textures &
a procession of textures
‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ a poem by Robert Frost I believe encapsulates the site of the Cammeraygal People. What was once a sacred site and rich with history to the Cammeraygal People has been shattered to Balls Head Reserve, named after Henry Lidgbird Ball who arrived on the First Fleet.
“Natures first green is gold, the hardest hue to hold” the land once full of culture as a place to come together for celebrating music and storytelling is reduced to remnants of significant engravings scattered throughout the site.
“Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour.” These engravements are related to The Dreaming, something of significance to the root of Cammeraygal People’s Spirituality and Kerwin insightfully states the significance of The Dreaming highlighting how “Geography, ecology, and religion were fused into a landscape both spiritual and practical, directing daily life.”
“Then leaf subsides to leaf.” The site changed by colonisation and then again through restoration.
“So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day.” The land of the Cammeraygal people has been lost.
“Nothing gold can stay.”
To not repeat the past and create a better understanding for the future it is important to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land by bringing it back to its original purpose, a place for storytelling.
site material. a proscession of textures
drawing. a proscession of textures
montage. a proscession of textures
https://youtu.be/6GZs0df94d0
ecology. bushland & main vistas
Berry’s Bay
Balls Head
Balls Head Drive
Open Forest
Closed Forest
Low Closed Forest Major Views/Vistas
Bay
Head
Fauna Movements
Bushland Remnant
Proposed Bushland Corridor Planting
Proposed Native Grassland Area
proposed bushland planting corridoor
The canopy of Balls Head Reserve is typical of bushland throughout Sydney’s North Shore.
It is characterised by an Open Forest/Woodland form that is dominated by two main species of trees Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gum) and Corymbia gummifera (Red Bloodwood).
The headland also supports three lower-growing scrub communities, dominated by a diverse range of shrubs, such asKunzea ambigua (Tick bush), which thrives on the shallow cliff-top soils that are found in the headland’s south-west corner. This shrub attracts numerous birds and colourful soldier beetles when in flower.
The composition of vegetation is variable in the centre of the Reserve due to the parkland/bushland situation that existed in the past. Exotic and nonindigenous trees and shrubs have been planted along the edges of Balls Head Drive and throughout Balls Head Reserve. These plantings are now surrounded by the mature and regenerating native vegetation.
Fauna Movements
Bushland Remnant
Proposed Bushland Corridor Planting
Proposed Native Grassland Area
Berry’s
Balls
flora & fauna
Angophora costataSmooth-Barked Apple Corymbia gummiferaBlack Butt
Pittosporum undulatum
Open Forest
Ceratopetalum apetalumCoachwood Glochidion ferdinandiCheese Tree
Closed Forest
Elaeocarpus reticulatus
Tradescantia albifloraWandering Jew
More Examples of Flora in Bushlands
Protect and Recreate Habitat:
Ringtail Possums were found to be particularly abundant. The Large Bent-wing Bat and the Greyheaded Flyingfox were recorded. Twenty-three bird species were recorded, of which five species are exotic. Dog scats were found throughout the reserve and the Black Rat and House Mouse were also recorded. Three species of skinks, two species of geckos and one species of frog were recorded.
The Large Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus schreibersii, listed as Vulnerable under the Threatened SpeciesConservation Act, 1995, was recorded in the Fauna Survey at Balls Head Reserve.
The Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus, listed as Vulnerable under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995, was observed flying over and feeding in the reserve.
Blue-tongue Lizard Brushtail Possum
Common Eastern Froglet
Crimson Rosella Grey-headed Flying-fox Lesuer’s Velvet Gecko
Rainbow Lorikeet
Ringtail Possum Skinks Southern Fig Bird Southern Leaf-tail Gecko Tawny Frogmouth
Supurb Blue Fairy-wren Large Bent-wing Bat
White-browed Scrub-Wren
Owls
Cyathea australisRough Tree Fern
Livistona australisCabbage Palm
Echinopogon caespitosusTufted Hedgehog Grass
Hydrocotyle peduncularisPenny Wort
Acacia longifoliaSydney Golden Wattle
Corymbia maculataSpotted Gum
Smell: Ocean, grass, bush, damp tunnels
Taste: Salt air See: Harbour, trees, coal loader, tunnels
Touch: Trees, bushes, sandstone, grass, wind
Balance: Stairs
Hear: Waves lapping, birds chirping, leaves rustling
Smell: Food, car fumes, damp tunnels
Taste: food, salt air
See: Harbour, trees, coal loader, tunnels, people
Touch: Exercise equipment
Balance: Stairs
Hear: Children playing, people exercising, cars driving past, boats in the harbour
Smell: Ocean, grass, bush, damp tunnels
Taste: Salt air See: Harbour, trees, lights in the distance
Touch: Trees, bushes, sandstone, grass, wind
Balance: Stairs
Hear: Waves lapping, birds chirping, leaves rustling
sensory. points of interest
Whale Rock Carving
Coal Loader Cafe
Wharf
Platform
Tunnels
a proscession of textures
The radical model and experiments were plaster that was sandcasted in riversand which created for some rough textures. The plasters were then sanded, cracked, smashed or simply left alone to create different textures under different lighting conditions.
