Draft Model Renders.

Technology Choice: Website Design

For my Chosen integration of technology I have chosen to use the design of a website to represent my final design. The reason for this choice is due to previous experience creating websites, although the experience is minimal so more research into ways of creating a good website will need to be employed. For my website I want to design a minimalist website in an effort to accentuate the design as best as possible. Minimalism in web design revolves the around core concept of stripping down a design to its bare essentials. Often structurally and aesthetically simple as possible, minimalistic design shines in its ability to deliver information to its readers as quickly, and efficiently as possible through the removal of irrelevant visual distractions whilst employing relevant visual media throughout the webpage. The principles of minimalist web design are key to understanding a good minimal website; these include the need to neglect all needless features including designs, content and functions, the removal of all elements until the design is running on bare essentials, minimal use of colour and effective use of white spaces throughout the website. Other features common to all good minimalistic websites include good choice of typography, strong and clear gridlines, effective implementation of contrast and again a key emphasis on the use of white space. This design format is very common throughout portfolio websites due to its ability to highlight features of a website which in their case is the work of the websites owner.

Clear Example of Minimalist design in websites: http://www.philgallagher.com/templates/pgl/page/page_html_standard.php?secID=1

Other Pictures of Examples:

Above is an example of a colour template.

Above is an example of another minimalist website.

Above is my final example of a minimalist website.

Research into Second Building/Architect

Glenn Murcutt (born 25 July 1936) is a Britishborn Australian architect and winner of the 2002 Pritzker Prize and 2009AIA Gold Medal and a lecturer at UNSW. Murcutt's motto, 'touch the earth lightly', convinces him to design his works to fit into the Australian landscape features with a minimal impact to the surrounding environment. His works are highly economical and multi-functional. Murcutt pays close attention to the environment including factors such as wind direction, water movement, temperature and light surrounding his sites before he designs the building itself which is linked strongly to my current project and its hypothesis. As stated in the Pritzer Prize announcement, Murcutt is, “an innovative architectural technician who is capable of turning his sensitivity to the environment and to locality into forthright, totally honest, non-showy works of art."

Architecture Foundation Australia, Available: http://www.ozetecture.org/
Steve Dow, Journalist, Available: Stevedow.com.au
Design Futures Council Senior Fellows, Available: http://www.di.net/about/senior_fellows/


Examples of ecologically sustainable integrations into buildings:

The above building designed by Glenn Murcutt is very similar to the East Brighton House

by Zen Architects which I have based my work on. 

Montage Poster

Concept Text:

Throughout the design of a house a key aspect to consider is environmental factors affecting the design, orientation and location of the design. Through this key consideration I am going to deconstruct the current model and attempt to create an even more environmentally driven conceptual house including research into solar paths, wind direction and possible ways to maximise these influences for the better within the design. For my technology part of the assignment I am currently deciding whether to pursue the use of the Revit Ecotect program to test my design pre/post alterations or whether I want to create a website which attempts to explain my concept. Other considerations for my design will be whether to remodel my roof, add louvres for windows and possibly creating a wind tunnel through my house to catch the wind in summer in an effort to cool the house. All these elements will need to be researched further to gain more knowledge.

Interactive Posters

Poster Information: Unfortunately the above image is inactive as a result of problems I had with the adobe acrobat not installing onto my computer properly and my model not exporting into microstation in the .osg program. , Source: http://www.zenarchitects.com/project2.html Accessed 14/9/2011

Gamefront: http://www.gamefront.com/files/20812146/Final+Posters.pdf

Rendered Images

Research: Zen Architects Pictures of the House

Research: Zen Architects

East Brighton Compact Green House - East Brighton,

Melbourne

Design Philosophy

The East Brighton Compact Green House is an exemplary compact 3 bedroom house, achieving a high level of sustainability and architectural design on a modest budget. With a house footprint of 138m2, this dwelling is small for its neighbourhood, demonstrating that large houses need not be the benchmark for family homes. Through clever design and an emphasis on quality not quantity, this family’s needs have been comfortably met with minimal environmental impact. 

A timber lined curved roof peels upwards at the front and rear of the house, creating a striking street presence in an area dominated by multi-storey developments. The soaring rear roof integrates the building form with the existing jacarandah tree, creating a dramatic and beautiful outdoor entertainment area. The open plan living area connects both physically and visually to the rear deck and garden to enlarge the sense of space within a modest footprint. A sunken lounge room with integrated cabinetry, steps and seating breaks up the living area and provides an intimate and playful sitting space. 

Sustainability principles are fundamental to the building and site design. The curved roof and innovative lower eave design create a unique architectural form while ensuring good passive solar performance for current and future occupants. Waste water treatment is integrated with landscaping, including an ornamental reed bed at the entrance.

Sustainable Design Elements

• Passive heating through north oriented windows to living areas and most bedrooms
• Passive cooling through cross ventilation (including openable clerestory) and building-integrated shading, supplemented by ceiling fans
• Thermally efficient building envelope including high R-value extruded polystyrene cladding and timber framed double glazing
• Sustainably sourced timbers, low emission paints and low embodied energy with minimal use of masonry and concrete
• Radially sawn, sustainably harvested timber used for decking, fencing and eave lining
• 2 x 5,000 litre rainwater tanks collecting all roof water and used in the house for toilets, showers, laundry and kitchen (excluding drinking tap)
• Innovative grey water filtration system treating all greywater on site through a reed bed and sand filtration system which is integrated into site landscaping
• Water efficient fittings, fixtures and appliance selection, including “Ecoverta” cold water recovery units in kitchen and bathrooms
• Gas boosted solar hot water and provision for future installation of solar power panels
• Energy efficient appliance and fitting selection, including low energy lighting design

Information from: Zen Architects, Source: http://www.zenarchitects.com/project2.html Accessed 14/9/2011