ARCHIREKT
Architecture Design Studio IV emphasizes on “engaging environment and community”, the studio explores design by harnessing environmental qualities through projects with a specific community of users within a given context. The projects involve studies of precedents that showcases responses to environmental conditions and sustainable issues as well as innovative interpretations of the given program. Considerations should be given to the complexity of the program, site topography and vegetation, socio-cultural events, and variety of passive strategies for sustainable design. The design work should contribute to and merge harmoniously with environment and the site, and provide meaningful architectural experience for the community of users
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify and analyze environmental qualities and contextual needs of a site
2. Apply ideas of environmental sustainability
3. Design and create architectural spaces with consideration of environmental poetics in relation to the basic natural context and existing built context (harness environmental qualities of the site to inform design) which impact on users’ experiences
4. Combine the environmental needs, the site (site topography, history and socio-cultural events), and the users’ experiences within simple building design in the open landscape/suburban context.
5. Produce drawings (both 2D and 3D), modeling and verbal presentation to communicate and visualize architectural design and ideas based on clustered spatial typology
PROJECT 1- OWNERSHIP (PLAYSCAPE)
In a group of 3, we required to design a children learning capsule which is quite a different features from a normal playground, as this learning capsule aims to achieve "Learning through Play" concept towards children or teenagers. Besides, this project is intended to explore the endless possibilities of using abandoned steel shipping containers which have outlived their usefulness as cargo carriers.
We are encouraged to use recycled materials to achieve building sustainability goals as well as develop awareness of environmental sustainability through the responsible and innovative use of reclaimable and repurpose materials in relation to user needs. In this project, we are to use maximum 3 shipping containers in a certain size within a 50sqm base area and 7m height limit. Safety purposes and children anthropomorphize must be considered when designing the capsule.
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PROJECT 2A : SINGLE PARENT COMMUNITY CENTER
SITE ANALYSIS @ Ipoh
In a group of 13 which assigned by following the updated tutorial group, we are required to conduct a site analysis at D.R Seenivasagam Recreational Park, Ipoh. We are to analyse the selected site which we will be designing a community support center for single parent families. A verbal presentation and physical presentation boards, which included all data needed regarding to our analysis concept, were needed during submission day.
PROJECT 2B: SINGLE PARENT COMMUNITY CENTER
In the final project of studio 4, each of us are required to design a community support center which is mainly focusing on the single parent families at our site in Ipoh. The community center is to be 2-3 storeys high, approximately 900sqm in floor area size and each spaces are being arranged in a clustered form. The community center is to provide community support facilities that may include but are not limited to environmental spaces (gardening plots, small farm, children learning capsule etc.), social support spaces (educational spaces, circulation spaces and administrative spaces), economic sustainability spaces, supporting facilities (toilets, locker rooms, M&E etc).
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My design concept of the community center is "Bridge the Gap" . Narrative -How can a narrow river shape the quantitative aspects of a site in terms of space? It has formed a boundary that has observed a leisurely and recreational activity but the other a space detached from its surroundings. The two communities are separated into zones of different activity and culture but both are transient in quality. There isn’t a strong element that draws a passer-by to stay permanently. The bridge is the mediator the site needs.
Taking advantage of the strength provided on site –there are no visual obstructions, but has shade created by the canopies of trees; the trees zoned the spaces naturally by the random arrangement of trunks, there is always order in disorder. (The advantage of park)
The site surroundings offers no visual connection though distance is close to each other, the intention of bridging the gaps allows the little ones feel safe and over watched by the guardians from the neighborhood even when their parents are away. The sense of safety is not measured by the distance but also visually. (Disadvantages of park)
Creating a bond, over time, boundaries will be blurred as the single-parent families feels the sense of fitting and blending in – with the community and site. Bridging the gaps blurs the boundaries and strengthens the relationship between the zones which are physically close to each other.
TAYLOR'S GRADUATE CAPABILITIES
