creative-aries-blog

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The Presentation

Yesterday, we all came together at Z2 block computer lab and completed the report. I felt slightly pressurized and I’m sure the other girls did too. I was proof-reading and editing any errors while Rebecca put together all the different sections of the report on Canva to make the design more stylized. I feel that the next time we have a similar project, we could follow timelines better or maybe have weekly planners to ensure that things aren’t rushed in the last minute. Today Cassie and I will be speaking at the Prototype Presentations to explain our concept and its elements like originality, sustainability, site specificity, audience engagement etc. as well as display our beautiful prototype. Wish us luck!

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The River Walkway Extension

A part of the proposed extensions for our project, would be a semi-circular walkway built over the river. Unlike other bridges, this walkway would enable people to walk much closer to the river and it would have seats where people can calmly enjoy the movement of the river waves. 

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Final Prototype

Ellesha finished designing the final prototype to visualize the concept. Furnished with toilets, trashcans, seating areas and ramps for wheelchair access, it captures the Northshore “Waves on Land” aesthetic perfectly. 

Addition to the Project Proposal: Due to budget limitations, Instead of the QR codes the project will have an interactive online website. This official website would host a virtual walk-through, provide information regarding the events, as well as daily tips for sustainable lifestyle. A social media campaign would be launched following the construction of Northshore Esplanade.

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Grass = Expensive

While budgeting for the report, Cassie ran into a slight issue. She couldn’t find grass cheaper than $11 per square meter, which proved to be a major hurdle as with that quote we would only be able to afford half the grass, considering the costs for the boardwalk construction plus other features. Since she already had a lot of work to complete, I conducted research to help find cheaper quotes. I came across this Brisbane based company that sells durable, long use and low maintenance grass suitable for use in parks and playing fields. The best part? It’s $4.45 per meter square. 

Reference:

Go Turf. (2019). Wintergreen Couch. Retrieved from https://www.goturf.com.au/wintergreen-couch

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The Northshore Esplanade Aesthetics

References:

Ivanaa. (2019). Urban park design [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/482870391287940482/?lp=true

Ling Li. (2019). Urban Park [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/692428511436991852/

Schwarzbach, U. (2018). Promenade in front of Vivo City with cruise ship and ferry terminal in Singapore [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/uwebkk/28028853019

Streetlife. (2019).  Floating Jetties Curved [Image] Retrieved from https://www.streetlife.nl/en/products/floating-jetties-curved 

Wild Walks. (2019). Mangrove Viewing Platform [image] Retrieved from http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/lane-cove-national-park/boronia-park-to-north-ryde.html

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‘The Northshore Esplanade’ is official!

Our team has decided to change the project name from Walk to Sustainability to The Northshore Esplanade

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Week 10 Lecture

The special guest speaker Chris Heuer mentioned his Acronym “BRACE” yourself for Innovation in the lecture (McIntyre, 2019). I think it would be a nice strategy to reflect upon the project through this new lens:

Boldness

Resilience

Adaptability

Curiosity

Empathy

McIntyre, S. (2019). Week 10 lecture [Lecture Recording]. Retrieved from https://echo360.org.au/lesson/d4b6cb5a-bf4f-4b47-beae-66babb78a8ff/classroom?focus=Video#sortDirection=desc

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Ellesha’s Initial Sketches for the Boardwalk

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Walk to Sustainability

Having made significant changes to the project due to the budget limitations, the new concept called ‘Walk to Sustainability’ has different elements. 

Sustainability and site-specificity: Making use of the timber available on site a boardwalk deck would be constructed alongside the river with a parkland area. The use of eco-friendly materials for construction would help brand the destination as sustainable. Instead of building a glasshouse, the project focus would be on creating a “fit-friendly” (EDQ, 2019) place for the Northshore neighbours. A place where they can come to enjoy the riverside views while exercising, jogging or walking and learn about sustainability by scanning QR codes throughout the site. These codes would be placed on the curved seating areas near the parkland. The area would be furnished with wider seats & ramps for wheelchair access, potable water fountains as well as toilets and trashcans. 

Moreover, the boardwalk would feel like a ship’s deck, relating to the history of the site as Brisbane’s prime port location for the import and export of a plethora of cultures and their cuisines. This way it would also relate to Eat Street, differentiating the Northshore Portside from other Brisbane destinations like South Bank and New Farm Park. The Boardwalk and Parkland would reactivate the site for future use in a multitude of social/cultural/community activities like family picnics, yoga/dance/zumba classes or laughter clubs for the elderly and even weekly markets & trade fairs.

