Panels

INTRA: Retail 3.0

Two halves of a whole. You must interact with another in order to find your matched word. Connected Connectivity. Social Poetry. Creative Interactivity. Experiential Poly-morphism.

Make your own connections, define your own reality.

 

 

EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING NOW. EVERYTHING THAT EVER WAS AND EVER WILL BE IS HAPPENING NOW. TIME IS A MENTAL CONSTRUCT AND THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT YOU FEEL, THINK AND EXPERIENCE CAN ALL BE DICTATED BY THE PHYSICAL. THROUGH THIS LIMITED THOUGHT STRUCTURE, ONE CAN BEGIN TO SEE THAT WHAT WE PERCEIVE IS NO MORE THEN AN ILLUSION.

WE ARE MORE THEN THE ILLUSION. WE ARE UNITED IN THIS SPACE THROUGH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE INSEPARABLE. WE MAYBE STANDING TWO FEET APART. WE MAY BE DISCONNECTED BY FORM. BUT WE ARE CONNECTED BY SPACE. BY WHAT WE CREATE. BY OUR UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE ALIVE IN THIS MOMENT. THIS MOMENT IS THE ONLY MOMENT THAT HAS EVER EXISTED.

IF WE WERE TO USE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE OUR PROJECT. IT WOULD BE… FEARLESS. AND OUR PROJECT TRANSLATES TO THE NOTION OF SOCIAL POETRY. IT IS POETIC AS IT TRANSLATES BEYOND THE CONCEPT, AND IT HARNESSES THE POWER OF…NOW - THE POWER OF CONNECTIVITY AND THE POWER OF UNIFICATION.

WE AIM TO TRANSFORM THIS SPACE BY ALLOWING USERS TO EXPERIENCE. TO CREATE. TO TRANSFORM,TO LEARN. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO FEEL AND TO CONNECT TOGETHER THROUGH SPACE, USING THE FORM - THE FORM THAT WE CREATE TOGETHER, CONNECTNG A COMMUNITY; WE AIM TO RE-TRANFORM THE RETAIL EXPERIENCE THROUGH THIS CONNECTIVITY.


SOCIAL NETWORKING, OUR MOBILE CULTURE, AND THE INTERNET ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF HOW OUR HUMANITY CRAVES CONNECTION. WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE THE META-PHYSICAL THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY - BY RE- CREATING THE NETWORK THAT ALREADY SURROUNDS US.

CAN YOU FEEL IT? CAN YOU FEEL THE CONNECTIVITY?


OUR PROPOSAL AIMS TO DO JUST THAT. TO CONNECT PEOPLE NOT ONLY IN THE REALM OF THE SPACE BUT THROUGH PROVIDING THE FRAMEWORK AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IF YOU LIVE IN THE MOMENT, YOU BECOME THE MOMENT. IT IS IN THE MOMENT THAT YOU CAN HARNESS WHAT LIES AHEAD. THIS IS THE KEY TO CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

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INTRA 3.0 from stephen carmichael on Vimeo.

 

 

Individual Project One Statement

Project One: A Statement of  Intent & Sustainable Vision

In terms of creating a sustainable retail environment the aspace of retail is leading to a massive re-think in retail methods. Since it is cheaper, faster and more convenient to shop online many sellers are reducing overheads by closing or downsizing physical shop fronts. In order for the huge amounts of land devoted to retail to remain vibrant sustainable environments they need to provide something that the online world cannot provide. Social Sustainability is created by educating communities by challenging consumers, creating a new retail experiences which reconnects the community. This is important as online shopping lacks the physical, emotional and sensual experience of being part of a physical community. 

Our project is pushing for a massive change not just in the architecture and how space is used but the values society puts on items and money.  By removing money from the interaction and transferring the central driver of profit from the social interaction of shopping we hope to transform the world we live in. Since buildings naturally serve as the containers for these activities and provide a seat of learning with a physical locus, we have decided to host a catalyst within the existing architecture of Paddington Central. This is to allow users of Paddington Central to situate themselves within a discourse of co-learning and interactive social experiences that produces good and interesting work that’s vital in transforming the discipline and the surrounding community 

Since we make our own context by viewing the world through our own experiences the catalyst allows us to directly influence the perceptions of the users and community at large. An architectural installation is to be the initial point of contact, something interactive that physically mirrors the user.

Idea Development

IDEA DEVELOPMENT LOG

 

 

READING MATERIAL

Our catalysis of an interactive architectural installation is to become part of a pattern of social connectivity. Challenging, eye opening and a blue print for a new sustainable retail environment which concentrates on the imaginative co-learning of social communities. The pattern first emerges in Paddington Central, then spreads through Australia then exponentially over the World.  

