SERC - Design approach

Since the centre should be sustainable and a research centre, I decided to keep it as nature friendly as possible-using natural products and colours that appear in the surroundings. A few presidents are as follows:

Selwyn District Council, New Zeeland - Energy efficient and sustainable building, making use of rocks and timber. The pond in front acts as a Passive cooling strategy

Genesis Centre in Taunton, Somerset has a messianic mission to spread the word on sustainable materials and techniques.

Beach house by Villa & Villa Architects - using shutters for shading

Shell Villa, Japan - Making use of a deck creates a link between human life and nature...

The Tote, Banqueting Hall in Mumbai, India - Tree like structures supporting the roof

Surestart 'Solar Tree', Derbyshire - Steel support structure which branches out like a tree to support 6 individual solar panels.

SERC - The site

The site given to us are on the far western side of NMMU South Campus. At present the site is undeveloped. This site is covered in dense "fynbos" that varies from one metre to two metres in height- The ground composition is of a sea sand base. This is a generally flat site with a slight fall from west to east.

SERC - Sustainable Energy Research Centre

The final project for the semester is to design a sustainable energy research centre and it will serve as a place to collect and analyze research data namely solar, wind and water/rain energy. The building in itself must represent fully sustainable technology and integrate itself visually and physically into its natural surroundings.
This centre will also serve as a lecturing facility for on campus students. The centre must have a exhibition and entrance space big enough to accommodate large groups of school tours and visitors to the centre.
Accommodation list:

Offices, Administration and reception
Computer labs (collection and analysis of data)
Lecture venues (150 seats and 60 seats)
Outdoor lecturing space (informal)
Outdoor research and data collection installations. (solar panels, wind turbines, water tanks)
Parking and access to the building

Cell Phone Booth

A booth for Cell C...
The assignment was to design a cell Phone information booth that could be used on university campuses all over the country. We could choose a service provider of our choice.
The design must consist of 80% Aluminium and a combination of materials and connections must receive special attention.

I chose Cell C because of its bright red colour...according to Jacci Howard Bear, the use of the color red is to grab attention and to get people to take action. One can use red when you don't want to sink into the background (About.com Guide, Red)
Since I want my booth to get attention I think Cell C is the better choice. :)

I want my design to have a modernism feel with clean lines and planes. This is what I came up with...