Emotional Story of Building

Overall, I wanted to create a feeling of
- calm
- interconnectivity between neighbours and
though central patio
- privacy
- warmth
- shelter

and a Mood of
- escape
- tranquillity

I approached the design in terms of trying to create a residency which conveys a mood of privacy, shelter and warmth by focusing on the spatial qualities of the design. This idea evolved in a highly dualistic way, as I focused toward exploring the connectivity between solid, enclosed cubic spaces and open courtyard voids, with views carved between. I thought that by playing with voids and enclosure, the energies of different spaces would differ, from the main lowered entry point, to large floor to ceiling windows, achieving the desired feeling of shelter and romantic intrigue to the building.

I seeked to create contrasts, from a feeling of refuge and inner focus paralleled with an engagement with the ‘outside’ landscape (Coogee Beach) to draw in its beauty and allow plenty of light. All to create a mood of tranquillity, elation and drama, so this residential complex can be seen as a shelter from daily tension.

General Configuration

I found a quote by Barragan that said he admired forms that “hug and connect”, and I really felt like that applied to the way I approached the overall configuration of the apartments. The apartments have been separated into 3 main blocks, with one (the 3-bed) being completely independent. I did not want one large ‘block’ taking up the entire site (as would limit light, views, disrespect heritage building...), so I worked hard at maintaining the largest courtyard area as possible, not only for the leisure of the residents, but also to respect the heritage building behind. The forms are bold, yet play with the idea of solid and void, with voids placed within the main structure as terraces in order to create a dynamic exterior. Each block is stepped back in order to maintain some sort of beach view for most apartments, and creating front off-sets to maintain privacy and escape from road noise to some extent.

The centripetal layout of the buildings around the patio expresses the concept of inner focus and the play between solid and void.

Cafe

The ‘stepped’ terraced floor (with interesting stair format) of the Cafe maintains my aim of creating spatially exciting environments which engage and intrigue the user due to the different levels. The rectangular sky light allows plenty of light to enter the back of the cafe, another feature to create intrigue to the design without compromising privacy by having the entire cafe open to the street.

Jazz Club

Similarly, the small/elusive club entry door is designed to intrigue patrons and maintain the feeling of privacy, and even ‘exclusivity’.

Window/Individualised Views

I wanted it to actually feel as if you were entering a really specialised space, where what you were feeling was a key part of the aim, not just what you were ‘seeing’. So in terms of this, I did not want the apartments to be totally glass and take complete advantage of the view, but use the openings as a way to let in light and look toward the roads full of trees, and Coogee itself, to inspire and soothe, not to overwhelm.

IN particular, I played with the idea of creating ‘shafts/shards of sunlight’ to move around the apartments as the day progressed. I spent a lot of time developing the window placement and overall design, as this is a key aspect of phenomenology due to its obsession with light and its ‘ethereal variety of change’.

Glass or mirrored tiles will be placed on the inner wall framing the window (ledge) in order to reflect light around the apartment and heighten the ... experience of ‘shards of light moving around the apartment’ throughout the day.

Main apartment entry/courtyard

I tried to convey a sense of ‘threshold’ through this entry to the courtyard and apartment access by semi-enclosing it before entering large open courtyard, so that when the resident enters the complex, there is a heightened/enhanced feeling of escape and shelter. Further, as they move into the void of the courtyard, through to the enclosure of the staircase, and eventually their apartment, these spatial dynamics will hopefully enhance their experience of the building. Needing to 'step down' into the courtyard also enriches the users spatial understanding due to needing to physically engage with it.

Small terraces/roof garden

So as to maintain the mood of escape and tranquillity, small terraces are provided to ensure each apartment can privately access the ‘outside’. The roof garden continues the ‘main courtyards’ play on void spaces, like the idea of the Italian Piazza, where people living in enclosed quarters have the opportunity to use large public spaces for relaxation and enjoyment.