Chapter 02_The Possibilities_Studio

URBAN POSSIBILITY

Source: Own photo

Our group explored the possibility of rezoning all exposed surfaces to create "green revivals".  The green revival areas are equal in size and are spotted irregularly around the CBD and inner city suburbs.  To discourage car-centric culture in the dense urban environment each Revival is closed to car, passible only by foot or light rail which has stations at each revival location.

At each Revival, all pavement and bitumen is ripped from Earth's crust and replaced with luscious green grass. Orchards will grow on the streets, where the cars once drove. 

URBAN POSSIBILITY II

Source: Own photo

As an alternative or supplementary conceptual urban intervention, we considered CBD underground parking.  In our idyll scenario, where cars are a commodity of the past; underground car parks are now redundant.  To take advantage of Brisbane's sub-tropical rains, the carparks will be emptied and converted into giant open air water tanks that collect rain and water run-off from monstrous CBD office buildings.  

They not only collect rainwater, but help cool the city as breezes pass over the water. Each parking-tank provides an oasis within Brisbane's urban concrete jungle.  City dweller's will be able to partake in recreational activities on/in the urban lakes (boat rides, swimming, etc).  

The Brisbane public transport metro system, built to handle the large influx of population into Australian cities will arrive at underwater stations situated at various urban lakes/Green Revival's.  The unique underwater stations will be glass-encased, transparent capsules, giving the feeling of floating.  The first underwater metro stations in the world.  Retrofitting the stations within the parking-tanks/urban lakes utilises the already substantial digging that has taken place to build the car parks, creating a cradle-to-cradle use for the parking space,  minimising damage to the environment.

Coupled with the Green Revival concept, the city will have a thriving sustainable and recreational habitat in co-existence with the modern urban form.

SUBURBAN POSSIBILITY

Source: Own photo

Our group developed an idea which survives the essence of 'community' within the Paddington suburb.  
We developed an ideas of an entirely technologically-based  system whereby users can order all supplies from the comfort of their own home and then it would be delivered from the 'Paddington distribution market'.  Alternatively, at the Paddington centre, a shopping 'simulator' system is in place where users simulate walking through the shopping centre, picking items as they need - then similarly to the system above they are delivered directly to the house. Retaining the current experience, however refreshing it with technology and removing the despised 'checkout queues'!  
Another alternative I thought of after the tutorial would see users driving there cars into a docking bay at the Paddington centre.  The shopping possibilities are then displayed on the vehicles HOD (heads up display - already featured on many luxury cars - market forces will soon bring this to all car drivers) where users shop virtually.  The goods are loaded into the rear of the car as they order.

Reflectively, I think the first two suburban possibilities seem deductive and commonplace in technological predictions for retail. Personally, I think such systems will engender a heavier influence on consumer driven markets.  Too, the proposals ignorantly encourage laziness and inert human body states.  
Technology will be critical in the retail environment.  I do believe there is a place for interactive, technological, seamless shopping (preferably on-location), however, in the state we proposed, not all ethics are adressed to handle societal problems, we as humans, already face difficulty handling. 
i.e. Australia is the fattest nation in the world.

VIRTUAL POSSIBILITY

Source: Own photo

In this element we worked with nodal ring ideas for systems control of the city and how it could monitor inhabitants.
Unfortunately our group didn't have much time to address this scenario. 
However, I think that it is critical to address the virtual systems society will be dealing with in the future. 
See - organicism and cybernetic posts previous...