Possible additions for a digital footprint depending upon budget:

Charging stations powered by solar panels would encourage employees and students to come work in the open area while making use of sustainable energy. A digital banner would mention how many batteries (or kilowatts of energy) people have saved by using the stations.

QR codes alongside the boardwalk, each leading to different facts/tips about sustainability in daily life.

Augmented reality could be incorporated in the maritime themed artwork behind the round seats. It would allow people to make use of an app to bring art to life. 

Personal note: Yesterday in the Week 10 group critiques, we pitched our concept to the other groups in class and were able to get valuable feedback from our classmates that I will make sure to incorporate in the project. Among the other concepts, I like the Sound Trail and Floden the most. I’m curious as to how Floden will maintain the flowers from all over the world - which are known to grow in certain climatic conditions - in the Sunshine state of Queensland.

Reference:

EDQ. (2019). KKB285 Creative Enterprise Studio 2. Northshore Brand [slides]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.qut.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-7903962-dt-content-rid-23329192_1/xid-23329192_1

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Week 9 Notes and Storyboard Activity

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Brainstorming session 3 (Solar Panels?)

Another idea that could be used in the project is solar energy. The uses of which could be limitless. If we can afford these panels within the budget, they could be placed in the car park as shading structures. This would provide a shaded parking for the cars and the energy from the solar panels could be used to power charging stations in the park,  L.E.D. lights on the trees or even Eat street at night time.

While this is an innovative idea, the project’s budget is a small figure for the construction of these structures and they would require electricity groundwork to be done. Risk Planning itself would require professionals to look at the Health and Safety risks as well as Weather security issues like thunderstorms and the site’s location next to the Brisbane river. Hence, I would not think this idea to be feasible enough to be included in the concept. Although we could suggest it as an extension to the boardwalk.

Image Reference:

EH Contributor. (2017). 4 Reasons You Should Care about Puerto Rico Power Grid Proposal from Elon Musk. Retrieved from https://www.electronichouse.com/home-energy-management/45668/ 

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Mid-Semester Break

Random Fact : I use the colour blue as my blog’s background not only to inter-textually signify the riverside aesthetic but because it is said that Blue helps inspire Creativity.

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Rebecca’s Physical Prototype

Rebecca tried to make a different version of a physical prototype using materials like coloured pipe cleaners for grass; clay, blue tacks & wooden sticks for chairs; plus tape to stick it all together. However the base of the prototype being a thin chart paper, it was difficult for her to carry it home. By the time she got back, the prototype was in pieces. But hey, at least I took pictures before it broke.

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Simran’s Physical Prototype

The week 8 workshops helped us construct a physical prototype, projecting how the concept would look in real life. We were able to experiment with different materials which helped us decide the functionality of the same. Textured paper for example, was useful for creating the boardwalk and the seating areas.

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Week 8 Workshops: Urban Arts Project

Inspirational projects made by the creative enterprise professionals at U.A.P. The 2 sided red and blue project inspired me. What if we could use a similar concept on the timber panels- painting something big across multiple panels on one side and a different painting behind it so that when you move from one side to the other, the image is totally different. Something like an illustrative 3D optical illusion or a multi-dimensional artwork?

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Brainstorming Session 2 + Additional prototypes

Making use of her own time and skills in Sketch Up, Ellesha sketched/designed these artistic prototypes about a concept we were considering. The idea is to essentially  create a maze like structure using timber and a clearing of natural grass & flora. Side panels that would be painted by local artists to signify the Maritime aesthetic history of Northshore. The artwork could have elements of Augmented reality or QR codes leading to an interactive website that would educate them about sustainability through elements of gamification (things like digital treasure hunts etc., Think Pokemon Go but with a Northshore aesthetic)  This would quite literally, be a Walk to Sustainability.

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Digital prototype through Augmented Reality?

The week 6 workshops helped us unpack the use of Virtual/Augmented Reality in real world to successfully create an engaging digital footprint. To make the experience more practical, a Librarian from QUT library’s tech team had set up a software called Tiltbrush which enabled us to experiment, create and model things in the virtual sphere. Although I enjoyed designing 3 dimensional things, the process of designing an actual prototype for our project through Tiltbrush, would require a lot more practice, precision and time.