DESA1002 'Nine Quarter City' - <Anuradha Seneviratne>

Abstract

This semester my project was a student housing project. I chose this project to follow with because I have some knowledge in the area as well as it suited my location. The overall theme for Venice was to create new and interesting places for the youth to hang out. Keeping this in my mind, during the weekly exercises I consciously tried to drive my project in a modern, youthful direction. I also consciously wanted the project to look different to the function. These two key points made my vague vision to reality. The building structure was to look like an image of an exploding object while the cladding reflects the modern era (the 21st century). The faces of the building facing to the sky were clad with photovol glass, which absorbs the heat of the sunlight but allows the daylight to pass through. This heat is transferred into electricity for the building. The faces facing away from the sky were clad with reflective glass. This allows spaces, which are enclosed seemed more closed, and spaces, which are open, more open. This play on the psychology suited the position of the building; also the appreciation of the courtyard. The interior also took an interesting turn; rather than having rows of rooms, I decided to create small apartments for students. Four students will share a kitchen and a bathroom. This was effective because it strengthens bonds between students and thus strengthening the community feeling which was the key to this project. The connecting bridges also help to strengthen this feeling.