WK03 BLOG - Infrastructure, Strategy and Presence

Key Themes

Infrastructure

Strategy

Presence

Australian Capital

Strategies

Flexible

Mobile

Distributed

Virtual

Research Topics

Canberra Infrastructure

Canberra Identity and Presence

Reflection

What is Australian Capital?

My first objective for this weeks topic is to understand what is meant by Australian Capital and its unique identity and presence. Does Australian Capital refer to the government or to the city, or both? It seems that it is both and also refers to the state and geographic location of the ACT. One could reason that place/territory is intrinsically linked with with the concept of Australian Capital and acts as a physical source of presence and identity.

The master plan of Canberra embodies the city as well as the parliament essentially intertwining them with the geographical region and strengthening the presence of Australian Capital. If the city was not planned and the parliament was added on later in an unplanned fashion one could argue that the presence and identity of Australian Capital would be diluted due to its physical disconnection.

Diagram 1: Australian Capital as Location/City/Architecture

Diagram 2: Australian Capital (Territory) Ref: Google Images accessed 27 August 2011

Diagram 3: Australian Capital (Territory) Base Img Ref: http://www.idealcity.org.au/win-1.html

Diagram 4: Architecture as Australian Capital presence

Studio Workshop

Task: Create Scenarios with specific context and user and incorporate strategy (Architectural Fiction)

Architectural Fiction 1

Diagram 1: Adding a virtual layer to the physical environment: create therapeutic environment?

Scenario

A patient is suffering from clinical depression and is seeking medical treatment from a government funded hospital. They have been assigned a councilor and have to visit the hospital weekly for talking therapies and various other treatments. It is often inconvenient for the patient to make the hour long journey to the hospital and as they are a low income earner it is expensive and stressful to travel each week.

Strategy

The idea was to implement a virtual strategy that allowed the patient to receive treatment without the hassle of traveling all the way to the hospital. Through the use of digital technology a virtual image of the doctor could be projected into the patients home allowing the talking therapies to be conducted without physical travel.