Before i begin my design, i researched Owen G Glen Building (oggb)- the main idea behind it, the background of it.
What i obtained from my research is that, the architect who designed oggb wants to create this place that focus mainly on interaction between people and also the idea of contrast. For instance, the contrast of the lightweight glass "ribbon" on the exterior of oggb vs the blocky black podium the ribbons sit on. I find this interesting and want to develop it incorporate it into my design.
During my observation inside oggb, i came across the ASB atrium stairs. What's interesting here is that people seems to be moving fast and the space itself is use for getting up and down between level 0 and level 1. It is a space with great potential but unappreaciated. However, at the top of the ASB Atrium, there's the sky bridges (social hubs) for teachers and postgraduation. No stairs can be found on level one to get up to these sky bridges. It is obviously that the teachers are keeping public and undergraduate down at level 1 instead of on these sky bridges.
The idea of hierarchy appeared as teachers, postgrads are seperated from undergrads.
Also, level 1 of oggb gives the impression of a cold environment due to the lack of natural lighting while up on the sky bridges, it's bright and cheerful.
Ideas:
To alter the lighting inside oggb. making level 1 ASB Atrium stairs bright, sky bridges dark. This idea derived from the idea of medieval carnival, where during carnival, the rich and powerful gets pick on and challenged by the lower class.
in this case, the teachers and postgrads represents the rich and powerful while the undergrads represents the lower class.
Circulation of oggb: instead of walking straight down or up the ASB Atrium stairs without appreaciating the space, students or public will go up and down the stairs that link all the sky bridges with lvl 1. The idea is also to challenge and annoyed the teachers and postgrads (upper class) which is inspired by medieval carnival.
Interaction: having a stair , device that allows easy access to these sky bridges will increase interaction between teachers and students. These sky bridges will be a place for people to gather and hang out, instead of being a teachers and postgrads only space.
Material: glass and concrete, to create the idea of contrast- bright and dull and also lightweight and dense. The concrete material will be use at the upper floor- lvl 5 and lvl 6 to create a dull, cold atmosphere while concrete will create shadows and no light will be reflected onto its surface. The stairs itself will be made of glass, to create this lightweight effect and reflect light downwards onto lvl 1, making it brighter.
