establishing a building programme

This weeks focus was to establish a building programme to connect with the intended concept (people as activators of space), form (adaptive architecture) and biomimicry process (human vein function). The answer to this was to create something that could possibly have a 24 hour function. Buildings such as gallery spaces, exhibitions, museums and performing areas lend themselves to large quantities of people moving through the building however I wanted to choose a building programme that wasn't as vague as these choices. Adaptive architecture itself is vague enough and I didnt want to end up designing an empty, moveable space for something too flexible.

Initially, I had thought of designing something very different to what we have in Brisbane currently: something like a homeless centre with flexible spaces for day and night use. This however, does not exactly fit with the theme of "people as activators of space", as the project could potentially draw people or keep people from coming to the site.

Therefore: WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMME CAN ACTIVATE DARKNESS?

The result is that the building function for this project will be a science centre by day and an astrology centre by night with a potential ferry terminal to bring people in from all areas around the CBD...

Here are some initial thoughts and details involved with this theoretical design:

Addressing the surrounding functions: An educational precinct for the school nearby (All Hallows)

Interactive/ adaptive nature: Designing some of the building with fixed sections and some with moveable areas. A central area which could be used as a main display during the day could be pulled back and exposed of a nighttime. Screens and panels could be strategically placed to reveal framed views of the constellations but used as natural light and ventilation devices during the day.

Nighttime security: A lighting system (renewably powered of course) could be used in an interactive nature also, with the building facade as a tool for projecting installations on. Architectural projection mapping is a technique used to alter the facade of buildings with extreme effect. For nights where observing the sky are not an option, this could be adopted.

Access: To service the nearby school an access route will have to be established. A ferry terminal also seems to be the best access point for nighttime sessions however a safe access route will still have to be determined for the cliffside.