Cardboard Impressionistic Model for East London IDZ

Image 1: Top view of model.

The site for the concept of a new AGRO-Eco Industrial Park is situated near the N2 road outside of Port Elizabeth. I was approached by the Engineer on the project, Jaco Spies and asked to build an impressionistic model to further articulate the concept at a presentation in February 2014.



Image 2: Lumion 3d impressionistic model by Heather Fouche

Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) are a new type of industrial organization designed according to the principles of industrial ecology (IE). For the companies involved, the eco-industrial park offers the opportunity to decrease production costs through increased materials and energy efficiency, waste recycling, and elimination of practices that incur regulatory penalties. Increased efficiency may also enable park members to produce more competitive products.

Image 3: Legend.

The scale of the model needed careful consideration as the physical size of the scaled model had to be easy to transport, yet not disregard a certain level of detail in the final product.

Image 4: Model in Progress.

The decision was made to scale the model to 1:1250, with the size of the model being 1.2m x 1.4m. The model consists of 2 separate sections of land, made clear by a key reference diagram in order to illustrate the new wind farm as well.

Image 5: Wind Tower model.

Image 6: Aerial perspective of Wind Tower Model.

The model had to be built in 3 week which is a very short time frame for a model of this size. From my experience at a varsity level, doing this task on my own, in my own time after hours would be challenging and could have possibly compromised the outcome of the product.

Image 7: Warehouse Building and Silos.

Image 8: Street Perspective on model.

To avoid this from happening and to ensure that the quality of the product was of a high standard, I asked Julius Grobbelaar to help me. There is no one else who I would trust more with accuracy and precision than this man. The additional input of someone with more experience was vital in the quality of the final product.

Image 9: Vegetable Tunnels.

Image 10: Perspective View of Model Before Perspex Box.

The buildings on the model were laser cut for additional precision and to save time on. The vertical scale of the buildings and structures had to be exaggerated slightly in order to make a clear impression of their functions.

Image 11: Perspective View of Model.



Image 12: Perspective View of Model.

Image 13: Aerial View of Model.

Image 14: Perspective View of Model With Perspex.

Image 15: Perspective view of Model With Perspex.

Image 16: Aerial view of Model With Perspex. 

The model is complete and has been presented.

For any enquires about 3d illustration, impressionistic cardboard model building or architectural design and documentation, please contact:

Brendon: 082 887 9077

brendon.bowles@gmail.com

Wood Prefab Houses In Thailand With Butterfly Roof By TYIN Tegnestue

Wood Prefab Houses In Thailand With Butterfly Roof By TYIN Tegnestue
Architecture students getting invloved with the communities.

Red Bull Gaming Arcade Korsten

The final project for the first semester was to design a gaming arcade within the context of Korsten, in Port Elizabeth South Africa. The brief stated that Ten Pin bowling was required, with bowling lanes for the public as well as bowling lanes dedicated for professional bowlers and VIP bowling. Sensitivity to context within the manipulation of the formal response to the street was of high importance, as the area is known to be a dangerous developing area. Across the road from the site was an informal market, selling fruit and vegetables, this contributed to the atmosphere at street level. The design responds to the atmosphere created by the informal market by having placed the entrance on the same street, Facing the entrance to the west. The building consists of 3 distinct levels, having public bowling alleys, children's play area and the restaurant on ground level. The first level consist of computer gaming and virtual gaming to the South-Western corner. The VIP bowling is on a mezzanine level slightly above the first level and juxtaposed to the ground floor bowling alley, to allow for a connection between the two levels. The second floor is where the offices for administration are located, with staff locker rooms. Above the he third floor is a roof-top courtyard for staff members to use as an outside "escape space." The Facade to the west is articulated with an aluminium wing which is designed to respond to human scale on the street. The facade is covered with a mesh to respond to the west sunlight and create the introverted space, which is significant for a gaming arcade. The South-Western corner is opened with a red box, to allow for a connection from street level to the activities of the interior. The design of the Red Bull Gaming Arcade is a project which aims to be a catalyst for future development within the context of Korsten.

The existing context to the West Street

Proposed new Gaming Arcade entrance to West facade.

South-Western corner.

Internal view from VIP bowling alley

West facade.

Joe Osae- Addo - Mould-Breaking Ghanaian Architect.

The use of materials in African architecture, are extremely important in identifying and responding to the vernacular. Architect Joe Osae- Addo speaks about the use of materials and symbolism in architecture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbpdlzg4BN8&list=PLF73A2AE2CDD07DA0

Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects on an INternation Scale

The work of Olmesdahl Truen Architects has been very successful in the beach house category.
With this house in Bantry Bay, Cape Town has recently been noticed on Archdaily.

 

 



 

“Fancy” Retail Headquarters / Urban Platform in Seneffe Belgium

Sensitivity in Africa

There are a number of international architects working in rural developing Africa, in areas such as the DRC. The challenges with this are that the problems that need to be identified are far different from the problems in developed countries with design.

Sensitivity to context, culture and the vernacular are extremely significant when designing in developing Africa.

Archdaily recently published an article about energy efficiency and how LEED will not work in Africa http://www.archdaily.com/375906/why-leed-doesnt-work-in-rural-africa-and-what-will/

The most important aspect to respond to is that the African culture is at an architectural climate which is of much difference to the developed cultures.

The argument of Green Design and environmentally friendly aspects in design can also be put forward in Africa. The execution however, needs to be very different, as the availability of technology is far less in Africa.

Architecture in Africa needs to have its own responses to the problems, which in many regards can be socio economic. The product of African architecture needs to of its place, Genius Loci needs to be identified at a Glenn Murcutt standard of Australian architecture. An architect, who can identify the socio economic issues and psychological aspects of the context and respond to them appropriately, will create a step in the right direction in the discourse of developing African architecture.