Assignment 1

Re-Skinning of Buildings (UTS Tower)

Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser and Alexander Rieck founded the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture [LAVA] in 2007. It was established as a network of creative minds with a research and design focus and has offices in Sydney, Shanghai, Stuttgart and Abu Dhabi.

LAVA explores frontiers that merge future technologies with the patterns of organisation found in nature and believes this will result in a smarter, friendlier, more socially and environmentally responsible future.

LAVA developed a simple, cost effective and easily constructed building skin that can potentially transform the identity, sustainability and interior comfort of any existing structure of the UTS Tower in Sydney. The ‘skin’ is a translucent cocoon that can create its own’ microclimate’. It can generate its own energy with photovoltaic cells, could collect rainwater, improve the distribution of natural daylight and use available convective energy to power the building’s ventilation requirements.

A pre-existing building is wrapped with three-dimensional lightweight, high performance composite mesh textile. Surface tension allows the membrane to freely stretch over a light steel frame around walls and roof elements achieving maximum visual impact with minimal material effort.

The skin with embedded LED strips acts as an intelligent media surface effectively integrating principles of architecture, fashion, media and communication design into a new hybrid typology.

This innovative and creative take on recreating allows minimal cost and transform the building. It is easily constructed, quick and sustainable. 

The UTS Tower, Sydney

Re-skinned UTS Tower, Sydney

This proposal did not proceed, however, the idea has potential on re-shaping buildings around the world with minimal cost. Technology has not yet reached its prime to create the best material suited for the wear and tear of the outdoor. 

http://www.l-a-v-a.net/projects/re-skin-uts-tower/

http://www.l-a-v-a.net/about-lava/

Musician – Bureau of Sound Notation

“Everything sounds terrible! F@#&ing terrible!” Marcus howled hysterically, throwing the piles of notes and manuscripts he had been working on for days. He could not comprehend the reasons behind his lifeless tunes, which lacked soul and the ability to inspire the world as he did before not too long ago with his music.  He sat back on his reclining chair and fumbled for his glass of cheap whiskey in an intoxicated state, head throbbing and heart pounding.  Tears rolled down his cheek as he reminisced about Catherine and Joseph. He brought the glass to his lips and was only greeted with an empty glass of ice and the taste of overly diluted whisky.

‘CRANNGG!’, the glass shattered against the wall as Marcus yelled out “God damn it!”. He stood up and reached for the bottle of whiskey, only to find the bottle itself had too been drained. “You took away my family! Now you take away my what is left of me?” he muttered to himself. Without a moment of hesitation, he grabbed his coat and walked to the nearby pub.

Minutes passed and Marcus found himself swaying from left to right, fighting hard to find a way back home after being dismissed by the security. Intoxicated and not knowing his bearings, he stumbled upon a wooden bench. Physically and mentally exhausted, seeking refuge he lied down on the bench and fell into a deep sleep.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp!” strange sound filled his ears as Marcus struggled to pull himself awake from his drunken slumber. As he opened his eyes, he cleared his blurry vision and was shocked to see a songbird in front of him. No more than 5 inches tall the tiny animal was covered with feathers of a majestic yellow with black accents on its wings and the tip of its head, the song bird locked its gaze towards him and began what seemed to be the most beautiful tune he had ever heard, the sound of freedom, inspiration and hope. It was as if this strange creature was trying to communicate with him. All of a sudden the bird blinked and took flight as a passing jogger interrupted its tune. He gathered himself and sat up rubbing his eyes, realizing he was at a park not too far away from his house. He walked home with a spark of hope and faith in life, still inspired by what happened earlier.

Weeks passed as Marcus began composing once again.

Marcus put down his glass of water and he briefly scanned the manuscript that was in front of him, letting out a sigh of relief he could not believe that he had finally completed what he regards as his best work to date. Pushing his reclining chair back he stood up to stretch, greeted by one of his many birds that landed on his shoulder. “Oh what should we get up to today my little friend?” stroking his cockatoo on the beak. “Well, shall we ask the rest?”.

After the tragic death of his family Marcus was lost in a void, uninspired and hopeless. He had lost all will and inspiration to compose in music, feeling that life no longer had any meaning, Marcus drowned his sorrows down with alcohol. The tune of the songbird in the park changed his life, sending a message to him saying that there will always be hope. He found happiness again in his music and these creatures. Served as a remembrance of that very day, he now owns a large array of different species of birds. Comforted and happy, he became a messenger, inspiring lives of people with his music. Just like the little songbird.