Asian Architecture

ASIAN ARCHITECTURE

Module Synopsis

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.

Module Teaching Objectives The teaching objectives of the module are to:

1. Develop critical perspectives on architecture and urbanism in situations where tradition, modernity and globalisation intersect through an exploration of the history of South, Southeast and East Asian architecture

2. Provide tools for the analysis of specific architectural situations that inform second year design studios

3. Analyse architectural language and issues based on cross cultural awareness

Project 1: Case Study (50%)

Develop understanding of vernacular architecture and identify how this element contributes to the sustainability of contemporary architectural design.

In a group of 7, we are required to to choose a building and analyse how it implements the elements of vernacular architecture. Vernacular architecture is an architectural style that is designed based on local needs, availability of construction materials and reflecting local traditions. In this project, we did our analysis on The Deck House by Choo Gim Wah Architect which is located at Janda Baik, Pahang, Malaysia. We researched on the essence of Malay vernacular houses and how it related with socio-cultural and environmental values.

In the evolution of vernacular buildings, different strategies have been developed in adapting to the surrounding environment. The climate-responsive strategies implemented in vernacular architecture from different regions have the potential for being further developed and could be adapted in answer to contemporary needs. Therefore, based on the need of designing buildings adapted to a specific climate and territory, it is pertinent to study vernacular buildings in order to develop and integrate their design strategies in the up-to-date construction context, contributing to its sustainability

Here's our video presentation on the analysis of one of the contemporary buildings in Malaysia that has the elements of Malay vernacular architecture- The Deck House

Project 2: Essay

In this project, in a group of 7 we are required to choose a specific street and analyse how it reflects the contextual surrounding.

This project involves the study of historic streets in an Asian city to understand the historical and social aspects of a city by examining the development of tradition, modernization and globalization of historic streets.

We organised a site visit to Jalan TAR to study the contexts of the street, gathering informations of its history, sociocultural conditions, traditional trades, significant architecture and important events in the past.

Jalan TAR has been extensively developed in the last few years due to modernization process of downtown Kuala Lumpur. A lot of old buildings have been demolished and replaced by sophisticated skyscrapers. Small time hotels and motels have either gone out of business or are being taken over by capital-rich conglomerates that drive the mushrooming of luxury hotels around here. Shop-houses are renovated and put a new coat of paint that follows the sophisticated trend. Despite all the modern development in recent years, Jalan TAR has retained much of its historic architecture.

Throughout this project, we found that Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur has its own uniqueness in demonstrating the local community social cultural and economical functions. The settings of the street shows the physical evidence of the past as well act as the receptacle of the social memories to evoke the historical events and the stories of the local community.

However, due to the modernization and globalization in building up commercial building in the street, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman may lost some of its initial shine but this did not take away the charm of the street because most of the shophouses of pre-war buildings facade are still preserved giving the essence of the past which become one of the main attraction of the street.

Here's our essay on Jalan TAR, one of the historical street in Malaysia.

Project 2: Contextual Study (individual)

In this project, we are required 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.

Space organization and access hierarchy
Sky line, compression and height
Features related to the form of the building
Building material and systems
Image making elements
Dimensions of history and social memories

An architecture reflecting to its context is very important. It defines how we as a designer, taking considerations of whats happening around the site, enhancing it, and to show respect. In any site, location or a place includes number of natural features that characterize it and create the context of this place. In architectural design, all these features is important to be determined, analyzed as well as considered in the design process in order to integrate the building into its context.

I have chose Sekeping Kong Heng boutique hotel to further develop my contextual analysis in this project. Sekeping Kong Heng is located in the charming old town of Ipoh. It is located in a 3 storey neo-classical building which also houses a famous coffee shop of the same name on the ground floor that serves great coffee and the best local dishes in town. All effort has been made to preserve as much of the character of the existing building as possible in contrast to the surrounding new architectural interventions. In addition, an extension has been added at the back, tucked away to reveal an inner courtyard with a dramatic stairway to take guests up to their rooms.

Testimony to Ipoh’s decadent past, Kong Heng was used as a hostel to house theatre performers who performed in the adjacent theatre building that was burnt down in the 50s. Now rejuvenated, it is hoped that Sekeping Kong Heng will be able to offer guests a slice of history within a real old town setting which is alive, working and real. Wake up to the heady aroma of white coffee that perfumes the air in the mornings, listen to the cacophony of banter between hawkers, go on a culinary adventure and experience living in the heart and soul of Ipoh.