Design Studio 3 | archiportfolio

PROJECT 1A - ANALYSING SPATIAL POETICS IN ARCHITECTURE

1A: Precedent Studies: Analysing spatial poetics & spatial typologies in architecture

The intention of the very first project in this module was to identify and analyze spatial order and spatial poetics through precedent studies. In a group of 4, we were required to select 2 precedents for analysis which would be further used as design inspiration in the upcoming projects. One precedent must be pre-modern movement, and one precedent must be contemporary. Also, one precedent must be linear, and the other concentric. The analysis was to be presented on A3 format.

My group members for this project were Maria Rosa, Claire Zhuang and Alvin mungur. The 2 buildings we chose as our precedent studies were Benesse House by Tadao Ando and Alhambra. We chose Benesse as our concentric precedent due its simple and unique geometry which used the aesthetics and poetics of water and nature, with a beautiful play of concrete. As the linear building, we Chose the court of lions of Alhambra, Spain.

PRECEDENCE OF CONCENTRIC ARCHITECTURE

PRECEDENCE OF LINEAR ARCHITECTURE

Hand drawn sketches to illustrate the poetics of space

the enclosure of the oval a tripple illusion an intense feeling of transcience

PROJECT 1B - DESIGNING A MEMORIAL

The second part of project one allowed us to further enhance our knowledge and apply the findings and inspirations from Project 1A into practical yet poetic building spaces. We were required to design a memorial for Lahad Datu, and another for the former Singaporean prime minister Lee kuan Yew.

Below is a larger image of the perspective rendering done via rhino, 3dsmax and photoshop for the linear memorial

on the right is a perspective rendering of the concentric memorial designed For Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.

The memorial is designed to commemorate singapore's founding father and is located over a river bank where an observer would hear the gushing of the stream and the serenity of the nature. Just like a river, Lee kuan yew, was always moving forward and constantly changing, which relates to the theme of transcience incorporated in each space.

The roar of the river echoes his famous speeches and represents his soul as a master orator. It is emphasized acoustically in the central space of the memorial in which the sound is bounced off concentrically. Natural daylight also floods the central space, illuminating in with a heavenly glow.

water was strongly incorporated in the design as water does not stop for obstructions but flows around them. Used in a poetic way, water can cause a stir of emotions which is deeply applicable for the loss of a great hero this memorial represents.

REFLECTION

This Project has greatly enhanced my ability to understand apply poetics and aethetics of space into practical building designs In this project, I have further learned how to describe different spatial types in architecture. Both of the memorials were designed incorporating a sequential journey/stages into it but in two different ways to enhance a visitors interpretation of the space according to their five senses. The users will experience different kind of feelings while they enter different spaces.furthermore, It has enhanced my ability in generating design through consideration of section-plan relationship with consideration of natural lights, human scale, materiality and texture. I have also improved skills in AutoCad to produce our 2D orthographic drawings and further built a 3D model on rhino and produced a realistic rendering of it on 3dsmax. Although we were not required to use either of these softwares at this stage, I wanted mygroup mates and I to challange ourselves in producing a design and panel board which would thoroughly communicate what we wanted to convey in terms of visuals and poetics.

PRESENTATION BOARD FOR LINEAR MEMORIAL DESIGNED TO COMMEMORATE EVENTS OF LAHAD DATU

close up of the sectional rendering of the concentric memorial

PRESENTATION BOARD DESIGNED FOR CONCENTRIC MEMORIAL

close up of the interior renderings produced on 3dsmax and photoshop

Mock up models designed in order to experiment poetics of concentric spaces

display of models and panels during the presentation with my awesome group members for Project One

final concentric model

mock up linear model

concept and development

plans

elevations

concept and development

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PROJECT 3 - GENIS LOCI ( VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTRE )

The objective of this project is to individually propose a thorough design for a visitor interpretive centre, which responses to the surveyed site and also well to visitor's interactions and experiences. The VIC needs to be 2-storeys within 450sqm, including internal and external spaces. There are 2 main purposes of this VIC. First purpose is to provide accommodation to display relevant and interpretive artefacts and findings of lembah bujang for public access and information. Second purpose is to to provide a point of reference that keeps alive the history/culture/memory of that site, lembah bujang - one of the earliest points of civilizations of south east Asia..

The designed VIC consits of spaces like a reception, public gathering space, gallery exhibition, washroom, auditorium, office, cafeteria etc. It taught me how to design an interactive museum for a very important cause and function, which response to site, functional programme and the users' experience. Also, I managed to produce 2D orthographic drawings and a 1:75 scale physical model.

below is a perspective I visualized in order to communicate the start of lembah bujang to people, through a poetic visual. The water and the deck

resembles merchants and sea farers who stumbled upon the site due to the welcoming peak of the mountains that lay ahead. the building seemlessly dissolves into the mountains to give people a sense of how lembah bujang would never have been what it is today, if it wernt for Gunung Jerai.

A FULL SPREAD OF THE 4 A1 PANELS CREATED FOR THE PROJECT

THE DIVERGED FRAGMENTS

CONCEPT AND JOURNEY

THE CENTRE IS DESIGNED AS BOTH AN INTERACTIVE AND ACADEMIC LEARNING AND EXPLORING FACILITY FOR ENTHUSIASTIC SOULS, SIMULTANEOUSLY CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE FRAGMENTS LEFT OF A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR OWN HISTORY.

THE FIRST SPACE WELCOMES THE VISITOR OVER A WOODEN DECK ON TOP OF THE RIVER. THE RIVER REMINISCES HOW BUJANG VALLEY BEGAN WITH SEA FARERS AND TRADING, THE WOODEN MATERIAL REMINISCING BUJANG VALLEY AS A CENTER OF ENTREPOT. ONCE THE USER REACHES THE MARKET AREA, THEY ARE GIVEN A CHOICE OF PATHWAY LEADING UP, ONE CONTINOUSLY GUIDING TO THE GALLERY AND ANOTHER LEADING TO AN UNDERGROUND OPENING. THEIR CHOICE OF PATHWAYS GUIDE IN EDUCATING THEM SEQUENTIALLY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE.

ONE WILL EXPERIENCE THE EVOLUTION OF BUJANG VALLEY AND THE ARTEFACTS OF TRADE AS THEY VENTURE ALONG THE UPPER PATHWAY, WHICH EVENTUALLY LEAD THEM TO A GRACEFULLY FRAMED VIEW OF MOUNT JERAI. THE MOUNTAIN RESEMBLES THE BEGINNING OF BUJANG VALLEY, AS IT WAS THE REASON THE LOCATION WAS DISCOVERED BY THE SEA FARERS. VISITORS WHO PICKED THIS PATHWAY ARE GIVEN A CHOICE AT THE END OF THE PLATFORM, TO RECEDE BACK INTO THE GALLERY.

THE UNDERGOUND COURTYARD SPACE ALLOWS VISITORS TO ENGANGE THEMSELVES WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES OF THE HISTORIC PAST OF THE PLACE, WHICH EVENTUALLY LEAD THEM TO THE FOCAL COURTYARD, SEEMINGLY GUARDED BY STATUES THAT WERE ONCE PEOPLE’S DIETIES.