SETTING SAILS - A new brief!
- Jien
- Aug 17, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 8, 2019
[Revisiting the Architecture of Education]
Exploring:
Our brief will be exploring teaching and learning spaces under the the library archetype; to revisit how we are educated. Today, education is a prominent part of life worldwide. It is perceived to play an important role in ensuring our futures and the continued development of civilization. Our education is affected by many factors, including culture, technology, and economic matters. (Political too)
Encountering: Education spaces:
Education spaces evolve overtime with the same intention of educating people. There are walls implied by education. Throughout history, education is and has been restricted by entry, finances, standards. Whilst people only used to go into education if they sought to, today education is perceived as looking to live well (getting a job etc.) Historically, education has been one-way — the academic method, and recently we have seen the emergence of progressive education. Other than academic aspirations education is important because it ensures social interaction with a wide range of people.
Engaging and Experimenting:
Our teaching and learning spaces have been influenced and oriented by this pedagogy — we can look to theaters, standard classrooms etc. Who is the one who sees? Who is the one who is seen? Education spaces are encountering a specific moment, where our education and teachers are forced to adapt to digital realities — how can teachers know what is going on behind a student’s laptop screens? How does digital technology affect and how may it enhance our education? There is also a movement across education pedagogy, advocating for two-way communication in teaching and learning. How may this new relationship affect our architectural designs? Thus, education spaces can be a site for architectural experimentation, reinvention and manipulation.
Program:
This brief is a speculative project set either in 2039 or the present. Your aims are to critically reinvent how we teach/learn, in order to reformulate the education centre archetype, through the design of a new, multi-function architecture library at the proposed site. You may consider how digital, physical, or other mediums of learning architecture can be projected spatially. E.g. Materials library, books, electronic, space works, point cloud learning, VR/AR, digital fabrication, craftsmanship workshops, etc.
Objectives:
To reexamine teaching/learning spaces in the future. To investigate the relationships between users and education spaces (how can it encourage/motivate people to teach/learn)Education philosophies — therapeutic or academic?Programmatic: Creativity and functionality of the spaces
Keywords:
Reinvention Education and pedagogy | Transparency | Multi-function Program/production | Digital Technology
Note : Brief taken from Ethan Chung
Through exploring the library typology, I looked at the ways the library is used historically in comparison to the contemporary uses today. Traditional libraries functioned in a transactional manner, allowing one to read and borrow books to study. Our contemporary library have since evolved into a social hub, creating communities or retreats for individuals. The contemporary typology focuses on flexible spaces, incorporating breakout spaces, cafes, seat-able stairs and generally increasing opportunities for activities within spaces.
A common quality that is shared amongst the library typology is the quality of light they receive. The more successful library designs often creates a well lit environment that enhances studying. The pantheon was an example I looked at, not because of it's function as a library but the way it has inspired many great thinkers over the course of its history through its successful lighting atmospheric quality. Though, it does not allow much for light to enter, but the dim dramatic light that enters through allows one to drift into their thoughts.
SITE VISIT PANORAMIC PHOTOS
Atmospheric collage was suppose to present the feeling of the new design, but I felt the need to capture the current mood of the existing site. I wanted to explore what currently existed on site, before bringing in any ideas and interventions onto it.
The genus loci presents the quiet nature of sector 100 as compared to the rest of the university. Sector 100 currently houses a lot of green space, however some are under utilised due to its isolated nature.
The sketches looks to recreate/re-invent moments found within the louvre onto what could be UOA's new library. The little courtyards moments that opens to nature found between spaces was a strong idea that I want to bring into the new library design. That along with the idea of housing spaces/rooms within another structure, creating some sort of market-like place.
Merging to group work stage, I worked on creating the atmospheric collage of the envisioned library spaces. The new library aims to incorporate and utilise digital technology to assist and exhibit learning capabilities. Spaces within the library as separated and filtered depending on the functions and activities done within the space. The library begins with an atrium "digital hub" and breaks off to more isolated spaces for individuals or group studies. The main library is an enclosure similar to that of the pantheon, creating a silent space that encourages contemplation.
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