Billie Patestos

The figuration diagram explores some of the key elements of the design proposal. These include the main body of stairs that run across the length of the allocated level as well as the lift and stair cores which are key access points into the level.

Additionally, the columns were extremely paramount in my design and key considerations were made to ensure that the grid of columns was utilised accordingly when placing each key feature into the site.

The stairs are used and positioned strategically across the level to create an interesting arrangement of pyramid-like structures within the building. The stairs connect each of the spaces across the site overall and they are also used to house the archive which runs the length of level two.

The site is not only divided length ways into three distinct portions but also along its width. As you transition from Lonsdale Street you will experience three key changes. The first zone is the exit from the lift core, where users are met with an unexpected shared kitchen between the students and dwelling residents. This area allows interesting interactions to occur before moving onto the next space.

The two levels that the entirety of level two is broken into divide the site into three key lengths (1, 2 and 3), influenced by the way that the columns are arranged across the site. Each of the spaces for both the architecture school and the dwellings are positioned within one of these key three lengths.

The ground floor consists of the first dwelling space, bathrooms, communal kitchen area, open workspace, printing area and the half basketball court sporting facility. The upper floor consists of the two other dwellings, two lecture theatre spaces, which are connected in the middle by the second dwelling, and an upper garden terrace.

The exploded axonometric explores how the archive works across the site. As you transition through different areas the materiality of the stair’s changes creating the archive. This only occurs on the parts of stair that is considered the archive and all other areas are a base set of materials.

The system is implemented throughout the site in various locations and depending on where a student walks their A and B spaces will change. What may be unexpected for one may be expected for another. Apart from the dwellings, there is no space that is considered a ‘dead end’. Each programmed space connects to another in more than one location allowing the system to occur both forwards and backwards.

This first render is the café and dwelling spatial connection. All dwellings are designed to be absorbed by the architecture school and transformed into other spaces at some point. Each dwelling has its own unique access and connection to the school so that at some point in the future it can become a part of the school rather than a separate living area. Whether that be through the windows or the shared kitchen space as depicted here.

This final render shows the lecture theatre space with the open access working space underneath. As you can see here the archive travels up the steps across the lecture theatres as opposed to being the full set of stairs to create a path that can be followed if students would like to.