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Below is my words to Ian... (im not selfish lar~~ juz feel paiseh to show sometimes)haha

Ian, here comes my initial concept model which is a tai chi-stuff making traditional trade centre. I would like to ask some comment b4 I got into arranging int. spaces. The first idea comes from the urban surrounding of the penang which is quiet massive and most of them are the similar, shop-houses, rectangular shape, flat facades, nicely arrange. So my intention is to create another world inside an unapparent site. I “deconstruct” and distort it (whatever geometric forms can be seen on the street) to become into fragment, imperfect and uneven unusual shapes, for the exterior and the interior spaces as well.
In terms of site response, I would make a clearly and see through façade to the Cannon Square, Stage & Khoo’s temple- “public space” and enclose the façade which facing the resident – “private space”. I am going to demolish and replace the old wall which doesn’t carry any meaning. The wall (facing to khoo’s temple) is a part of the building and they are linked. The façade and wall of the building create a boundary line and actually act as a barrier.
This building itself doesn’t have a grand or welcoming entrance. In order to maintain the humbleness of the building, as you can see, there is a small little structure which is facing to the small route (entrance) in the courtyard. This is my main entrance links to the building through underground.
In terms of interior, they are composed of layers, spaces, and ramps which are actually interesting. And I am gonna make a 1 floor lower down in the middle part which goes to the zig –zag opening at the top (roof).
Any comment that can be offered here and will definitely be appreciated. Feel free to throw in any other random thoughts as well hehe! Thank you !

Ian replies:

The strength of your scheme is that you appear to have solved ALL the problems of this rather difficult site. Make a list of what the design problems are and how you believe you have solved them. And let me check you. (Meaning, against what I know your jury will ask.)

One of the best things about your scheme is that you have not gone wild and built all over the place. It shows a great deal of control and discipline. And yet it is not a dull building by any means. You should now go into detailed design fully aware of how you have maintained this control and see if you can "stretch" the spatial and formal characteristics to get the maximum effect. For example the high part of your building---can it go a bit higher for a bigger wow! without getting offensive to the surrounding buildings, without blocking things like important views. Or the curved part---would it be more interesting, sexier, if it were just a little bit more curved.

It looks like you have enough spatial variety including inside and outside spaces (and possibly potential inside-outside spaces) and enough awareness of opaque and transparent surfaces. Presumably there will also be translucent surfaces, shiny surfaces, matt surfaces, surfaces layered with screens and stuff.

One thing you should put some serious thot to is the entrance mass of your building. You have pushed it against the separating wall, you have pushed it towards the gable elevation of Khoo Kongsi. Advantage: you have an entrance forecourt at the end of the lane. Disadvantage: you're blocking the beautiful gable elevation from the lane approach. (Maybe partly.) Why not win-win? If you pulled this mass towards the lane side, you will get an entrance nearer to the end of the lane. You also get an inner entrance courtyard flanked by your entrance mass and Khoo Kongsi, also a nice surprise on entering your front doors. You sacrifice the forecourt for this--but heck, a forecourt with the back lane on one side can't be too pretty.

You need to cut many sections now to help you plan the lines of your building. 1 long section and at least 3 cross sections, probably 4. The sections should be taken way into the surrounding buildings and spaces and right across the roads to the shophouses on the other side so that you can get your sight lines accurate. Sight lines meaning what you want to see, and from where, and for whom; what you want to block and for what effect, etc. Don't worry about the construction and materials yet--you still have some time--but you must get the internal planning and the sectional design spot-on first.

Hurry...if you start today you will be just on time...if you start tomorrow, you'll be too late... (My Add Maths teacher used to say that...may God rest her soul...if she's gone on.)

Ar.Ian A S Ng

Architect

Interior Designer

Educator

please give me some of ur valuable opinions~ thanks in advance!

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