DDI

The proposed building within the DDI scheme is the primary building for the school of industrial design. It houses studio spaces, tutorial rooms, private study areas and a cafeteria which serves the connecting buildings. The floor plan layout captures the vertical point of references as the centre of the space with an atrium that allows as much light within the building. The glass portion of the roof above the atrium slopes towards the south allows diffuse light within the space which is very important to the purpose of the building.

However one element that distinguishes the proposed building is through the façade treatment. The three main elements that the façade aims to address are;
representing industrial design through the use of materials
a shading devise that also addresses the adjoining building (ie. school of sustainability)
giving the building architectural identity

The façade is derived from a modular system of triangles and squares, which is a key element in industrial design. Perforated steel mesh is used to represent a man made material and act as some sort of shading devise. The way the perforated steel mesh is used around the building aims to represent innovation and highlight the modularity that it was derived from. Steel sheeting is also used as a façade treatment which also represents a man made material. The steel sheeting modularity also defines the windows giving the building a sense of proportion.

From the review the downfall of the scheme was that the wall behind the perforated mesh skin didn’t reflect any of the design elements. Therefore in continuing the project the proposed building needs to be designed in much more depth three-dimensionally.