 

(A Pattern Language)

Reflection

 

 

OUR PRESENTATION

We received very positive feedback on our method of delivery

OTHERS PRESENTATION

Some really good ideas and level or presentation, but not pushing the boundaries they way we did in terms of presentation

Reflection Post 5

Architectural possibilities 

Our space is not static or flat it is an interactive, morphing catalyst of co-learning social interaction. The architectural installation moves, morphs and manipulates its environment as the community interacts with it or past it. Rather than flattening when you stop moving the Paddington Central of the sustainable retail future challenges you “to accept that there is more to architecture than space making: that architecture is event-making, it’s always thinking about perception, and space, use, choreography, setting up relations and so forth (Architecture as a Dissident Practice An Interview with Diller Scofidio + Renfro)”.

The spaces within the centre are “experimental, the place itself expendable and changeable. The organisation of space and the objects occupying it …challenge the participants' mental and physical dexterity and, allow for a flow of space and time, in which passive and active pleasure is provoked (Cedric Price, 'A Laboratory ofFun', New Scientist, 14 May 1964)”.  

Just as our hijacking is interactive, facilitates co-learning and fearless exploration so are our panels and presentation. We seek to entrance the senses and challenge preconceived notions.  

 



Rethink Scholarship at Langara 2010 Call for Entries from Rory O'Sullivan on Vimeo.


These videos were the inspiration for  redefining the presentation requirements

Project Development 5

“When you stop moving, space flattens.” One has to accept that there is more to architecture than space making: architecture is event-making, it’s always thinking about perception, and space, use, choreography, setting up relations and so forth.’

Architecture as a Dissident Practice
An Interview with Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Catalytic Fearless Co-Learning 

Our project is pushing for a massive change not just in the architecture and how space is used but the values society puts on items and money.  By removing money from the interaction and transferring the central driver of profit from the social interaction of shopping we hope to transform the world we live in. Since buildings naturally  serve as the containers for these activities and provide a seat of learning with a physical locus (Erasing Architecture into the System), we have decided to host a catalyst within the existing architecture of Paddington Central. This is to allow users of Paddington Central to situate themselves within a discourse of co-learning and interactive social experiences that produces good and interesting work that’s vital in transforming the discipline and the surrounding community (Diller Scofidio + Renfro)

A possible path of an architectural catalyst of the social future

Since we make our own context by viewing the world through our own experiences the catalyst allows us to directly influence the perceptions of the users and community at large. An architectural installation is to be the initial point of contact, something interactive, something that physically mirrors the user. This video shows one physical manifestation of our idea  http://vimeo.com/18240085

Hijacking the present as a canvas for the future, a series of architectural additions, subtractions and  joyful manipulations

"The activities designed for the site should be experimental, the place itself expendable and changeable. The organisation of space and the objects occupying it should, on the one hand, challenge the participants' mental and physical dexterity and, on the other, allow for a flow ofspace and time, in which passive and active pleasure is provoked." (Erasing Architecture into the System )

Story telling on an interactive canvas, a mirage to entertain and enlighten the senses.

Levels of being, physical, sensory, imaginative and virtual inter-messed in a catalysis canvas. 

Reflection Post 4

 Children are inspiring as they are fearless, limitless and constantly evolving.

Collaboration is vital for co-learning. For children to work together to create their own reality and empower others they need to have an interactive environment that mirrors them and grows with them.




  Children need to be empowered, not limited by their parents constraints. The link below contains an amazing presentation by a child on the power of literacy and learning in children.
http://www.ted.com/talks/adora_svitak.html




 


Rather then teach  children the architecture needs to facilitate evolution of ideas.

FEARLESSNESS

 While needs and desires are important to the functioning of the space the focus must be on creating an environment that is not static.

Project Development Post 4

 Architecture has always been the physical manifestation of so many diverse, even conflicting issues.  Up until this reading my thoughts had been structures by needs for warmth, for security etc and while I was  dealing with the social and community aspects, my thoughts had not ventured towards politics or moral dimensions. The reading POLITICS AND THE SITUATIONIST INTERNATIONAL  had one quote which drove our session as a group "individual existence is the sole ground of all legitimate thinking" . Spaces should not be created for utilitarian groups but for individuals and groups of individuals, we use spaces for ourselves not for others. This is why it was so essential for the development of our sustainable retail center to  be based around providing individuals with experiences that they could treasure alone or share. As a group we became Blix and walked in his shoes for an hour in our retail center experience:

ARCHITECTURAL MANIFESTO - 

 

The choice of what people do and how they chose to live is so important for the continuing success of any space.  Just as many architects before me I think the key to creating meaniful architecture does not exist in the physical built form but the ideas and choices contained within. In order to become a physical space of new ideas the communication and co-learning of people within the space are of paramount importance.  The media of communication needs to be limitless not the constrained method of the past, the lecture halls and static publications but a new ever evolving way of being. 