Textures that were course, rough and jaggered were emphasised under direct artificial lighting as they created interesting shadows and contrast. Natural indirect lighting allowed for the object to be viewed as a whole and highlighted the finer intricate details in the smooth surfaces.
experiments.
a proscession of textures
The radical model and experiments were plaster that was sandcasted in riversand which created for some rough textures. The plasters were then sanded, cracked, smashed or simply left alone to create different textures under different lighting conditions.
Textures that were course, rough and jaggered were emphasised under direct artificial lighting as they created interesting shadows and contrast. Natural indirect lighting allowed for the object to be viewed as a whole and highlighted the finer intricate details in the smooth surfaces.
artificial lighting
natural lighting
a proscession of textures
artificial lighting
natural lighting
radical model.
a proscession of textures
“Light creates ambience and a feel of place, as well as the expression of structure.”
Le Corbusier
Design Strategy
To observe different textures under different forms of light and create spaces that are engaged with the site through light.
I will be implementing the research gained from my model experiments and radical model to create an immersive experience that will be experienced differently depending on the time of day through the shadows and details the sun and artificial lighting creates throughout the day.
sun. a proscession of textures
a proscession of textures
Demonstrating through section 1:200 sun angles on existing coal loader
form. a proscession of textures
section. winter
a proscession of textures
The radical model and experiments were plaster that was sandcasted in riversand which created for some rough textures. The plasters were then sanded, cracked, smashed or simply left alone to create different textures under different lighting conditions.
Textures that were course, rough and jaggered were emphasised under direct artificial lighting as they created interesting shadows and contrast. Natural indirect lighting allowed for the object to be viewed as a whole and highlighted the finer intricate details in the smooth surfaces.
rough
smooth
sandstone.
a proscession of textures
Sandstone is a prominent material to the site as well as being a defining feature of the sydney shoreline. The concept is an experience of textures under light and everything from the walls to the footpaths will explore this.
The sandstone will be explored through many different finishes throughout the site and will interact with the light differently depending on the time of day.
In different locations of the site the sandstone will be in its natural form, cobbled, crazing paved, cladded, sand blasted/brushed, diamond saw cut, honed and tumbled.
diamond saw cut | texture smooth
boulder | rough honed | smooth
sand blasted | textured tumbled | smooth cobbled | rough cladding | rough
a proscession of textures
The site will be a collection of different textured paths from cobbled to brushed to honed/polished. These textures will reflect those of the labs; seagrass will be smooth, seawall will be rough and the oyster lab will be a combination and the paths surrounding each will match.
lesuire research learn
The ampitheatre staircase will be a combinationation of brushed sandstone for the stairs and honed sandstone for the tiered levels stretching off that.
cobbled brushed honed/polished
access. a proscession of textures
lesuire research learn
The site consists of two levels; the upper and the lower level. There will be various paths for people to reach both directly and indirectly to both sides of the site. The indirect path features a grand staircase with tiered areas for seating spaning on both sides as it leads you down to the water from the powerhouse. Walking along the shoreline it takes you through the boatshed to the tunnels. From there people can gain access to the coal loader by a set of stairs or through the tunnels which lead into the labs directly. The tunnels will allow for the labs to gain easy access to the water. The upper level also has a direct path to the labs as well as a path past the whale carving.
