I completed ARCH 411 as the first course in my fourth year architecture studies, tutored by Daniel K. Brown. As part of the assignment, I had the opportunity to redesign Shed 01 on Wellington’s waterfront. Daniel encouraged us to challenge conventional thinking and approach the project as a work of art. Through this course, I developed valuable skills that blend imagination with practical application skills that will continue to support my design work in the future.
ARCI 411
The roof acts like a cloak, draping over the building and engaging the vertical elements beneath it. This form not only shelters the interior spaces but also shapes how people approach and enter the building. Along the front facade, the cloak creates three key entry points: two smaller side pockets that offer glimpses into the interior, and a central, more prominent main entrance. These side pockets act as thresholds teasers that build curiosity and anticipation, offering a hint of the activity within before you fully step inside. As visitors move along the timber facade panels, they can catch sight of the courts through carefully framed openings, creating a sense of tension and excitement: are the courts in use? Which teams are playing? This journey along the facade mirrors the emotional build up I used to feel when arriving for a sports game, the nervous energy in the car, the anticipation while walking up to the entrance, and the adrenaline of knowing a tough match lies ahead. The design intentionally stages this experience, using the facade and entry sequence to heighten that emotional momentum, turning arrival into part of the performance.
