Final Boards

vHouse Scenario - Policy Ideas and Chamber Discussions

Idea Development

Voter identifies issue in public hospitals that needs improvement.

Voter starts topic in a forum spaces in vHouse. Others agree and join the discussion.

Participants submit ideas into an idea space inside the vHouse discussion topic.

Ideas gain support by some participants and are rejected by others.

Ideas spread through vHouse and gain momentum.

Ideas that gain heavy popular support are noticed by government ministers. They decide to lead a chamber discussion/debate on the issue as a pledge of their support and consult with the public through vHouse.

Chamber Discussion

Participants connect to discussion in chambers or world wide web. Questions and comments are submitted into the discussion space on vHouse. Politicians/leaders address most heavily supported questions/comments.

Other Scenarios

The adaptive capability of vHouse could be far reaching. Its processes would cover a wide variety of scenarios including;

• Nationwide rejection of unpopular government policies, and the pressuring of ministers to back down off unwanted agendas,
• Nationwide rejection of vocal minority groups with unpopular proposals,
• Aspiring leaders can consult with potential voters in the lead up to elections,
• Prime ministers/ministers/MPs can hold special virtual meetings where they can answer popular questions by the public. 

Brisbane Node Building

Lawn Amphitheatre

Chamber clear storey and park circulation over node building below.

North

Roof plan and site circulation.

Floor plan of sub-ground level chamber and gallery spaces.

North Elevation

West Elevation

East-west Section

North-south Section

Presence and Identity

The Fig trees surrounding the site have grown heavy branches which require structural support by vertical roots and branches connecting to the ground beneath them.

These root and branch structures could somewhat symbolise the vital support structure of the voting public for a democratic government. The crossing web of individual roots that make up the natural "columns" holding up the heavy branches is also a strong aesthetic reflecting the vast network that builds up a virtual political sphere.

Form Sketches

Irregular lattice structures

Layout of shelter over the park/node building

Clear storey enabling outside viewing of chamber sessions creating a transparency of the vHouse process.

3Ds Max Modeling

Render of shade structure over site, enabling free circulation and feeling of "openness".

Site Analysis - Brisbane Node

Brisbane Botanic Gardens

• Central to population in the region.
• Lots of open space.
• Ideal for large gatherings and protests.
• Symbolic and valuable land to the city.
• Very flat terrain.
• Close to public transport infrastructure.
• Close to footpaths and Goodwill pedestrian bridge.
• Close to educational institutions (QUT).
• Close to the largest clusters of businesses and institutional headquarters (CBD, Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane)
• Located adjacent to QLD Parliament House and George street executive buildings, with the state and local legal precinct(supreme court, magistrates court) up the road.

Node site located on an axis to government central George street and Parliament building.

North east corner of Botanic Gardens.

• Flattest land.
• Most open space with fewest large trees.
• Close to main entrance of the park and bordering roads/footpaths (Alice street).

vHouse Chamber

Large circular space with auditorium style layout.

• Led discussion and debate.
• Elected representatives, politicians, and community leaders can host a chamber discussion on the most popular ideas posted on vHouse.
• The time and date of discussions and debates can be posted on vHouse, allowing supporting and opposing groups to take part.
• All discussion in the chamber can be heard and observed in real time and recorded format on vHouse through the world wide web and on screens/speakers in the outside amphitheatres.
• Community Interaction.
• Questions/comments can be posted through vHouse from outside the chamber via world wide web, and from inside the chamber through small portals (touch screens) located at every seat.
• The most popular (voted) questions on vHouse can be answerd directly to the people by leaders and organisors addressing a chamber.
• National chamber networking.
• Several chambers around the country can be linked into one particular debate/discussion, distributing it nation wide.
• vHouse enables real time voting, commenting, and questioning of a particular issue, by a participant in any location.
• Large screens at the front of the chambers and outside amphitheatres allow participants to view and listen to a leader addressing a chamber.
• Adaptability.
• vHouse virtually enables a debate or discussion to shift/evolve at a rapid pace, with the dynamics of a particular idea or proposal able to be adjusted accordingly to certain localities and population demographics.

• National level political leaders can use these national discussions to draft better legislation, increasing their popularity and constituency base.

• The government will have access to a truly national scale idea base, as well as greater diversity of suggestions from both standard voters and various experts of particular fields.
• The nodes are of a simple layout that can be easily replicated across the nation, and simply act as distributed physical focal points to political discussion throughout the virtual vHouse, an infinitely adaptable political sphere.

vHouse portals (touch screens) inside chamber.

Inside a chamber

World wide web and portable devices.

Nationwide discussion observing and pressuring government.

The Gallery

Large circular enclosed space with skylight. Uses of the space include;

• vHouse Access - through wall portals (touch display screens)
• Meeting Space
• Large flexible area where strangers with aligning opinions can meet, create conversations and develop ideas.
• Conversations can be overheard and joined in by others, allowing a support or opposition base to grow.
• Wall portals, or smart phones can be used to post ideas into vHouse, where it can be tested for its popularity around the country.

Space Layout Sketches