Yap Shu Won
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECT
Semester 6 forms the culmination of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Architecture programme. This capstone project is based on the theme of architecture with a social impact and the resolution and integration of technology, environment and cultural context in architectural design.
This semester’s site is in Johor Bahru, one of Malaysia’s progressive cities next to Kuala Lumpur. As an initial challenge, Johor Bahru through studies and researches by local and foreign researches has been lacking in its socio-cultural aspect. Lack of a place wherein it encourage the public to engage. The city’s public destination caters to more specific crowd and mostly people to product or people to services engagement, such as theme parks and lifestyle center (shopping malls).
The timeliness and relevance of designing A ‘City Lobby’ - Socio-Cultural Hub/ Social Hub is more meaningful as it exposes the students to grapple real life issues and conditions.
PROJECT 1(a): Pre-Design Studies & Analysis
This phase is the part where students (in-group) will assemble all the parts and pieces to a bigger picture. Parts will include the following aspects: historical background, user profile, environmental studies, building codes and ordinances (design parameters), project impact analysis, precedent studies and early design studies such as study of relevant precedent studies, analytical diagrams, spatial organization and programming. That can be used as reference for the next phase in design.
Located in the City of Johor Bahru (JB), students are required to do an in-depth and comprehensive analysis and presentation on the intangible and intangible qualities of the site, hence look into the possibilities and impact of the proposed project to the site and people.
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PROJECT 2 : Socio-Cultural Hub
Johor Bahru is one of Malaysia’s premier city and urban destination because of its highly modernized infrastructure. Although JB is a decent size city, most of the developments are within the city centre where it is located in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore growth traignle.In fact, this city has a very strong connection and relationship with Singapore, throwing trades on both sides.
Based on the current feel of the place, Johor Bahru City can be both busy at day and night time. Most of the popular destinations are theme parks, museums, temples, old cinemas, parks, shopping malls, and entertainment centres. Mostly are for a specific purpose, culture ethnicity and religion besides the lifestyle centre and theme parks.
In this project, we are required to concentrate on designing a Socio-Cultural Hub, which in my case will act as an stopping point for users in Johor Bahru city. The purpose of socio-cultural hub is to create conversation between Jalan Wong Ah Fook and Jalan Trus. Then, this hub will be a centre to foster and promote Johor culture.
Comprehensive Report
This final design report that shall incorporate application of the knowledge acquired from module co-requisite and pre-requisites into my design.
REFLECTION
Through this project, I developed awareness in the mediation between socio-cultural needs, the desires of internal spaces and the demands of external constraints pertaining to the broad theme of ‘sustaining humanities’.