DESA1002 'Continuous City' - Jimmy He

Abstract

The entire block site serves as the transport hub of the region, with the monorail station as the centre piece, which like a fish swimming through the water, cuts its way through the city's buildings. The most important level is the concourse level (first floor) - which houses the retail and station facilities as well as providing the circulation systems used move up (to the platform level) and down (to the ground level). The entire station is raised off the ground through a series of columns thereby not disrupting the plaza area on either side of the station. The retail space appears in 2 distinct parts - one on the left and one on the right. The circulation to the ground level on the left is different to that on the right - this is because the left portion of the site contains dense commercial, retail space, a commuter car park and a bus stop - the right conversely contains small scale community retail space and small residential blocks. Hence, the stairs to the right of the station are smaller and more discreet, the stairs to the left are conventional, rectilinear in shape, larger and more open - the station caters different demographics of people. The circular motif of the ticket office is extended below to the ground level as a supporting column, and extends up to the roof as a circular skylight. The main structural feature of the building is the roof, which is composed of a series of interconnected trusses, each being uniquely shaped. The building contains a mix of transparent and translucent glass facades. In regard to the model, following an extensive exploration of appropriate cladding materials, the final material chosen is acetate. A combination of translucent (sanded) and transparent acetate square grids are used. The material seeks to achieve a balance between protecting the interior of the building and revealing the underlying truss system.