DESIGN BRIEF

An artificial take over

In light of the world's rapid development of technology, AI research is one which continues to grow at an exponential rate. As AI technology is speculated to bring humanity a higher growth in efficiency and productivity, Elon Musk argues, otherwise, if AI is not regulated correctly. Musk highlights the dangers of the upcoming technology under misuse or in the hands of a privatised corporate rule. In response, Musk suggests the possibility of creating a symbiosis with AI technology; as the technology will inevitably come and integrate with our lives, the public should be educated on its capabilities and advancements in preparation of its arrival.

SANAA'S GLASS PAVILION

The brief proposes to construct an AI research facility in place of the current B113 & B114 building. As a place which will educate and demonstrate the technology to the public, the research facility will exhibit a transparent quality on its ground level. This idea will resonate along with the projects of SANAA's glass pavilion/ Zumthor's LACMA.

PETER ZUMTHOR'S LACMA

MECANOO'S DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

RCR'S BELL-LOC WINERY

The building will feature a green roof such as the likes of MECANOO's Delft University of Technology/ RCR's bell-loc winery, as an extension of the social urban fabric. The project will respond to its historical site through the lack of mass, connecting the sightlines from the Albert barrack walls to the old government house. In conjunction with the popular Vegan lunch food stall, the green roof will provide social spaces for people to gather and enjoy their meal.

Other functions of the building includes: labs for

neural networks, machine learning, computer vision, probabilistic reasoning etc and libraries. (Start thinking libraries in terms of a network database, could it be an augmented reality or a virtual library that exists within a space)

Following on Semper's theory of walls, the act of excavating coincides with the element of stereotomy. If we continue to build under as a response to the barrack walls, how can begin to explore spaces through a stereotomic sense. Without an external relationship, the key to design is the control of porosity and the organisation of space.

OMA'S PROGRAMMATIC SPACE

STEM + A

Architecture is a powerful tool that is able to supplement us with more than an inhabited space. Through its physical occupation of land/space, it's material inhabitation has a political implication despite being conscious of it or not. Consequently, a consciously driven design has the ability to raise awareness of its politics and create a learning opportunity for the people.

Through pushing the boundaries of architecture; its elements or organisation, can we raise an awareness of the unspoken politics of the university. The seemingly undervalued arts program in comparison to the highly valued STEM subjects of the university will drive a controversial design for a centre of the arts. This new institution of the arts will open its doors to the public as an exhibitional learning space.

Through the exploration of Semper's notion of stone, how can we project transparency in lieu of the heavyweight characteristics that naturally comes with masonry construction? The materiality and tectonics of stone will be explored thoroughly as a relationship to the Albert barrack walls. The materiality of the construction will reflect qualities of masonry and may not necessarily be masonry itself.

C.L.E.A.R

The task is to design an interfaculty learning space. This space will be run by bot students as well as professionals and will aim at providing support and knowledge in important life skills to students such as;

- Cooking/ budgeting/ help with finding a job/ psychological help etc.

The learning space will be available to high school students in their final year and to students at the UOA. Every student starts university at a different stage in life, therefore the aim of this space is to allow for various life sills classes to be held by both professionals and students in a relaxed and unofficial way - older students can teach younger ones, and vice versa. The space should be able to accommodate various student clubs and have an area that can be booked for social/club events

You will have to take the currently used Elam building into consideration and choose whether you integrate them/parts of them, or choose to design new spaces to replace them within your final design. The building should be designed as sustainably as possible

You must respond to the stone wall in either of the following ways;

1. Proposal to feature materials that represent the cultural and historic context of the site, but must NOT be a masonry wall.

2. Design to feature stone in one wall (or moment) within the design as a response to the context of the site.