Thoughts on Underground Spaces

"...the idea of an underground space is fascinating because below ground, no outside point of view exists from which architecure can be observed. The architectural form becomes invisible. My only concern becomes the space that a person inside will perceive..." - Tadao Ando (Foreword to Underground Courts book).

The trip out to Motuihe takes you close to North Head (Devonport) with its underground tunnels - these intrigue me partly because of their history and also their unexpected presence (to me).

"In elevated places, you are released from the earthly environment, which allows contact with the celestial. In places deep in the earth, you are in touch with the origins of life, with Mother Earth herself...
It is natural to find peace in an undergound room. The inward, enclosed quality invites you to retreat inside yourself..." (Ernst von Meijenfeldt et al. 'Below Ground Level. Creating New Spaces for Contemporary Architecture' p21-22)

To me, buildings which leave the greatest impresson on me are not those that outwardly impress but those with long lasting impressions of their interior. The pantheon probably had the greatest effect on me, as a structure, because I did not get the full impact of the external building (perhaps if I'd had a bird's eye view, or been with a local Roman guide I would have) so when entering, the interior took my breath away. This could be analysed thus:

• low expectations
• minimal hints at what the interior would feel like before entering
• light from above, the oculus
• a strong feeling of enclosure plus a structure that draws your eye upwards rather than out
• the overpowering sense of history, partly from the relics, but also from the materials used

Designers to look at

http://www.trendir.com/house-design/tag/underground-home-designs
http://www.saunders.no/work

Initial concept - first models

Other Gabion Houses

Use of gabion wall as a heat sink - trome wall (sun from glass ceiling warms rocks during day which releases heat at night). See: http://herbstarchitects.co.nz/lindale-bach/

http://www.sabmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/11/2011-sab-awards-winning-project-shepard-environmental-education-centre/

Architectural inspirations - Dominus Winery

Internal Light

Proposal

Site plan

Two accomodation sites to accomodation different visitor requirements. ERC, sited on woolshed site, will be the developed design.

Initial Concept

Internal central 'chimney' becomes a lookout & link between the floors, housing stairs (and lift).

Similar visual elements to landmark water tower on far end of island: tower, grass (roof)

From a distance, looks like a tower sitting on a hill - roof blends into the existing grass landscape - as visitors come closer, the building is revealed.

Underground Level

General features = skylight around East and South walls for daylighting - low E glass on East side.

1.  research labs - privacy and security, skylights above the work benches providing daylight.
2. storage area

Ground Level

• Gabion wall on outer North wall to filter harsh sun; angles and positioning to let in Winter but not Summer sun. Internal glass wall? (ref. Herzog & De Meuron Dominus Winery)
• Roof has long overhang to also help with shading.

1. function room - lots of light, easy public access, split level to allow division into 2 smaller areas.
• uses existing (or revamped) flooring with the split level left intact
• slats remain, lined with strengthened glass underneath to provide visual links with ground and underground lab level
2. ERC office, on Northwest corner for easy access by staff
3. bathroom/toilet/shower/drying areas, South facing
4. kitchen area, easy access to function room, circulation areas, outdoor living area
5. circulation area, plus room for multimedia visitor information area (eg. videos of the island history etc)

Lookout Tower

Unlike the water tower, this one can be accessed by visitors to climb and get a different perspective of the island.
Tower also serves as the stairwell/liftwell.

Materials: rock, wood, glass, grass

Rough and irregular (rock), aging/changing (grass, wood) versus smooth and unchanging (glass)

Feedback & Proposal

Feedback

Good:

• the materials and what could be done with them
• rationale for things (generally)

Not good:

• all the mix of ideas in the ERC site - screens plus gabion chimney, patterns all a bit incoherent in the end (ie. stick with one theme)
• treatment of the south wall (ERC) wrt to heat loss etc
• presentation: too many words (images and diagrams would do)
• model: scale of the rocks, make smaller next time (eg. could use bean bag beans and plaster..)

Ideas to carry on with:

• gabion material but continue theme somehow, patterns, geology etc?
• perhaps go down into the ground instead of up?
• internal private, protected space, external corridor/public spaces

Proposal work over break:

1. Find at least 5 architectural examples of ideas you want to use
2. Develop a strategy/proposal for accomodation and ERC (however, only develop one of these)
• plan of your proposal (island plan)
• materials
• rough digital model