Zoom: Centre for Image Sound + Installation St Kilda

Studio brief: centre for image sound and installation

A civic building for displaying video art with an outdoor cinema plaza. The building will include gallery spaces, education rooms, a cafe, bars and outdoor cinema and optionsl swimming pool.

Studio aims

The centre of Image Sound and Installation aims at investigating an architectural prpoposition where architecture may explore the affect of the art, media and recent technologies in the proposal of a public centre for St Kilda. St Kilda is the birthplace for the first feature film world wide (The Story of the Kelly Gang 1906) so it seems appropriate to add this to the program and use some theoretical concerns from film theory in our research. Students may also select to undetake some possible associated foreshore proposals for the St Kilda Pier / pool redevelopment currently being undertaken by the City of Port Phillip. The studio aims to develop various explorations and strategies of designing architectural space and form through a series of design techniques and operations testing proposals and design ideas for the the Centre for Image Sound and Installation for the St Kilda seaside site. The studio aims at a successful final outcome for a site which has several restrictions in terms of height and view access which shall be tested through an investigation of various urban morphologies.

Concept

The concept behind this studio is to design a building which investigates the changing nature of architectural surface and space in the modern world, particularly as it has changed since the influence of conceptual art mediums and the effects of cinema and screen technologies. The project is an opportunity to explore new artistic techniques and methodologies for generating buildings, while aiming at a very clear output of a functional centre for the public and St Kilda.

Outcome

The initial urban and site studies shall be conducted by small groups of students at the beginning of the semester. The students shall individually test and develop an understanding of different formal and spatial techniques designers have adopted and how these may communicate ideas and concepts through a personal booklet documenting the design iterations, tests and development of a design statement. This includes documenting the design process undertaken which shall embrace practical, theoretical, and exploritory methods. The studio shall work in class through class discussions, lectures, and exercises adopting different mediums including: mapping exercises, and various model making exercises (physical and digital -Rhino). All activities shall work towards a final professional booklet documenting the work in a professional manner including a final presentation layout which will explore various graphic techniques adopted by architects and designers in addition to a developed verbal and written design statement.

Readings: Paul Virillio The Overexposed City, Omar Calabrese - Neo-Baroque the sign of the times , Hal Foster – The Art Architecture Complex, Anthony de Mari Operative Design: A Catalog of Spatial Verbs Paperback

Anna Nervegna is a director of the award winning practice Nervegna Reed Architecture which has been published nationally + internationally. Work includes a mix of projects for Australia and larger urban project schemes for China. In addition to their commitment to higher education Nervegna Reed also works at the intersection of architecture, media and installation including their 2018 ‘Screen Test’ film screenings at the Mpavilion. Anna’s art practice has been awarded by the Australia Council and the Gertrude Comporary Art Studio Program where she held an artist studio residency and was also a member of the Gertrude Contemporary board. www.n-r.com.au