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Architects: H2o architects
- Area: 700 m²
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Meinphoto / Trevor Mein
Text description provided by the architects. The future is now and Swinburne University is shaping this future at their new Factory of the Future. This Factory owes its success to the creative use of contemporary and emerging technologies. The Factory is a showcase for education and research in the next generation of manufacturing processes. Its focus is a two storey timber dome like ball constructed in the centre of the Factory space, manufactured from a curved timber substructure, covered with an intelligent panelised curved timber skin.
These timber components were modelled, curved and cut using leading edge computer aided design and computer guided cutters, related to the processes showcased in the Factory, before being skilfully fitted into place by hand, then coated. The dome ball is skinned with one hundred and eighty curved timber ply panels, fitted seamlessly in nine diminishing annuluses. The timber skin mimics the construction technologies used for high-tech machines, like submarines and space shuttles.
The timber dome ball functions as a space divider, an accommodator for interactive collaborative learning and meetings, plus a signifier of the future. It is deliberately ambiguous and quixotic, to create intrigue about its use and purpose. The upper internal level has been left raw and expressive of its construction, to reveal the true characteristics of its fabrication and structure, in a cosy space for meetings.
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The outer timber shell is slick and machined while being warm and natural. This timber shell conceals the and structurally stabilises the engineered timber structure from curved timber LVL beams, cut by computer guided cutters, both allowing the upper level to have an impressive four metre cantilever for half its upper floor plan. The outside timber shell is also tinted in a pinkish tone and then sealed to resemble an egg, creating a tension of whether it is made by man, or by machine or by nature, resulting from the bringing together of man and machine, using a product of nature.
The tinting was applied in an innovative alternating ‘orange’ slice sectored approach, to ensure the colour application was even from panel to panel. The references to timber continue in the areas adjacent to the dome, with service feeds for the Factory being totems in clusters, like a special wooded treescape populating and servicing the Factory space. Timber is also used in the ceilings, internal walls and doors inside the timber dome ball.
The Factory occupies seven hundred square metres in an eight metre high factory space, housed within the newly completed Swinburne AMDC building. The Factory is designed to be versatile and agile, with all the equipment and fixtures easily adapted to changing priorities. Suppliers provide manufacturing equipment able to be showcased, within a space that is easily reconfigured. Displays around the perimeter of the space, showcase the creations of the students and researchers, adjacent to inspirational iconic products of manufacturing for the future and the past, while engaging and enthusing industry, the community and students
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