CAPITheticAL Brief and the new National Archives

My design for the new National Archives building responds to the CAPITheticAL Brief (view here) in the following ways:

How would 21^st century social, political and environmental factors influence the nature [of the city]?
The new National Archives building is a representation of the evolution of social, political and environmental ideals and values of contemporary society. It's strong adherence to the importance of innovation (political driver) and information (social value) are depicted through the building's form as well as function, and the pods allude strong connotations of environmental issues such as climate change, global warming, environmental protection, and sustainable growth (taking into account the limits of our environment while building our economy). Sustainable building materials and systems also reflect the social and environmental values of the 21st century.

What ideas would drive its design and development?
Design development has been driven by the notion of change and growth. The importance of new values (i.e. innovation and information) replacing outdated traditions. The essential adherence to sustainable design practices, systems, and materials. The need to incite feelings of nationalism and pride in the public. The need to address the importance of memory and history; perspective and story; past, present and future.

Can the design and location of [a city] influence clarity, compassion and productivity in the thinking of Governments and political representatives?
The design of the new National Archives is focused around the (hypothetical) new national values of information and innovation. This influences Government thinking as freedom of information and inclusion of teaching facilities, as well as the political media interaction and the aim to inform the public of political proceedings forces political representatives to clarify their arguments and ideas due to their projected transparency.

What influence would climate change have?
Climate change affects the way the building is designed and constructed. In order to maximise the energy efficiency of the building, and minimise its impact on the environment, many systems have been included in the design:
 - thermal mass to insulate and keep the building cool in summer, warm in winter, thus lowering energy usage
 - shading devices protect against heat and glare
 - glazing maximises natural lighting, lowering dependence on artificial lighting
 - rooftop gardens insulate
 - atriums provide natural light channels and ventilation outlets
 - courtyards full of trees promote natural cross ventilation
 - rainwater collection and reuse facilities
 - solar panels on roof provide energy for archives
 - low embodied energy materials include rammed earth, bamboo flooring and recycled glass, aluminium and steel
 - zero VOC and low toxic interior finishes
 - energy efficient appliances and low-flicker lighting
 - water saving appliances and dual flush toilets

Can the design of [a city] influence the life and work of its residents?
The design of the archives influences the life of its staff and visitors through the implementation of strategies that increase their quality of life while on the premises. These include the periodic break-out spaces, courtyards and rooftop gardens brimming with greenery to heighten rest and relaxation (and therefore enhancing productivity). The implementation of new technologies provide a platform to absorb new information, while inspiring the discovery of new ideas and innovations.

In the above questions, the brief refers to the design of the new capital city. The responses have been targeted towards the design of the new National Archives as a city was not designed in this project.

PROJECT 2: The Place To Be

SUMMARY BOARD:

PANELS:

Sequence (Individual Images)

Perspective Views - External Building

Speech

Presence and Identity

The building exudes Australian presence through its response to factors such as climate, history, place and identity.

CLIMATE
The building utilises passive solar systems so as to respond to the conditions of the Canberra climate, minimising energy consumption from active systems.

HISTORY
The building acknowledges the narrative of the structure which once stood on its grounds, incorporating its essence into the new structure. This is achieved primarily by the wrapping of the new archives around the space of the old, filling the void space with memory.

PLACE
The use of local materials reflects the place in which it is located. It’s adherence to parliamentary aesthetic is shown by the strong, brutalist form of the vertical exterior columns that extend from earth to roof, reflecting the image of the other buildings in the parliamentary triangle.

IDENTITY
The building tells a story of the country's past, while engaging in a new image to strive toward the future. With emphasis on information and innovation, it contains elements, such as the reading pods, which capture the spirit of Australian growth, evolution and choice, through the use of advanced technology and symbolic narrative. By adhering to sustainable practices the building reflects contemporary Australian culture and values.

The integral principal of choice and the ability to add ones own story to the web responds to the nature of Australia as a multicultural society as it represents the many stories which have tangled together to form the Australian nation.

Overall, the structure incites feelings of nationalism within users, as their ability to identify with the place, spurred by impressions of choice, change, growth and knowledge, incurs a collective desire for societal connectivity.

User Experience

As a visitor of the National Archives, you would be provided with an interactive tablet computer device (similar to an iPad). With it you would be able to pre-select the particular exhibition you wish to experience, and the way you wish to experience it. Markers placed throughout the gallery space, when viewed through the tablet device, project 3-dimensional artifacts in the virtual realm, overlaid on the physical space. 

