Information Dissemination and Flexible Architecture

We have been assigned to explore the flexible architecture subject in conjuction with Parliament House further. Flexible architecture can be considered something that is an important notion for the furture of design. We live in a world today where there is a lot of pressure on having responsive and adaptive architecture to allow for buildings to cope with all sorts of changes... one of prominence is of course environmental changes but another that we are considering through out this subject is the way that advances in technology and its connection with information and knowledge dissemination are impacting architecture.

Information and knowledge dissemination within Parliament House plays an integral role in its function. Without it it would cease to function at all. Senators' and members' offices, including Minsters' offices all use the information services provided within Parliament House, so therefore it is easy to understand that a successful information, knowledge and research services is integral to Parliament House.

The DPS Annual Report from 2009-2010 found that clients were happy with Parliament House's current info services but nominated a few areas of change:

a) achieving greater consistency and quality of service in responses to individual client requests
b) improving, if possible, the timeliness of Library publications
c) responding more effectively to all three stages of the life cycle of members of parliament - new, medium and long term
d) continuing to improve the resources available to clients at their desktop (or mobile devices)
e) improving the availability of transcripts and broadcast materal; and
f) improving communication mechanisms bearing in mind the pressures on the time of clients.

This shows that Parliament House are feeling the pressures of technological advancements and being able to implement them to help improve their current systems. But how will this effect the architecture of the building.. Will new rooms need to be added or existing ones changing to a new function? How can flexible architecture help to aid these technological advancements?
Obviously due the the changing nature of technological advancements.. one thing is clear... the need for architecture that is flexible enough to be able to cope with changes that will occur throughout the next 100 or so years.

Some exemplars surrounding libraries have been researched as they appear to be at a time of change in the today's world:



Take a look at this website below at: http://kanikasweet-techz.blogspot.com/2011/06/underground-literature-chicagos.html

Underground Literature: Chicago’s Futuristic Robotic Library

'The death of books – and, presumably, libraries – has been predicted by futurists for decades. We certainly seem to be headed that way with e-book readers and digital books taking the place of paper books. A new library facility at the University of Chicago blends the old with the new by replacing librarians and their rickety wooden ladders with a fascinating system of robots and a five-story underground storage facility

In the $81 million Joe and Rika Monsueto Library, patrons walk into a beautiful light-filled room with a domed roof – and a noticeable lack of books. What patrons can’t see is the enormous depository of books just below their feet in the subterranean storage room. The storage area contains around 35,000 metal bins, all filled to capacity with books. The books are put into the bins by size, not by subject, allowing for the maximum amount of useable space in each. When a patron needs a book, they simply request it via computer database. That’s where the robots come in.

Huge robotic retrieval cranes move around among the stacks of bins to select the appropriate book. Because each book and each bin bears a unique bar code, the cranes can go right to the requested bin and deliver it to the circulation desk upstairs. The clerk finds the desired book and delivers it to the requester within about five minutes of the initial request. The underground book room is kept at optimal preservation conditions, meaning that the library will incur lower maintenance costs over the life of the system.'

How can architecture accommodate information dissemination as a network within Parliament House? What elements will be flexible? Will all elements have a flexible nature or will some be static??

Parliament House as a network....

Canberra and Parliament House

'Remember that the traditions of this City will be the traditions of Australia. Let us hope… that here a city may arise where those responsible for the government of this country in the future may seek and find inspiration in its noble buildings, its broad avenues, its shaded parks, and sheltered gardens- a city bearing perhaps some resemblance to the city beautiful of our dreams.'

- Lord Denman, Governor-General of Australia

City Map of Canberra - Walter Burley Griffin
The layout of Canberra has an extremely geometric form with Parliament House forming the centre of the city. Acting as central function of the city with 360 views surrounding it.





The iconic flag post centred in Parliament House


Accessed: http://www.peo.gov.au/students/cl/aph.html


Understanding Parliament...
Parliament House is divided into three main departments:


The Department of the Senate


The Department of the House of Representatives


The Departments of Parliamentary Services


What happens in these departments?? How do they function? Are the integrated together in some ways or operate independently from eachother?


