lecture 10

semiotics of public space

sometimes you don't notice certain features of a space but they all make an impact on the overall character of the particular space

designing a public space is never neutral and never objective
people who design the spaces are the ones who determine what the space will be like

those spaces play a role in also forming the character of the city itself and its inhabitants

(one thing i notice in sydney is the lack of big public spaces like those in europe where people hang around, drink, eat, talk etc)


anzac war memorial
the whole park exists in reference to the monument
it dominates the entire space
constructed as a shrine
the design is a traditional interpretation, so people automatically read it as a memorial

the reflection of the monument adds to the effect
water also represents contemplation

the panopticon and the all-seeing eye
the male figure which dominates the interior and represents the human sacrifice

macquarie place site visit

so this was a hands on kind of class...it was very interesting and i really liked the whole experience of visiting a place for the purpose of analysing it.

so these are my reflections:

the site feels a little odd, since it is just so small it doesn't even take you a minute to walk from one end to the other.

it is surrounded by buildings on all sides.
it is surrounded by busy streets on two sides and a walkway on the third, which gets quite busy during rush hour but not so much otherwise.

there are quite a few monuments and sculptures etc, including the obelisk, which signifies just how important macquarie place was; it was literally the centre of sydney, once upon a time

not a lot of people sit on the benches etc during the day, even around lunch time it's not quite packed.

there is an interesting mix of plants, some look native to the area and some imported

the water feature is probably my favourite spot; it's so small yet so defined.

the trees create almost a natural dome over the place, you can't see the sky very easily..

all this creates a feeling that macquarie place is like some kind of open-air museum, reminiscent of the old days of the colony, something to keep not necessarily to use within its perceived function, but to look and learn.

lecture 9

macquarie place continued

macquarie place was on the waterfront (hard to believe so much land has been reclaimed)

one of the earliest built public spaces in sydney and australia

the obelisk is an important feature of the site...it was literally the centre of sydney

the only part of the first fleet you can touch is there, all other remnants are protected in various sites

macquarie place is like an open air museum of colonisation and british invasion of australia

lecture 8

macquarie place

understanding the site

the historical development and use, contemporary importance, how it changes over time

'nothing is static!'

natural factors such as water, vegetation, climate, orientation (although water and vegetation is also mostly man made so maybe they're not 'natural' in the sense that they weren't there initially)

man made factors such as the cultural attractions, services, utilities, buildings that surround it etc
how do the roads affect the use and the overall feeling of the site?

on-site/off-site conditions

elements of design requirements

'separate transitory features from permanent features'

visible/invisible features of the space that all contribute to the character os the site

who uses the space? and perhaps more importantly, who DOESN'T use the space?

lecture 7

representation 2

more diesel ads!

representation in 3d spaces and objects

the fortress of brest (amazing)
very different from a traditional interpretation

barcelona pavilion & farnsworth house

manipulation of space and communicating a message with that, or creating an experience that would convey the message