feedbacks n defences

Feedback from ian regarding the whole project statement & thingies:

" the overriding desire for transparency is ok, but the building must be buildable, u must b sure that it is structurally sound, and the amount of framing u use will be the thing that will be questioned. i mean it will have to relate to how much non-transparency it contributes, and sometimes "see all, all the time from anywhere" is not as interesting as "see some, see sometimes, see from somewhere, not everywhere" so that we will be enticed to want to see more and see again. it looks like you have a cross btw installation art and a landscape structure. That's ok if there's enough enclosure (enclosed spaces) where and if it is needed."

then...
ks says:
just read ur feedback
ks says:
ya.. the amount of framing does contributes to being some level of visual obstacle, so it's not actually 100% transparent because as u move around the building, the frames block ur vision at diff angles
ks says:
transparency is achieved by not having immediate walls etc, but doesnt mean there's no visual obstacle that is formed further away from the spaces
ks says:
so there is this quality of see some, see sometimes, see at different angles
ks says:
anyway, a couple of non-transparent enclosed programes do exist in here.... the toilet m&e and gallery(half half but definitely not letting the public to see it through) la....
endorphIAN says:
ok, as long as u understand the value of opacity and translucency for visual purposes
endorphIAN says:
and acoustic separation where required and desired
endorphIAN says:
so that you have a variety of spaces in terms of acoustic as well as physical privacy
endorphIAN says:
and also try to have an overlay or merging of "off-xyz" axes
endorphIAN says:
onto the xyz axis of your frames
ks says:
there is... a little bit
endorphIAN says:
so that it has an element of escape from the "restrictiveness" of the frames
endorphIAN says:
little bit may not be enough to make a statement
endorphIAN says:
may be a bit too static
ks says:
yeah ... but i've never really wanted to do that, though i understand it's effect
ks says:
because i tot i've already made the frames tranforming, so there may not need to hav the opposite element transforming like that again
ks says:
else i'd question myself what is the active n wut is the passive.
ks says:
so.. it's kind of contradicting if both tries to escape from one another
endorphIAN says:
you odi have curves which gets away from xyz
endorphIAN says:
you can take that further and let the curves actually slither away from the xyz in a more definite way
endorphIAN says:
there can be multilayers of msg
endorphIAN says:
sometimes u can't be too subtle
endorphIAN says:
cos it may get too cerebral
endorphIAN says:
and the children of lesser gods dun get it

that's bout it, just don't forget that we have to consider ourselves presenting to a range of ppl from primary school kids to Norman Foster, and make them all understand! darn it's hard..

Good luck

to learn ... the solid, void, space.... light, shadow, to make a building a building

Red is noted for highlight.

