Workshop Content: Briefing Notes
Consider the following in each of the workshop phases:
Phase One: The Site
Natural features:
- land form
- water courses
- significant vegetation/ecological areas
Subdivision patterns:
- street layout
- geometry
- hierarchy
- discontinuities
- public open spaces
- lot size, shape, orientation
Streetscape character:
- width/treatment of right-of-way
- street trees
- curb crossings
Existing and surrounding built form:
- landmarks
- heritage features
- building types
- building scale (height, bulk, modules)
- density/coverage
- distribution of fronts and backs
- spatial definition
- degree of enclosure
- consistency of set back
- recurring relationships between buildings and open spaces
Existing circulation patterns:
- pedestrian
- vehicle
- public transport
Distribution of activities
Experiences:
- way finding
- memorable sequences
- views
Social, economic and political contexts
Output should include annotated maps and diagrams recording your analysis of the site and its wider context a brief for design, including reasons for indicated activities and design directions
Phase Two: The Skeleton
Framework of buildings, streets and public open spaces:
- new or extended streets
- connectivity/permeability
- pedestrian/vehicle orientation
- optimum block size and shape
- streetscape character
- network of public open spaces
- linkages
- pedestrian catchments
- activity
- custodianship/safety
- transport infrastructure
- landmark buildings and spaces
- location
- significance
- distinctive character
- catalytic effect
- indicative distribution of activities
- compatible mixed use
- density and intensity
Output will be a site plan to scale, including indication of activity and linkages to the wider context
Phase Three: The Tissue
Development patterns which “flesh out” the Framework:
- shapes and sizes of lots
- indicative building envelopes
- generic building types
- indicative building design
- relationship of buildings to open space
- landmarks / singular buildings
- distribution of activities
Output will be illustrative material including perspectives, axonometric or isometric drawings, elevations and cross sections as required to show the key features of the site.
Phase Four: Review
Output: group presentation of designs
- Comparative review of alternative design strategies
- Critical assessment of outcome
