Description:

My brief was to create a mixed use residential building in Uptown close to the new Mt.Eden City Rail Link Station. My design is made up of a library and student accommodation built upon concepts exploring storytelling, sustainability and better medium-density/apartment living.

The initial concept of the building is born from the essence of Uptown, an adventurous place, turning corners to reveal hidden gems. Spending time in Uptown I gained an understanding of the variety of stories in the area. Stories running parallel to each other and sometimes meeting.

I became very interested in the idea of different storylines running parallel to each other (similar to life and individual stories), different dimensions dictating their own spatial qualities and atmospheres and influencing the dimension next to it. This led to an exploration of circulation, pacing, porosity and translucency to paint compelling and adventurous storylines throughout the building.

The building is a mixed-use five storey building with two libraries on the first two floors and student accommodation on the upper three floors. The hierarchy, prominence and atmosphere of storylines are derived from their personalities. Library 1 directed to a general audience (a louder library) is extroverted as opposed to Library 2 and Student Accommodation being progressively more quiet or private are more introverted respectively.

Using circulation and pacing these storylines intertwine within the building, setting up acts; exposition, action and resolution. They run parallel to each other within their own timelines and pacing, influencing each other's spaces with their functions and atmospheres, sometimes moving together or away from each other. The play with translucency and porosity allows blurred frames into each others’ worlds creating a sense of ‘ghosts’ within the building. “Something within the walls, something on the other side”.

The student residence is made up of five almost identical apartments and communal spaces on each floor. Better living came in the form of sustainability, abundant access to natural environment, light and resources and an emphasis on community living and shared spaces without compromising privacy.

A synergy of natural and technological strategies help provide a greater living and environmental performance. Large Garden light wells share the space with the residences, providing a natural adaptive light source and cooling to the building. A vertical garden along the western facade provides a fresh organic food source, visual comfort and communal space. The green roof along with the green spaces help reduce the urban heat island effect. The roof also contains a water catchment and solar panel system allowing the building to offset its carbon footprint.

The facade is a result of the internal and external storytelling, living and environmental performance. Porosity and translucency through the materials and design help the building conceal and reveal the internal stories to create its exterior personality. Breathing the warmth of its timber structure and interior, the adaptive light facade is humble and calm in the landscape.