Research - Week 6

What is modular architecture? To better understand this i decided to check out a few designs that really explain how you can create a "system" of modules. Here is one that stood out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urXM7A1AgAM

This video showed me that having a system for the design has many benefits. Most importantly it makes it possible to easily expand on the design, reuse modules, relocate modules, disassemble the construction, and transport the building to the site.

This is important to think of if we are to avoid creating rigid buildings that will soon be future ruins. Every component should be useful for always more than one thing.

Over the week i have been thinking about my building typology and what the site needs. Taking into account the previous users and how the site has once functioned helped me come up with a list of possibilities:

- restaurant
- study centre
- fitness centre
- 24 hour gym
- mixed purpose complex
- art gallery
- showroom
- appartments

During discussions in the tutorial it came clear to me that a fitness centre has the potential to flourish with the concept of "interaction" and as the site already attracts large numbers of people who exercise it made sense to design something that would appeal to them.

To understand exactly what is needed when designing a fitness centre i took a field trip to Club Coops. http://clubcoops.com/home?subSiteId=1

This proved very useful. As my concept is interaction i decided to look at how and what people interact with when at the gym. The image below shows elements of the gym that are fundamental to both its function and to provide the users with an enjoyable and unrestricted experience:


This got me thinking, is there a way to further develop these current elements such as a standard filing cabinet system or television at the front of each exercise area? Can i create a more interactive system?

I also spent a period of time recording the movements of people throughout the gym. It became obvious that there was a common pattern between members routines. It was easy to see how males and females used the gym in a different manner:


From the field trip i was able to see what people like and dislike about Club Coops. During peak hour it was noticed that peoples attitudes were different - people seemed less willing to make eye contact with each other and more willing to argue and compete for the gear. Also all paths were crossing over each other and people were moving back and forth from one side of the centre to the other. This raised the question - is this due the layout of the rooms and their hosting function?? (Something to think about in my design)

This also made think maybe gyms need a modular design. If the main problem is that there is to small a floor area for an ever growing ammount of memberships then a modular design system could fix this. Imagine a gym that could grow (in a way like a sunflower can)

Here is a page of ideas:


Here are a few photos from my precinct study: