Sketch 3: Chasm

I really quite like this idea - however I am not sure how feasible it is.. This idea revolves continues around the idea of making the displays of the shoe the focal point of the store, like they are an art piece. When a customer enters the store they are met with a dark room with recessed floor lights leading them to the displays that is metres above the fitting area below. It is if the fitting area is cut out of the ground creating a chasm below the display area. Two sets of large grand staircases lead down to the fitting area below which is illuminated by lights hanging low from the ceiling high above creating atmosphere and a sense of being belittled in the vast chasm. 

As my annotation states; if I look into progressing with this idea any further, I would need to look into how deep the 'chasm' could be without compromising the structural integrity of the building and those surrounding it too. 

Sketch 2: Circular Floor Levels

This idea is revolved around the idea of having a central recessed point in the store in which all of the shoes are displayed. When one enters the front door, they then walk down into the 'pit' to choose a shoe then up through to the top level for fitting and purchasing. The purpose behind this sketch idea is to direct and control the flow of foot traffic from customers and give them a unique shopping experience.

Sketch 1: 'Dugout'

So my idea behind this sketch was to create a baseball inspired design in which the store is on three levels. The ground floor would be where the table to display the shoes and point of sale are, the fitting areas are like 'dugouts' which are recessed into floor by a meter or two, and storage for sizes are on a floating floor that also works as the ceiling for inside the dugout. I would line the store with chicken wire in order to abide by the notions of Ihi and Wehi and to emphasise the aesthetic and design that the store is based on.  

I am interested in this idea due to the fact that if the fitting areas are recessed into the ground, the ability for natural light will be quite low, therefore I could experiment with artificial light in order to help create a moodiness and a more overall experience when trying on my shoes. 

Recessed Seating Sketch Idea?

These are woeful sketches I know but I did them really quick, I was just trying to get on paper some ideas to start sparking my brain into recessing the floor or walls for either storage or fitting. Due to the extremely limited space, I feel that by recessing the walls and/or floor will be very helpful for me to make the space seem larger than it actually is.

Spatial Generator Term - Recess

According to Oxford Dictionaries, recess is coined: 

A small space created by building part of a wall further back from the rest:
'a table set into a recess'

This is exactly what I want to achieve within my own design, due to the fact that the amount of space that is available is extremely limited, I will need to take full advantage of the space that I can create by recessing some walls for potential storage, or even lighting to create mood and atmosphere within the store. My precedent - Bestias XX do this very well, I want to take inspiration from their storage technique and incorporate it into my own design.

Precedent 5: Bestias XX

Store: Bestias XX

Location: Santiago, Chile

I absolutely love this precedent the way in which they have designed the storage within this tiny space and bringing it back to their branding XX is quite stunning. I want to use this idea, not replicate it, but I feel like I want to combine this precedent with my second precedent - Double Monks. I want to make the storage come out of the wall.. And due to the range of brands I will be selling, the different shoe boxes - both their respective colours and style will create a really effective and aesthetic sight.

To create a really effective elongated store bringing emphasis on the shoes I will be selling I may raise the ceiling and bring the walls in a little bit more..?  

Wellington Archives

So my task for the glass was to head down to the Wellington Archives and see if I can source some building plans of our site - 128 Tory Street. I have been with in liason with Shirin there, and with consultation with Ant, we cut the list of documents to view from twelve to two. The two documents I have looked at and pulled information out of are:

• The original drawings of the site back in 1906
• The earthquake strengthening permit that was conducted in 2011

Unfortunately there was not a lot of information that would be relevant to our project so I have had to cull it to the following drawings that I have copied for the class:

Original Drawings 1906:

I'm not really sure what this is a drawing of due to the fact that there were not annotations or dimensions within these drawings.. However I would presume that this may be a potential facade/veranda over the footpath due to the decline of the drawing. This would correlate to the steady decline of Tory Street.

Long section of the premises. 

Potential cross sectional elevation?

Second floor plan.

First floor plan.

Earthquake Strengthening Permit 2011:

Summary of strengthening - drawing of the structural beams within the premises,

Location plan and existing roof plan. 1:500 and 1:100 scales respectively, 

Existing ground and first floor plans. 1:100 

Existing sections focused on the structure of the building.

Proposed ground and first floor structural plans.
*See key for more information

Proposed roof plan. Parapet strengthening
*See key for more information

Proposed sectional strengthening.
*See key for more information