Rock Ridge was a self-assigned project for the Final Year of my Masters Degree program in Architecture.
DESIGN BRIEF & INTRODUCTION
The technique for educating and shaping young minds has become too reliant on technology. School systems rely too heavily on computer aided methods of communication and sharing information. Rock Ridge aims to re-evaluate the development of the youth, highlighting the importance of social interaction, how it can influence the way knowledge is shared and received. The process of learning should not be exclusive from social activity, but should come as a result of the experience.
Rock Ridge promotes the concept of education through experience, where the youth will have the opportunity to engage in social programming that encourages creative expression and physical interaction amongst peers, to teach the youth the importance of personal development and growth, learning from one another and embracing the environment they often take for granted.
CONCEPT AND DESIGN
Taking inspiration from precedent quarry rehabilitation projects worldwide, the architecture aims to highlight the landscape, encouraging the youth to value the natural environment they often take for granted.
The project features several small-scale, multi-use buildings for recreational activities, which include, but not limited to: dance, art, photography and hospitality. The podium space that the infrastructure occupies includes several external spaces that encourage the youth to gather and make use of the different types of landscape. The podium itself is located directly adjacent to the rock in order to maintain and remind the youth of the importance of the rock and landscape that surrounds them.
Rock Ridge is a landscape project, the overall goal is to encourage the youth to learn and grow from their experiences, to lure them away from their screens and engage in positive social behaviour in a natural and outdoor environment. The size and scale of the buildings, their strategic placement, and the types of facilities provides, all contribute to the achieving a successful design.
