Project 1 - Concept

As adults we are tied down with responsibilities, constantly thinking about the task at hand. Stress takes control of us and life becomes that little bit harder. At which point one misses the simple times of childhood.

Brisbane is a city that never stops and is constantly in motion. Its Bustling streets, its overcrowded public transport system gives the impression of constantly being forced along as though if you where to stop for a minute the world would leave you behind.  A simple train trip allows no break from the surrounds instead one is packed in like sardines and is on constant alert as to not miss their stop.

The streets people walk at such a pace with not a care about those around them, their total focus being on reaching the end of their destination. For what purpose? To start all over again with a new task, a new destination, a new stress. When does one get a chance to stop and relax.

The see-saw is an architectural Folie, designed around the concept of recapturing that child hood, care free nature that is rarity in today’s society (Even if it is only for a moment).

The see-saw is located at Howard Smith Wharf, at the base of the storey bridge. The area is sheltered from the fast paced city that surrounds it. Nestled into the cliff face it provides the perfect space to stop for a minute without feeling guilty about that task you really should be working on. However even with these unique qualities people continue to speed past to their destination.

 For this reason I chose to focus my design around a child’s see-saw giving it a more adult appearance and practicality, but with the same playful, carefree feeling that the classic seesaw possessed as a child.

The design is split into two separate areas, consisting of 8 moving seating blocks that are connected through a system of pullies and counter weights. The 2 areas are separated by the walking path in order to force people to interact with it. It’s simple yet unusually shape adds a sense of intrigue, forcing the surrounding public to give it a try.

Even if the user only stops for a minute to experience the Folie than the design has achieved its purpose because that person has forgot what they were focusing on and for that one minute and allowed their inner child to take control and remind them that they are allowed to stop and just be in the moment.

Project 1 - Inspiration & Exploration

Possible View Points From Structure

Path & Movement Diagram

How it all works (pretty simple)

Project 1 - The Process

Brain Storming for Ideas

Previous Designs That didn't make it to the end

Believe it or not, this is my design process. Good luck understanding it, sometimes even it hurts my head. But this is how i work best and from these scribbles and scratches comes my design.

Folie Examples & Inspiration

Site - Howard Smith Wharves The Basics

Site History 

Howard Smith Wharves was constructed in the 1930s in conjunction with the Story Bridge. It was one of the main employment generating projects of the Forgan-Smith government. While the site was originally built as the Brisbane Central Wharves, it was leased by shipping company Howard Smith and Co. from the mid 1930s until the early 1960s and became known as Howard Smith Wharf. 

Construction of the site began in 1934. The first structure was a two-storey, reinforced concrete building completed in 1936. Three berths and five new storage sheds were planned and construction continued through until the early 1940s. In 1942, World War II disrupted construction and the third berth was never completed. During 1941 and 1942, five air-raid shelters were constructed below the cliff face. 

   

Location

The Howard Smith Wharves site is located on the northern side of the Brisbane River, under the Story Bridge at Petrie Bight. It is 3.52 hectares in area and operated as a cargo wharf until the 1960s. It is one of the last remaining wharf sites in the city centre.

Significance 

The site is an important physical, economic and cultural example of development in Queensland. It shows the history of Brisbane as Queensland's premier port. It also shows how the expansion of the city has moved port activities further downstream.

The remaining wharf buildings provide rare physical evidence of the pre-1940 Port of Brisbane and the air-raid shelters are the most intact group of shelters remaining in Brisbane. 

Today 

Assessment 1 - Folie Design

The aim of this project is to design a Folie in a chosen location in Howard Smith Wharves. This project provides you an opportunity to observe the site, analyse the context, and propose a simple architectural installation that has a function. Your project should be an artistic investigation to find a way to communicate your message (subjective), as well as a design investigation to provide a service for people (objective). You can consider this as an artistic endeavour to design a functional space.

Folie Design Guideline

1. Folie has to fit within 5m x 5m x 5m bounding box.
2. Folie has to be at least for one person.
3. Your design will be evaluated with design criteria listed below.
4. You need to consider all design qualities described below.
5. Your follie design should be communicated through one A1 poster by following the poster guideline below.

Architectural Workshop - QUT to Howard Smith Wharves

For Week two we had to take part in an architectural workshop, the aim was to create your own unique journey to the planned site. In small groups accompanied by a group leader/ tutor to help point out key aspects and significant places along the way. The only restrictions to this activity was that the starting point had to be QUT and the end Howard Smith Wharves. Along the journey we took note and recorded and analysed key spaces along the journey in our notebooks. The idea being it would aid us in our following projects and give us a sense of how the mass travel to the site and the experience they would have from the journey. 

The Journey Taken

Stop 1: QUT Gardens Point

Stop 2: Northbank

Stop 3: Redclif Place

Stop 4 & 5 Roma St Station & Surrounding Areas

Stop 6 & 7: Brunswick St Station & Mall

Stop 8: Howard Smith Wharves