ARCHI PORTFOLIO
BSC ( HONS ) ARCHITECTURE
BY MAHI ABDUL MUHSIN, 0314421
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
The subject offers a thematic inquiry into architectural and urban theory in the broader context of philosophical schools of thought and cultural and social conditions, which include modernism, postmodernism, phenomenology, semiotics, post-structuralism, deconstruction and critical regionalism. These themes will guide the organization of weekly lecture and discussions, which will proceed from the establishment of a basic theoretical apparatus to the examination of specific cases. These will supply us with tools for the analysis of specific architectural situations. Students will develop a written synopsis of a designated reading, and an in-depth and analytical research paper on the designated topic.
Students are required to present an in-depth and analytical research study on the designated topic. Students are to explore the image of a city based on Kevin Lynch’s most famous work, The Image of the City (1960). The project consisted of 2 parts; the first is to identify Lynch’s 5 elements; path, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks within a selected city and the second part is to produce an essay with a cognitive map of the city.
RFLECTION
this module has been a great eye opener in terms of understanding renowned theories about architecture and human experiences. I have grown fond of reading about thought evoking subjects and articles as this module focused around personally unfamilar topics such modernism, postmodernism, phenomenology, semiotics, post-structuralism, deconstruction and critical regionalism. The theories helped to understand the site analysed for the projects in greater depth.
via the project, I have further enhanced my knowledge through kevin lynchs 'image of the city' and how environments can be fragmented to familiar perceptions of an individual space. Through the site visits to section 2, I have become more observant and understood how different people view spaces differently, although they are bound by the same buildings and daily life, yet distinct by how they perceive it. I analysed the spaces , human facets, spatial and temporal dynamics, architectural elements and including materials and traffic chaos, which all helped to strengthen my conclusion about of the study.
Project 1B : The Image of the City (Cognitive Mapping)
Part 2 of the project requires students to create cognitive mapping of selected significant urban spaces in the city of KL to understand peoples’ perception and spatial behaviour in cities today.
Using the cognitive maps students are required to present a critical understanding of emerging contemporary urbanism in KL city spaces (in relations to Kevin Lynch notions of imageability and how it influences people’s perception of the city. Mapping should contain:
1) Human facets (memory, identity etc ),
2) Spatial and temporal dynamics (traffic, people’s paths, barriers, etc.),
3) Architecture (stairs, benches, trees, etc.), microstructures (texture, material).