community hub

CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1 Community HubCommunity HubCommunity HubCommunity Hub

Project by Project by Project by Project by Yusuf SampsonYusuf SampsonYusuf SampsonYusuf Sampson Student No.: 210044594Student No.: 210044594Student No.: 210044594Student No.: 210044594 Date Submitted 04.03.11Date Submitted 04.03.11Date Submitted 04.03.11Date Submitted 04.03.11

CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1CPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1 Community HCommunity HCommunity HCommunity Hubububub

Design briefDesign briefDesign briefDesign brief

think out the box for ways to provide shelter by designing a small, low tech, low cost, sustainable, multifunctional and easily assembled structure.

The structure (s) will provide sheltered places and landmarks which will offer access to information, opportunities for learning, communication and social interaction.

BREAKDOWN! Phase 1

Community + HuBCommunity + HuBCommunity + HuBCommunity + HuB CommunityCommunityCommunityCommunity: 1 – consists of all the people living in a particular area 2 – a group of people within a society who share a common feature Such as a religion, nationality or occupation e.g. “We are the student community” HuBHuBHuBHuB: 1 – the hub of a wheel is its central point* 2 – a place that is the hub of an area is its center of interest or activity* 3 – a networking device for computers

∴∴∴∴ Community HuB =Community HuB =Community HuB =Community HuB =

A central point where a group (s) of people can gather for a desired activity

Reference: Chambers-Macmillan, 1996, South African Student’s Dictionary, CTP Book Printers, South Africa * design informant


Functional requiFunctional requiFunctional requiFunctional requirementsrementsrementsrements

The community hub will provide a sheltered place and serve as a landmark. A masonry service core is for the provision of a wi-fi spot, to be lockable after hours. In addition to this function the main hub function will be:

meetingmeetingmeetingmeeting

BREAKDOWN! Phase 2

ShelterShelterShelterShelter 1 – protection against the weather or danger such as is provided by a house or other structure* 2 – a place or structure which provides protection

NB: Precedent 1 LandmarkLandmarkLandmarkLandmark 1 – a very noticeable building or other feature in a city or landscape, which helps you

find your position*

NB: Precedent 1 MeetingMeetingMeetingMeeting 1 – a meeting is an occasion when people come together in order to discuss something, or to

attend an event or happening etc* 2 – a meeting is also an occasion when you meet someone*

NB: Precedent 2

Reference: Chambers-Macmillan, 1996, South African Student’s Dictionary, CTP Book Printers, South Africa * design informant


Functional Functional Functional Functional requirementsrequirementsrequirementsrequirements

When people meet:When people meet:When people meet:When people meet:

o Meetings are usually private or semi-private and are rarely public. ∴SemiSemiSemiSemi----private spacesprivate spacesprivate spacesprivate spaces are best for this hub function as private spaces tend to exclude a large group of people, namely anyone that is not part of a specific group.

1 2 3

4 5


Functional requirementsFunctional requirementsFunctional requirementsFunctional requirements

WWWWHY make semiHY make semiHY make semiHY make semi----private spaces?private spaces?private spaces?private spaces?

o In this community hub focused on meeting, spaces need to be made semi-private / partially separated in order for different groups of people to feel comfortable.

o Not everyone wants to be around everyone else. o People are all different, even within a community of students the students will split into smaller

groups and group themselves with people they feel comfortable with or share something in common with; they will walk together, sit around the same tables etc. They want to feel comfortable where they are.

ExamExamExamExample:ple:ple:ple:

Level of ‘noise’

Group of people Lecturers Students Other students



HOW to make semiHOW to make semiHOW to make semiHOW to make semi----private spaces?private spaces?private spaces?private spaces?

o Spaces can be divided with devices other than walls. o Changes in level, size, area and volume of spaces and visual planes are all devices which identify

different spaces. o They then become semi-private rather than completely private. o Furniture, screens, plants and other physical objects can help create semi-private spaces. o Colors and lighting can have the same effect.

1

3

2

4

Levels

Volumes

Areas

Physical objects



FEEL GOOD: to feel comfortableFEEL GOOD: to feel comfortableFEEL GOOD: to feel comfortableFEEL GOOD: to feel comfortable

o People want to be comfortable where they are and most often want to sit down. o People want to be protected from the elements: they want to be in a cool shady place on hot days and

want to be in a comfortable warm space on cold days and no one wants to be caught out in wind driven rain.

o People don’t want to be restricted in a cluttered space which makes getting comfortable and / or movement awkward. There must be circulation and space.

Summary:Summary:Summary:Summary:

o Stick to the brief! Provide shelter, create a landmark, create an environment in which to meet and keep it small, low tech and low cost.

o The community hub will be a place where you can meet with ‘your group’ in a semi-private space not secluded from the rest of the world.

o The space (s) should not be restricting in any way and must be appealing to the eye, have good circulation and climate control devices.


Precedent 1Precedent 1Precedent 1Precedent 1

Blackpool’s rotation shelterBlackpool’s rotation shelterBlackpool’s rotation shelterBlackpool’s rotation shelter

“A majestic fish tail” as it is described, the rotating shelter, by Ian Mc Chesney, is located on the South Shore Promenade of Blackpool.