jsopeh says:
(if u get back and read this msg) uhm... could u explain me a brief difference between light and spaces (of the solids and voids)? because it seems to spaces and light are so closely related it troubles me to split their differences. i cant seem to separate and do a light experiential feeling without creating that space which channeled the light. its quite troubling to discover that. >< ! jsopeh says: all i understand so far is . without the solids n voids i cannot create any light experience basically because theres nothing to channel it with. but . what makes their difference if i were to take one of them away? endorphIAN says: solids are v deceptive things endorphIAN says: like the solid and void series u posted on blog endorphIAN says: we choose to name the spaces between the blocks "voids" endorphIAN says: cos we walk into them endorphIAN says: and we assume the other "closed box bits" are "solids" endorphIAN says: but that's just a the way we've chosen to draw a demonstration of what we understand as space endorphIAN says: we are trying to "capture" space in a "thumbnail" sketchup way endorphIAN says: if u were to draw "interior perspective" sketches instead, then we won't need to use those blocks of yours endorphIAN says: we would be drawing from a human-in-the-space point of view endorphIAN says: instead of from a God-in-heaven-looking-down point of view jsopeh says: (but i could've just zoomed in for that effect. wouldn't it be the same ?) endorphIAN says: yes and no endorphIAN says: that's where the trick is endorphIAN says: no human eye can see like God endorphIAN says: haha...that sounds so funny jsopeh says: hahah but.... its just the way we plan . we see it from above. (im supposing it would make a big difference if i designed everything from a eye level point of view)
endorphIAN says:
or, practically, the usual normal bld user experience is from the "interior perspective" point of view
endorphIAN says:
yes
endorphIAN says:
so u see, why we (boring tutors) don't often seem so excited when we see u guys designing from sketchup
endorphIAN says:
lol
endorphIAN says:
that's because it's v divorced from the down-to-earth experiential approach we're all after
endorphIAN says:
From up there, or sketchup there, it's all ocular---visual experience
endorphIAN says:
From down and in there, it can be more---all five senses, almost
endorphIAN says:
So, coming back to your solids and voids..
endorphIAN says:
From down & in (d&i) there you don't really need those massive blocks to enclose your spaces
endorphIAN says:
walls would do
endorphIAN says:
like, compare the pyramids with the Alexandria Library
endorphIAN says:
Don't u think so
jsopeh says:
hmmm ... but .... the pyramids had its own idea of ... mass and weight didnt it ? (though it was really the technology which limited them in)
endorphIAN says:
it was the tech and other considerations like permanence, security against intrusion, desire for height, monumentality, etc.
endorphIAN says:
but in terms of SPACE, it's like what i just said
endorphIAN says:
so back to your s & v
endorphIAN says:
your solids are not necessarily solid, rite
endorphIAN says:
they could be empty boxes
endorphIAN says:
which means they r spaces enclosed by planes
endorphIAN says:
which means they're not much different from your other "spaces in btw the solids"
endorphIAN says:
still following ?
jsopeh says:
yup
jsopeh says:
but one thing
right now . i get the point u're trying to make is . having a BIG solid.... and having a wall would create the same effect in spatial understanding.
jsopeh says:
so . why the size of solids in some designs ?
endorphIAN says:
right
endorphIAN says:
why indeed
endorphIAN says:
that u have to find out
jsopeh says:
haha !
endorphIAN says:
but for us now, we need to see how this discussion helps us
endorphIAN says:
ur next understanding is that therefore in composing those experiential spaces you posted
endorphIAN says:
you have, in actual built reality, an absolutely wonderful
endorphIAN says:
SECONDARY series of spaces, like supporting spaces to your main players
endorphIAN says:
which you, as the designer, need to orchestrate into the overall composition
endorphIAN says:
so that we get rhyme and rhythm and mystery and surprises
endorphIAN says:
and modulations of space and developments in character as you
endorphIAN says:
traverse the interior on an intentional and organised ROUTE
endorphIAN says:
and that basically is what designing a bld is all about.
endorphIAN says:
the EFFECT of decon is only an architectonic means to produce a certain character for your spaces in this line of thought.
endorphIAN says:
(Decon is more than that)
jsopeh says:
haha. i do see
endorphIAN says:
The other main issue u have is about light and space
jsopeh says:
yup
endorphIAN says:
Yes, without light we can't perceive the fullness of space
endorphIAN says:
I say "fullness" cos a blind person can still feel space
endorphIAN says:
by touch
endorphIAN says:
but not to the full extent a seeing person can
endorphIAN says:
so for practical purposes you may want to start by composing the space in physical dimensions or proportions
endorphIAN says:
v much in the way you've done on blog
endorphIAN says:
and then see how you can bring light in at those particular points
endorphIAN says:
or in that particular way to further accentuate the character that you have intended with the space
endorphIAN says:
i'm digesting my oats, that's why i can't sleep just yet
endorphIAN says:
lucky u
jsopeh says:
hm ... but to me . light only seems as one thing . "hope" and thats still so ..... symbolic
jsopeh says:
that whole .. hope n faith and .... god . and ... luck
jsopeh says:
uknow . the usual ! i dont see further than that
jsopeh says:
(haha . well very lucky me then)
endorphIAN says:
yeah, it's all that
endorphIAN says:
and more
endorphIAN says:
there's the function bit
endorphIAN says:
u need light to see la
endorphIAN says:
all this symbolism....it'll soon find it's balance with other stuff
endorphIAN says:
and i think this particular slant comes from not seeing/experiencing enough of architectural spaces first hand
endorphIAN says:
and merely thinking about it
endorphIAN says:
it gets v cerebral
endorphIAN says:
(pallasma)
endorphIAN says:
reading is not enough
endorphIAN says:
you need to go and BE in there with all your senses alive
jsopeh says:
what if ur feeling of it ... isnt the same as others? what happens then ? don't u fail to translate?
endorphIAN says:
well, you have to test it
endorphIAN says:
go out with your gang
endorphIAN says:
to various blds
endorphIAN says:
and discuss your emotional resposes with each other
endorphIAN says:
you'd be surprise at the commonality
endorphIAN says:
*responses

For pictures... refer to diagrams post

Warning to idiots like me

Hey guys.
Just a TINY notice. About the townplanning meddling, friends who are thinking of messing with it, this is a warning. Be sure that you deal with cars and pedestrians and also how the roads affect the buildings. I have been thinking of doing flyovers and tunnels in my project and I've hit alot of dead ends basically because of the amount of space they need and the safety offset boundaries to buildings/pedestrian pathways/ parking lots.

















This here is a picture of how I drew up the traffic to see my space limitations. My proposed idea was to be in the center of the road in between the new and old markets. So points for lookout is mainly:-
1) Pedestrian pathway
2) Where and how the pedestrian enters buildings (not necessarily your own only)
3) Car/ Motorcycle traffic (one-way or two-way/direction/crossroads/turnings)
4) Entry/Parking of vehicles (Any emergency stop points?)
*5) If flyovers, does the start of the rise interfere with entry/front facade visual appearance to adjacent buildings?

