Project: Digital Art n Photography Gallery
Site: Jalan Panglima
Tutor: Mr Ian
Dedicated to learning how to appreciate architecture and design buildings. Ian is an architect and tutor at various universities.
Showing posts with label Ipoh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ipoh. Show all posts
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Saturday, 14 March 2009
SYBIL KATHIGASU, DAUGHTER OF IPOH
Remembering one woman’s courage
Review by OOI SI MUN
NO DRAM OF MERCY
By Sybil Kathigasu
Publisher: Prometheus Enterprise Sdn Bhd, 185 pages
(ISBN: 983-219-722-8)
Review by OOI SI MUN
NO DRAM OF MERCY
By Sybil Kathigasu
Publisher: Prometheus Enterprise Sdn Bhd, 185 pages
(ISBN: 983-219-722-8)
I WONDER how many people of my generation (I’m 39), or the next, know of Sybil Kathigasu? I certainly don’t recall learning about her in school or from my peers. Older relatives, in their re-telling of wartime suffering, did not mention her name.
Had I not picked up a reprint of her memoirs entitled No Dram of Mercy, I’d probably remain ignorant of Kathigasu, recipient of the George Medal, “the highest British civilian award for bravery”.
Read more here: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/3/25/lifebookshelf/14273826&sec=lifebookshelf
(Shien Chii, I have this book. U don't have to buy it. And Clement, thanks for doing that little research on Sybil. Perhaps you can post it here for the record.)
Friday, 13 March 2009
PROJECT 2, DIPL STUDIO 3
(Edited 15:40, March 14, 2009: "synergistic, multi...etc." added)
(Edited 15:03, March 13, 2009)
I enjoyed the tutorials yesterday afternoon. But one or two issues came up as particularly disturbing. We need to discuss this. We'll have to take a second look at our brief to do that. The relevant portion is:
Objectives
· To introduce the effects of urban context to architectural design
· To introduce the importance of sociology to architectural design
· To emphasize the importance of plan / section integration into the design process
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the subject, students will be able to:
1. Study and analyze the spatial poetics and programmatic design of a simple building
2. Design architectural spaces which respond to multiple urban issues
3. Generate design through conscious understanding of architectural rhythm, pattern, composition and organization.
4. Analyze the social and cultural context of the site
5. Produce drawings (both 2D and 3D), modeling and verbal presentation to communicate and visualize architectural design and ideas.
Project:
You are to design a synergestic & multiple use building which can rejuvenate its immediate site context, (a building which is) sympathetic to Ipoh's architectural heritage. (This should be a) building that will help in the regeneration of inner-city Ipoh. The building should be architecturally appealing and at the same time accessible to both the local population and visitors from out of state or country. The nature of the design should seek to espouse, as far as possible, the Genius Loci of Ipoh as a unique town in its own right, taking into account its position as the capital city of Perak. Attention should also be focused on the revival of the old town as an attractive place for public interaction. The function of the building should be agreed with your lecturers, but should be carefully chosen to achieve the purpose of urban regeneration.
The total built-up area of the building, which should be at least 2 storeys in height, should be not more than 600 square metres.
DISTURBING THING 1:
This I've highlighted in red. I don't mean that the brief is disturbing. I mean the misinterpretation by some students is disturbing. Some have responded by getting too caught up with the design of social programs to act as solutions to social problems that they detect. Problems such as unemployment of certain sectors of the Ipoh populace, the student lepak problem, etc. Some feel that they must address some social problem to meet the requirements of the brief. The conviction is laudable, but...
The troubling thing is that this urge has given rise to some unusual hybrid building programs that can't be accepted as "synergestic". Hey, guys, chill Man.. Have a rethink. Something's cramping your style.
The ability to analyse (by observation, interviews & other means of research) the social and cultural context of the site doesn't, for me, imply that you have to correspondingly come up with a social and cultural program to tackle the social and cultural ills discovered.
It does mean, however, that the building program you propose for that site will not, or should not, exacerbate or reinforce those ills. That is, to me, all the degree of social sensitivity you need. As architects we need to then quickly get down to the real contribution we can make. And that is to create a composition of place with the architectonic materials that any architect uses, whether they be hard or soft, whether they be concrete and steel or light and space. And I reckon you should have a wonderfully sweat-free time doing that.