For example, two people looking at the same marker simultaneously might see two different artifacts through their tablet device, based on their pre-selected settings. 

With a touch of your tablet you can bring up a host of information about the artifact you are viewing. You can choose to hear this information, or read it. You can choose to input your own memory of this artifact, verbally, or textually. You can save this artifact in the computer’s memory, then learn more about it later while relaxing in one of the courtyards, or in the intimate spaces of the reading pods. 

The pods themselves add a whole new layer to personal user experience. Step into one of the circular rooms to be encased in a 360 degree view of the scene of your choice. Let’s say you chose a beach location: not only can you view the setting all around you, you can also elect to have soft ocean noises aurally played, ducted air conditioning makes ocean breezes achievable, and digital scent technology means you can even smell the salt in the air. 

The information inputted into your tablet device can be accessed anywhere, so you can pre-select the settings of your visit on the bus on the way to the archives, and you can view your saved artifacts from any external computer. The system also saves your preferences for your next visit.

Circulation

Circulation for the public entrance segments in the first internal courtyard. Visitors head right to the teaching space, left to the eating/restaurant space, or straight ahead into the central courtyard, where they can then enter the exhibition space.

For the central exhibition space, visitors typically enter through the east and west foyers. They are then given the freedom to explore numerous routes  throughout the gallery space.

Circulation for the office block segments in the foyer. Staff head right or left depending on the location of their workspace, or straight ahead to the courtyard or restaurant.

Infrastructure

Strategy:
The infrastructure of the archives network (that is, the world wide web database) will be expanded and broadened by the new archives. Specifically this refers to the online virtual reading room VROOM (http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/), while generally it is the expansion of the proposed tablet computer network where visitors can view and research, collect and explore, input and record - from anywhere and everywhere.

The existing infrastructure of history and memory of the previous archives has been built upon by the new buildings' encompassing and embracing of the lost structure. Its allusion to the past has been dealt with by its delicate addressing of the negative space - embodying the disembodied.

Logistics:
The design of the new National Archives is created to be dynamic - The overall multifunctional nature of the entities within the new National Archives respond to changing requirements of users as well as the country as a whole - the ability to adapt the spaces to suit ones own user experience.

The infinite virtual space of the archives gallery provides the basis for an ever-increasing and ever-expanding collection of memories, perspectives, history, art, stories and artifacts.

The development of new technologies can be adapted into the running of the archives. Such technologies might even have been developed by the archives themselves in their inclusive Innovations Department.

Departments in the National Archives

It became necessary when designing the office component of the building, to make note of all of the potential departments that would need to be included. These include existing departments, as well as new ones that have been added to enhance the archives' abilities.
1. Commonwealth Records Management and Storage
2. Research and Analysis
3. Data Collection and Analysis
4. Archives Administration
5. Exhibit Management
6. Media Centre
7. Learning and Teaching Programs
8. Archives Technology Upkeep, Maintenance, Development
9. Publications Distribution
10. Agency Customer Service Centre
11. GAIN (Government Agencies Information Network)
12. External Archives Network Management - Internet and Intranet
13. Innovations

Plus Reception, Back Dock area, and Chief Executive Offices

estimate 300 people

Australian Culture and Identity

In order to create a building that carries an Australian presence (culture and values), it is necessary for it to be developed in response to climate, history, place, and identity.
It should use Australian materials (including corrugated iron).
It should emphasise space and light, and a connection to the landscape.

eg. latticework verandas and slats - prevent sun heating buildings and promote air flow
energy efficient, passive solar
materials with low embodied energy
rainwater harvesting
skylights

Buildings that float above the land, touch the earth lightly.


Multifunctional entity - responds to changing requirements of proprietors and users.

Culture:
social cohesion and unity
democratic
appreciate and conserve environment
diverse, tolerant, egalitarian
dynamic, committed to freedom

multicultural - many stories tangled together.

Storytelling

The Aesthetic of Parliament

In order to make the building integrate within the parliamentary triangle it is necessary for it to follow similar aesthetic principles of its surrounding buildings.

SYMMETRY - BRUTALIST - ORGANIC
vertical fin detailing
northern floor to ceiling expanses of glass
curved roofs and ceilings
colours echo natural environment
thermal mass, insulation
insulated concrete slab
timber frame work