WEEK 3 WORKSHOP- Overview and discussion...

VIRTUAL- overview

Create stories that describe your ideas with specific contexts, users, situations and strategies. We will call them architectural fictions.

-        The main discussion we had in our group was about public transport systems in the future. This started with the concept of having some kind of screen (digital intercom) within every house that was either a virtual timetable or satellite of the surrounding area. It would show details of where all forms of public transport are at any given time and how far away they were from your nearest station/stop. This could include things already commonly used like taxis, buses, trains, city cycle (would tell you how many are available at any given area) etc. New forms of transport could be developed to reduce congestion in the city and limit private transport being used. Things like shuttle buses that provide door to door service and run in and out of the city to specific suburbs and virtually controlled train systems may provide ease on the growing issue in the city. It could also provide you with possible routes and the quickest form of transport to get you to your destination.

-        Urban planning issues were raised in terms of solving congestion issues, with the functions of buildings and buildings themselves that are made to be totally self sustainable and need little attention grouped together and positioned in the centre of the city where there is a ban on private transportation. Buildings that may need constant attention by carpenters, plumbers etc positioned on the on the outer core were they are easily accessible by vehicles. 

-        We discussed the current set up of the subway system in Singapore. Of the new system, each train is run by computers and stops every 400 metres out from the central core. With the growing population in Australia will we resort to the same system? It was also interesting to talk of the suicide issues that come with the subway, and the concept of the barriers of the train tunnel that only open when the train has stopped that is happening in some parts of Singapore. 

MOBILE/DISTRIBUTED- overview

-        The main discussion during the mobile/distribution workshop was about education in Australia and the way it could possibly head in the future. The discussion began with the national broadband network and the attempt to create equality in terms of internet to kids in remote areas of Australia. The mobile/distributed concept could be very advantageous for parliamentary functions dealing with education. The scary thing is the rate in which technology is taking over at the moment and we are losing the importance of face to face contact. Will going to school be non-existent in the future and will everything be done over the internet? If people are already doing external university and getting degrees why isn’t it a real possibility? With the younger generation growing up being bombarded with technology, and the older generation keeping grip on the ‘real world’ what will Australia be like in 50 years?

-        Will the government take place in a satellite that looks into Australia? ‘Floating parliament?’

-        There was also a discussion about recessions and the possible need to get multiple degrees for backup if there is no work. People are moving around more and more to find work and different lifestyles so some kind of mobile/distributed architectural parliament would be highly beneficial to Australia. 

FLEXIBLE- overview

-        Our discussion for flexible strategies started with the airport and alternative ways that this place of transit could take in the future. Current travel is heavily based on security and is very much a set sequence of events. How will this change in the future? How could this become flexible?

-        The issue of changing demographics in communities was discussed where buildings in a town could change depending on the demographic at any given time. For example in a time where the community is filled with an elderly society, there would be limited schools and more hospitals, and vice versa. Could whole communities be flexible spaces to suit the needs of the user and cater for the future?

-        The idea of adaptable and manipulative architecture came up again where whole rooms/buildings couple change to suit different functions. The concept of picking parts which aren’t flexible, like services, and putting them outside is very interesting, but would this ruin the first impressions of the building? What would be a way that you could integrate these services with the outer skin to make them attractive?

-        By making certain things flexible to change the ambience of a building, or environment of a building, it could be constantly shifting to suit the needs and wants of the user at any given time. This is key for a parliamentary building where the issues of the whole country take place.