Chapter 4 Precedent Studies
4.6 Overall conclusions drawn from precedent studies
capacity to easily accommodate increases in service requirements.
4.6.3 Flexibility
• Spaces should be designed to allow for minimal disruption when they are modified.
• Spaces designed to a specific module size allows for changes to be effected easily and without much disruption.
• Interstitial floors allow for maximum service flexibility, but are expensive to implement.
• Overall building flexibility can be facilitated by the ability to be easily extended.
4.6.4 Planning
• The building should be functionally sound.
• The work environment should be planned to be vibrant and innovative.
• The overall environment should be alive with use.
• Circulation should be designed to facilitate informal interaction.
• Building technology, architectural function and human space should be fully integrated.
4.6.5 Physical environments requirements
• Opportunities for providing required conditions, such as lighting and ventilation levels, should be met by natural means where appropriate.
• The required environmental conditions of exterior spaces should not be neglected. Spaces may require protection from the elements.
4.6.6 Environmental impact
Simple planning principles can be implemented to reduce environmental impact at minimal cost. These include the principles of:
• 'insulating' spaces;
• implementing natural lighting where appropriate;
• reducing areas requiring artificial climate control;
• designing an efficient building envelope; and
• shading of openings.
capacity to easily accommodate increases in service requirements.
4.6.3 Flexibility
• Spaces should be designed to allow for minimal disruption when they are modified.
• Spaces designed to a specific module size allows for changes to be effected easily and without much disruption.
• Interstitial floors allow for maximum service flexibility, but are expensive to implement.
• Overall building flexibility can be facilitated by the ability to be easily extended.
4.6.4 Planning
• The building should be functionally sound.
• The work environment should be planned to be vibrant and innovative.
• The overall environment should be alive with use.
• Circulation should be designed to facilitate informal interaction.
• Building technology, architectural function and human space should be fully integrated.
4.6.5 Physical environments requirements
• Opportunities for providing required conditions, such as lighting and ventilation levels, should be met by natural means where appropriate.
• The required environmental conditions of exterior spaces should not be neglected. Spaces may require protection from the elements.
4.6.6 Environmental impact
Simple planning principles can be implemented to reduce environmental impact at minimal cost. These include the principles of:
• 'insulating' spaces;
• implementing natural lighting where appropriate;
• reducing areas requiring artificial climate control;
• designing an efficient building envelope; and
• shading of openings.
4.6.7 Facilitation of human processes
Building on Jonas Salk's notion that scientists get their ideas though osmosis, it seems important that informal as well as formal interaction be accommodated. This can be done by:
• having open planned laboratories;
• allowing for generous stairs and passageways;
• placing facilities in a manner that will lead to interaction;
• providing spaces in scales of privacy, from the widening of a section of passageway to the inclusion of small seating areas; and
• providing break-away spaces.
In addition, the overall environment can be made more sympathetic to human habitation by:
• Adding crafted elements to mitigate a cold material palette;
• Including tactile and textural diversity to finishes; and
• Integrating the natural environment in the complex.
4.6.8 Imagery
Though differing opinion will always be available regarding the appropriate imagery of a medical research institute, the application of decisions related to materials, forms, finishes.
and the like need to be integrated. A synthesis between the design and the work product within can be achieved by the structural system implemented, junctions used or materials chosen.
4.6.9 Concluding remarks
A rational approach needs to be followed by fully integrating building technology, architectural function and human space in the design process. Opportunities exist in all decisions for choices that are ingenious solutions to a variety of considerations rather than a solution for a specific problem. In a highly functional building, one must not lose sight of the most important component of the building, the people that use it.
4.6.7 Facilitation of human processes
Building on Jonas Salk's notion that scientists get their ideas though osmosis, it seems important that informal as well as formal interaction be accommodated. This can be done by:
• having open planned laboratories;
• allowing for generous stairs and passageways;
• placing facilities in a manner that will lead to interaction;
• providing spaces in scales of privacy, from the widening of a section of passageway to the inclusion of small seating areas; and
• providing break-away spaces.
In addition, the overall environment can be made more sympathetic to human habitation by:
• Adding crafted elements to mitigate a cold material palette;
• Including tactile and textural diversity to finishes; and
• Integrating the natural environment in the complex.
4.6.8 Imagery
Though differing opinion will always be available regarding the appropriate imagery of a medical research institute, the application of decisions related to materials, forms, finishes.
and the like need to be integrated. A synthesis between the design and the work product within can be achieved by the structural system implemented, junctions used or materials chosen.
4.6.9 Concluding remarks
A rational approach needs to be followed by fully integrating building technology, architectural function and human space in the design process. Opportunities exist in all decisions for choices that are ingenious solutions to a variety of considerations rather than a solution for a specific problem. In a highly functional building, one must not lose sight of the most important component of the building, the people that use it.
Case Study 3: Block Westvifle Campus The areas that will be focused on in the examination of the
case studies have been determined by the findings of the precedent studies, as presented in the overall conclusions of the previous chapter. Where appropriate, the buildings will be analysed by the following criteria: siting; servicing; flexibility;
planning; physical environmental requirements; environmental impact; the social component and imagery. The analysis will be carried out with a combination of an examination of drawings and images; interviews with architects, facility users and other associated parties; and the application of findings from the previous chapter.