Project One Statement

Resources on our plant are limited and fifty years from now sustainability will be at the forefront of architecture. Sustainability is a complex problem and requires a deeper understanding of the key issues.  As a group we had to envision a future for our world and particularly our site Woodfordia.  Our understanding of the key issues has changes numerous times over the process however our ideas can be distilled to these key values

- Priority to planet

- Communitarianism

- Interdependence

– Democracy

– Humanity part of nature (permaculture?)

–  Sustainable production, consumption, development, lifestyles

– Gender equality

– Intercultural and inter religious tolerance/harmony

– Conflict resolution through cooperation/negotiation

– Safekeeping through security

These ideas form a framework that can be applied to all aspects of our society. Our understanding of our future is people need to seek to adopt the framework. Woodfordia can be seen as a catalyst in a journey to apply these values. Adoption of these values is only possible if people like their alternate lifestyle. “Hedonistic Sustainability” is the idea of being sustainable but not giving up your standard of life but rather enhancing it. Our group envisions Woodfordia to provide education through experience. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the rigors of conceptualizing Woodfordia. Reflecting on the process I now see that as architects we have a greater role than being the designer of buildings we also need to be the designer of ecosystems, ecosystems where we consider ecology and economy and control the flow of resources such as heat, energy, waste and water. By doing this it is possible that we can create a world in Woodfordia where people can experience a life that is as enjoyable if not more than their current lifestyle but with out any planetary guilt.

Final Panels

Project 1 process Work

  A simplified diagram of Maslow's hierarchy of needs highlight the similarities to the equilibrium of sustainable principles. Architecture has role to play in oder to reach a self-actualisted state.

As a Group we identified to use this layout. critical will be to utilise a story board to communicate the story of two individuals. A person outside and a person inside Woodfordia.

 Our group has come up with this diagram that shows how energy and waste can be used in perpetual loops. For this to work we envisage that certain technologies would exist

Lecture 5 & Tutorial

Week 5's lecture by Philip Crowther was highly interesting and revealed interesting architectural possibilities. Particularly the High line project in New York. I like the idea of retrofitting old infrastructure to enhance the lifestyles of people and to breathe new life into an otherwise desolate area.

Sustainable Technologies of the future

The generic response to sustainable energy generation is solar power and wind turbines, what else can we do?

Waste To Energy Plant

nytimes on waste to energy plants

Above is a link to an article highlighting the benefits and advancements in waste to energy plants.\
 

The Hydrogen Fuel Cell 

Hydrogen fuel cell is widely seen as the most positive alternative to fossil fuel. With advancements in this technology it will be widely available to every one and be a key energy source of the future.

Ideal Society

Priority to nation – priority to planet

Individualism – communitarianism

Independence – Interdependence

Autocracy – Democracy

Humanity against nature – Humanity part of nature (permaculture?)

Unsustainable production, consumption, development, lifestyles –Sustainable production, consumption, development, lifestyles

Patriarchy – Gender equality

Intercultural and inter religious intolerance/hostility – Intercultural and inter religious tolerance/harmony

Conflict resolution through confrontation/combat – Conflict resolution through cooperation/negotiation

Safekeeping through defense – Safekeeping through security

Hedonistic Sustainability

One of my favourite architects Bjarke Ingels talks about his views on Sustainability, A view which i personally resonates with me.

"Hedonistic Sustainability" is the idea that to be sustainable is not to make sacrifices in life or make life harder but rather to enhance our lifestyle!!!!!!!!!!

I feel that people and generations have a mindset that their life should get progressively better. This is the reason why most of society has failed to adopt a sustainable lifestyle.

Lecture 4 & Tutorial

Tutorial Brainstorming 

In this tutorial we started to map out our ideas as to how we see Woodfordia our site

Exploring the needs of people

Understanding a sustainable population for Woodfordia has a relationship with the resources available

Week 3 Reading - The Aspatial City

Reflection 

We live in a world where the phenomena of social media has changed our lives. It allows us to be better connected as highlighted in the reading. While there are many benefits to this technology i cant help but highlight a few of the negative consequences of social media. While i see the value in connecting with friends the virtual barrier suggest an increase move towards privatism. Architecturally there must be a response to adopt this technology. Architecture is a response to culture and people, and now with so many people using ubiquitous technologies architects must respond in positive light.

Lecture 3 & Tutorial

Theme & Group Formation

I am happy to now know that i am part of the Regional Group (My 1st Preference)

Todays Tutorial was highly beneficial. We were given a clearer under standing of the site and direction into how to approach our future scenario. We Also Formed groups, our group is made up of members i have worked with in the past and i am excited to see how we progress during project 1

Lecture Notes

Today lecture was conducted by Murray, theme leader of the Regional Group. Murray proposed an interesting take on sustainability. We are mostly familiar with the model of the triple bottom line. The components of Economics, Environment and Society. This lecture proposes to borden our perspective to better understand the sustainability question.

The model above was provided by Murray .

What i take from this and what my make for my understanding, are the three interdependent spheres that are present.

Each sphere is a container of the other but in order for each to be successful and prosper what it contains must flourish. The ultimate and final sphere is our Biophysical Environment (or Plant)  is what is given priority. i like this idea of our planet given priority  but yet seeing it as a container for all other components of human life

Week 2 Reading

While I went through the reading i cant help but feel that it is through technology and design we will create a better and brighter future. It is ironic that almost of all of our environmental problems are a result of the technology and design yet i share the optimistic belief that is same design and technology that can solves our issues.

Week 2 Lecture & Tutorial

Week two provided more answers and clarified most of the questions I had.  Todays lecture was heavily focused on the content of each theme. Of the four themes (Urban, suburban, rural & virtual) I hope to do rural. The idea of a self sustaining community, i think is a great need of future trends. Also the little development in the area will really leave me with a truly blank canvas where i can create the future scenario.

Tutorial Activity

During the tutorial we formed groups of four to discuss ideas of all the themes.

We produced varying ideas, however the concept of self sustained cities was present in all of our discussions. Idea of close knit networks a key concept of our future.  

The Urban theme introduced us to the idea there will be a congestion tax, What would happen?

-Our thoughts was that the city would have more pedestrian malls/pathways, opening the public realm.
-The other idea was the boundary condition that would form around the taxed area. We assumed that the boundary will need to cope with an increased traffic.

 The research further on my initial posts i managed to find a book that could be insightful.

Initial Thoughts

The project seems interesting and it will be fascinating to see the output. My concern with this project is the openness and possibilities, hopefully our theme groups can apply constraints and direction to the project.

Neri Oxman: On Designing Form

I find that this an interesting and a relatively unexplored part of architecture. The application of biomimicry in architecture is a likely pathway the architecture my head into the future.