Form & Materials Development

 I experimented with use of timber. Timber is a natural material which suits the green theme I had running through the site, however it would not last too well in a sub-tropical climate exposed to severe sun conditions. Perhaps if I restricted the use of timber I could use it in shaded areas and in smaller quantities so that it can be maintained better.

I angled the existing myer tenancy over the pedestrian thoroughfare to create a visual link and physical presence however felt it was too much expression of design.

  

 I tested a glazed facade. It looks very commercial which could be a deterrent to users.

  

I tried glass bricks as the facade material. The blocks have a boutique feel about them which resembles a retail precinct. Also, the use of glass bricks can diffuse direct sunlight and insulate better compared to single or double glazed facades.

 

The residential block is a perforated steel screen. Perforated stainless steel facade reduces solar radiation by 60%. Results in 50% reduction in energy loads by users. Allows privacy for residents, while maintaining views to exterior.

  

Testing of floor materials. Patterned floor. Very busy which could be over-decorating for a space which has majestic voids and interesting simple materials.

I tried a darker tile. It did not really go well with timber. Perhaps timber is not appropriate for this space.

 
I found the dark tile very commercial, and oppressive for such a light and open space.The polished white concrete is a highlight to the public steps.

 Using the white polished concrete everywhere gives a very sterile feel. Need some more texture.

 

 Concrete floor pavers gives the space some rustic nature.

Experimentation of Elizabeth St Entry facade.

Sketches

This sketch is a section through through the site (Elizabeth St to Queen St). I wanted to establish a circulation channel through the site at ground level and then have the other uses above and below. By mixing the location and relationship between the spaces, more diverse spaces are created. Issues to consider is the change in levels between Elizabeth and Queen St, circulation up and downwards and whether people will use the spaces if they are in inconvenient locations. There would need to be a purpose to get people to use spaces.

 

 Developing the atrium and circulation.

Since the scope of my project changed from redeveloping the entire Myer Centre to a section of it, the need to jamb as much floor area as possible is no longer required. This sketch shows a more levelled approach to the planning. I want to try and get circulation through the site, but also have a public which feeds directly off the retail, food and hospitality uses. Also, creating a visual link with retail above was a goal. How I treat the heritage facade is still developing.

Myer Centre Program

The total leasing area of the Myer Centre is approximately 63,500 sqm comprising of Department Stores (Myer Centre, Target, Best & Less, etc) 49.3%, Discount Outlets 11.5%, Supermarket 3.1%, Mini Major Shops 6.6%, Specialty 21.8%, Other Retail 6.3% and Non Retail 1.4%. Other uses such as a cinema and bars are within the Myer Centre and contribute to the use of the site.

The future role of retail will be signficant in determining the program and design of the Myer Centre. Recalculating the design of the Myer Centre should consider the following:

- Attempting to get more value out of the overall site to lower tenancy prices. This is a way to 'compete' or introduce similar characteristics of online shopping into physical retail.
- Zones or spaces for 'market' or 'pop-up' retail. Smaller tenancies in the myer centre could become these pop up shops to reduce operating costs. This market archetype is more conducive to spontaneous shopping which suits the site. Having these zones near circulation is important because users are not likely to travel three floors up or down to visit an unknown store. The core retail of the Myer Centre will always attract significant amounts of the store users so the location of those stores can be inconvenient or located away from circulation. If avoidable, retail would ideally be convenient to access.
- Tailoring the shopping experience to Brisbane. This relates to shops inside, products sold, design responding to the local culture and climate moreso that a generic shopping centre cliche.
- This is more of a retail theory rather than design theory - products that last and reflect quality. Trends are quick so designing products which aren't so indulgent but stand the test of time.
- Timeless design to cater for adapting and evolving tenancies but require minimal refurbishment over time other than lightweight reworks of individual tenancies. Looking into open play retail layouts similar to department stores but for numerous retail precincts.

The program of the Myer Centre would need to remain similar to the current precinct. What would benefit the site is introducing of more uses but also recalculating how the smaller retail tenancies operate. Rather than re-design the entire Myer Centre, an 'intervention' or retrofit of a section could go a lot further and be more efficient and less waste of money.

Week 11 - Tutorial

This week I began modelling up the existing myer centre and surrounds. This gave a good understanding of scale and the issues present in the site. The topography of the area slopes from Queen St to Elizabeth street, as seen in the sections below. Modelling up the myer centre also allowed me to understand the existing structure to see what I can preserve to reduce demolition.

  Section through existing Myer Centre. Roof is not modelled yet. Services and administration is located on the top floors, retail, food and cinemas in the middle levels and 3 level carpark located on the bottom 3 levels. There is also a bus tunnel which goes through the site. I need to acquire a map or section which explains the location further.

 This render explores the idea of atriums and greenery as a retrofit. The heritage facade will present issues with access and freedom with the Queen St entry, however it is necessary preserve the facade.

 This render was an attempt to test a large open space within the Myer Centre, behind the facade. The facades along Queen St block a lot of light so skylights and light from Elizabeth St side will need to be explored.