And the good news is that the desired "regeneration of inner-city" will happen inevitably when you do that . You would have created a "happening place and thing" in it's own right. Happening places and things always attract people. People always need accommodation and utilities and facilities. Need almost always catalyses regeneration. Bingo!
DISTURBING THING 2:
This one's obviously marked out. You really need to consider designing ONE building that is implicitly spelt out as having the following characteristics..
a) a building for the general, non-exclusive public...meaning the general public can walk through all the spaces in the building
b) a building with most of its accommodation on the ground (plus minus 2 levels)...SO THAT it can engage with the general urban fabric (mainly prewar). [That's why we went to Ipoh la, and studied all those old buildings.]
c) a building that runs the full gamut on the private-to-public scale. Put it another way, there will be private spaces and public spaces in your building, the full range. But I reckon it will lean more heavily on the public space because of reason (a).
DISTURBING THING 3:
Incidently, I think there's Thing 3. But I can't seem to find the text in the brief to justify this. It's a hunch. It will be up to the more perceptive, astute and cheeky ones among you to help me out on this.
I know we're all animal lovers and all... I love animals, too... (I used to have guppies and Java sparrows and owls and terrapins and dogs and cats...until I moved to a condo). But, really, for Project 2 I think we should be designing for Mainly people, don't you think? We have only a precious 600 sq.m. to spare.
And, in any case, if you MUST design for non-humans (machines included) I'd rather you design for ghosts. At least they were humans, and it would make a fantastic scheme... ~shudder, shudder~.
Looking forward to the Orange Dot!
(Edited 15:03, March 13, 2009)
I enjoyed the tutorials yesterday afternoon. But one or two issues came up as particularly disturbing. We need to discuss this. We'll have to take a second look at our brief to do that. The relevant portion is:
Objectives
· To introduce the effects of urban context to architectural design
· To introduce the importance of sociology to architectural design
· To emphasize the importance of plan / section integration into the design process
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the subject, students will be able to:
1. Study and analyze the spatial poetics and programmatic design of a simple building
2. Design architectural spaces which respond to multiple urban issues
3. Generate design through conscious understanding of architectural rhythm, pattern, composition and organization.
4. Analyze the social and cultural context of the site
5. Produce drawings (both 2D and 3D), modeling and verbal presentation to communicate and visualize architectural design and ideas.
Project:
You are to design a synergestic & multiple use building which can rejuvenate its immediate site context, (a building which is) sympathetic to Ipoh's architectural heritage. (This should be a) building that will help in the regeneration of inner-city Ipoh. The building should be architecturally appealing and at the same time accessible to both the local population and visitors from out of state or country. The nature of the design should seek to espouse, as far as possible, the Genius Loci of Ipoh as a unique town in its own right, taking into account its position as the capital city of Perak. Attention should also be focused on the revival of the old town as an attractive place for public interaction. The function of the building should be agreed with your lecturers, but should be carefully chosen to achieve the purpose of urban regeneration.
The total built-up area of the building, which should be at least 2 storeys in height, should be not more than 600 square metres.
DISTURBING THING 1:
This I've highlighted in red. I don't mean that the brief is disturbing. I mean the misinterpretation by some students is disturbing. Some have responded by getting too caught up with the design of social programs to act as solutions to social problems that they detect. Problems such as unemployment of certain sectors of the Ipoh populace, the student lepak problem, etc. Some feel that they must address some social problem to meet the requirements of the brief. The conviction is laudable, but...
The troubling thing is that this urge has given rise to some unusual hybrid building programs that can't be accepted as "synergestic". Hey, guys, chill Man.. Have a rethink. Something's cramping your style.
The ability to analyse (by observation, interviews & other means of research) the social and cultural context of the site doesn't, for me, imply that you have to correspondingly come up with a social and cultural program to tackle the social and cultural ills discovered.
It does mean, however, that the building program you propose for that site will not, or should not, exacerbate or reinforce those ills. That is, to me, all the degree of social sensitivity you need. As architects we need to then quickly get down to the real contribution we can make. And that is to create a composition of place with the architectonic materials that any architect uses, whether they be hard or soft, whether they be concrete and steel or light and space. And I reckon you should have a wonderfully sweat-free time doing that.