If you zoomed in on the pictures below, you'll be able to see traffic boundaries of one ways and turnings. Generally, Taiping's roads are fairly wide, it won't be too hard to deal with it if you have little changes. But precaution is always good... Singaporeans maybe known best for it... being DAMN kiasu. =) (We don't wanna be shot by the panelists now do we?)

Hope this helped...... also hoping someone was as un-smart as me to almost make the mistake so the post won't be useless haha =)
-jsopeh

4 varieties of Market re-arrangement

pic.1: highlighted area is where I propose to redevelop(basically rearrangements of existing buildings). Rearrangements are based on 3 conditions:
1. Connecting the boulevard,
2. Generating public square(s) spaces, &
3. Take away the Ugly Monument, Food court building & another recent-built free-standing building at the far right end.
P/S: just discovered that around 1971, they were thinking of converting the far right part of the highlighted zone into a public square sort of space, but duno why it ended up like today.


pic.2: option 1 & 2. Option 2 requires chopping across the market building, not really favourable.

pic.3: option 3 & 4, and an Adjacent Zones diagram.

I am thinking the new public square would go well with the food & shopping junction (indicated in green).

.....so far I favor Option 1 & 3, based mainly on traffic/access consideration.

Sharing is caring.

My email to Ian:

"im still struggling with my event, which is Birch. I've found more infos about him such as his thoughts before he was killed (from his personal journal), how the malay viewed him, how important his death was, the impact on the people of Perak, etc etc.

But that's the problem, he influenced the whole Perak, not specifically on taiping alone. One far connection is : larut war > pangkor treaty > resident in perak.

He also mentioned about managing taiping in his journal but those were pretty common. I have yet to finished his journal (which is in national library private collection, means no borrowing, no photostating/digital copy)

At this point, what would u suggest?"

Ian's reply:

"Wow! I am impressed by your depth of research! Anytime you wanna help me with my Master of Arts research, now ongoing but not moving, just let me know! Haha....serious.

You have stumbled onto a wonderful angle for ur visitor centre. It could well be a center to commemorate Birch as Birch saw himself---an autobiographical visitor centre for Birch in Malaya, which happens to be located in Taiping: Why not? It would be so unique, and as far as I know, it would probably be the first in the world: Phew, take a load of that! You'll be famous!

I think it's do-able, and it's what you've wanted from the start--to show the "good" side of Birch, bucking all (local) trends, you sneaky little Anglophile!

I'm quite excited with your proposal!

What do I suggest?

Finish your research quickly, and don't let it wear you down. You still have your building to design. The salient points of research on him would do. You may want to focus on his most important period which would actually take you to the Perak/Taiping period. Look for those facts that can give you impressionistic spaces, the stuff that would endear him to visitors.

And you will have to post this conversation of ours on blog, cos, as always....we have to share. And I think you owe me a teh tarik."

[ i'll add on roti telur if i can tie all the loose strings together (=

...a nasi pattaya if i become famous ((= ]

Some ideas to share (Studio3)

ks says:
hello
endorphIAN says:
yos
ks says:
have been thinking bout the covent garden thingy..
ks says:
it's similar yet the building there is now successful
endorphIAN says:
yup
endorphIAN says:
lessons?
ks says:
a building standing in the middle has no problem....
ks says:
but...
ks says:
the difference is it is more multi-functional rather than just market stalls , that's y it is popular n socially suitable for many kinds of people..
ks says:
isn't it?
endorphIAN says:
yup
endorphIAN says:
interesting to find out what the original market sold
endorphIAN says:
my guess is that it was very much like taiping market
endorphIAN says:
i.e. wet market
ks says:
vege n stuffs
endorphIAN says:
yeah
endorphIAN says:
the artsee fartsee
endorphIAN says:
and yuppie
endorphIAN says:
and touristy stuff
endorphIAN says:
came later
endorphIAN says:
when they redeveloped it
ks says:
yes..
endorphIAN says:
Central Market has similar, but not same, story
endorphIAN says:
the wet stuff has been relocated
endorphIAN says:
and the shell of the building retained
endorphIAN says:
the inside's all transformed
endorphIAN says:
important that the shell (at least) remains
endorphIAN says:
for continuity, rite?
ks says:
yeah right
ks says:
i think covent garden's original wet market is also gone? in 1973
ks says:
when it was no longer suitable to be there
endorphIAN says:
should be the fact
ks says:
have to think if this is the same for the taiping old market now
endorphIAN says:
yup, but even if it is
endorphIAN says:
i think to do something similar
ks says:
is not suitable
endorphIAN says:
is too big a project for our Project 2
endorphIAN says:
yeah
endorphIAN says:
good idea
endorphIAN says:
it can be the conclusion of your research and exploration
endorphIAN says:
then you can decide not to touch this building in this way
endorphIAN says:
so you leave it for the real full potential to happen
endorphIAN says:
or you can have this as a masterplan and do your visitor centre in a way that won't
endorphIAN says:
get in the way when the real big thing happens
endorphIAN says:
so it can function nicely as a visitor center
endorphIAN says:
WHETHER the masterplan is enacted or not
endorphIAN says:
that would be SUPER clever
ks says:
err.... i am getting blurred lol
endorphIAN says:
aiyah
endorphIAN says:
you ar
endorphIAN says:
i mean,
endorphIAN says:
you can dream up the redevelopment of the entire market
endorphIAN says:
i mean all 3 buildings redeveloped
endorphIAN says:
like covent and Central
endorphIAN says:
you show a conceptual masterplan for final presentation
endorphIAN says:
and one part of this masterplan is actually ur visitor center
ks says:
got it!
ks says:
ok clearer now
ks says:
that means i dun have to
ks says:
literally 'do everything'
endorphIAN says:
which can still function NOW even without the complete redevelopment of the master plan
endorphIAN says:
yala
ks says:
hmm.....great....i'll think about it


