elements - the bare essentials which sustain human life. For example, shelter, love and safety are principles of architecture. Context is the ever changing factors such as culture, economy and climate.

Murray raised quite a valid point which has never occured to me, although it seems quite obvious. Claims for sustainability need to be backed up by reasoning, considering design, construction through to operation. So considering construction techniques, materials (recycled? local? embodied energy?) and operation. To literally call a project 'sustainable' means it is able to sustain itself which is difficult.

I think that it is near impossible to try and consider all these factors in a project. Perhaps a project needs to have systems in place that eventually mitigate and offset resource use, embodied energy and operation of buildings.

Week 02: Future Visions and Scenarios

This tutorial involved imagining some future scenarios which could potentially occur in Queensland. Considering the future of this state is quite difficult but obvious at the same time. The dynamics of the state are a constantly changing notion which is hard to predict, however there remains a looming global issue of rising CO2 emissions and the impact that will have on the earth which is hard to ignore when looking towards the future.

A difficult idea I am coming to terms with is whether there is a solution or any action on current issues which can direct the path we take in the future. Society is an intertwined fabric of elements which has been constructed over months, years, decades and centuries which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to suddenly fix isssues. Humans have a 'conception of progress that prioritises industrial growth and economic expansion' which led to 'innapropriate technologies and systems of manufacturing and construction' (Design for Sustainability - Janis Birkeland, 2002). Queensland is a functioning state on an economic and social basis, however, there is an obvious lacking of environmental initiatives in the main cities to balance out the triple bottom line.

The last 40 years has seen some improvements in the way we manufacture and manage industry. For example, phasing out of CFC's in appliances, implementing a carbon tax to clean up industry, greener public transport and improved travel infrastructure to try and mitigate congestion in busy zones. These initiatives can create awareness in society to get the ball rolling on bigger and better initiatives.

What plans are in place now?

The Brisbane City Council has a vision to be a carbon neutral. They propose a series of initiative such as planting more street trees, purchasing carbon offsetting credits and reduce council activity energy consumption by 50% by 2026. These initiatives set a good example for the rest of Brisbane

Our future vision for Queensland 2050 is an improvement in social, economic and environmental aspects of Brisbane City. Brisbane needs a revitalised plan to follow or at least become aware of to move towards a preferable future. Being the state of Queensland, it is important that Brisbane CBD sets a role model for change. We propose to analayse and develop the following broad, but integral issues:

- Transport (Smart Cars, better transport infrastructure)
- Energy Use (Alternative energy sources, smarter electrical grid, end of oil era approaching in future)
- Waste (Dealing with our waste better)
- Water (We are running out of water world wide)
- Resilience (Against future scenarios presented)
- Biodiversity/ Environment (Protection, generation)
- Health (Obesity, drugs and alcohol, mental health)
- Food (Resource consumption)
- Population Increase (From other states or countries)

These issues can be addressed by re-evaluating the way we look at mixed-use typoligies in and near the city. More diverse building typologies can create interest in the city as well as improve conditions.

Any initiatives proposed must have economic viability for the developers or governments that fund it. Next week I will elaborate on the issues listed above.
Transport

- Transport sector is the second largest entity of energy consumption in Queensland. (Diagram).  
- Congestion during peak hour periods.

Energy Use

- The largest consumer of electrical energy is actually the electricity generation industry which contributes 71 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

Waste (Dealing with our waste better)
-A lot of what waste and recycling we collect is not properly used.

Water (We are running out of water world wide)
As population worldwide increases, we need to consider 'peak water'.

Resilience (Against future scenarios presented)
Protecting Queensland against physical and economic distasters.

Biodiversity/ Environment (Protection, generation)

- Reduce urban sprawl so that we can be surrounded by more farm land.
- More greenery in city to reduce. Copenhagen has a mandatory law for all new buildings with a slope less than 30 degrees to have a green roof. http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/green-roofs-now-required-by-law-in-copenhagen.html

Health (Obesity, drugs and alcohol, mental health)

- Creating a social loop at water’s edge.
- Row to work. 
- Architecture which is dull and boring is reflected in human performance.


Food (Resource consumption)

- Smart landscape design which is more than ornamentation. Using trees that bear fruit, or urban farms.
- Improving hospitality in mixed use.

Population Increase (From other states or countries)


Sprawl and resource consumption.

Fossil Fuel
Can we find another path for the use of Coal, a major source of the Queensland economy.

Evolution or revolution?

This lecture looked at 'What If.....' scenarios. A few examples of fictional examples of future scnearios were shown. Robots of Brixton by Kibwe Tavares was a student project which won the Presidents Medal Student Award. This movie is a social comment on how technology may eventually destroy human beings.

 

When listening to an online lecture the other day, I heard an interesting phrase: 'Evolution, not revolution'. Revolution in this case, was related to Le Corbusier's 'Plan Voisin' which proposed a new administrative city masterplan in Paris. Le Corbusier proposed to replace part of the organic city layout with a new organised city grid which contained highrise buildings which contrasts with the scale of the surrounding region. The design was based around the introduction of new technologies in the 20th centurty, the car and film. Le Corbusier looked at the past patterns of humans and proposed to solve issues such as traffic congestion, providing a working district and 'improving the image of the city. This bold concept obviously never came to fruition, however, it poses an interesting question of whether the ideas generated in the design would 'solve' human issues.

Evolution is life adapting to the surrounding organisms and climate which confronts us. Evolution has presented the architecture of the past, and provides the foundations for the future.

Both these terms can arguably be considered positive for the future. In one case, revolution attempts to take past and current issues to provide a better future. On the other hand, evolution suggests we adapt and evolve to the surroundings. I think it is a mixture of the two. As mentioned in my previous blog, good design is considered and sustainable. Rather than tear up the historic city of Paris to replace with a 'new and shiny' city, relocate to an under-developed region. Perhaps also looking at the ways we live, and attempt to adjust day to day activities we take for granted. Humans for the past thousands of years managed without technology. Before we run ourselfs into the ground, serious thought has to be given to the development of technology and industrialisation of the world. The past has been built by  relatively technology free world - whether it will last is the question.....

http://aftercorbu.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/plan_voison_paris.jpg 

Past, Present and Future Architecture

This video hosted by OMA invites Bjarke Ingels to discuss architecture in past, present and future.

Ingels discussed that architecture tends to fail to capture the engagement of the user without explanation from the designer. As architects, we spend so much time during the design process justifying our desicions. Should buildings be self-explanatory to users or should designers need to enlighten the user? Does it have to fit into the surrounding context and tell a story which is familiar to the locals or can it oppose? Is there a right or wrong answer?

One argument is that architecture can be compared to art. Art has no limits or right or wrong answer. Just like art, you can argue that there is no right or wrong answer for a building concept and justification. What seperates architecture from the arts is the ability for a building to impart significance into the daily lifestyle of a human being. As architects of the present and future it is important for design to be considered and sustainable whilst having social and econmic significance. Retaining or improving built environment character and social dynamics of cities/countries during the new era of 'sustainability'  is important for balance on the 'triple bottom line'.