mh portfolio semester 4
Design Studio Coursework
The fourth semester of the course required us to use the investigations and analysis of the selected Urban Enviroment; to propose interventions aimed as revitalising the immediate built environment and by extension improving the quality of life of the residents of the area.
Portmore was granted Municipality status in 2003. The Portmore Council controls the local political affairs of the area in a unique way by directly involving the residents in their decision making process. However, the daily business of the council occurs in a commercial space in the Portmore Pines Mall. It is time, the city had a strong civic presence to symbolize their municipal status - , a built environment faciliate their approach to governance.
The goal of the Portmore Municipality Complex is to provide a space the public can publicly speak to government officials. The focus then becomes – how the two groups connect with each other and the municipality’s response to the socially relevant matter of the residents daily life. Using architecture aim is to create a structure, which presents opportunities for government and community interaction and encourages openness, embrace, transparency and support. The core position of the project is connectivity. This is reflected in –
1. Gathering spaces throughout the project where municipal staff and public interact.
2. Double Height Spaces to view the activity of various departments.
3. Lots of louvered and glass openings to maintain an inside/ outside visual connection.
