Placelessness & Plave-Based
Based on your current design project on which you are working on. Discuss the characteristics of the project in regards of it having a “phenomenology of place”. How does your work illustrate a sense of being “place-based” or does it focus on “placelessness”
Designing an experience is a unique responsibility of an architect. The theory of phenomenology acknowledges this responsibility by implementing sensory design in orders to establish experiential, architectural space. Phenomenology demonstrated in architecture is the manipulation of space, material, and light and shadow to create a memorable encounter through an impact on the human senses. This creates an experience that is beyond tangible, but rather abstract, observed and perceived. Architecture influences the community through incorporating human activity with adapted site context, organized programmatic and interstitial space, and exploration of material. Phenomenological concept strategies in architectural design intend to develop a unique experience of the phenomena of space, light and form.
“Man ‘Receives’ the environment, and make it as focus on building & things.”- Christian Norburg-Shulz
Back to my project in which we are required to design an artist village, which located in Balik Pulau, Penang. It is a place for artists to come together and exchange culture and art, at the same time, the place also had to be part for the public used by integrating with the local site context.
Our project is mainly focus on Adaptive Reuse, which reusing the existing site, building, and materials, or remain the existing activities happen within the place. To emphasis the sense of belonging which will be experienced by the artist and villagers, I remain some of the existing building and extend my following design by using different type of materials. The materials that I use is raw material, that create a feeling that the building is belong to the site. Concrete is widely used in nowadays construction or architecture, because it is a simple and natural material that brings out the sanitary and the peaceful feeling to the space and to the site too.
Our project is mainly focus on Adaptive Reuse, which reusing the existing site, building, and materials, or remain the existing activities happen within the place. To emphasis the sense of belonging which will be experienced by the artist and villagers, I remain some of the existing building and extend my following design by using different type of materials. The materials that I use is raw material, that create a feeling that the building is belong to the site. Concrete is widely used in nowadays construction or architecture, because it is a simple and natural material that brings out the sanitary and the peaceful feeling to the space and to the site too.
I reuse the old building as the exhibition and add on an extension gallery beside this building and let the original white concrete wall exposed and reveal themselves to the environment. This is to let the visitor in Balik Pulau to have a sense of belonging when they first entering the artist village. The extension gallery play as a journey that lead visitors to have a walk while enjoying the arts. Green spaces are everywhere in the site that emphasize the nature to give a feeling of cozy and relaxation. Library situated after the exhibition, a place that invite people and a comfortable space to enjoy reading.
Café act as an intermediate zone, letting interactions between user happen in here. People can have some conversation or artist can drawing inside here. It’s a space that quite open, a pond that underneath that really give people a peaceful mind, a place to enjoy the view, and communication always happens here.
. For their bedroom, there are two kinds of bedrooms which can be chosen by artists, and between is a living room that act as a connection. The living areas are more focus on the views, there is a green space within a courtyard act as a new design on the site. Besides, a kitchen that involves dining area serves as a space for artist to chit chat while having dinner together. Studio that sit beside living space is semi private, a remaining pool that provide space for artist to draw with the added platform on it.
In conclusion, architecture shapes everyone by creating the environment we interact with every day, playing a major role in our collective quality of life and identity. Phenomenology is just a way into dissecting that environment in orders to take full advantage of what our everyday life-world has to offer. This elevated sense of awareness is fueled by the promise that our lives can be enriched by noticing the little things that truly make all the difference.
