EXP 3: FINAL SUBMISSION

SKETCHUP FILE: http://www.mediafire.com/?pb2k55a91195k86

NOTE: Unfortunately, all of my CryEngine files became corrupted whilst transferring the files from my own laptop to the Red Centre computers. I then lost my USB whilst travelling back home which made recreating these rather difficult. I have worked to try and recreate my elevator today however a more recent file has also became corrupted. At the risk of receiving a greater late-penalty, I have created my screen captures from images previously recorded from my model prior to these issues. Unfortunately, I only took still images and no video recordings - an aspect of my assignment which I hoped to complete before submission. I understand that this is unacceptable, however it was an issue which was unavoidable. I have included my Sketchup model of the elevator/folly parts (in addition to my bridge/school model) and a screenshot of an earlier flowchart for my CryEngine elevator. I hope these are sufficient.

                         

EXP 3: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Architect and planner David Pearson proposed a set of rules regarding organic architecture, among these include the following points:

                   Let the design:

• be inspired by nature and be sustainable, healthy, conserving, and diverse.

• unfold, like an organism, from the seed within
• satisfy social, physical, and spiritual needs.

• "grow out of the site" and be unique.

• express the rhythm of music and the power of dance.

I want my design to satisfy these rules, both in the bridge design and design of the university spaces. The flowing movement of the bridge's pathways/framework is inspired by the roots of a tree, and is to appear as if it has literally grown from the edges of the valley's mountains. In the last studio session, Ro suggested considering the functionality of the pathways and the bridge's overall connection to the mountains. As such I have developed the pathways of the bridge so that the ends of the pathways come together closely at each mountain, but spread out in the middle of the bridge to allow the formation of voids which will allow for organic-shaped buildings to be placed within the 'web' of paths. Thus, the bridge unfolds and 'grows' from the site, whilst the curving/rising-and-falling nature of the paths expresses the rhythm of music, creating a flow of lines similar to notes on sheet music - an important idea to me as I have been reading sheet music and playing piano for almost all of my life. 

On a less aesthetic notion, in the development of my idea, I began to consider the social and cultural connection of the bridge to the landscape. As this site is a world heritage-listed site, any development of this nature would realistically be impossible, however in this proposed design, I wanted to ensure that the site was not damaged by the bridge/university. Thus, the proposed bridge ends will meet with lookout points which are realistic developments that promote tourism as well as access to the university. The bridge ends, where all the pathways come close together, and particularly the main walkway (the walkway which is based off the assigned plan/sections) will meet these lookout points and thus will focus on minimum connection to the actual mountain, but rather to these lookout platforms. Additionally, the bridge will not use any supporting frames touching the valley floor so as to minimise impact on the landscape. Thus, where the university buildings are placed (where the bridge expands in the centre) the only space which is being taken up was already void space. This will allow the bridge to aid as a promoter of tourism - a big focus in Australia - by both providing access across the valley but also providing exquisite views across the vast landscape.  

EXP 3: PLAN AND SECTION DRAWINGS AND S/UP MODEL

My chosen plan to work with is shown below. The curved walls reflect the curving stairway 'pipes' of my bridge both in plan and section, so this was a useful plan to develop from.

Below are my plan and section drawings based from my tracing of the original plan. Whilst they are still fairly undeveloped, the exercise was useful in determining potential spaces to define to each space, and the shape of the void formed between these tubes - for example where a narrow vertical room would go and where a wide horizontal space would go. 

Below are two images showing my further developed sketchup model, in which I attempted to replicate the paths of the curved tubes in my section and plan drawings. the second image shows how the pipes act as stairways by having a path cut into them.