Transcript Slide 1

Snapshots of the 2009 Spacewise program at Strathfield
South High School and Manly Selective Campus,
Northern Beaches Secondary College.
NSW Architects Registration Board
Spacewise – a teaching and learning program
Learning experience
Exploring and
defining the brief
What is a public space?
Overview of the design task
Understanding the local neighbourhood
Memory map of the way to school - building a ‘big’ picture of our neighbourhood
Documenting features of the neighbourhood
Our neighbourhood as a unique and changing place
Comparing the local built environment with built environments in other places
Adopting a public space in our neighbourhood
Unpacking the task
Developing a team brief
Generating and
developing ideas
Working in design teams
Exploring the adopted space - local safari to the adopted space
Modelling the existing space
Purpose and use of models
Producing models
Issues – the good, the bad and the ugly
Analysing how well the adopted space meets the needs of users
Identification of a focus for team design activity
Developing ideas for a re-designed space
Development of ideas to improve the space for users
Requirements of development proposals
Producing solutions
Producing a development proposal
Working in teams to prepare a development proposal
Making a public presentation
Reflection and final evaluation
What is a public space?
Teacher notes: There was heated debate on
Rookwood Cemetery recently opening a café on
the grounds. Students had differing opinions as
to whether this was acceptable.
They also had different experiences of attending
funerals and, when and where you should eat
after a funeral.
Understanding the local neighbourhood
Teacher notes: I wanted the class
to understand some of the reasons
why places and spaces are so
different. We discussed the
importance of climate and culture.
Teaching materials
showing the use of ‘layback
elevations’ to record
streetscapes
Memory map of the way to
school - building a ‘big’
picture of our
neighbourhood
Understanding the local neighbourhood
Teacher notes: I contacted Strathfield Council and
collected information on our area. A heritage officer did
research on our behalf of the streets included in our walk,
including when the homes were built and significant
landmarks which are no longer there.
Adopting a public space in our neighbourhood
Students: “On our local
safari we drew the space
and took photographs of
everything around it. We
argued about ‘the good,
the bad and the ugly’ and
we asked neighbours
what uses they made of
the area.”
“A shop keeper talked
about how things had
changed over time.”
Teacher notes: Equipment taken on the walk included clip boards, worksheets, cameras and tape
measures. An area was selected to record and assess and students were assigned to take
photographs, sketch details and elevations of existing buildings, draw plans and pace out areas.
Working in design teams to explore the adopted space
Students:
“We looked at surfaces and
detail and took photos of them.”
Students:
“We took rubbings of different surfaces
and I learnt what texture meant.”
Features of the space at Manly Beach
• parking area with spaces allocated for motor bikes
•mature iconic pine trees
•public access to the beach
•drainage pipe through to the ocean
•grass strip for picnics and other activities
•bike/walking track.
Working in design teams to explore the adopted space
Student: “We needed a good record of our space. We joined
our photos together and traced over them.
We used the tracing to work out the changes we wanted to
make.”
Developing ideas for a re-designed space
Student: “Looked everywhere for ideas and we noticed
things we had never seen before. We talked about ideas
that were useful. The teacher showed us interesting things
that other people had done.”
Developing ideas for a re-designed space
Students:
“The old building on
Pittwater Rd
opposite Warringah
Mall is an eyesore.
The land in front of
the building is not
used for anything.”
“We thought about
the needs of people
who go to the area
and there is nothing
for kids to do while
the adults go
shopping. “
“We started with the
idea of somewhere
for kids to meet and
do the things they
like.”
Developing ideas for a re-designed space
Teacher notes:
Unforseen happenings
in regard to the project
were the actual
renovation of the
butcher’s shop, road
works which altered the
original plan, new
landscaping by council
and a homeless man
coming to live in the
park. All these were
reported by students as
they walked or drove
past the area on their
way to or from school
and were then
discussed. One student
began a shelter for the
homeless man
incorporating a sink
and cupboard.
Developing ideas for a re-designed space
Initial ideas for an improved public
area on Manly Beach
• long, low greenhouse supplied with
solar energy and tank water
•renovated toilet block using recycled
water and solar energy
•more bubblers, bike racks, bins and
barbeques
•an undercover area for protection from
the sun
•extend the park so it is more
accessible to older kids
•bus stop at the intersection
•move historical murals to another
building.
Student: “We evaluated the ideas using the three
S’s: sociability, suitability and sustainability.”
WATER TANK
SOLAR PANEL
Developing ideas for a re-designed space
Teacher notes:
Students selected a
design activity they were
interested in and these
included designing a
fountain for the Chain of
Ponds, a playground, a
graffiti wall for the park,
shelter and seating, an
outdoor cafe in the
abandoned shop, a new
sign for the park, a half
basketball court, a
multicultural sculpture
and landscaping.
This was the most
successful stage, with
the majority of students
engaged with their
individual projects, some
wanting to come at
recess and lunch to
work on their section.
Developing ideas for a re-designed space
Teacher notes: All
students enjoyed
designing structures and
spaces using a CAD
program (SketchUp or
Home Design Studio).
Students were able to
create plans and
perspectives instantly
which kept them
engaged for a number of
lessons. Most students
were able to relate the
program to computer
games they had played
beforehand.
Producing a development proposal
Students: “It was good to use
SketchUp for our proposal. We
could see our convention centre
from all different directions.”
“The people we showed understood
exactly how the building looked.”
Modelling the space
Teacher notes: We talked about how models
can be produced for different purposes. While
most of the students developed their ideas using
drawings, they were better able to see
proportions and relationships as they built a
physical model.
In future I will do modelling at an earlier stage
when they are working out these relationships.
Students: “We loved making the
model.“
“Liam gives it the two trees up!”
Reflection and final evaluation
Group PMI
Positives – The Spacewise Program was a great project because it tested our
creativity, model making skills, technology skills and presentation skills. This project
was fun but challenging. The whole class gave it a go.
Negatives – A negative from the program is that some people from our own group
can let the team down. Another was the planning at the beginning and the historian
work was very pointless as we really didn’t use the information in the end.
Improvements – The Spacewise program could improve by giving us more time and
less planning. More materials for model making would also have helped.
Teacher notes: The creation of the A3 folder recording the class work became very important to the
students and was often referred to during class. Through the folder students took ownership of the
project and could see the development of their work.
At the end of term I had students from other Yr 8 classes volunteering to help on the project. The first
week of Term 1 2010 two students, who are now in Yr 9, wanted to come to finish the model during
their other classes. The model was incomplete at the end of Wk 13 but we do plan on finishing it and
displaying it.
The final say .......................
Student: “The best part of the Spacewise program was that
we got to use our imagination and design a great public
space.”