Design Response_Preliminary

In an attempt to create a design response using a different process, the initial massing investigations were further explored while previous framework proposals were drawn from, in particular SJB's proposal.
As a way of further exploring the design rules I employed parametrically in the previous digital model, I implemented similar design rules as well as exploring connections and pathways across the site. Trying to achieve accuracy in representing the data I'd collected in a way that effectively sculpted geometry was consuming time which didn't allow for exploring a multitude of ideas at once.

The response meets all of the commercial brief of 15,000sqm and 250 student apartments while adding a 90 unit multiresidential building in addition. A large parking platform is obscured behind built form utilising otherwise un developable land to supply parking to all new buildings onsite as well as replace all existing parking on the subject site and Hyde street, also allowing for a further residential development improving the street character by matching the building grain opposite.

Parametric Massing

Real Time Data

The definition calculates data regarding gross floor area, site coverage, floor to site area ratio, density and displays all this as well geometry dimensions in real time. The example uses basic geometry on a dynamic site area but can be easily modified for more complex building shapes and restricted site area.
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Metric Solar Data

Metric solar values pulled from EcoTech into a pdf document.
Later Grasshopper definitions will link to this document
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Tall buildings in Melbourne

For discussion regarding how tall is appropriate to the site. No building over 100m is outside of the CBD or it's pretty immediate surrounds, the exception to the rule being along St.Kilda road, a wealthy commercial area.
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Sunlight Analysis

More accurate sun analysis was undertaken in an attempt to create 'solar cones', geometry which could be used in a subtractive approach to massing. This approach only removes minimal mass, therefor maximises floor area.
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The negative aspects of this very basic model is the lack of control of floor plate depth and therefor light access into the rooms. This preliminary approach to modelling can be taken much further in coming weeks.
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Sweet Massing - continued

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By comparing results I could ascertain which schemes enabled large numbers of people to be housed on the site while being provided with an appropriate amount of direct sunlight access. MVRDV in the 'Light' chapter of their 'FARMAX' publication specified 3 hours as a minimum. The sugar massing approach was an approach which allowed for a number of simple iterations to be created quickly but without the accuracy desired to ensure requirements are both met and made the most efficient.

Sweet Massing

Massing models onsite using sugar cubes to replicate modular nature of housing units. Each unit to scale is 10Mx2Mx6M enabling footprint, gross floor area and floor-site ratio metrics to be obtained.
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Precedent Studies - continued

Precedent Studies - Site: Noord 3, Amsterdam

Various basic massing approaches were explored for a given subject site. Site was Noord 3, Amsterdam as examples from the design competition for this site had previously discussed within the studio. This exercise was to ascertain what metrics resulted from a very basic implementation of their principles.
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Introduction

Design Studio - Scale:City
A study in density of contemporary cities. How dense can we go? How dense it right? Both are relevant and intriguing questions to current city planning, particularly in Australia, and for the focus of this studio, Melbourne.