User:Laura
From CollabLandWiki
Seating - element of material focus. Introducing the theme of layering. Creating layered plateaus made of plates of slate. Starting from the ground and building up, using slabs of slate, to create benches - enabling a type of elevated viewing platform on which to observe the surrounding activities.
Design Intent and Aim: "People come where people are" Many studies have been carried out in regards to the success of design in the urban environment. In one way or another, the conclusions of these studies all tie down to the same fundamental element: People. Urban spaces are social spaces. Simply walking through an urban space involves the individual in social activities. Through seeing, hearing, experiencing other's presence, one is participating, though at a low degree of intensity, in the surroundings.
To enhance the space of Nathan Phillips' square, I wanted to accommodate for this 'participation" of the public by introducing the aspect of mass seating. By increasing the opportunities for seating, people are encouraged to sit down, rest, and reflect on the activities happening in the square.
NB The following text relates to the image on the left: Investigation and design procedure
Prototype It's beauty and suitability for exterior applications was the principal appeal for choosing slate as a material application for public seating in Nathan Philips square. Used as a major building material worldwide, the stone provides natural harmony with other materials used in the surrounding landscape. Natural slate stones are fireproof and non-slippery. It is a durable and long-lasting material enabling it to be resistant to weather, pollution and freeze-thaw cycles.
Texture The stone’s natural properties result in a distinctive surface texture – a mixture of fine-grained sediments producing a mesmerising array of beautiful patterns. Artificial techniques such as sand-blasting, flamed, saw-cut can be applied to the surface to manipulate it’s appearance and function, however by choosing to leave the stone to it’s natural surface form, it’s ‘heavy’ texture results in a non-slip surface, suitable to it’s intended use within the context of a public square. The natural surface also provides a pleasant contrast to the surrounding structured layout of the artificially-made concrete pavers of the square.
Trial The hardness and compressive strength of the material made it difficult to be cut manually using a portable circular saw with a masonry blade.
Method Machine-powered diamond blade cutting is the most popular and economically priced way of producing dimensioned tiles or slabs that will fit perfectly to any design. It is quick and accurate, generating a clean, smooth edge. Dry cutting produces mass amounts of dust which is bad for the lungs. This is avoided with the application of water to the blade to prevent overheating.
Layering Machine cut edge profiles exposed the natural layering composition of the stone. This characteristic enhances the overall idea of the design, which was to create built-up platforms that provided the public with a viewing platform in which to observe the various activities taking place within the square. Promoting this idea was the decision to generate benches through the act of layering tiles of slate as opposed to cutting one solid block from the stone.
Form The result was a rectangle, layered plateau made from plates of slate. The slightly uneven horizontal surfaces accentuate the layering of the form as the division of stone layers are easily seen.
Function The form fabricates a horizontal surface accommodating for the acts of sitting, lying and standing. By having slight gaps between the layers of the benches, children are subtly encouraged to climb over and explore these forms by using the crevices as foot holes.
Evolution
The act of layering is taken a step further by using these blocks as individual layers themselves. By building up the blocks in a structured pattern, a sculptural seating mass was formed which gives rise to higher viewing platforms in which to observe the surroundings.