It stands 8 meters tall and performs as a wind vane protecting the people which sit at its base. It is on a turnable base with a built-in damper and is designed to rotate with prevailing wind direction.

It is finished with an attractive duplex stainless steel with clean lines and curves.

The shelter is functional and boasts artistic design, which bestowed it with the prestigious Civic Trust Award.

Reference: to be added

I have chosen this as my first precedent study as it immediately attracted my eye and on further enquiry found that it met almost all of the functional aspects of the brief.

The structure provides shelter, and serves as an extremely bold landmark that cannot be missed and therefore it has become a meeting point for many of the inhabitants.

The feature of rotating allows it to deal with major climate control efficiently; it blocks off prevailing wind and rain, and provides shade and a place to sit and enjoy.

It may use expensive materials the concept and function are worthy for a good precedent study.


TechnologicalTechnologicalTechnologicalTechnological requirements requirements requirements requirements

The structure of the community hub, other than the masonry core, is to contain gum poles and marine ply as the

main materials. Allow for simple assembly, pay attention to junctions.

Gum poles are readily available at almost any local hardware stores. It is a hardwood and does not form many knots in the wood leaving no weakness due to knots, unlike pine which is softwood and can have many knots which are weak points in the wood as it may fail at the points where knots are present.

Gum poles are supplied treated and will last for years without any additional treatment. They have been used in desert climates, tropical and temperate climates and in marine jetties.

They come in various lengths and thicknesses, namely: Lengths @ 1.8m, 2.0m, 2.1m, 2,4m, 2.7m, 3.0m, 3.6m, .8m, 2.0m, 2.1m, 2,4m, 2.7m, 3.0m, 3.6m, .8m, 2.0m, 2.1m, 2,4m, 2.7m, 3.0m, 3.6m, .8m, 2.0m, 2.1m, 2,4m, 2.7m, 3.0m, 3.6m, 4.24.24.24.2m, m, m, m, 4.8m 4.8m 4.8m 4.8m and 5.4m5.4m5.4m5.4m Thicknesses @ 55550mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm 0mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm 0mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm 0mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm and 200mm 200mm 200mm 200mm

Thinner 20-30mm thicknesses can be purchased and used as infill to make screens, fences, pergola covers etc. Larger sections are also available, these are commonly known as telephone poles which can be ordered and may be able to extend the design further. Apex junction Rafter Junction Split junction Gumpole – hardwood

Pine – softwood


TechnologicalTechnologicalTechnologicalTechnological requirements requirements requirements requirements

Marine ply is a strong material due to the lamination of the veneers and the waterproof adhesive used, giving it it’s weatherproof/resistant property. Marine ply is used for paneling, flooring, cladding and furnishing. There is always an odd number of veneers and each ply is at a right angle to the next. Therefore with more veneers a stronger sheet is produced. Exterior grade is weatherproof and boil proof, whereas other grades are weather and boil resistant. This depends on the quality of the adhesive used. Although marine ply is suitable and widely used underwater, even when simply exposed to weather it requires a coat of paint or varnish to protect the outer veneers. Common thicknesses (up to 22mm) 3 layer – 4 ply

CPUT 2011: Design ExercisCPUT 2011: Design ExercisCPUT 2011: Design ExercisCPUT 2011: Design Exercise 1e 1e 1e 1 Community HubCommunity HubCommunity HubCommunity Hub

Precedent 2Precedent 2Precedent 2Precedent 2

Mapugubwe National ParkMapugubwe National ParkMapugubwe National ParkMapugubwe National Park

A need for a new national park in an area previously without infrastructure required architects to design a suitable structure for this world heritage site.

The area is ecologically diverse and in the center of an African civilization which is famed for the discovery of the gold rhino on Mapugubwe Hill in 1933.

The most important aspect of the design response was the guidance given with regard to siting of facilities, avoidance of extensive archaeological sites, and reuse of existing fencing materials, reinterpretation of vernacular technology and using available skills and labor to reach their goal.

Reference: Architecture South Africa, sep/oct 2006, pg 037

I have chosen this precedent as it immediately displays brilliant junctions between elements and the use of materials.

The framed structure consists of gumpoles and infills to create an extraordinary structure over what would otherwise be a very plain geometric base. This gives many ideas as to how to define spaces and create more daring juctions using the required materials to extend the current limits of my design. The structure not only makes excellent use of technology, it also creates good climate control, provides shelter and is an outstanding lankmark, which redefines current conventions of gumpole technology. An excellent precedent to inspire this project.


Yusuf Sampson, 2Yusuf Sampson, 2Yusuf Sampson, 2Yusuf Sampson, 2ndndndnd Year Student of CPUT Year Student of CPUT Year Student of CPUT Year Student of CPUT

Student No.: 210044594Student No.: 210044594Student No.: 210044594Student No.: 210044594

04.03.11 by 12:00pm submission04.03.11 by 12:00pm submission04.03.11 by 12:00pm submission04.03.11 by 12:00pm submission

community hub

Documents

design exercise

design informant cput

computers community

student community hubhubhubhub

main hub function

group of people

structure s

group s of people