GREEN CURTAIN WALLS

Presentation

Biomimicry Elements

Floor Plans & Photomontage

Folie to Building

The connection between the Folie and the Centre for Biomimicry revolves around the concept of 'awarenes'.  The Folie encouraged, and guided the users to focus on certain aspects of their surroundings - something which can often be lost in a large city scape.  Nature is another example of something that can be under-valued, appreciated or understood.  Biomimicry as a discipline aims to do the opposite to this, by studying the finer details of how the world and its creatures around us operate.  This centre aims to bring that to the attention of the users - and of Brisbane as a city.

BUILDING FORM DEVELOPMENT - Program

A final building form has been decided upon - with the original concept model split into two parts - public and private, linked by a public green roof.  Curving wires are attached to the facade of the private section, to encourage vine growth up the building.  Deciduous vines will be planted that will provide shade to the building in the hotter summer months, whilst in winter they will lose their leaves and expose the facade to sunlight.

Design Development

Concept 2.

After a discussion with my tutor Yvonne, the form changed considerably.  The lines drawn by the solar analysis further influenced the building, effectively breaking it into two solid parts that were linked by passageways above the first building.  This form therefore interacts with both the waterfront and the cliff face.  I believe this form creates many more experiential spaces by forming bridges that can be traversed over and under.  

(Initial Concept Sketch)

The image below is still in the early stages of modelling - but the surface that slants up and over the first building will be a green roof with pathways along it.  A lift core juts through from the main building, making the rooftop accessible from the waterfront, the main building, and the building on the cliff face.  The living machine systems have been split into 3 areas, one on the top of the cliff, one above the main building form, and the other on the ramp down to the water front.  The two larger pipes on the building edges will pump water from the brisbane river to the top of the cliffs, which will then be filtered through the living machine system as it passes from the top down.  This also makes the living machines more accessible, activating awareness of the systems at work.   Lots more modelling to do to make this actually look like a building - my eyes are getting squarer each day.

The image below displays pathways of movement and highlights some parts of the building.  The primary structure at the waterfront will be largely accessible to the public, including the foyer, cafe, biomimcry exhibition area - whereas the secondary structure on the cliff face will contain the scientific labs, library and research rooms.