DESIGN BRIEF & SPACE PLANNING

DESIGN BRIEF:

The following demonstrates guidelines for the sizes and different types of spaces that are required in the architecture school.

From the requirements stated in the Experiment Brief, the architecture school will be developed for 100 students supported by scholarships. I have taken into consideration the space needed for these 100 students, and decided to separate these students between 4 years, making it 25 students/ year. Each year will have one lecturer and two tutors for each course, and 3 courses in total (9 staff to teach between the 4 years of 25 students each). In the Experiment Brief the architecture school is to be connected to the Squarehouse and another building, and from my evaluation of the site I have decided to connect it to the RoundHouse.

Due to increasing advancement of technology predicted in future years, there will be a stronger focus on learning content through virtual means. In order to adapt to these changing circumstances the school will have lecture recording booths instead of large lecture rooms, which allow lecturers to create online content that is accessible for students in their own time. This virtual approach also takes into consideration of the possibility for collaboration between famous international architects in the future, which would be best done through sharing content online.

The architecture school itself will be designed with a focus on facilities that are used for aspects such as practical modelling activities and hands on help from tutors that are unable to be learnt online. Thus, the school will include 2 studios and 2 workshops for students to have their practical learning.

Academic staff and tutors will have their offices, research space and meeting rooms, but this will be enclosed in one space separated by thin walls which will allow easier and faster communication between staff.

I also plan to establish a socialising common area for students within the school to enhance their motivation and improve their learning environment. This area will double up as a gallery space, along with the transitionary bridge areas for displaying student work, helping to save space and allow engaging of audience in a natural way.

Although technological advancements would be developing in future years, knowledge is still extracted from physical archives and books, thus demonstrating the importance of a library. A computer lab has also been added, which can cater to students who don’t have laptops or are unable to access certain softwares on their laptops.

SITE ANALYSIS:

SPACE DISTRIBUTION:

TEACHING

Lecture Theatres: Recording booths instead of Lecture theatres

 3 x 2 seats at 40sqm/booth | 120sqm

Studios: 2 x 30 seats at 200sqm/room | 400sqm

Workshops: 2 x 30 seats with 200sqm/room | 400sqm

Computer Labs: 30 seats | 200sqm

OFFICE SPACE

Academic Offices: 10 seats | 56sqm

Admin Offices: 4 seats | 39sqm

Research Space and Studio: 20 seats with 10 seats/room | 130sqm

Meeting Rooms: N/A

UTILITIES

Gallery/Meeting Space: 450sqm

Toilets: 130sqm

Library: 200 sqm