Wigley's thoughts on students attitudes towards sustainability is  that they consider it to be the "most interesting philosophical and technical challenges to the architect". I agree as rather than static codes and existing methods of greening the environment students are able to view sustainability as a baby step, a starting point to challenging preconceived notions and creating something new.  

Reflections Post 3

Sustainable future

Sustainable Retail Environments 

INTRA- The First Charrette

https://www.facebook.com/groups/397517723644652/

Discussion Main Points:

• Social Sustainability- educate by challenging consumers, creating a new retail experiences which reconnects the community. This is important as online shopping lacks the physical, emotional and sensual experience of being part of a physical community 

•  Removing Money: By using digital devices linked to bank accounts the shopping process becomes more sustainable and more fun. Paper, electricity and queuing in line are removed from the equation and the emphasis is taken away from what money can i get for my product to what experience will best benefit my customer relationships and my product. 

  

• The inner child's play ground for enriching boring, everyday experiences into spaces where you enjoy time rather than make time.  

  

• Enriching nightlife- in order to benefit from the densification of the suburb in the future the building and its envelope needs to  excite the passer by. Shown in the image above is a diagram of a person walking past a surface which projects back a virtual image of this person dressed in items from the shop and interacting with other virtual people during the day and night.

•  More organic retail experiences- less fake more fun. Since retail as it is is becoming less desirable we decided to take a different approach on marketing, rather than the over polished unreal displays we plan on moving to more organic market style shops. This would be achieved through a open plan floor plan which removes partitions separating stores and tasks as well as promoting flexibility and opening up the spaces to local and small businesses, breaking the big business death grip over shopping centers.

  

•  Creating retail theater, entertainment and fun in the retail environment was seen to be key to strengthening the industry and increasing customer numbers and enjoyment. This is especially true in the case of children/ teen shoppers who are increasingly present in shops and big influences on purchases. See facebook page for links to articles on parent-child purchase relationships in retail https://www.facebook.com/groups/397517723644652/

   

Sustainable Future:

Paddington Central is to become the scene of a redesign in retail. Shopping fulfills a variety of highly important needs and desires. Social was identified as being the most important but retail environments also provide food, water, shelter, clothing, light and energy. Our team has put an emphasis on creating a experience driven my interactive environments that engage the imagination of children and adults alike.  

Project Development Post 3

The readings this week had four key points which are relevant to our design this semester and in general.

1.The inter connectivity of both devices and online technology that has lead to the aspace, a global distance-less entity dependent on time.  
In terms of creating a sustainable retail environment the aspace of retail is leading to a massive re-think in retail methods. Since it is cheaper, faster and more convenient to shop online many sellers are reducing overheads by closing or downsizing physical shop fronts. In order for the huge amounts of land devoted to retail  to remain vibrant sustainable environments they need to provide something that the online world can not provide yet.

2.Following the money, adapting for time and the interrelated realities of the seven S's 
Site, Structure, Skin, Services, Space, Stuff and Soul
 If the buildings of retail are to be sustainable where is the trade off between retrofitting existing structures or demolishing to make way for the new. Since I believe that demolishing something is the complete opposite of sustainable practice I want to focus on manipulating and redesigning the skin, services, space and stuff to make the most of the existing site and structure. If this is done right a new soul which enriches the community and retail experience which adapts organically are not just possible but desirable.

3.

Brand, S., 1997. Shearing Layers, in How buildings learn : what happens after they’re built, London: Phoenix Illustrated. pp12-23

The importance of small scale in retail situations can be scene in every community and every mall. Small shops allow for a variety of consumer choices which is highly desirable in safe guarding retail environments from collapses due to businesses failing or becoming unpopular. Customers are drawn in by convenience in location, variety and atmosphere.


4. Adaption is so vital to harmonious environments
 In order for our suburban center to be adaptable the compartmentalization of tasks, shops and consumers needs rethinking. Why go to 20 shop to compare products and prices if you could go to one and have someone help you without prejudice. If a harmonious adaptable environment could be created would it be more attractive than the competing influences in today's shopping center. Ikea is one example of dissolving  compartmentalization in there multi item interactive displays which allow organic testing of the product and education into a greater product range.