.....................


ks says:
but guess we cant always hold on too much to preconceptions or assumptions?
ks says:
need consider thoroughly n at different points of views...
endorphIAN says:
ya
endorphIAN says:
i think if the overall building shell is still intact
endorphIAN says:
then it's not a disaster
ks says:
still is judged by justifications i suppose..
endorphIAN says:
always
ks says:
ya
endorphIAN says:
if it's not a total redevelopment then i think it's important that you do not displace any of the stall holders at the moment
ks says:
hmm i c..
endorphIAN says:
the very obvious thing is to just redevelop the food court into a new visitor centre with food court
endorphIAN says:
modern and nice and comfortable enough for jxxxxx
endorphIAN says:
and it's kind of in a prominent point
endorphIAN says:
can be seen from all vistas
endorphIAN says:
etc. etc.
endorphIAN says:
can be tall
endorphIAN says:
and expansive
endorphIAN says:
with wings
endorphIAN says:
and limbs
endorphIAN says:
and underground connections to all over
endorphIAN says:
and everybody's happy
ks says:
hmm...
ks says:
but a bit sien , to me..
endorphIAN says:
make it unsien
endorphIAN says:
intellectual research has to be tough and rigorous
endorphIAN says:
like if the conclusion is negation of initial fancies
endorphIAN says:
then, so be it
ks says:
yeah, but havent come to a conclusion i hope
endorphIAN says:
haha
endorphIAN says:
i guess your still exploring the original idea
endorphIAN says:
keep going
endorphIAN says:
and don't forget the monument
endorphIAN says:
space can be used to be fused into the head of the market building
endorphIAN says:
so that may be another approach
ks says:
yeah...
ks says:
must try explore as many varieties as possible la............
ks says:
hope wun conclude with a too much compromising n sien solution......
endorphIAN says:
yup good
ks says:
still wana be egoistic.... a bit also nvm
endorphIAN says:
the final do-able solution is always the BEST solution
endorphIAN says:
and it's never the FANCIFUL idea
endorphIAN says:
egoistic doesn't necessarily mean big and all encompassing and heroic
endorphIAN says:
it can mean small and modest but stamped indelibly with an unique character
endorphIAN says:
EXQUISITE's the word

And a special highlight...

endorphIAN says:
shoot the idea doesn't mean shoot the person
endorphIAN says:
even if it sounds like it
endorphIAN says:
ideas are cheap
endorphIAN says:
people are precious
ks says:
yeah wor...
endorphIAN says:
when tutors shoot they don't shoot people
endorphIAN says:
they shoot ideas
endorphIAN says:
even if it don't sound like it

(we know it but sometimes just don't understand it! or rather just me?!)

TAIPING MARKET SITE (discussion)

This well deserves its 13 point DD (Degree of Difficulty). As Ed mentioned yesterday (lunchtime) it requires an ingenious solution, as it may well turn out to be a red herring (a non-site, for being so enormously difficult a design problem to be a site).

The challenge, nevertheless, remains; and Taiping Market is worth exploring for its full potential. Your recorded design exploration should form part of your final presentation.

More importantly, the process will sharpen your skill and your understanding of the design project and almost certainly will make your selection and development of the (next) appropriate site a breeze (susupsuey).

But I think you need to run that process quickly. Hence, it would be good if those tackling this site lay it all out, discuss and share your thots, for some kind of composite conclusion. Better discuss before we hit Egypt, as I'll be quite likely out of reach for those 7 days. I mean start talking NOW.

images taken from: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2071/2182697234_38786bbecf.jpg?v=0 & http://www.hbp.usm.my/conservation/imagesJPG/images10/m'kettpg.jpg