Petr Janda / Brainwork, Prague Czech Republic

large-format glazed round windows as an entrance point into the enclosed program.

Originally built as a quay and shipment point, the area was deserted after flooding in 2002 and had since been used as a car park.

With the revitalisation of the Prague riverfront, Petr Janda / brainwork focuses on the reconstruction of 20 vaults in the riverside wall, which had originally been used as areas for ice storage. Rather than introducing classic interiors, the vaults are merged with the exterior with maximum contact with the riverfront. 

The design works with modular diversity, as the vaults are designed as a detailed base that includes all operational and technical facilities and a volume that can be shifted to different positions.

The design is based on a minimal intervention, which adds little, but elevates the existing quality with a contemporary language. 

The design itself is based on a tiny intervention, which takes more than it adds and brings the existing quality back in a contemporary way, creating a unique situation and opportunity. The former stretch metal curtain wall and stone constructions built into the original bridge arches of the riverfront wall were knocked down and replaced with large-format glazed round windows that open by diagonal rotation inside the frame.

The elliptical pivoting windows made of organic glass 7cm thick and 5.5m in diameter weigh approximately 2.5t. Each has a unique shape and, due to their size exceeding the standard glazing, these are probably the largest pivot windows in the world.

The inserted parts of bars and partitions are clad in black titanium-coated stainless-steel plate, complementing through reflection the spatial geometry of the vaults, and through the constant volatile movement of the reflection, bringing the fluid incomprehensibility of the river inside. The lighting is designed using light ramps in the public toilets as indirect lighting embedded in a steel wall with light reflection from the ceiling.

The surfaces of the walls and ceilings are designed as sandblasted concrete with a cast concrete floor and a cast monolithic staircase. The hatches and doors are finished with surfaces corresponding to the adjoining surfaces of the walls and floors (sandblasted and cast concrete and impregnated black steel in the public toilet vaults). The doors are non-rebated with hidden self-closing devices. In the vaulted spaces, built-in inserts for hanging exhibitions are inserted into the surfaces.

Plans / Sections / Elevations

Plans / Sections / Elevations​​​​​​​

Plans / Sections / Elevations

Plans / Sections / Elevations​​​​​​​

Petr Janda / Brainwork

Responding to conceptual combinations

Plans / Sections / Elevations

Sketches / Photos / Collages

Utilisation of Litracon

Responding to conceptual combinations

Plans / Sections / Elevations

Sketches / Photos / Collages

Utilisation of Litracon

Responding to conceptual combinations

Plans / Sections / Elevations

Sketches / Photos / Collages

Utilisation of Litracon

Responding to conceptual combinations

Plans / Sections / Elevations

Sketches / Photos / Collages

Utilisation of Litracon

General Notes: Eveleigh

Australian Technology Park, South Eveleigh, Sydney [-33.8976952,151.1956232] 

- 9 buildings, 4 key locations

- 14 hectares

- 18000 people

- A place of gathering

- A community place, a neighbourhood, rich in diversity

- A heritage site - surrounded by Aboriginal community 

Context analysis

Sources

Photos

A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Architecture Site Analysis Urbanism: https://youtu.be/Lgp7EtSSugM

- Open space network: Built, unbuilt, and green spaces

- Majority built space with a few green spaces and less unbuilt spaces

- Centre, edge: Centre and edge of the site

- Topography: Slopes of the site

- Sloped from the north and north east at approx. RL 30m down to the south and southwest at approx RL 14m on Henderson Rd

- Site benched in three levels

- Figure ground: Analyse built and unbuilt areas, can include history and building details

- Landscape: Analyse the green space in more detail by considering wildlife and habitants

- Street pattern, hierarchy: Show how the streets and their patterns look in addition to providing hierarchy based on street importance

- Land Use, density: Building types (Industrial, commercial, residential, retail, educational, etc) 

Architectural design Site Analysis | Adobe Photoshop: https://youtu.be/Kwa8dLOQgwE

- Location: Eveleigh, bounded between Darlington, Redfern, Alexandria Park, Erskineville, - and Newtown. Located 4km south of Sydney GPO and close to USYD and UTS 

- Orientation: North Arrow

- Natural features: 

- Vegetation, Canal

- Views in and out of the Site

- How to access the site, via transport (preferred entrance, secondary entrance)

- How to approach the site, (which roads do you take)

- Nodes: Points of intersection (roads intersecting) → Movement/Traffic

- Permeability: Bus Stops, Train Station, Pedestrian movement, Traffic, Land Use

- Building heights: (Topmost ceiling height)

- Visual condition: Facades, are they interesting, do they need development

- Noise diagram: pinpoint the location of noise

Sun Path (Not needed)

Wind Direction (Not needed)

The observed real:

Framed views -  Will your proposal frame views, become a significant part of the view?  Will tourists take photos of your proposal - will it become the star attraction?  Will it block the view?  What are the significant views into and out of the site?  Who would be able to view your proposal and where from?

Signage/text - how and where do words occur on the site?  Are there significant texts which might influence your thinking which are written about the site or the types of activities which currently or previously occurred there?  What are the ways of finding strategies that might be deployed?  Is there [or should there be] graffiti?

Urban fabric - the site is situated very close to a finer grain of urban habitation.  The local streets and parks may yield significant information about connection to the people who would engage with your proposal at times when the businesses in the ATP are closed.  How do the urban dwellers occupy the site?  How could your proposal stimulate a connection with the site and bring new activity to the ATP.

The walkers and wanderers:

Movement mapping/pattern of use mapping - how do visitors or inhabitants move through the park?  Do they stay on the designated paths?  Do they have a specific path to follow?  

When are the areas of the park most used - day/night, week/weekend. summer/winter?  What are the special occasions which influence the site?

Park inhabitants/characters - people, birds, bats, animals... who are they and why are they there?  How long do they stay?  Do they visit the site for something specific?  What are the character traits of joggers vs tourists/picnickers vs children playing?

Atmospheric pressure:

Temperature - how does the weather impact the site?  Do trees give shelter and shade?  Does the proximity to the city create a particular microclimate or affect air quality? [note:  do not attempt sun path analysis for this component unless you already know how to do so].     

Lighting - artificial and natural lighting and reflections.  How does the level of light influence the site conditions in terms of atmosphere during the day and at night?

Colour mapping, texture mapping - the colours and surface textures of the site range from the natural green of the foliage to the hardness of concrete.  Will your proposal respond to the natural or man made in respect of its material and colour properties?