A WASTED WEEK......AGAIN!!!!

Sorry to inform you that no progress was made at all this week in regards to the casino. All that was done was another site visit and some thought on what could go there, and how it would integrated (if it did), into its surroundings.

The reason that no progress was made this week is due to Interior Design assignments. So much work is required for such a waste of time. I will have to state where my priorities lie, as that subject is only a second year course. It pisses me off beyond no means at how much work is required for such a little mark, and that the person who runs the course believes that interior is the be all end all (and regards it more important than my final semester architecture subject)..........bitch!

Oh well, what can you do??????

Anyway, all next week is dedicated to the casino design, so progress will be made, but not as soon as i hoped.

CASINO IT IS!!!!

Sweet, I'm stoked about this idea. I am going to do a casino on the Fortitude Valley site. I have always been interested in commercial design, and I am particularly interested in casino design. It gives me the freedom to be extravagant and work on a higher than normal budget. I have been studying up on this for the last couple of days. I have done a lot of research, but can still do a lot more. I feel like i have been sitting in front of this computer for days and have nothing to show for. But i realise that i have made descent progress, as it normally takes me weeks to come up with an initial design idea. Plus, on the upside, I am really looking forward to attacking this idea and to get right into it. It should be good, and i am really looking forward to it.

I think this casino will add to the community, adding to the nightlife that already embrasses the city. There are many reasons as to why and what a casino can do here, but there are also a number of different avenues that it can provide also. I envision it as being a beacon and an icon of the area.

Here are some links I found which provide different information. The first of these is The Cunigham Groups site, who do a lot projects ranging from residential to (you guessed it....casino's), and the other site is a very good blog, providing a range of useful information, check it out.

http://www.cuningham.com/
http://blog.miragestudio7.com/

SKYSCRAPER SITE

Here are the images of the site which will accommodate my skyscraper. I have visited the site, but will visit it again to analyse the space in more depth. It is very close to the train lines and train station in Fortitude Valley. It is almost dead opposite to China town as well. Most of the buildings surrounding it are only a couple of stories high, so I predict that my skyscraper will dominate the area, and hopefully incorporate existing structures, or at least provide a benefit to them one way or another.

Satellite Image of Brisbane and surrounding suburbs





Closer image of the vacant site


I have yet to decide on an actual design or what to design for. We have been given complete freedom with this and have been asked what design we have always wanted to do. This is really good, but with such freedoms I am hesitant to choose what to design for.

My initial idea was to relate a design back to movie and cinema. My initial thoughts were on providing an entertainment precinct in the valley for the community, with indoor and outdoor cinemas, and a whole range of entertainment facilities. I was going to attempt to tie my building designs to certain directors I was inspired by. This would open an avenue to explore themed sections of the skyscraper as well. Making this work would be a real challenge though. i would have to be precise, yet abstract and open in portraying cinema genres and not simply copying a design from movies here and there.

I'm not too sure if Ruwan (my tutor) was on board with the idea. He has said to do whatever we please, but I'll need to be able to show him progressive work on where my ideas are coming from. This is why I am still not sure if this is what I'll be going with. I have watched some documentaries on certain things (I won't say what right now), but they have awoken a design passion in me which i have always wanted to attempt. I will do some further research and update the blog once I have decided what to go with.

SOME INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING SITES

I found some sites relating to various material which i'll post. Some of the sites are very interesting in regards to the skyscraper assignment i'm working on

http://skyscraperpage.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4muhc_QUGcI - This one is awesome depending on if it can still be done
http://www.greatbuildings.com/types/types/skyscraper.html - always a good site. This page relates to various more well known skyscrapers
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2005/09/68888

NINJA ARITHMETIC

Here are a couple of Ninja Arithmetic to get you thinking about ideas that could have made the buildings look they way they do. Its a fun exercise to look at different angles of design.




















This is a badminton + Jesus = Liverpool metropolitan cathedral

Rock - The U.S. Treasury / Rock hammer = The Treasury

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

Evolo 2010 Skyscraper Competition
http://www.evolo-arch.com/

We have been given a site in fortitude valley which i will upload the images shortly. I have read various literature on skyscrapers with particular interest on how they serve the community. Ken Yeang features dominantly, but I am also trying to draw from architects whom I admire, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Tadao Ando, and Wallace Cunningham to name a few.

I will be posting regularly throughout this semester, uploading process and progress. Please feel free to comment on anything. Will begin further research on the topics also, which should feature in my next post.