Conceptual Imagery

Some images from the concept submission.

Feedback: Far too monolithic, a much closer urban analysis required to understand patterns within the landscape. Stating that I was avoiding the 'Bilbao effect', I have in effect created it with this proposal.
Next steps are to create a complex and functioning master plan, then select a section to focus upon. More research into the historical context of the site might be another avenue for success. Also avoiding objectifying the form and letting more sensitive forces shape the building may prove helpful.
Why convention centre? It may not be appropriate here, even though the client may want one. Further research into harbour interactions will be helpful for direction.

Initial Conceptual Analysis

My Attempt at a BIG Architects style, comic story-board conceptual analysis...

Assignment 2: Site Diagram

Site Selection
Cottage Creek Precinct
Identified as a key site to the revitalisation of Newcastle, this site will be an important component of the jig-saw of Newcastle's renewal. A strong and diverse urban context exists, ranging from the industrial port and recreational sailing club, through to the city and civic activity. Challenges with the site are opposing opinions of what should be built, and due to the large scale of the potential building, integration with the existing context will be important.


Urban Mass / Pattern Language

Axial Flow

Site Diagram Plan

Site Diagram Sections

Feedback

A more detailed analysis will need to be taken to draw a greater variety of public spaces. A large gesture may not be the answer and a successful approach will be a fine grained one.

Sections interesting, though the most curious spaces are the streets, railway and wharf and not necessarily the built forms.

An answer from left field may be adequate as the site is under scrutiny, and a potential to deliver a message exists. Also a grand gesture may not necessarily be the answer, as the site is so large, a small gesture could have as great if not greater impact.

Direction: Find the site constraints; with a large site they will be vital to beginning to design.

Site Selection?

Site A

Cottage Creek Precinct
Identified in Newcastle Council's City Centre Plan as a key site, a development at Cottage Creek would play a major part in the revitalisation and networking of the waterfront and proposed new City CBD in Newcastle West.

Site B

Dyke Point
A dramatic location, Dyke point is a could make a statement about reflection upon Newcastle City. 

Assignment 1: Project Orientation

Preliminary Project Selection

Newcastle Convention & Exhibition Centre

A tourism and event based architecture feels most appropriate on the site chosen. The idea of a civic destination is still valid in this type as it encompasses a great variety of public activity and sub-cultures. The challenge will be integrating the typically large spaces with a multitude of micro spaces, and overcoming a structural dependancy.

Precedent of Type

Melbourne Convention Centre

Denton Corker Marshall

Preliminary Site Selection

Cottage Creek Precinct
The building would feel most appropriate here as development would link the disconnected harbour side and form a major gateway from Hannell Street into Honeysuckle.
There is a strong and diverse context to draw from which has propensity to draw from an industrial heritage.

Secondary site: Dyke Point

Feedback

Convention centres are essentially large-spanning, multi-use open space with lots of assumed structure. I may want to avoid this as the project might not be complex enough for final year and has a tendency to become 'shed architecture'. Although a building type of that nature would be successful in this location.

Nice site selection; could see something converging and interacting with the water from both the harbour and Cottage Creek. Challenges will be dealing with mine subsidence and height limits while adapting to a diverse range of contextual forces.

Direction: Decide on either the site or building type as something to pursue, and investigate in detail.

Project Introduction

When confronted with the final year project, it was bewildering to think that the potential possibilities for a project are almost endless. Unlike previous years, where the project brief and site were provided, this year is completely a challenge set for myself.

Initially thoughts of grand architectural gestures such as stadiums and opera houses entered my mind, however any building type when designed well can become architecturally significant in itself.

Being local to Newcastle, current issues facing the city and its renewal interest me. The stigma surrounding the GPT withdrawal, and the mixed success of the Honeysuckle developments are prominent local issues and have sparked an interest into investigating the problem architecturally.

Links of Interest:

Renew Newcastle

http://renewnewcastle.org/

Honeysuckle Urban Renewal Projects

http://honeysuckle.net/urban-renewal