Week 2 Tutorial Exercise: Capitol Strategies

Capitol Strategies

FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE – Flexible spaces/ functions/ programs in an Artifact

Summary of my understanding:

•         Adaption or changeability available amongst the building
•          The programs of the building may need to change over time (Architecture that adapts over time)
•          Adapting to the needs at the CURRENT TIME
•          More opportunities for other/ extended functions
•          Flexible spaces inside of the building, as well as the exterior
•          Can be extended, renovated, or dismantled to accompany change (in cultural, social, parliamentary etc changes)

Making it possible:

•           Creative thinking to maximize the space opportunity available
•            Large open interior spaces (less structure of walls etc) allowing for temporary or adaptable structures for the functions needed at the time         
•            Bringing the outside into the inside, making a clear connection
•            Reducing the footprint of the building – more functions in less of a space
•      Adjustable walls/ parts of the structural skin

Questions from the Task:

1.     
           What do you think Flexible Architecture benefits Australia?
      It will benefit Australia because it will allow and accommodate for change that we will need to expect over the time.  We will need to begin to predict what’s going to be effective and successful in he near future and this could be done by designing building that allow for this future.  It could be as simple as designing an apartment block with retail spaces on the bottom and then office space and the residential spaces (equipped with a gym and public spaces etc) and people may never need to leave their complex again.  Or also by designing a large open planned building to allow for multiple functions within the building, by constructing temporary structure inside of the open planned building for the program/s needed at the time, then dismantling the current program and erecting new structure/s for the ‘new’ program/s in need.

Flexible Exemplars (Not only pieces of Architecture):

Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon, 1973        

• Mixed use: Arts, dance, theater, movies, concerts (Australian Idol final) and performance, events (bridal expo’s) and is also a tourist attraction for Australia (Australian icon)
• Over 3000 events a year, with annual audience of 2 million people

The Brisbane Exhibition

• Flexible because it has rides, show bag pavilions, entertainment areas and live shows, gaming machines, food pavilions; making it a large, multi purpose and flexible event
• Always having to change and update the rides and the gaming attractions to accommodate for bigger crowd and the more popular choices from other shows around Australia and the world
• As well with the show bags, they need to change for new brands, what’s popular at the current time, for certain age groups, also for the bigger crowds generated and for new wants and needs 

Big W

• Self serve checkouts – adapting the large queues

Restaurants in RSL’s and bars (multi-use venue)

• Spaces to suit buffet and sit down eating in the Restaurant, as well as other functions that are in demand – poker night, and over crowding in other areas (Flexible space conversion)

Public Parks (similar for SUNCORP STADIUM – also a multi-use venue)

• Concerts, family occasions, sports, public events, fitness activities, kids playgrounds etc

MOBILE ARCHITECTURE – Mobile/ movable/ transportable Artifact

Summary of my understanding:
SIMILAR TO MY UNDERSTANDING OF PORTABLE ARCHITECTURE

•            Transportable architecture, e.g. movable on the back of a truck etc
•           A non-fixed/ temporary structure
•            It is transported to where required by any means
•           Could be required during a natural disaster (Tsunami, cyclone, flood or general storms), or also because of a political, social or cultural crisis
•           Move something/ someone to a better place because of being forced or by request/ willingness

Making it possible:

•           It can be moved by means of transport on Land (Truck, car, forklift, hand etc), Water (Boats, any other water proof vessel) and by Air (Plane, helicopter etc)
•           Size restrictions – to fit on the back of a truck, in a plane or by hand etc
•           Regular design problems of climate (What crisis’s may occur etc), client and need requirements

Questions from the Task:  

1.      What do you think Mobile Architecture benefits Australia?

It could be very handy for Crisis’s in Australia, because in the last year there have been floods, cyclones, tsunamis, heat waves and political issues.  The mobile industry could be very handy for moving people and keeping them safe in these unsafe conditions.  For example, mobile shelters could be dropped into places that are getting hit be bad storms and have lost power or parts of their houses and will keep them safe during the storms, or mobile shelter could be transported to safe areas during floods and cyclones (similar to the ones in Toowoomba and Northern QLD) to accommodate for people who have had to abandon their houses and have no where to stay.  Another example could be if Australia is under threat for any reason (e.g. Terrorist attacks) the prime minister/ who ever in under attack could be transported to a mobile artifact to protect them.  There are plenty of mobile possibilities. 

