Final 2 A1 Pages

Dwelling Block Layout Plan

This plan is of the uppermost level of the (U.C) underground community (the 7th level). As it is underground all traffic into and out of the underground community is done by the stairs and lifts, located at the four corners of the community. 

This plan shows the block layout of the dwellings within the underground community. Blocks are divided into 12 x 12m grids with some block becoming unusual shapes due to the pathways. The 12 x 12m blocks can be divided into smaller blocks (as seen within the top level of the sections which are 12 x 6m blocks) or dwellings can occupy multiple levels through removing or altering the square concrete cut outs (Can also see this within the sections).

Plan View Concrete Cut Out

This plan shows the concrete cut out grid formation that spreads over each level. The concrete cut outs sit on a 6 x 6m grid which sit within the 12 x 12m grid of the dwelling block layout. All of these concrete 'squares' can be removed to allow for more light and ventilation to circulate through the spaces. The squares can also be removed or altered so a resident is able to occupy multiple levels. This can be seen within the sections. 

Section 1:100 (A - A)

This section shows the various dwelling configurations and the light shaft penetrating the underground community. The section also includes the various concrete squares that have been removed or altered to allow for multi level interaction and the squares left in place to allow for more dwellings. 

Refer to Dwelling block layout plans and concrete cut out plans for placement of sections.

Lift shafts - The lift shafts are located in the four corners of the underground community and are directly adjacent to the stair shafts. these lifts are approximately 5 x 5m and allow people and equipment movement for all levels. These lifts go to all 7 levels and also provide access to the ground level above for people to enter and leave the site.

Backyards - These spaces are private spaces and located adjacent to peoples dwellings. Rather than fill their whole space with the dwelling, people may choose to sacrifice some internal space and have an external or backyard space that acts like a real backyard would above ground. These spaces are fitted with u.v lights and the services ducts allows residents to water their gardens. These spaces would suit families, providing space for children to play in, or for somebody who likes gardening or keeping their own yard. It also provides unique spaces and adds to the aesthetic of the community.  

Concrete squares - These squares are seen on the concrete square grid plan. The layout alternates over each level so the level above can be directly accessed. These concrete squares can be left in to separate the access to adjacent floors and create more dwellings, removed to allow for lighting and cross floor ventilation and altered to create multi level dwellings or provide access around the levels. 

Green Spaces - The green spaces are located within the four large light shafts and in the spaces directly surrounding the shafts. As is visible in the section above, plants and grass are able to grow in these spaces and various concrete squares can be removed to allow plants to grow through multiple levels. Plants have been bio engineered and are able to grow in much smaller amounts of soil while small trees can grow healthily in small planter boxes with the required nutrients. The bio engineering allows them to thrive in less soil with less water and light and to chosen limited heights. 

Light Shafts - There are four light shafts throughout the underground community (can be seen in the plans). These light shafts are various shapes and sizes and enable lighting and ventilation of the spaces. They also contain vegetation within and surrounding to clean the air and create relaxing environments throughout the underground community. 

Water Storage Body - Any run off or rain that falls into the space is captured and moved into the water storage body. All water is constantly filtered in the service cube (can see this in older posts) before moving into the water storage body. This water is kept clean and provides water for all needs of the underground community. Once the water is used all grey and black water is again filtered through a number of processes before storage once again. 

This section has incorporated many of the different exemplar 1:100 sections used. It was very important within this section to include the right amount of detail, leaving the finer information to the 1:50 section but including the major features to show how the underground community worked.

Section 1:50 (B - B)

This 1:50 section shows the intended use of the spaces within the underground community and their spatial qualities. As is visible from this section there are a number of dwellings within this section with many different shapes, sizes and over a number of levels. Some of the different configurations can be seen in previous semester posts and some different configurations can be seen in the sections. There are no set or pre arranged configurations, as a new resident will decide what sort of configuration they would like before they move in. These will either be in one small block, across a number of blocks or on a number different floors by removing or altering the concrete cut out squares.

I have chosen not to include the lift shaft within this section as it would have meant leaving out the light shaft which is a major component of the underground community (Seen in the section below). The 1:50 section was not big enough to include both and therefore I chose to include this area rather than the lift. This is because the lift shaft is seen in the 1:100 section and very little extra detail would have been seen in the 1:50 section. 

