Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Assessment 4 Final Presentation

Project statement and final floorplans.

Here I revisited my earlier exploration of the underlying themes of the project but to the proposed design.

The perspective sketches are of areas of the design that I particularly like - the external cafe area and the circulation zone between floors.

Final elevations & cross-sections.

Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Assessment 3 Design Development

This presentation demonstrates the development and refinement of the Community Centre design from the previous assessment. I have attempted to create a more modulated building form (less 'blocky') that responds more to the site whilst still reflecting the planning solution created in the previous assessment. I have altered the design so that natural sunlight is now brought into the building from a series of clerestory windows, not through the corridor along the Brook St. facade that is now enclosed. The two halves of the building form are now linked by a covered walkway which serves as a viewing platform over Coogee and Coogee Oval.


Issues to be addressed are:

1. The layout of the walls to the toilets/changeroom - reconsider the entry to these areas through a possible airlock that echoes the design of the walls to the other side of the central axis.
2. Vehicle entry to be from the centre to the oval. New pedestrian access from Brook St. to the southern end of the building that responds to the landscape of the site and the building.
3. Address how the building links to the existing grand stand.
4. Landscape to the front of the grandstand - this area seems unresolved



The elevations and cross-sections above illustrate the re-designed roof form. I am somewhat happier with the eastern facade but may attempt to refine the composition of the glazing mullions further. The external louvres to the facade provide sun control to the east and also create a sense of dynamacy to the facade as they change as the various areas are used/unused.



Issues to be addressed are:


1. The western facade needs further refinement - explore the possibility of it not being rectilinear in shape and not as one dimensional. Could it follow the new roof form?
2. How the western boundary fence addresses the grandstand and site.
3. Develop the idea of glass insertion to the western facade.





1:500 Study Model and Site Model - Plan
This illustrates that I need to consider how the design address access approach to the site from Brook St. from both the north and south. This can possibly be improved from a new access point to the southern end of the building.



1:500 Study Model - Aerial View South
The new tiered seating following the form of the eastern facade and emphasises the connection through the site to the oval and beachfront.



1:500 Study Model - North West Elevation



1:500 Study Model - South West Elevation
Approach and access from this area to be improved.




1:500 Study Model - East Elevation
The negative space to the cafe successfully breaks up the bulk of the building and utilises the orientation of this area in relation to its use.

Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Exercise 2 Edges, External and Internal Spaces

In this exercise, I felt the need to resolve the planning of the building prior to attempting any further cross-sections or exploration of the building's 'edges.'

A central circulation zone runs along the back of western wall in both directions from the central entry foyer. On both floors, the functional office/store/amenities rooms are stacked along this circulation zone. The open circulation zone serves to bring natural light and ventilation to these areas which are not along the 'transparent' eastern side of the building.

The cafe and gym halls are situated to the eastern side of the building overlooking Coogee oval. They consist of glazed double height spaces that will open out to the oval. The division of room types is clearly expressed in the 1:500 plan on the layout above.

With the functional planning resolved, another attempt at the building facades could be undertaken. I have tried to open up the monolithic western facade with penetrations and punctuations but these can be further refined in the next study model & drawings. The eastern & northern facades need to have the sunshading resolved and the overall 'boxiness' of the design needs refinement.

I particularly want to explore how the 'transparent' portion of the building intersects with the stone facade at corners - one can project past another or stop short to create walls that do not meet entirely.

This drawing, the third edge exploration, illustrates the central circulation zone that will bring natural light into the building as well as possible openings in the stone wall.

The second section attempt - this time a longitudinal section through the cafe to the northern end of the building. The roof form needs to be resolved beyond a simple skillion, as does the simplistic form of the building at both the external and internal edges.

The first section attempt through the western 'edge' of the building along Brook Street. The drawing illustrates the contrast between the two sides of the building - the open communal areas to the eastern side over looking Coogee Oval and the private offices, stores & toilets/changerooms to the western side.

Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Concept Model #1

My first concept model for the proposed Community Centre.

The plan reveals the negative space that runs through the building.

I have shown existing landscaping to the north but this, as well as existing seating, will be reconsidered

There is a monumental, possibly stonework or sandstone, facade to Brook Street - cut away to the north to reveal the inside of the building. This would be a suitable location for the cafe as it connects out to the intersection of Brook Street, tennis centre and beyond.

To the east a two storey transparent glass/steel/timber facade is revealed, angled in towards the central corridor of the building.

Some parts of the building could be double storey, whilst others could be double height.

The transparency along the corridor is to increase visual connection between the different users of the centre. It also creates centralised entry & circulation in and out of the centre and oval.

The Brook Street facade wraps around to the south - this facade would have entry to the changerooms and possibly street access to the garage.

Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Concept Box

This 'Concept Box' is a way of representing the 5 categories as how they can be explored in my design and provides a conceptual framework for my concept model. Hopefully it can also be a reference point for me further along the design process too. All in one easy-to-transport package!