The Parliamentary Education Office describes what the The Departments of the House of Representatives and The Department of the Senate do in a basic summary of Parliament House functions as a whole:


'Parliaments are unique. They are not like office blocks or law courts or convention centres. A parliament must do four basic things and the building must be designed to allow these four things to happen. The members of a parliament must be able to:


1. represent people
2. make laws
3. scrutinise the government
4. form a government from elected parliamentarians.


Australia’s modern Parliament House was planned to facilitate these functions. All four functions of parliament take place in the House of Representatives and Senate chambers as well as other rooms. There are many other activities that take place in the federal Parliament such as radio and television broadcasting and printing reports and other documents.'


So what role does The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) play?


The DPS provides wide ranging services such as:


management
maintenance and provision of information
security
facilities
visitr
building
maintenance
landscaping
IT network
telecommunications
broadcasting and Hansard services


Essentially the DPS forms the backbone to all Parliamentary function!

A diagrammatic representation:

THE IDEA OF INFORMATION & KNOWLEDGE DISEMMINATION THROUGHOUT PARLIAMENT HOUSE IS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT THAT COULD BE EXPLORED FURTHER....

Week 3 Studio notes

What is iconic?

Sydney
The Opera House

Accessed: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/About/PhotoGallery.aspx
Paris
The Eiffel Tower

Accessed: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/photos.html

Accessed: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-iconic-buildings.php
New York 

Accessed: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-iconic-buildings.php

Taj Mahal, India

Accessed: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-iconic-buildings.php

What is Virtual Architecture?

When considering the notion of virtual architecture - there are obvious ideas that come to mind, such as, the virtual world being online, movies like inception and the matrix where there is no singular real world but rather a series of realms where the possibilities are endless and gravity ceases to exist. Is something as simple as looking at our 3-D models of our designs virtual architecture?

However there are other notions of this virtual idea that was discovered within the tutorials. While thinking of technology and the online virtual world is one consideration, another is the virtual world of the mind. The way a building can react with our senses can provoke a series of reactions of the mind... the way the sun hits the our skin, the way the materials make us feel, the way the shape and size of space, or maybe just the journey through a building as a whole can trigger thoughts. Certain things could trigger a memory that then leads us to a virtual journey through our mind... the possibilities are endless for this concept.

Some examples...

The virtual world - online and in the movies



http://archidemo.blogspot.com/2008/07/museum-of-globe.html



This project was called "Opening the door Austrlian virtual pavillion". This project interests me because while there is physical architecture it also incorporates the virtual world into the building through the use of the large scale screens throughout. However, the physical architecture is clever in the way that it triggers the senses to feel like you could be in another realm with its futuristic feel.
Images accessed: http://www.architecture.rmit.edu.au/Projects/Venice_Biennale_Exhibitions.php



Kengo Kuma's 'Bamboo Wall House' while wouldn't strike you as virtual architecture at first glance. I think that the way the building inegrates with its natural surrounds, the use of materials, light and shadow and in particular the reflection room which is pictured above, all trigger a range of emotions and thoughts when being immersed within the building. This architecture describes the idea that was discussed at the start of this blog regarding the idea of virtual experience of the mind. The mind creates and imagines certain situations or thoughts that create their own virtual world that only the individual can experience.

Images accessed: http://inhabitat.com/great-bamboo-wall/

What is Mobile & Distributed Architecture?

Of course the inital response to this type of architecture is the idea of movement... something that is not static. Mobile architecture needs to have a certain level of flexibilty to allow for the entity to adapt to various contexts as it would not have any one site... this brings with it a great deal of difficulty. How could the issue of not having a particular site in mind during the design stage affect the outcome? What could be implemented to allow this architectural entity to be both mobile and adaptive?


This idea of mobile architecture could also tie into distributed architecture. As discussed within the flexible architecture thoughts... maybe pods could move to areas and then be dropped to start the creation of a new building? This allows the pods being distributed to all come from the same beginning of one bigger entity and then disperse to various areas of need. How could this aid the government of Australia?.. we already have a distributed government but could this take it to a new level?


Some exemplars...

