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STUDIO IV
Module Synopsis
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In Semester 4, themed “engaging environment and community”, the studio explores design by harnessing environmental qualities and conditions for human and environment sustainability through a project with a specific community of users within a given context. The projects involve studies of precedence on design projects that are responsive to the environmental conditions and sustainable issues. Using the precedent studies, we are to explore the environment poetics of the building enclosure that respond to the basic natural context such as the sun, wind, heat, cold, energy issue and existing building context (which has clustered built forms for example community center, nature appreciative center, research center). Considerations should be given to the complexity of the program, site topography and vegetation, socio-cultural events, and variety of passive strategies for sustainable design. The design work should contribute to and merge harmoniously with environment and the site, and provide the best of experiences for the community of users.
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Project 1: Personal Space (group of 3)
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Project 1 deal with user experience that require us to design a personal space which is intended for a specific user based on an in-depth study of the user’s need. It is to develop awareness of environmental sustainability in a design and student’s ability to meet the imperative and inter-related social needs.
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In this project, we studied on kids anthropometry to guide us in designing this personal space ensuring an ergonomic design while considering safety factors. The design is highly based on the needs of our client which is a 9 y/o child with a mild Asperger's syndrome.
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Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's, is a developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. As a milder autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it differs from other ASDs by relatively normal language and intelligence. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and unusual use of language are common.Signs usually begin before two years old and typically last for a person's entire life.
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The design of this personal space allow the child to explore the outside world by stages where the structure opens up based on the client, allowing more interactions with the context, using her hobby of reading as a catalyst to help her get through the progress of interacting with other children without forcing.
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Project 2a: Site Analysis & Precedent studies
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Project 1 deal with user experience that require us to design a personal space which is intended for a specific user based on an in-depth study of the user’s need. It is to develop awareness of environmental sustainability in a design and student’s ability to meet the imperative and inter-related social needs.
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Our site is located in Changkat Minden, Bukit Gelugor, Penang, surrounded with bungalow houses with a very peaceful and quiet environment in contrast to the hustling bustling city going around outside this area. In this project we analysed the site micro and macro, to gain inspirations to help us in our design and concept, adapting and responding to the site context.
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Project 2b: Primary School for Alternative Education Program
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The project calls for a design of a school for a selected Alternative Education Program for primary years students in a suburban area with some complexity that includes the complexity of site topography and vegetation and socio-cultural events. We are required to provide full design proposal incorporating precedent study and site analysis at appropriate level of presentation. It explores design solution that responds to the choice of AEP, context of the site and conditions for human and environment sustainability.
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Alternative Education Program (AEP) is increasingly popular in Malaysia in the recent years due to various reasons. The way the programs are structured are vastly different from the main stream education programs in the country. The various approaches in educating the children provide alternative experiences in education, in responding to the need of the parents who prefer something out of the main stream approach. Taking a closer look into these programs such as the Waldorf system, Reggio Emilio approach, Green School, Forest Schools; one will realize that the need for the environment in educating the children is vastly different from the one we have in the main stream schools. The type of spaces required, sizes, spatial experience required, planning approach, and all the various design consideration can be totally opposite to the one we have in the main stream education.
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Site Location The site is located at Minden Height, Pulau Penang, a suburban community. Its proximity to the natural surroundings provide one of the important elements for many AEP, which is getting in touch with natural environment.
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This project developed the awareness of environmental sustainability in architectural design and how i meet the imperative and inter-related environmental and social needs, as well as make poetry with the buildings while emphasizing on space planning of clusters of buildings
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