NATURE & CONSTRUCTED II
Our Interpretive work is rooted in our unique 'place-based' approach to design. What are the stories that the plants and animals have to tell us about a particular site? What are the cultural legacies of the project's stakeholders that seek expression through the materials and relationships we explore between building and land? How might the forms of the landscape inspire and then in turn inform emerging design solutions that are as fitting as they are timeless?
Taking the design project I am now doing in this semester,which is an Artist village located in Balik Pulau,Penang.It is a site within an urban area,but away from the center of the urban , I would defined it as sub urban area.Talking fro m the view of Phenomenology, is the interpretive study of human experience. The aim is to examine and to clarify human situations, events, meanings, and experiences as they are known in everyday life but typically unnoticed beneath the level of conscious awareness.One of phenomenology’s great strengths is seeking out what is obvious but unquestioned and thereby questioning it.The site is located just beside the main road of the Balik Pulau Kampung, capturing the passer-by’s attraction and interact with the paddy field and the mangrove trees behind the site.
Our project is mainly focus on Adaptive Reuse,which reusing the existing site, exsiting building, existing materials , or remain the existing activities happen within the place / space.To emphasis the sense of belonging which will be experienced by the artist and villagers,I remain the existing building ( outlook as a typical chinese house with brickwall material ) and the extend my design by using different material- Concrete.
The material that I use is mainly on raw material, which make my building belongs to the site.As exposed concrete ,which was widely been used and introduced by master Tadao Ando, is a simple and natural material , brings out the sanitary and the peaceful feeling to the space and to the site
I reuse the old building as the gallery and dining area combining with the kitchen,since artist has to feel comfortable with the space , the old building act as a intermediate zone ,letting interactions between users happen in here.I want artist to have their own comfort zone, hence I design their collective area ( communication area and working zone ) at first floor , which away from the ground ,but widely open with the facade , to have visual connect with the site .For their bedroom,there are two kinds of bedrooms which can be chosen by artists,both are isolated buildings (not connected together with each other ) but one is underneath the working studio at first floor , one is isolated away (but near the mangrove tree area) For those who would like to experience the lifestyle of people , go for the active zone ( near the kopitiam I design at the back part of the existing building.) In the other hand, those who seek the peaceful can go for another one.Giving options is the choice I made based on human experience, staying under the same material ( concrete ) but placement is different ,they can feel different things .
Senses is an interesting thing that site is forming , by remaining the vegetation at the site , it forms a natural barrier wall ! reflecting the sounds and blocks the sunlight which will affect users’ activities inside the site.The properties around a place is an essential experience nature of it ,that is the reason I bring in the typical traditional kopitiam inside , leading people to my site and connect them with the artists inside the village.
I categorized my design as a place based building, as all my design is based on the site and surrounding.Site analysis as the based background , adding the passive design consideration , the material chosen ,the circulation of human based on my design , all these kind of elements just to suit the user’s sensation comfort,either local people or artist.They are two kind of person in the world : emphasis on the outlook not about the meaning,second one is : at least the building brings out the meaning but who cares the outlook. I’m the combination of both ! Intention of my design is the extension of my thought from existing old building .So the concrete building is projected out from the opening of old building and twisted at the roof area , forming an origami shaped and folding architecture .I want my artist to treat it as a place ( village) rather than a space , thus I tie up tightly with the community and not losing the quality of ‘’ artist village’’.If I didn’t bring in the local life into my design ,it is just a space for artist ,not artist village.So the courtyard I design is taking the inspiration from the traditional chinese house , having a courtyard connecting four side to the surrounding .
To my mind,the space is not a void or an isometric plane or a kind of container that holds places.As E. Relph said ,’’The significance of peace in human experience goes far deeper than this is apparent in the actions of individuals & groups,their places against outside force of destruction''. Instead,to study the relationship of space to a more experientially-based understanding of place, space too must be explored in terms of how people experience it. Architecture is creating a place for human needs , as human is required to have and know your place ,before you are going to use the building.I think that i have almost fully completed my place based consideration on my design ,beside pushing my design to a wild level , but still bare in mind : The power of the site given to my building , the suitability of my design which is going to located at the site , and be used by the users.Since Building , environment and user are forming a triangle relationship between each other.
Philosophical elements at the site
Concrete is clean , smooth ,cold , firm.Concrete brings various effects to the buildings, it heal the anger mood , it cool down the spirits ,it brings out the spatial quality of the place.Furthermore, it suit to our site , a nature site .merging well with the mangrove trees swamp behind and the main road infront.
Focusing on creating one place for artist,
taking metaphor of Chinese house layout , just to make them have a sense of going back to the older time at the site , experience the essential part of the traditional circulation.Pictures i took just need to show how my building design been considered in passive design , blocking the sun entering the middle garden,but still inviting the lights and winds.