DESA1002 'Nine Quarter City' - <Rebecca Iightfoot>

Abstract

Over the past semester i feel i have gained a clearer understanding of both the purposes and functions of various building forms. As my final design is of a basic casino, it includes three sections that ultimately divide the structure into that of a gaming area, restaurant, and hotel. From this i have learnt the various necessities required for spaces that function differently, such as aspects of circulation, privacy and service systems. It is necessary to have a funcional path from which both the served and people of service may circulate and continue with their chosen or required duties without conflict or dis-comfort. This includes the eradication of ‘awkward’ spaces and angles that may form due to poor interior layout as well as poor systems of circulation. Areas where great concentrations of crowds may be expected should have specific qualities imposed, such as vast open spaces and evenly spaced design. I have included this by ensuring areas such as the function room (upper floor to the restaurant), gaming room and entrance foyer are vast and openly spaced in order to allow various paths of circulation to go undisturbed. I feel the overall design of my structure flows much the same, and would function well as an actual building form. I feel the structure, materials and general layout work in great harmony, and suite the modern, technologically advanced setting of the over crowded, over populated Tokyo of today. The idea that three different sections compose the entire building is more of a western concept of the ‘casino form’, and when combined with an aesthetical design of traditional Japanese elements, such as timber cladding, paper walls and simple colours all to combine a type of opaque ‘misty’ environmental effect, creates a type of structural and aesthetical hybrid of both the eastern and western forms, ultimately setting the building into Tokyos highly eastern influenced city-scape. This semester i have learnt to be more aware of basic details, such as the buildings function, structure, purpose, setting, and aesthetical values. All these considerations must be linked together in order to create a consistant and effectively flowing design that will work well as a whole. The building itself is like a community of various needs supporting one another, attracting individuals towards it whilst ensuring their wants, needs and safety is applied. I believe my casino design achieves this, and would effectively function well as a whole.