Blurred Vision

When heres my first few sketches of my concept. Not much too look at the moment, but still A start.


The ideas behind it is that if I can blur the shape of the building, in a few different ways, then i'll be able to create something that can play with a sense of perspective (one that is different at speed) and a sense of movement at speed.

So taking the idea of my motorcycle rider leaning, refer to my Perspective post http://pitsdesign.blogspot.com/2011/03/perspective.html
and then add that to the notion of speed from Speed in Concept http://pitsdesign.blogspot.com/2011/03/speed-in-concept.html

 

Then what you end up with a dialogue that describes how to distort the buildings outwards appearance.

In these sketches I've show what could be timber slats that span across, protruding past the edge of the building, distorting its overall shape. This would provide a sense of speed, the opposite to resolute, an undefined object. 

Playing with perspective can be done by moving objects within / on the building towards of further away from the viewer, this would create an illusion within the depth of field. Again another idea that when travel at speed, due to your movement, gauging a distance is harder.

 

Now to stop trying to work out a concept and start planning this.

Speed in Concept

I guess the thing that has really struck me about my design, is the speed at which it is viewed.
Riders on the bikes hurtle past at 300km/hr, other driver of cars cruise around at similar speeds, so how does this affect the building, and what would it look like at those speed. The images that grab my attention are as follows that really show how I would think of it.

I guess that form that i get from these images is that even though the object itself is preserved the image is distorted by the speed for which it is viewed.

This is where i'll be heading with this I think

Time to start planning

Well after the tutorials today, its time to start working out how my building, can fit on the site, and how the planning of the building is going to affect the form.
I'm thinking as a first concept that I'll work on tomorrow is going to be the ideas of force being applied to the building shattering the facade, then historical axis' from the orginal layout of the track might cut through the building.

This could leave interesting walkways and view corridors and may lead to an expression of architectural form that I hadnt thought about.See what happens tomorrow i guess.

Folly

One of the fun parts about design is that you can just create.
It doesnt need to work. its just an idea.

One of the ideas that I had late the other night, was if all the objects that are put within pit lane are loaded up on the back of a truck and taken to the next place, then why couldnt the pit lane be taken with it? A valid question I feel because, why create something that is permanent if its only used to its full potential every so often. If its moved around with the rest of the utilities and objects that are used within pit lane, then why shouldnt the building go with it.

its a folly only because I dont think I'd be happy with my degree if all I did was design a trailer for a truck.
Plus I dont think I'd pass.

Perspective.

One of the things that I've been toying with this weekend, has been the idea of perspective and how things can changes depending on where you are, or in my case how fast your going.

Someone suggested that maybe designing a building that doesnt make sense for the spectators, but when you hurtle past near 270km/hr, you get it.........To be honest although i think its a cool idea. Its a bit elite-est isnt it?
Beside, knowing my bad luck, I'd be the reason that motorbikes crash halfway up the straight, because they see my building, stop doing what they should be, as in concentrating on whats in front of them and forget to brake.

Well heres my model that plays with the idea of perspective. hard to make, but a good effort in the end. has got my brain thinking about the sense of speed and how it can be generated within a static form

Experiments in Form

Experimenting with form for the project.

Instructions:
1.Prepare model materials.
2.Set an Alarm for 3 minutes.
3.If you pick it up, use in on your model.
4.When timer goes off. Model down....start another.


The goal is too create 20 3 min models. 10 6 min models and 5 10 min models.
This should allow me to experiment quickly with forms. then refine 10 that I like, then refine them further with the last 5.

Model Materials ready to be used

First 6

This should be an interesting experiment.

Quick 4

Here's just a few of the initial concepts that I've been thinking through. Most seem to have a real Zaha Hadid feel about them. No idea how I'll model it or draw it, but meh....you get that.

1.
Use the curves of the track to slice, cut, move and shape the overall building in an abstract form.

 2. Use the the same curves from above to shape, mould and cover the existing building. and provide a traffic-able roof above.

 3. Create less to have more.
Use a system of tensile structures that can be moved depending on the size of the event taking place. the only permanent building are those that are required for day to day running and managerment.

 4. Go Down
There is no real reason as to why the Bike Pavilion needs to be located on ground level, or why the operational parts like race control, timing and race management cant be located down here. They spend the race staring into TV screens.

Technical Drawing

Just an image that I drew up for the latest assignment. Never drawn anything using cross hatching before, but happy with how it turned out. the other is a sketch from two of the concept bikes that have been made. The overall shape inspires me.

Inspire me

Just a quick group of images of concept cars and bikes that I've found.
I'm hoping that I can use the styling of these and reflect it somehow in the overall design of the building.

Not sure how i can do this......but will work it out .........I hope..

Influences

I've always been a bit interested in the ideas and designs behind Zaha Hadid. I've always been enticed by the curves and flowing forms of her designs. I think that her types of projects would be suited within any future racing centre, but I'm still not sure if that's the way I wanna take this thing.
 

I've tired designing an overall form that is similar to the type of futuristic forms that she creates, But if 1 of my key success factors is to reflect the site. I'm not sure if this is the type of thing that could and would work. Will to investigate how she defines the form.

Flip Side

The other side of thinking with this project is to design something that somehow encapsulates the Australian Attitudes towards motor racing.

How do we view the sport what are our attitude towards it, and how can this be used to define the form or a building? 

One lecturer explained that by perhaps not trying to emulate the attitudes of Australian Motorsport in the architecture would allow for a more creative exploration of the design. He explained that during a recent world expo in Shanghi, China, the Australian Pavilion was kitch and was an easily readable Australian Form. Yeh it gave those that may never come to Australia a glimpse as to what the Australian landscape looks like. But really.......this was the best we could do?

The British Pavilion on the other hand steeped away from the kitch ideas of reflecting the nations ideas, landscape and culture to reflect more of the attitudes towards the future. The pavilion shows a sense of contemporary understanding into how willing and future thinking the British people are. It may not show the colors of the landscape, nor show the stereotypical iconic images like the Red double Decker bus or the bobby. But its shows that these people are willing to embrace the future and whatever it may hold.

Let it Begin

Well its sorted then! Phillip Island Race track will be getting a new race complex that responds to the site, explores the design trends in concept motorcycle design and respects the history that is behind it all. Still not entirely sure how this will all happen, but it’s a starting point. My initial feeling is that I’d like to explore the idea of designing something that reflects the attitudes towards racing in the future, and not just now. Its hoped that by doing this, I’ll be able to design a building that has a longer life span.

I’ve always found it interesting to see that so many people design something based on what is the now. But what about tomorrow? And how will their building look and work then?  Will it still function, or by the time its finished construction will it already be obsolete.

I’d like to think that somehow I can use this within the design. Again not to sure how….but you get that.