Studio Workbook!
Ready and excited for the new semester! The beginning of this masterplan is last semester’s framework plan, and I expect that this will change and grow with me over the course of this semester
August: Beginning of Master Plan
I’ve been looking through and exploring different opportunities and where I am looking to move with the master plan, and this is a combination of electronic sketches and general notes app with some ideas running through. I have also considered how my vision statement and what I consider to be the identity of the site moving forward looks forward, but both the vision statement and final identity have much to be workshopped on. I have begun some concept and design sketches by hand, which I will properly upload at the end of the week.
At this point it is looking like key moves will be
- Central community hub/focus
- Cross-site connections
- Perhaps something around mixed-use or having mixed incomes
- What commercial communities a lot of the worksites will be catered to in the hopes of further collaboration between those industries
Vision Statement:
Victoria Precinct is a fast-paced community that encapsulates people from all walks of life and is characterised by it’s laneways and thriving collaborative environment. Every part of its design is forward thinking and cutting edge.
“Victoria Precinct: A vibrant urban mosaic where innovation and energy converge, redefining modern living through a dynamic mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.”
Week 2 begins with more block play, as I try to develop the site to a reasonable and navigable structure. Block structures and types is something I really struggle with, so I can predict I’m going to have to spend a lot fo time with this. One of the things that has really been jumping out at me is yo start with the public spaces and paths you want to create and develop it from here, but I am struggling to jump from this to proper block structure without the use of triangles and sharp edges, the planners worst enemy. I have also added a new public space in the corner approaching the Wellesley/Nelson intersection after Kobius’ lecture.
Another thing I have been extreemly interested in this week has been the creation of a public community use building. I want this building to be in the centre, be surroudned by publci space and be extremely interestign looking to set itself apart. What is a city and space if it is not fun? The community building is especially important to my design due to the research abotu the lack of third spaces (a place for people to spend time regularly other than work and home) with the rise of the internet.
Descriptor of Third Spaces: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/why-you-need-a-third-place-and-how-to-find-one/
Further attempts at cross sections to explain the space were made
The final design was picked based on building of the design options and concepts of last week. There is a well defined site edge, allowing for activation both within and o the main site. The mixed-use and largely residential components work well, with open and space and movement being well-integrated into the design, centred around the community building in the centre. The view of the harbour bridge and open space towards the skytower show the two major views of the site, and the community building will also be activated with terraced gardens that help navigate the steep level change, brining residents and visitors alike towards the newly daylighted stream. I believe this works well with my principles, and as it is a car free site the lanes are created to make a human-scale feel and prioritize people over transport. I have also added in a public walkway below the tallest of the buildings which provides both a setback from the site below due to typography changes as well as adds more eyes on the street, making it feel more welcoming and safer.
Week Three was our halfway mark of the semester, in which we presented everythin we had so far. Despite being sure on some of the big ideas I wanted to carry through with this progress, I was still very lost on the final design and struggled to figure out how to make my vision come to light. This meant despite having the break to work towards this slightly bigger deadline, I was still rather stressed and had to put a lot of work in to make it on time. Going into crits for this week I am well aware that much work needs to be undertaken, but feel much more confident in my design then before.
You can see in my design The T building which I am still not sold on, as well as several buildings with funny uncomfortable paths through them. We are trusting the process on this one and hoping the crits will guide through
Page 2 and 3 I don’t have saved anywhere as one file so we rolling with it.
Week Four I was back to the drawing board on the community building. It was very important to me and I spent all week trying to explore different ideas. These are some of the options considered:
I also relooked at movement strategy for pedestrians, another map I struggled to properly comprehend and look good. this was based on the design hoghlighted green above. I also created my Wellesley Street cross section and decided how I wanted to redesign the street! I will redo this again later in my own style after discussions with my classmates, tutor and group to get feedback.
Week Five is where things started to come together. My design starts to feel much more developed and I begin to really enjoy the way I think it will feel and personally can start to visualise the image I had for it come to life. The daylighted stream and full cross-site green connection as inspired by my conversation with Zoe really bring a good feel and I am loving the idea of the jellybean as the community building! The shape is fun while the curve subtlely pulls people along the path and makes it feel homely. It has none fo the sharp curves or corners that I’ve been struggling with, although with the resultant space left over I have once again ended with a triangle. I have tried to soften this but it’s not working so am submitting this with the hope I will be redirected.
This week I also attempted 3D modelling through sketch up and discovered I hated it! It took me most of the week to accomplish and made me extremely frustrated. I will not be one of those people who create their whole design in detail in sketch up, and will simply provide a lovely simple imagery for my final design (AKA I want to do this as little as possible, I can develop my skills in this software at a time when it doesn’t feel like my grade is at stake). I really struggled with this challenge, but luckily was doing it at University, so could ask for help from my friends and classmates when I desperately needed it (at least once an hour) ((I am so sorry thanks so much guys if you read this)).
OKAY WEEK SIX WE GETTING THERE!! PRESSURE IS ON and I am stressed but it’s okay because there is genuinely like three more weeks and then it is OVER. Lots going on as we hit semester PEAK and caffeine is high. This week I have been pulling overtime trying to explore how much I have left to do, what I want my storyboard to look like, the story I want to tell and how I show that best on my boards. It’s slightly scatterbrained but I will allow the boards to speak for themselves. refinement is still needed and I am hoping the guidance and wisdom from the people around me at this week’s crits will get me where I need to go. Trust the process and love the team, we gonna get where we need to be. My first board is still the same so she not included.
Week Seven is a special week in my life where only bad things happen (annual anniversary) . Work was done but i didn’t update my medium this week so we’re skipping it.
WEEK EIGHT LET’S GO!!! I got an extension because of week 7 (slay) so I actually fully dedicated my life to studio this week, 10–16 hour days 6 days straight. It was something else. I am exhausted but feel happy with my design. After reviewing my initial framework plan, I also decided to add a train! It is a last minute addition, but it just made sense to me. This train would be underground, and connect from Wynyard Quarter to Aotea Square due to the new harbour crossing. Adding it to the community building breathes even more life to the area, providing more reason for people to be there other then the lovely amenities and EXCELLENT urban design. It should be built first to limit disruptions to the growing community put in place after the new buildings have been constructed, and the pathways inwards are even better, now lined with Health sector and supermarket to really add to the connection and ensure that everyone can reach their needs in a timely fashion. It is also a resources that helps the wider community and not just the new residents moving in. I hope this will help make it a thriving, connected and lovely place to live. The final design is my final masterplan, and I have decided not to add this to my medium not only because I will talk to it many times later on, but also because the file is massive and my laptop will crash trying (laptop is also trying its best).
Printing completed and final presentation done! I would like to thank Ben my tutor for being the coolest! And for helping me keep the positive attitude towards studio that this year needed. My uni experience and my designs are better for it.
A thanks to my flatmates for being so kind and ignoring everything I said when my laptop would crash for the third time that day, my classmates for the communal effort, Carlo for teaching me sketch up and Megan and Mandy for always sitting in the same place and being willing to answer my questions. Also my dad for driving me to three separate warehouse stationaries for printing when it started to go south. We don’t even live together.
Last but definitely not least! My laptop, for not totally dying. What a dream team.
