Yap Shu Won
ASIAN ARCHITECTURE
The subject explores the history of South, Southeast and East Asian architecture as a whole within a systematic treatment of architectural design and construction, building science and technology, garden design and city planning through three key themes: sustainability, tradition and modernity & globalisation. These themes will guide the organisation of weekly lecture and projects, which will proceed from the establishment of a basic theoretical apparatus to the examination of specific cases. Students will develop understanding on Asian architecture and urbanism and interpret Asian architectural language through research poster and oral presentation.
Project 1 : Research in Asian Architecture
This project is to introduce students to activities which culminate in the production of the study; collection, indexing and evaluation of information; analysis of information; compilation and organization of study; writing of study; assembly of illustration and text; design of layout; binding and presentation.
In group of 7, we are required needs to select ONE specific research area which we intent to investigate through extensive literature review. We chose Vernacular & traditional architecture and decided to look more into tulou.
This is our research poster and presentation slides.
Research
poster
Presentation slides
REFLECTION
Through this project, I learned how to carry out research regarding the tulou in China. I studied the reinterpretation of traditional tulou in modern tulou collective housing. There's a lot of critical thinking when we are doing this project and the design strategies of dwellings took from the traditional tulou into the modern collective housing to support the low income community in rural area. Not only that, I had learnt the significance of implementing traditional design strategies into buildings today.
Project 2 : Contextual Architecture Study
The Contextual Architecture Study project requires students to analyse how the selected architectural design respond to its contexts. Findings from the study is presented in the form of A2 presentation visual. We are required to integrate architectural design and research through a specific case study, supporting design through extensive research within the framework of Contextual Architecture in Asia.
We are to identify a building in Asia in a sub-urban context which you intent to investigate through observation and readings on contemporary Contextual Architecture practices and issues in Asia. Based on the selected building, conduct analysis on its Contextual Architecture elements : Space organization and access hierarchy, skyline, compression and height, features related to the form of the building, building material and systems, image making elements, and dimensions of history and social memories.
We chose Dafen Art Museum located in Shen Zhen, China as our research building and this is out final product.
REFLECTION
Through this project, I had learnt how to identify significant elements of contextual architecture through investigation on the selected building. Besides, I had also learnt how modernization affect the building and it adaptation to its surrounding context. The research and findings make me understand how important Dafen Art Museum to the existing community which become one of their identity.