Eating Area / social zones

Originally I wanted all the social and eating zones to be placed at the southern end of the building. This however meant that these spaces would not be used due to the lack of sunlight that would be hitting those areas at the time of day they would be there. If zone Doesn't receive any natural light, the space will become gloomy and dull, people will not use it, no matter how interesting the built infrastructure really is.

Walkways & Direction

To ensure that all people are checked by security, there must be an entry point that everyone must go through. This is means that people coming in the direction from New Parliament house, they must either walk along the existing path, or along side the proposed building. To protect the users from typical canberra weather, a shelter of some sort needed to be provided. This meant that people could use the walkway and also see within the building. Originally I had the meeting spaces very private, which is more traditional / usual style meeting room. In this instance this building to be project its openness to the community and not be hiding any general activities. We want the general public to be comfortable with this new virtual government system, one way to educate them is to run the through the building, let them see it all. If people do not go in, at least they can see how it works from the outside.

This walkway also need to provide an interesting aesthetic to the building to ensure that the user doesn't feel as thought they shouldn't be there. Opening up the walkway and let some light in, and give them something to look at.

Bridging of the building to the road

The building has been bridged by a large curved concrete cast. This structure was tied back into the building by meeting at a floor level, this was used to not only provide an aesthetic appeal to the building, but also so provide shelter from people entering the drop off zone. The same structure is used at the opposite end for the same reason. No only does it create an effect for those walking underneath, but by placing cutouts through the cast cornet, a framing is formed for those viewing the New Parliament building.

Plans

Site Plan: Not to Scale
Ground Floor Plan: Not to Scale
Typical Office floor: (4th Floor)

This floor I would have moved the meeting spaces and larger enclosed offices into the middle to allow vern more sunlight, I had already placed a full wall of glazing to allow light to penetrate though into the centre of the office, as well as giving those offices for the more managerial role employees to have views over the city and parliament house. As well as the meeting spaces. However Andrew, said that I would have a better outcome if I was to place my offices the other way around.
Second Floor: Not to Scale
Third Floor: not to scale

If I was to do this assignment again I would have brooking the building up into a number of buildings, making smaller much more personal spaces, which allows better relationships with its users. A message from A pattern language, written by Christopher Alexander said that people were able to create and gain much stronger relationships with not only each other, but the place in general. this also would have created a number of very interesting court yards and spaces which also add the to social aspect of any area and set of buildings.

I wouldn't have chosen to let the building be so shaped by the axis of the site as well, I would have incorporate an element of the landscaping that would have relied on the axis of the site to encourage its shape and direction.

Virtual Meeting Room

Now looking at how I am going to design these meeting spaces, I am still unsure about the layout of each meeting space. Each meeting space must be able to be seen from the people outside the actual meeting. As well as, what king of technology is going to be used?

Will it be a higher level of virtual experience? Hologram image? Cameras from each angle? Many question to solve that will shape these meeting rooms and how people will interact within them and beyond them, for those that are watching these meetings.

Zone of Transport Elements

Some research was able to provide me with the approximate size required by a semi trailer to allow a complete u-turn. A number of sources displayed a radium requirement of between 18 - 21 metres.

Incorporation of a Bus Stop

When I Began looking at placing a bus stop at the site, I was worried about how accessible it would be for buses to get to Queen Victoria Tce. So I immediately began looking at placing a station on State Circle, on the same level as the road. After having a look at the accessibility for buses and cars to Queen Victoria Tce, I realised that its not too bad, its not a direct route, but its not a route which involves back streets or driving through a residential area. I also began to think of the amount of fumes that would be collecting if that opening over the State Circle is closed and a bus station was imbedded under the existing turfed area. I also realised that this is a large 4 lane round about around New Parliament house, meaning a high level of traffic, high levels of noise, dangerous conditions to be placing a bus stop and drop off zone at. The Site location being studied is shown below.

By keeping the design location where it is, and using Queen Victoria Tce as the bus stop and drop off zone, there is a lower level of complexity involved with providing a bus stop. This also means that the pods can be dropped off , by trucks to each side of Federation Mall (with some extra road provided.)