Dynamic Learnscape

West End is a place where modern urban living is provoked by the preservation of traditional culture and knowledge. West End presents opportunities to create a learner-centered instead of the typical retail-centered urban core.

This project proposes a decentralized learnscape network formed by “fourth places” – informal learning places, which add dimension to the existing “first” (home), “second” (work) and “third” (informal gathering) places.

These “fourth places” stimulate and enrich informal public learning through contact with places and people in the community: workshops, teachers at home, professionals etc.

The unique junction of Jane, Boundary and Russell Street is a place of movement and eruption. The “jig places” – cafes, the “goanna”, the 4AAA radio kiosk, form a loose edge that defines the junction. The proposal is another internally sprouted “jig”, which marks this unique junction and instigates public learning activities that will bleed beyond its edges and complement existing infrastructures.

The proposal promotes 3 levels of learning:

• Street wisdom – spontaneous exchange of knowledge, friendship, culture, emotional and spiritual support in public
• Place cognition – Understanding of West End as an “island”, cocooned by the river and sense of uniqueness.
• Shopfront learning – Inheritance of knowledge and skills through informal learning
  
  

The folding element is generated from the context and function of the proposal. It is the spine that accommodates the solar cells, community notice board, bus shelter, amphitheatre and bicycles for community use. The twisting form stimulates strong conversation with the “Goanna”, and re-establishes gestural and visual connection to the river.