Materiality - This model is made from rubbings of textures from the site - timber, sandstone, bitumen, concrete.

It shows how the different materials can inform the design - such as brick forming an arch and timber a post/frame construction.

Also, I will like to explore creating a more formal entrance to the site.

Threshold - This investigates different ways I can treat the edges of my building where the threshold lies between the building and the landscape. Also, I would like to create a building that moves/transforms somehow when used by different groups of people at different times. Methods may include pivoting doors, louvres, screens. Also, I want areas to be transparent to encourage interaction between groups of people to benefit the community - currently the site and its users are somewhat segregated.

Reciprocity - I may choose to challenge the traditional architecture/landscape relationship by creating part of my building under the landscape or creating a path through it, rather than over it. This is beginning to touch on the idea of creating the metaphorical 'river' that passes through the site as a connection from the wider context of the site, through the site and down to the ocean. Also, rivers (or water sources) are often the focal points for the development of urban areas and the coming together of people.

Insertion - The form may not be 'monumental' but can insert itself in the landscape and reveal layers of the past. It may create a trace of the past across the site.

Infrastructure - I have used the Tramways Map from 1892 to map the old links into Coogee and contrast them to the existing site and it's reliance on the car. My design could possibly consider access in and out of the site and around Coogee Oval rather than just accepting/ignoring the site's current situation eg. by making Brook Street a pedestrian way? Also, Coogee is a public transport hub (as well as a social hub for travellers, entertaiment etc.) so this idea should be explored further as it is also encouraged by Randwick Council's City Plan.

Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Submission 1

Page 1 of Submission 1:

1. Site Sections & Contour Map

2. Threshold - describes the site in terms of built forms as opposed to landscape. The building on the site are monolithic and do not connect to the exterior. The vegetation still screens the site in some way but has a less definite edge. In elevation, the relationship between the two seems quite unconsidered.

3. Materiality - records the different materials across a section of the site. There is a distinct division between 'hard' built surfaces and 'soft' landscaping.

4. Tracing Site Circulation - traces the paths of people through the site over a typical Saturday. Rugby players cross Brook St. from the club and enter through the building to play on the oval. Spectators enter through the gate and proceed to the seating (more the external seats than the grandstand, which seems detached from the field). Players go around the grandstand to use the changerooms.

Page 2 - These drawings examine:

1. Infrastructure - the contrast between the areas dedicated to cars as opposed to pedestrians and how this dictates movement around the site and its surround.

2. Insertion - how the 'insertion' of the river (now a graphic insertion) through the site reveals some of the site's history and how it once had a more obvious connection to Coogee Beach.

3. Reciprocity - attempts to emphasise the existing site's dichotomy between architecture and landscape.

4. Shadow Diagrams - illustrates the sun's movement across the site. The site receives considerable sun during the morning and early afternoon but by 3pm it is nearly completely overshadowed by the adjacent building along Brook Street. This will need to be addressed in the design.

Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Site Images

Site West Elevation Along Brook Street.

The site has no real formal entry, rather just the void between two building.

Adjacent Building Along Brook Street.

The Randwick Rugby Club overshadow the site and issues of viewsharing will need to be addressed when determining the height of the new community centre. It would be beneficial to re-configure parking along Brook Street so it fits in more with the new design.

South West Elevation from corner of Brook & Alfreda Sts.

The grandstand dominates the existing site.

View North along Brook Street.

Extensive vegetation along the back of the low seating area screens the oval from the street.

Coogee Oval Northern Elevation.

North East corner of Coogee Oval.

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Southern Elevation of Site.

Coogee Community Centre Design Studio 4 2008 - Historical Maps and Images of Coogee

Bemi, P.L., 'Village of Great Coogee' 1847.

Cartographic image from State Library of NSW Online Images 'Maps of Sydney'.

Many of the existing streets of the area are present already but the is the most notable feature is the river running through the site to Coogee Beach. I would like to reference this past connection to Coogee Beach which intersected the site and bypassed the artificial grid of roads that divides the site's surrounds.

Gibbs, Shallard & Co., Printers & Publishers, 'Map of Sydney & Suburbs showing Tramway Lines & Stopping Places' 1892.

Cartographic material from State Library of NSW Online Images 'Maps of Sydney'.

Illustrates the extensive network of tramways that ran through Coogee and the eastern suburbs.

The tramlines (in red) trace a path into Coogee that is no longer the main route into the area, now replaced by cars and buses along Arden Street.

'The Beach and Promenade at Coogee' July 1910, City of Sydney Archives.

The contours of the area are much more pronounced without multi-storey developments.

'Coogee Bay' c.1900, City of Sydney Archives.

'A picturesque and popular seaside resort, reached by tram in about 30 minutes' - taken from a souvenir book of Sydney titled '36 Views of Sydney, Descriptive & Illustrative: with panorama.'