The different paths to and from the same location allow for visitors to have different experiences exploring the site and the textured paths will create a different experience depending on the time of day.
access to mess hall
access to staircase upper level
access to powerhouse
access to research sleeping quarters
access to observe whale carving
access to upperlever
access to seawall lab | sunset access to labs
access to seagrass lab | midday
access to oyster lab | sunrise
tunnel level access to water
access to wharf
access to boatshed
access to staircase lower level
a proscession of textures
The demographic of the site can be narrowed down to three key aspects; researching, lesuire and learning. Researching will primarily be made up from the scientists however can also be from visitors and students who are coming to the site. Learning will be from visitors and students who will come here for school excursions or for a recreational activity. Lesuire will involve visitors and researchers who will come here to relax maybe have a picnic or even to exercise.
The staircase provides a space where all three narratives for lesuire, research and learning can come together and carry out the same or different activites.
a proscession of textures
A typical day for the researches would be waking up in the upper level sleeping quarters and then making their way down the grand stairs case, along the cobblestoned path through the boat-shed and into the tunnels before entering the labs. Throughout the day traveling in the tunnel to the shore front and back. At the end of the day researchers will make their way out of the first level of the labs before walking down the honed sandstone path back to their sleeping quarters.
research
lesuire research
cobbled brushed honed/polished lesuire
a proscession of textures
School groups will enter from the road to the labs where they can walk through the labs without disturbing the researchers. They can learn about the different labs as well as explore different aspects of the site such as the tunnels, the shore front walk and the whale carving. At the end of their visit they can gather and have their lunch on the steps and complete any work the school has assigned before making their way up the steps and out of the site through the upper level access.
research learn
lesuire research learn
cobbled brushed honed/polished
a proscession of textures
People coming for leisure can explore the tunnels and research labs, walk along the shore front and carry out different activities on the amphitheater steps such as having a picnic or lunch, reading, relaxing or even exercising.
lesuire research learn
lesuire
cobbled brushed honed/polished
site section.
a proscession of textures 1:500
People coming for leisure can explore the tunnels and research labs, walk along the shore front and carry out different activities on the amphitheater steps such as having a picnic or lunch, reading, relaxing or even exercising.
crazy paving
brushed sand blasted
honed tumbled diamond saw cut
seawall lab plan.
a proscession of textures 1:200
The seawall lab sits ontop of the coal loader however is spaned over 4 different levels of height to gain the afternoon sun. It has flexible space for digital design and 3d printing as well as space for prototype production and storage near the seawall. The seawall lab features a central courtyard garden as well as a terrace
seagrass lab plan.
a proscession of textures 1:200
The seagrass lab slices through the coal loader and majority of the building is underground. Light enters from above and from the open access to the seawall on the west side. The segrass lab features an entry vestibule, flexible working space for recieving, sorting and nurturing seagrass, lab space as well as space for indoor and outdoor tanks.
recieving, cleaning, drying & crushing
mixing & casting
oyster lab plan.
a proscession of textures 1:200
The oyster lab is designed over two levels and has access to the seawall through the tunnels which connects to the seagrass lab water access. It includes flexible space for recieving, cleaning, drying and crushing large volumes of oyster sheels as well as space for large equipment used for mixing and casting oyster shell concrete. This lab also features a terrace from the front entrance that gains the morning sunlight.
terrace
upper level plan.
a proscession of textures 1:200
The upper level will contain the community centre which includes reception, education space, meeting rooms and bathrooms as well as the research accomodation centre which includes 4x bedrooms with individul bathrooms, kitchen, dining, living, storage and a terrace.
sectional perspective a. a proscession of textures
The upper level will contain the community centre which includes reception, education space, meeting rooms and bathrooms as well as the research accomodation centre which includes 4x bedrooms with individul bathrooms, kitchen, dining, living, storage and a terrace.
sectional perspective b. a proscession of textures
The upper level will contain the community centre which includes reception, education space, meeting rooms and bathrooms as well as the research accomodation centre which includes 4x bedrooms with individul bathrooms, kitchen, dining, living, storage and a terrace.
Elevation 1:500
elevations. a proscession of textures
elevations. a proscession of textures
a proscession of textures
The Boat Shed.
a proscession of textures
The Oyster Lab.
a proscession of textures
The Oyster Lab.
renders. a proscession of textures
The Seagrass Lab.
textures & light.
a refined exploration of a haptic experience that engages the sense of touch and is connected to the site through the manipulation of light.
upper site. sleeping quarters
sunrise | oyster lab
sunrise | oyster lab
https://youtu.be/opqFNKoLt5M