Mixed - Use

The urban region provided by Yasu is predominantly retail used buildings. The high street retail is adaptable to change, however, the Myer Centre is a shopping centre which is 'anti-social' and seperate from its surrounds. My project involves retrofitting the Myer Centre and introducing two new uses of public space and accomodation. I have chosen the myer centre because of it's existing use and potential for improvement of site and significance within the city. Mixed-use will be play a vital role in diversifying cities whilst improving social, economic and environmental factors.

Mixed-Uses

The future does not necessarily mean complex new innovative design which revolutionise the way we look at cities. To quote the great man himself, Bjarke Ingels, evolution is the process underpinning our worlds so why not continue. Retail was the starting point to my study into the area. If you look at the region, it is predominantly retail mainly in the form of high street and shopping centres. Currently 5% of online sales comprise total sales. This is slowly increasing. An interesting notion to consider is the role of online and physical shopping in the future, 20 years perhaps. If we consider the current trend to be accurate, approximately 20-25% could make up online sales. It is impossible to predict. But this will definitely impact the role physical brick and mortar retail has upon society. I think the experience of physical retail will become a future persuit of architects as the comfort of the bedroom or household is better than going to an average public building, which is congested, tacky and uneventful.

I think that the future will present a more dynamic architectural typology which is based around more versatile spaces, but then core spaces integral to society will become hubs which nurture the primal human interaction and emotions. Nurturing spaces can be embedded within the earth to symbolise the unmovable characteristics of the buildings and then the street level and elevated spaces represent the ever changing, superficial and stimulating nature of society. They can present visual cues and insights into the operations of the building.

I envisage the site to become a 24/7 retail precinct integrated with public space, transport, accomodation/residential and hospitality. The goal of the project is to achieve 24/7 activation which in turn improves social, economic and through smart design, environmental aspects.

24/7 retail is an interesting concept which gives freedom to users just like online retail does. If the environments are safe and thriving during night time, it could become a viable idea. I would like to do some research on the integration of technology and retail, potentially allowing shoppers use the facility without the control of humans during night periods.

My intention is to encourage the stimulation of physical retail, but to not ignore the rise of internet shopping. I want to see how they can integrate together, potentially thriving off each other. How could the precinct possibly include ideas of internet shopping into the physical experience? People love to actually feel the texture of their items, purchase it instantly in the shop without having to wait long delivery periods which online shopping has. Some people try clothes or shoes on at shops but then go home and buy it online. This means that prices can often be lower than in store prices. But then again you pay for the expertise of the salesman. I am unsure just yet, but what can the physical store offer/ do to improve customer experience and potentially match the price of internet shopping?

Retail tenancies have to pay rent, electricity, payroll, fixtures, shrinkage loss, all contribute to the gross margin and overhead of doing business in a shopping center. (http://couponing.about.com/od/bargainshop/a/onlinecheaper.htm). 

Tutorial Week 10

Spoke to Davor about concept development. Same issues came up from previous weeks tutorial. He had too main criticisms which I agree with, and instantly understood.

1. This idea of the research institute in the mixed-use precinct is too broad and is frequently seen throughout Brisbane. The government recently built the 'Ecosciences' precinct which is a highly collaborative research facility for 1000 odd scientists. 'Science at the precinct focuses on climate change, protecting our natural resources and environment, and ways to grow our farming, forestry and marine industries so they are competitive and sustainable.' 

I have to be careful that the precinct and function of my proposal is not redundant or unnecessary. It is also important to consider what will be needed in 10-20 years time. Buildings which may be functioning fine now may be influenced by rising populations and the pressure of local and global issues.

2. I was very adament on demolishing the Myer Centre building to make way for my new precinct. This was due to a few reasons:

• The building has no real identity link to Brisbane other than the function it serves.
• The building basically deactivates and ignores the activity of Elizabeth St which has an effect upon nearby sites such as Queens Park 
• Retail in 10-20 years will be another ball game.

While these are all valid reasons, I think I need to reassess the building to see what can be done to the existing structure and envelope in terms of the new proposal.

Guest Speaker - Alexis Sanal

The guest speaker from Turkey presented many of her projects during the lecture and visited tutorial rooms during the afternoon. She was very invigorating and seemed very optimistic about the future of design. I sat in on a group of students who presented their assignment to her during the tutorial. It was based on removing business from the CBD and replacing it as a central place to live. They had design ideas which created interesting but ambitious spaces within the city. Her comments were insightful but suggested that commercial and business aspects of the city remain. She was very optimistic about implementing radical ideas to create stimulating ideas to live and work in which is suprising for a practicing architect.

Concept Sketches and Ideas so far

This blog is to recap thoughts and ideas and to present some concept sketches for the building form.

I saw the need for tangible built solutions that address future issues but also make the public aware of the actions by integrating inhabitable spaces with the functions. I propose a research institute for developing technology and research in mitigating future issues, residential units to cater for rising populations, retail but underground to allow prime city land to have better use, public green spaces, hospitality and food. The recognition of the heritage listed facades will also allow users to connect with the past. It is a very diverse site. The research is broken into 9 fingers - transport, food, population etc. And each finger is viewable to the public.