Final presentation

The final activity of the module was a presentation of the final design. The module notes stated how the brief was, ” a lot more extensive and harder to define. The scale is a lot larger and the spatial restrictions are far fewer.” Indeed I produced a large structure, that in hindsight could have been smaller and therefore would have been easier to model in 3D and would have taken less time to design.

The module notes asked that, “the creativity and energy that you apply to this project must be more focused and have more impact. Your ideas must be exciting and daring yet very clearly defined in order to satisfy the big questions that the brief demands of you.”

I was happy that my design had elements that showed focus and creativity.

The following questions were asked about the design:-

How does the building relate to the site?

The pavilion sits on the site, built to the straight edge of the site and the whole building faces south. The wave design can be seen best from the entrance view, to the west and there are view from the front, the south. The site has neighbouring buildings on the east and north, so the walls facing these directions are plainer and have fewer windows, to reduce the visual appearance of other buildings through the windows when inside the pavilion.

How does it relate to the sun?

The pavilion is faced to the south to make the most of the sun. As it is has a green roof, the building needed to face the south for maximum sunlight to enhance growth of the crops. The areas under the canopies to the front of the building also benefit from facing south as the will not need to be lit in daylight hours and will give people using the covered areas the maximum amount of daylight. On an evening there are energy saving lights built under the canopy, which could with some development become solar lights, though the lights nearer the building could be in too much shade for this.

How does it appear from a distance?

As you will see from the visuals in the presentation, the building appears like three waves cresting across the site, especially from the entrance side, the side facing west. From a distance the building will appear a more natural environment than many of the pavilion buildings as it is surrounded with green space and has a green roof. Being three storeys high, it will be quite large compared to some smaller countries’ pavilions.

How do you enter?

The entrance is formed from as a smaller wave, reflecting the shape of the larger structure. The entrance is clad in Scottish sandstone and has Scotland carved out of it and the Chinese symbol for Scotland.

How do you leave?

The internal rooms follow a one way system more or less, though there is an exit to the exterior restaurant. The visitors exit through a glass tunnel after the Wave room and through a porch to the exterior green space and external recreation areas.

How does it answer the brief?

I haven’t tried to answer the brief by creating a structure filled with the usual, traditional Scottish elements, or filled with corporate areas, though there are areas externally that could be used for a range of activities and corporate possibilities that would form part of the events calendar for the pavilion.

When thinking about Better City, Better Life, I concentrated on the following:-

Innovations of science and technology in the city:

Innovation Nation housing exhibits reflecting our history of innovation in Scotland but focusing on new technologies and advances that will help the citizens and cities themselves.

The need for sustainable energy production as highlighted in the Waves to Watts zone.

Interactions between urban and rural areas:

Bringing a farm environment into the city, to promote the farming culture and encourage citizens to have greater awareness of where their food comes from.

Creating urban park spaces where there are none, to promote outdoor living.

Blending of diverse cultures in the city:

Creating community spirit and diversity through the use of oral history and promoting the benefits of immigration and emigration not just on Scotland but on the world, through a 360 degree cinema and Diaspora sculpture, which features Scottish people of all cultures, both in Scotland and throughout the world, and what makes them feel Scottish.

I also showed how health can be improved in the city. Oral history is being used in Scotland in Alzheimer’s research and Urban farm has benefits related to gardening, reducing obesity and promotes healthy eating.

In remodelling the city there will be a greater need for urban green spaces and better social opportunities not hampered by our weather in Scotland, so I created a canopied area with outdoor restaurant, cinema, picnic area, performance stage, where people can socialise, which also promotes better community links.

Why is it unique?

Although there are other structures within the Expo with green areas, none have a working urban farm. The building shape is also different than any other building on the Expo site.  The wave room and umbrella recorders are unique to the Expo.

How does the interior relate to the exterior?

The exterior materials are very natural and these are reflected internally. The wave shape is seen from the inside top floors, as it is clad in larch and the top floors have no suspended ceiling, allowing the curve of the roof structure to be seen.

What is it made from and why?

I have used vernacular building materials for Scotland, sandstone and larch, and have used amber coloured glass to represent the whisky industry without actually having a whisky exhibit. The exterior lights represent the rain in Scotland as do the umbrella recorders, which are lined in tartan and Chinese silk. The Wave room is mostly clad in stone to appear like the sea bed or coastline.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the design process evolve online and I leave you with the final presentation. Thank you.