A building

I’ve been pretty involved the past few weeks with the PPARFM conference I spoke about here and moving my project forward towards the looming penultimate deadlines with coming March. A huge step forward has been a slow and inexorable increasing in scales. The first of my systems models was at 1:10,000 scale and the second model  was at 1:5,000. The most recent of these large scale system models is below – a 1:2,000 monster showing the entire scope of the proposed/affected hydrologic system.

The most recent addition to this set is a work in progress at 1:400 – building scale! Conversations with RMNP led to my discovery of a need to upgrade existing deficiencies in the building housing a number of research and management programs in the compound located about 3 kilometers from the town of Wasagaming. This led me to the idea that in light of the current political situation at parks, in light of the funding cuts that have been occurring for decades, it was a perfect opportunity to suggest a new strategy for Riding Mountain. By leveraging the research done at parks as part of the experience of parks and by building a space that enables education and outreach to become potential revenue streams, the research is protected as a vital and integral – non-negotiable – component of our parks system.

This model locates the proposed facility at the north end of the large gravel parking lot between the commercial district on Wasagaming Drive and the cabin neighbourhood of the Old Campground.

 

 

Get with the… programme.

programme m (plural programmes)

1. A set of structured activities.
2. A leaflet listing information about a play, game or other activity.
3. A particular mindset or method of doing things.

All of the above definitions apply.  Building programme is really the use that drives human needs for architectural space.

In the interest of getting some of the thoughts I have been having and spoke about in my last post out I made this diagram that starts to group the possible sources of building programme that I am thinking of.

The main idea is to cast the net wide and then sort through to something that has value in the specific context.  By starting with a broad view I believe it will make the findings more transferable to one of the other townsites I am interested in – that is the scope will be greater than a proposal for Wasagaming.

This is by no means an exhaustive list so if any readers think of categories I have missed I’d appreciate the input.  To that end I am putting together a survey (the first of a few) to get some feedback from people to help focus my efforts – a kind of collective reference point for my own thoughts and assumptions.  Use needs space.  Used space = place.  What is the question I am trying to ask in relation to Canada’s Park towns?

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