And the good news is that the desired "regeneration of inner-city" will happen inevitably when you do that . You would have created a "happening place and thing" in it's own right. Happening places and things always attract people. People always need accommodation and utilities and facilities. Need almost always catalyses regeneration. Bingo!
DISTURBING THING 2:
This one's obviously marked out. You really need to consider designing ONE building that is implicitly spelt out as having the following characteristics..
a) a building for the general, non-exclusive public...meaning the general public can walk through all the spaces in the building
b) a building with most of its accommodation on the ground (plus minus 2 levels)...SO THAT it can engage with the general urban fabric (mainly prewar). [That's why we went to Ipoh la, and studied all those old buildings.]
c) a building that runs the full gamut on the private-to-public scale. Put it another way, there will be private spaces and public spaces in your building, the full range. But I reckon it will lean more heavily on the public space because of reason (a).
DISTURBING THING 3:
Incidently, I think there's Thing 3. But I can't seem to find the text in the brief to justify this. It's a hunch. It will be up to the more perceptive, astute and cheeky ones among you to help me out on this.
I know we're all animal lovers and all... I love animals, too... (I used to have guppies and Java sparrows and owls and terrapins and dogs and cats...until I moved to a condo). But, really, for Project 2 I think we should be designing for Mainly people, don't you think? We have only a precious 600 sq.m. to spare.
And, in any case, if you MUST design for non-humans (machines included) I'd rather you design for ghosts. At least they were humans, and it would make a fantastic scheme... ~shudder, shudder~.
Looking forward to the Orange Dot!
Saturday, 21 February 2009
PHENOMENOLOGY
This safety shutter of the elevator at The Majestic Hotel, Ipoh, with its remarkable surface history, is a fine example of the phenomenological experience of the place.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ks: Phenomenology claims that human's other 5 senses, are stronger than visual sense
ks: touch, smell, taste, hear, and what [har]?
YeongChwen: visual la
ks: anyway
ks: it claims that these senses other than vision, are as important or more important for people to experience space
ks: it is because architectural appreciation nowadays are too inclined to visual, form, look
ks: it is because architectural appreciation nowadays are too inclined to visual, form, look
ks: Phenomenology says that we should put more attention to materiality, tactility
ks: and let people have closer interactions with architecture...
ks: And that architecture should be able to change with time, like it can be weathered, it can become old, but STILL appealing
ks: as this aging process goes on, materiality n tactility gets stronger, and then there's the sense of time as well, memories of a place
ks: as this aging process goes on, materiality n tactility gets stronger, and then there's the sense of time as well, memories of a place
ks: [sorry say until i pun duno where am i liao...] it's quite complicated
ks: For example, in Ipoh, old buildings, burnt buildings, or the palimpsest thingy (marks of old building profiles on the side wall of new modern buildings)
ks: they carry memories of the places, it's phenomenological as well
ks: they carry memories of the places, it's phenomenological as well
ks: Old Town coffee smells, are phenomenological
ks: the sound of flowing river at Kinta (river) bank, is phenomenological to some group of people (esp. citizens lived along the river for decades)
ks: to include these in your presentation, you put in photos, and captions or brief explanations
ks: in short, it's all about the sensitive feelings you have with(in) the site, not too much about visual sensation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more examples of phenomenological architecture, look up on Peter Zumthor, Kevin Mark Low & some others...
- by ks
Sunday, 15 February 2009
STUDIO 3 UNITS & IPOH TRIP
We had a blast in Ipoh! Enough experiences to last a lifetime! Certainly enough to make a great Project 2. So go for it, Guys!
UNIT 5: Leader Chun Yee, Tutor Karlson. (Zone 4 & Zone 10)
UNIT 1: Leader Ei Lyn, Tutor Ian Ng. (Zone 6 and Zone 9)
UNIT 2: Leader Qian Pei, Tutor Hasmanira. (Zone 2 & Zone 8)
UNIT 3: Leader Clement, Tutor Gerard. (Zone 5 & Zone 7)
UNIT 4: Leader Aaron Chew, Tutor Keith. (Zone 1 & Zone 3)
UNIT 5: Leader Chun Yee, Tutor Karlson. (Zone 4 & Zone 10)
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