This week we had our interim crit - last week - all present at the tutorial decided that the best course of action would be to have Simon creating a 3d model to display the different areas of the scheme. I was to create a before and after plan in a comparable style and to with Amy's help - put the powerpoint together. Janelle was assigned to redraw the circulation diagram, and to refine the concept diagram and slogan.
Irini and Toby were absent due to illness, and we had altered the design quite a lot since then - so felt that these assigned tasks were the most important to complete.
Where this failed, was that we needed today to guide the direction of our storyboard - and the things that are supposed to be included - i.e we didn't realise that we needed to touch on elements from the previous crit - strategies leading to our design, the application of design theory drawings to the site.
Here are the notes from Benz:
1 - 1st slide is not strong.
2 - Renewing Barking Riverside - looks like a microscope slide.
3 - Masterplan looking interesting but a bit sterile ( I agree - this was just supposed to be a simple conceptual plan - to demonstrate the different areas - rather than a design plan).
4 - C alex pattern language - Gordon Cullen.
5 - Hobbit housing - earth sheltered housing (time to ditch this idea - I like it - but tutor consensus = a no, no - as Simon said earlier - less time spent on the housing idea - and more general layout of the site).
6 - Pod system - is not right. Why not trains - pods are too capitalist - not social - true - but they are eco friendly and we are trying to encourage walking - but hey, lets scrap the pods - I will miss you too pods).
7 - USE - want to see how blue and green agenda dictates.
8 - Biodiversity looks interesting.
9 - Floating houses - look at dutch example.
10 - Hobbit houses - need to integrate with landscape, marsh and boardwalks.
3D of hobbit houses needs a marsh background.
11- Photomontages are conceptual and do not sit happily in the landscape.
12 - Landform and flooding is so important - this needs to be one of the first things you need to do - look at Wallasea Island.
13 - Commercial centre looks interesting - I don't undertand it.
14 - Green Bridge to where?
15 - We needs to see strategic thinking before the masterplan.
indicative grade C+/B
Duncan's feedback:
Think about the structure of your presentation a bit more. The story board should have helped here.
- Industrial revolution - ecological evolution.
- Concept image is too small - could be more powerful.
- Existing site plan and proposed site plans are too faint (my bad - I did darken them up - but not enough).
- Be very careful with the term zoning.
- Too much time spent on introductory information (woops - too tired, brain failure).
- Some interesting transport initiatives, but i'm not sure they have been thought through yet.
- A good range of sustainable sources of energy referred to - I look forward to seeing how they will be developed.
- The tidal range of the Thames at this location is?
- I'm missing an outstanding set of strategies.
- Urban agriculture - how is this exploited/ fully realised?
- A huge amount of detail, but lacking a comprehensive strategic overview at this point.
Team diary blog, documenting our journey through the Urban Development Project. Focus is on the re-development of Barking Riverside.
