Halloween Work

Description:
since halloween i have created three prototype models using google sketchup. i created the first one, a fitness centre, because it would be sustainable both before and after the 2012 olympics and would be in keeping with the government strategies on obesity and fitness. i then designed an entertainment park because derry is seriously lacking in these facilties, which could be used to accomodate the influx of tourists expected. my third design was of a retail park with innovative structures. this would be benefical to tourism and creating jobs as well as making an architectural impact on the citys skyline. i regularly checked the blogs and uploaded all my design screen shots and an outline of the structure.

Evaluation:
i feel that the fitness centre is a good idea but there are already lots of leisure facilties in derry. the work i completed was done to a high standard, although the structure and layout inside the structure was quite basic. i feel the centre could be developed alot more.
the entertainment park, which consisted of a bar/nightclub was also a basic structure, but i tried to use glass wood and concrete together to make it more architecurally advanced. i feel that this idea could be most developed and has the most potential, both in a 3D modelling way and in a real life basis because derry is lacking in this type of structure.
my third idea, a retail park was again quite basic design principles, and derry already has a number of different retail districts. i dont think there is a wide range of design possibilites for a shop because it has to be above all practical, and there is no room for wasted space to make the structure more advanced.

Time Management until Christmas.
i will chose the entertainment complex as my project idea. i will work on the structures in my own time to improve them and develop the idea further. i aim to make a cluster of strcutures in the complex to show different aspects of my skills with google sketchup. i will also use class time more effectively and work to all deadlines.

Prototype 3

my third prototype is a retail park. there would be around 10 units which businesses could rent out from the council. the economical sustainabilty would be enforced here because the business would provide a good or service that the public will buy, therefore increasing the citys revenue and affluence. on the basis of big name companys with high quality goods and services renting the units, more jobs will be created and consumers from other parts of ireland and northern ireland will come to the city. the buildings will all have solar panels and there will be turbines to amkie use of tidal energy form the nearby river foyle. this will cut electricity costs. there will be car parking, tram, bus and monorail stops in the site and local culture will be promoted through the businesses providing a service for the people of the city.

Prototype 2

my second design idea was an entertainment complex on the site. this would include a bar/nightclub, restuarant, cinema, bowling alley, ice rink and small park. i feel that this would fufill the coursework brief by being at the heart of the community, a way for people of all ages to interact in a stimulating and interesting way. the complex would be economically sustainable because of the income generated by all the venues. it would be giving back to the community by allowing charity fundraisers and other community projects to use the facilites for very little charge. there will also be car parking, tram bus and monorail links with the city centre. the actual buildings themselves will use green energy solar panels and water tanks to collect rainfall. local culture will be sustained by the very nature of the complex, an entertainment park which will bring the community together.

Prototype Design 1

My first design idea was a fitness centre. this fufills the coursework brief because the athletes coming from different countries will be able to use the centre to train in preperation for the 2012 olympics. after this time the centre could be used for public use ie, schools, individuals, organisations could make use of the facilites which in my final project will include the gym centre as well as an outdoor pool, race track, rugby and soccer pitches and tennis courts. it is enviornmentally sustainable because after the athletes are finished with it, public membership fees will pay for its build and upkeep. it will have many enviornmentally friendly features such as solar panels and water reseviour tanks which will keep the cost of running the centre down. local culture will be promoted through the training ground i will include for Derry City FC. the transportation links will be modern with bus, monorail and tram stops in the area.