U.V Lights - The U.V lights are fitted in all of the external or 'Backyard' spaces. These lights provide the light for the plants to grow in spaces that are not reached by the sun. Within these external spaces, the light above would seem similar to being outside, with similar brightness and heat. These lights are powered by special U.V solar panels located on the roof and around the interior walls of the car recycling centre.

Real Windows are available to people living adjacent to the pathways or green spaces. These Windows replace the mimicking windows in these places and allow direct sight of the outside and more ventilation if the windows are open.

While my 1:50 section may not look very similar to some of the exemplar sections I used, the main things I have brought into my sections are more of the basic ideas and techniques like level of detail, line work and showing the quality of spaces. I have shown the quality of spaces and how they are used by incorporating furniture and items in the dwellings like how it could appear. I have also tried to show another perspective of the quality of spaces in the other 1:50 section seen below. 

I have also tried to recreate some of the colour and tone techniques that I found in some of the other exemplar drawings. Whilst I could not recreate the styles exactly, I used them as a starting point and used my own style. I think the level of detail I have included in my 1:50 is similar to the 1:50 exemplar sections I used and I think by including the various objects and details, it is easy to understand the spaces and their qualities.

Section 1:50 - (B - B) Lighting within Underground community

This section gives a different view of the quality of the spaces.  Obviously as it is an underground community, no spaces would receive light without artificial lighting. Because there are four light shafts penetrating the space there is now a lot of natural light surrounding those shafts. Therefore artificial lighting will still be required to light the spaces further away from the shafts. 

The external or 'backyard' spaces receive light from the U.V lights, and the internal spaces will also use solar power for lighting. The solar panels will be different from the U.V panels and will work similar to how solar lights work in present day. These solar panels will also be located on the roof and interior walls of the light shaft, however they will be much more efficient than present day solar panels. As the panels will be significantly more efficient (approximately 85% efficiency) they easily power the underground community and store excess power. All power in the underground community will be powered by the solar panels including lighting, water heating and filtering, electricity etc. 

Mimicking Windows

Due to the underground positioning of the community, it is impossible to locate real windows within most of the apartments. This is mainly because the dwellings are directly next to each other and occupants would be looking into their neighbours dwellings. 

For this reason all apartments are fitted with mimicking windows. The mimicking windows create an illusion that allows the occupants of a dwelling to programme a 'view' into their window. This 'view' is used to help people adjust to the underground living lifestyle and to live in a more familiar or comfortable environment. 

Rather than occupants having to look at the concrete walls of their neighbours dwelling, they programme a view of of a location that makes them feel more comfortable. An occupant may choose to programme a beautiful vegetated landscape or a seaside view into the window, or perhaps they programme in a view they would experience everyday in their old house; a backyard, a paddock or a neighbouring house. 

The advancement in screen and illusion technology creates an ultra realistic view that creates the life like illusion from any angle within. The windows can also be programmed to create regular natural occurrences outside like rain and storms. The mimicking windows also project light, and from the inside the light received feels just like it would above ground from a real window. 

The windows themselves are a thin screen sitting within a window frame and window style. The frame, style and size is chosen by the occupant before they move in. The screen and frame sit in a small cavity in the concrete wall and a concrete wall separating two dwellings can have a mimicking window on each side. The mimicking windows can be seen within the 1:50 section on most of the concrete walls (The occur within every dwelling, however the thickness of them is quite thin and therefore slightly difficult to see).

As there are  very few real windows within the underground community, natural ventilation through windows is a problem. To combat this their are service and ventilation shafts that run across the front and rear walls of every dwelling. Depending on the wind direction outside, the breeze will either be directed into the front and out the rear or vice versa, constantly moving fresh air throughout the whole community. 

The wide pathways and concrete square cut-outs  allow for very good ventilation across and throughout each level, while the very large vertical light shafts  allow light to enter and move around the spaces constantly. Within the stair and lift shafts at each corner there are also ventilation shafts that allow wind in from any direction on the street level above. 

With the layout of the city above there are constantly wind tunnels moving through the main streets. The shafts within the lifts and stairs capture this wind movement and direct it into the underground community below.