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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IV

In Semester 4, themed “engaging environment and community”, the studio explores design by harnessing environmental qualities and conditions for human and environmental sustainability through a project with a specific community of users within a given context. The projects involve studies of precedents on design projects that are responsive to environmental conditions and sustainable issues. Using the precedent studies, we explore the environmental poetics of the building enclosure that responds to the basic natural context such as the sun, wind, heat, cold, energy issues and existing building context (which has clustered built forms for an example community centre, nature appreciative centre, research centre). Considerations should be given to the complexity of the program, site topography and vegetation, sociocultural events, and a variety of passive strategies for sustainable design. The design work should contribute to and merge harmoniously with the environment and the site and provide the best experiences for the community of users. We are required to demonstrate applications of knowledge gained from the Architecture and Environment module from prior semesters and integrate research from the Asian Architecture module. The environmental elements and poetics of the context within a complex spatial typology create a design narrative that aims to foster a sense of community.

1 
DISABILITY EXPERIENCE PAVILION

Project 1 is a group project which comprises 3 students per group. This project deals with the understanding of material poetics in relation to user experience. It is to showcase architectural design informed by material use, environmental sustainability awareness in relation to user needs and the activities involved. It is also to inculcate an understanding of basic building construction; from how structural design is a construct of architectural spatial design, to the tactile quality of materials and how they are put together to achieve spatial and formal quality. We are to design a Disabilities Experience Pavilion that is meant to serve as a small recreational space in a hypothetical park for people with physical disabilities. Each group are to choose a specific type of physical disability – mobility (wheelchair bound, walking difficulties), sensorial (vision, hearing, speech) or physical developments - and design a structure that would allow this user group to participate in a set of recreational activities. To the public, this structure will serve to highlight the importance of disability awareness in the design of spaces. The pavilion should be safe with all mechanisms being simple and easy to operate. The main materials for its construction should be weather-proof and outdoor-worthy.

PRESENTATION BOARD

SITE ANALYSIS AND DESIGN RESPONSE

Site Analysis & Response establishes an understanding of the context for Project 2. Using the provided site data and information, as well as further information gained from the site visit, students will identify the intangible qualities together with the physical inventory that shape the character of the site. In assigned tutorial groups students will identify the intangible qualities together with the physical inventory that shapes the character of the site. As a conclusion of the Site Analysis, we will work with their tutorial group to reorganize the demarcated site area – the Wellness Zone - through the design of a Wellness Masterplan, which will serve as the base for their Project 2: Wellness Center PLUS

PRESENTATION BOARD

2
WELLNESS CENTER PLUS

Furthering the thematic exploration of “engaging environment and community”, Project 2 calls for the design of a Wellness Center PLUS within the Kepong Botanical Gardens, bordering the suburban neighbourhood of Taman Ehsan. We are required to provide full design proposals incorporating findings from precedent studies and site analysis. We will generate narratives that respond to the environment and community as user groups within the given context and explore the environmental poetics of building enclosure design solutions that reduce environmental impact utilizing various complex typologies of spatial organisations and a variety of passive strategies for sustainable design. The design should contribute to and merge harmoniously with the environment and site and provide the best spatial experiences in fostering a sense of community. Students are required to demonstrate applications of knowledge gained from the Architecture and Environment module from prior semesters and integrate research from the Asian Architecture module.

PRESENTATION BOARD

WORKSHOP OUTCOMES

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