Mobile Exemplars (Not only pieces of Architecture):

GMC Pad – Mobile Architecture by Car         

• Mobile urban loft         
• Resting space while on the road travelling        
• Toilet and living space as well

Minimum Mobile Module – By Lab Zero

• Shipping container Architecture
• Containers are dropped off by cranes into place         
• They unfold out to form a shelter/ miniature house        
• Solar Paneled powered

The Drop off Unit – By Lab Zero

• Transported by helicopter or truck
• To any locations needed for emergency situations and vacancy purposes
• Similar to the other Lab Zero example, however this isn’t a shipping container skin
• It comes as a compact artifact and expands/ folds out to form the sheltered mobile unit
• It has fold down legs in each corner to adapt to any site it has to be/ has been placed on
• Can be erected in 30 mins by 2 people

The Exhibitions (And other shows around Australia and the world), also relevant for Circus’s

• Its transported all around Australia for the Ekka celebrations (from city to city), as well Circus’s travel around performing
• Transported on the back of trucks to each locations
• Assembled on site by the staff
• Its not an emergency type example but is still a type of mobile architecture

Live Acts and Shows

• Another example is travelling bands/ live acts that take around a touring bus and trucks to perform at remote/ unique locations (e.g. Ayres Rock or a beach etc)
• E.g. Crusty Demons (Motorbike performers) traveling for Australian Shows, or the Living End (Band)

VIRTUAL – Experiential or digital reality substitutions, manipulations or representations

Summary of my understanding:         

•       Substitute to reality – representation, Illusion, fantasy or expectation         
•       Symbolic representation of your imagination         
•       Virtual social networking/ communication – no face to ace contact anymore, only over internet and telephone (virtually)         
•             Manipulation of resources

TWO TYPES OF VIRTUAL REALITY

1. Experiential Reality

·         Reading a book or watching a TV show/ DVD and reenacting a scene from your own interpretation of your experience, your own description and act it out virtually.
       
           2. Digital Reality

Sci-fi reality, similar to the movie – the Matrix and the computer game – World of Warcraft.

Opportunities of Virtual Reality:

•           Substitute of physical communication (no need to meet clients face to face anymore)
•           Replacement of hand tasks (manual tradition)
•           Manipulation of resources (making things become automatic)
•           Automation
•           Robotic control, humans controlling a robot to do their physical tasks (e.g. I-Robot Movie)

Questions from the Task:

1.      What do you think Virtual benefits Australia?

Virtual could offer both positive and negatives opportunities for Australia.  Making everything digital/ by substituting regular activities will always be faster and more economical, however it can also sometime be unreliable and not 100% successful.  For example, by replacing face-to-face contact between clients and consultants will disable a good physical contact working relationship and might not be reliable all of the time.  Also the satisfaction of completely tasks on your own makes you feel apart of the team and the responsibility of being the best at your job.  Robots would remove everyday humans from their jobs and might not always be also reliable; however robotic control would save employees cost and time!

Virtual Exemplars:

Substitute for face-to-face communications

• Done digitally through technology advancements
• No one has to meet personally face-to-face and can sometimes be a more productive and effective process to get their business work done
• Examples: Skype, laptop/ P.C webcams or through an iPhone (Or Companies Private Technology)

Substitute for human day-to-day tasks

• Robots under human control, or instructed to undertake these tasks
• The possibility to do house work, teaching, drive the humans around, play sport etc
• Examples: I-Robot (movie)

DISTRIBUTIVE ARCHITECTURE – Distributing to those in need/ who require these services

Summary of my understanding:         

•       Similar to Mobile Architecture        
•              Mobile/ Distributed = Movement/ transporting         
•       Mass production then distributed out to those who require
•             Not centralised
•           There is a targeted audience for the distribution
•            Distribution could be sustainable – recycling of the products
•           Once they have been sent to the supplier and when the supplier is done with the product they can send it back for recycling/ second-hand opportunities

Question to ask?
How does something get distributed?

o   Trucks, cars, helicopters, plane, boats, on foot or by swimming?

·      Where does something get distributed?

o   Remote or common areas of Australia (even possibilities of internationally)

o   Developed or un-developed, upper class or struggling communities in Australia

·         Why does something get distributed?

o   Requests or needs from the supplier, communities or individuals

·         What is the something getting distributed?

o   Anything from food, to clothing to machinery etc

Questions from the Task:

1.      What do you think Distributed industry benefits Australia?

Distribution is required to all parts of Australia and especially to the remote, hard to access parts of our country.  It will always be necessary for Australia to function successfully.  There are also opportunities for companies to distribute to the poor and less privileged parts of Australia through charities or donations.   This is because some of these communities may not be able to afford or gain their hands on these services.  By having a successful and thriving distributive industry it will not only benefit Australia but also their company!  

Distribution Exemplars:

• Distribution Mediums

The distribution industry can provide distribution my multiple types of mediums, and above shows two of the most popular and efficient ways – Truck (Land) and Plane (Air)

Specific exemplar: UNICEF First Aid Relief (This Company uses Plane services to fly in relief to Countries)

• Purposes – Crisis’s

A crisis can occur anytime throughout the year and by being prepared for them is the best way.  Having these means of distribution can also be efficient during these times and may also help saves lives or prevent further problems during these times. 

For Example, during floods, similar to the one in Brisbane earlier this year, theses industries can provide helicopter or plane (Air) services, or boat (Ocean) services to bring them to safety or to aid with supplies until the floods have eased or ceased.