Presentation:
Assignment 2 Presentation
The following paragraphs are my two scenarios for Paddington
in 2032.
Introduction:
Paddington
Central had served the community well for almost 2 decades before major
redevelopment was required in 2013. This was an incredibly short lifespan for a
modern building. A lack of foresight during the initial design process had
delivered a stifled project that lacked the ability to adapt to future
scenarios. The dated styling and fixed layout meant that retrofitting new
technologies was almost impossible. As a result, customer numbers dropped and
the centre became untenable – re-development was required.
The site challenged
designers to create a structure that would adapt to new technologies and
accommodate the changing needs of the surrounding community. This buildings primary
function would be to provide recreational options for the downtime of the
community.
Scenario 1: The Consumer
Advances in technology have vastly
improved productivity leading to less time spent at work. IT and R&D have
become the new boom sectors and by 2032 the majority of people work from home
by remote interface. Less time spent travelling to and from work has resulted
in an increasingly efficient workforce with a richer work-life balance.
Most menial and labour-intensive jobs
have been delegated to robotics post automation-revolution.
In fact, even routine tasks like
shopping have been made efficient through the use of “smart-technology”.
Fridges are able to sense when a product is nearing its use-by date and will
prompt the resident to purchase replacement goods and even send the order.
This increase in personal down-time
promotes opportunities for social interaction and recreational endeavours.
Although technology allows consumers to purchase products from home, social
interaction is still a necessary part of everyday life. In the past, shopping
malls, centres and department stores were popular venues for social engagement
however rapidly changing technology has meant that the traditional role of the
shopping centre has changed. These centres have evolved into “recreational
centres” and host a variety of virtual and physical experiences.
Paddington Central is the latest
incarnation of such a facility. It showcases cutting-edge technology and offers
the customer a variety of virtual and social activities. In fact, activities
can be divided between virtual experiences and physical experiences.
Virtual experiences inhabit the west
wing of the facility and include; virtual shopping in holographic stores;
virtual boardrooms, offices and meeting rooms; alternate-reality suites
offering experiences such as virtual holidays; virtual liaisons or just about
any activity you could imagine. The virtual wing is an ever-changing mix of
holographic tenants that deliver very real experiences.
Physical endeavours inhabit the east
wing and include a health and wellbeing centre, gymnasium, crèche, and several
bars, cafes and restaurants. All bars cafes
and restaurants are located on the east facing balconies and overlook the
Warmington Street square where a huge screen is projected onto the wall of the
multi-level carpark. This screen plays host to interactive advertising, major
sporting and musical events, open air movies or can even become user
interactive by mimicking the movements of passing pedestrians.
The entry courts glass floor allows
viewing of the automated distribution centre below. Pedestrians are entertained
by robotic gofers as they fetch products to be delivered, much like an
oversized vending machine.
In every way - Paddington Central
offers the public a visual spectacle and an opportunity to be entertained.
The user experience is vastly different from
that of the turn of the century and this is also reflected in how the centre
operates behind the scenes.
Scenario 2: The Retailer
The 2020's
signified a massive shift in paradigm for the retail sector. The age of
internet shopping ushered the transition from a tactile, physical and social
experience to a virtual, on-line and private experience. The key concern for established retailers was
the decline of walk-in customers and the inability to tailor services to
individual customer needs. On-line shopping was an impersonal approach to
customer service that bred a long period of retail uncertainty as customer
numbers dwindled.
To combat
this, the following decade saw a huge push in the development of the digital
retail experience. Interactive walls became commonplace within department
stores - no longer was there need to hold stock on the floor. Orders were paid
for and zapped digitally to remote warehouses where an automated warehouse
system was set in motion to retrieve the product and deliver it to the
customer. Although ultra-efficient and cost effective, this technology lacked
the tactile experience of customer-product interaction - one of the most
instrumental psychological tactics to selling any product.
During this
period, vast advances were made in holographic technologies. The larger
conglomerates were fast to adopt the new technology, seeing it as an
opportunity to fill the void. Customers were now able to interact with their
virtual product both visually and physically. Holographic technology had been
developed to such a standard that it was able to send electronic nerve signals
from the skin's surface to the brain that would duplicate the sensations of
touch - the harder you push the stronger the signal. Virtual shopping as a
social outing was re-born. Shopping centres began to flourish as customers
returned.
As a
consequence of this technology, it was discovered that individual shops no
longer required physical walls. Holographic projections could be used to not
only signify perimeters but also project the regular features of a physical
store to such a standard that it was almost impossible to differentiate a
holographic wall from a physical wall. Although existing virtually, these
holographic walls are physically impenetrable due to the signals that they send
to the brain. As a result of this discovery, the arrangement of space bore
infinite possibilities and tenants were able to reconfigure their spaces
without physical disruption to the greater department store. Similarly, the
entire outer skin of the building could be a holographic projection – able to
depict any image desired, in fact time-lease on facade advertising has become a
lucrative income generator for the facility.
This change
in retail experience had significant consequences on the design of recreational
facilities. The need for physical walls diminished as the need for open-plan
space increased. Construction of department stores now resembled that of
multi-level car-parks. All that was required to accommodate a modern recreational
centre were columns, floor-plates, food and beverage facilities, amenities and
circulation. Although sparse and austere, this construction also guaranteed the
future use and re-use of the facility. Over-engineered footings guarantee that
any need for further extension would be a simple case of adding more floors to
accommodate growth.
Paddington
Central's unique point of difference is that where other recreational
facilities have remote distribution centres, Paddington Central's is located
on-site. Three levels of subterranean warehouse covering a combined 28,000
cubic meters of tenable space is leased out to tenants and provides a generous
income for the facility whilst entertaining pedestrians on the square above.
Summarise:
This
developments objective can be described simply in the following points;
·
Paddington
Central has been redeveloped to embrace and showcase new and emerging
technologies.
·
Its
simple design encourages adaptable use and future re-use.
·
The
structure has been designed for ease of future extension by adding more floors
as deemed necessary for future growth and densification.
·
Paddington
Central encourages pedestrian interaction by allocating 45% of the ground plane
to open public space.
But above
all;
·
The
facility’s primary objective is that of providing entertainment, recreation and
relaxation for the increasingly time-rich community.
Other text from panels:
Technologies:
Sci-fi
creations such as holographic imaging and robot workers are already a reality.
Leading companies are investing heavily in the research and development of
these fledgeling technologies, and by 2032 they will be seamlessly integrated
into our lives to such an extent that we won’t know how we ever did without
them. Technology forecasters predict that quality of life will increase as
productivity is streamlined, leaving us with an improved work-life balance. It
is this increase in downtime that has forced a shift in paradigm for shopping
centres and malls. By 2032 we will require facilities that offer not only
products but opportunities to pursue recreational endevours and social
encounters.
Subway Mag-Lev:
Brisbane’s
Mag-Lev Subway System was installed in 2021 as a means to improve
infrastructure and reduce emissions. Paddington Central Station will be
retained and updated in conjunction with the Petrie Central Development.
Presentation Panels:
2 x A1 Posters
Enlarged Individual Panel Images:
Site Plan
Technologies.
Features.
Floor Plans.
3D Section.