This architectural idea is a good example of how distributed and mobile architecture could actually work together. It could also work with the pods thought that was described in the flexible architecture posts.
Prefab architecture is an idea that has been grabbing a lot of attention in the last few years and I think it definitely is an idea for the future that could help create new dwellings very quickly if need be. Could this type of architecture be utilized by the government? Maybe these pods/dwellings could be distributed in times of emergency to where they are needed?


Here is some info from the website:
'More and more architects (as well as their clients) are becoming aware of the benefits of prefabricated architecture. Here is a first-ever look at the light, modular, dismantlable, transportable, mobile, adaptable, self-supporting, and recyclable projects that make life easier for 21st-century nomads! Featuring over 25 extraordinary projects designed by progressive architects, PreFab takes a look at an assortment of intriguing prefabricated buildings whose functions range from single-family houses and guest pavilions to offices and bars.

Filled with 300 full-color examples and 50 architectural plans by the designers themselves, PreFab will prove to become the definitive reference for architects, contractors, homeowners, and anyone else interested in creating a prefabricated structure.' Accessed: http://prefabs.blogspot.com/2009/10/prefab-adaptable-modular-dismountable.html



Floating mobile architecture?? This allows for ease of movement but would have an element of uncertainty due to weather conditions.. how could an architectural dwelling like the one pictured above cope in extreme weather conditions?




This image sparks interest in what was discussed at the start of this blog post. How could something mobile/distributed possibly adapt to the various contexts it might move to. EG as displayed here.. rural vs. urban?


accessed: http://architectureforemergencyresponses.blogspot.com/p/mobile-architecture.html

Water-scraper – A Self-Sufficient City at Sea:
Water-scraper epitomizes the very evolutionary end result of green technology. The city will generate its own electricity by using wave, wind, solar power and even kinetic energy. Moreover there will be farms, a small forestland along with well defined quarters for working and living of people.Details: http://thetechjournal.com/off-topic/10-fascinating-floating-city-concept.xhtml#ixzz1WeulZijZ

What is Flexible Architecture?

When considering ‘felxible architecture’ the main idea that springs to mind is ADAPTION.

Something that is flexible must be able to change and manipulate itself so that it can easily adapt to any changes that are required. This is an idea that is extremely relevant today- flexible architecture goes hand in hand with what could be considered sustainable.

Some fuel for thought: Exemplars...

The Rotating Tower

"The tower is going to be twirling around the tall shaft. Rotation of each building block around the shaft is going to contribute in energy production for the building and neighbors. Its construction is set to begin this month! The Dynamic Architecture building has been appropriately named Rotating Tower as the floors would be rotating around an inner-tall shaft. It will be continually in motion, changing shape and giving residents the ability to choose a new view at the touch of a button. Beyond doubt, every day is a new day! Guaranteed! The external view of the building would constantly change as each floor rotates separately giving a new view of the building as it turns. According to architect, David Fisher, the building is going to be strong and flexible enough to disaster like, earthquakes as each floor rotates separately." Accessed: http://www.technologymadness.com/?cat=50




This building is forward thinking in both its approach and its use. The idea of vertical farming is the central idea
while robotic arms are able to move individual pods to various areas allowing it to be an extremely flexible building. This idea could also transcend into DISTRIBUTED + MOBILE architecture due to the nature of the pods as an individual entity that can either attach or be alone standing meaning they could be transported to somewhere else as a building block for a new context.

 Shipping container architecture is another good example of how smaller pods can be utilised to create a bigger entity. Once again, the idea of being able to be stand alone or grouped together, allows these architectural creations to have a flexible nature as well as being recycled material as another bonus!... and they further display the close connection that flexible architecture has with mobile and distributed as these shipping container pods could be converted into moving entities as well as the opportunity of re-assigning them to a new context.
Take a look at: http://design.spotcoolstuff.com/unusual-architecture/shipping-container-buildings


The Safe House in Poland








This piece of architecture is a great example of how to combine flexible architecture with security. Could this be something that Parliament House could consider in some way? Take a look at: http://sneakhype.com/home/2011/06/safe-house-in-poland.html

Week 2 studio notes