HUA SUEN
ASIAN ARCHITECTURE
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This module is research driven module that requires us to choose our own topic, make our own studies and research, and create an info-graphic poster out of our research findings. In the course of it, we will be more informed and acquire knowledge about the traditions and context of Asian architectural context.
PROJECT 1
For Project 1, we are required to come out with an interesting topic related to Asian architecture from one of the four aspects: Heritage and Conservation; Vernacular and Traditional Architecture; Modernity in Asian Architecture; or Contextual Architecture, and base our research around the topic, while finally produce a topic proposal, a research poster, and present it in front of our tutor via presentation slides.
^ Project 1 Research Poster
For the first project, the topic we chose is to study on the passive design strategies used for climate control in traditional malay house. We chose this topic as we thought that it is an important factor in designing buildings especially in our local climate, as there are so much we can learn from the traditional malay houses, in how they solve issues regarding climatic problems specifically in our local climate.
Reflection
As what we stated in the abstract and problem statement, the problem of today's attitude towards designing buildings is that we often overlook the passive design strategies and climatic aspects of the building. A lot of us design buildings base on our fancies, we do not really think much on passive design in early stages of design, however we only tackle them afterwards. I think that this is a wrong approach to design and we should always think ahead of problems that may occur and how to passively overcome them, not afterwards by adding air-conditioning and thinking it solves all problems.
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All in all, I had learnt quite a lot from this project and have had a better understanding on how our predecessors tackle climatic issues, passively.
PROJECT 2
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For Project 2, we are required to also choose a building from the Asian architectural context, and base our research around the building in a few aspects, which is 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.
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In the end, we are required to present our findings in a A2 presentation board and submit to our tutors.
Our selected building for this project is the China Academy of Art's Art Folks Museum, or as known as the Crafts Museum of CAA.
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It is located in China, designed by Kengo Kuma Architects. As it is located on a terraced hill, within a formal tea plantation, it is designed in a hexagonal terrace-like form that steps up towards the hill,with permeable screenings made of old/ unused tiles scavenged from local housings, to fit in better and immediately to the local context. It has individual pitch roofs over each of its units, while visually connected, making it appear as a small village on a mountain.
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Reflection
Throughout this project, I had a clearer and better understanding on how others utilize local materials to help the building fit in to the local context. The way of using the materials and also the idea of turning the old tiles into unique screening walls/facade is very innovative and inspiring, and the way they form the building based on the topography is also inspiring.