ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO 2 [ARC 1126]

• Lecturer: Cheah Khai Kid  
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• PROJECT 1 | FAMOUS PEOPLE, FAMILIAR FACES, DIAGRAMMATIC ABSTRACTION

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• This is the first project of design studio 2 in semester 2, which is a group work of a total of 5 members. My group members are Hiew Yen Nee, Tan Heng Yee, Carmen Leong, Lieu Hui En and me. This assignment required us to choose a famous architect and study about his work. After that, we have to experience and to explore how spaces are created from the architectural compositions of solids, planes, lines and frames. The architect that we have chosen to further study on is architect Kisho Kurokawa and the building that we chose as a case study is the Maggie's Centre.

 Maggie's Centre

Kisho Kurokawa's Sketch

This project has been divided into three small parts. The first part is to do a five minutes video of the introduction of Kisho Kurokawa and his works and design principles. In this video, we have mentioned about the biography of Kisho Kurokawa and also some of his famous projects like Capsule Tower in Japan and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. 

This is the video we produced.

For the second part, we have to produce a series of technical drawings of Maggie's Centre designed by Kisho Kurokawa. The drawings includes floor plans, elevations, sections and site plan.

As for the last part, we were asked to do five conceptual models with the scale of 6x6x6cm. These five conceptual models should be precise and informative in order to express the analysis of the ideas and principles hidden in this building. At the beginning, our tutor required us to do 15 conceptual models of it. After we had shown our finished models on our small presentation, we received some  of the comments from our tutor and some of our course mates comment that our models are too direct, not scientific and not abstract enough. So, we worked hard on it and finally we came out with our five final conceptual models.

Structure

Repetition and Unit to Whole

Whirlpool Concept

Hierarchy

Natural Lighting

During Final Presentation.

Group Photo after final presentation.

The final result of this assignment is indeed important, but what I think is the most important thing for this assignment is " The Process ".  I also realised that team work and communication between teammates are very important. I'm really glad and wanted to give a great thanks to my group mates and I'm really happy and appreciate during the process of completing this assignment. 

PROJECT 2 A | BAY WATCH

This project is also a group project of two members, Hiew Yen Nee as my group mate. Before we start to proceed this project, we went to a site visit to Pantai Kerachut in Penang. The purpose that we went for this site visit is to do an analysis of the site and to design and build a watch tower at the limited site as our next project. Besides Pantai Kerachut, we also took a visit to the Botanical Garden. We were asked to take some pictures that inspired us and from the pictures, we had to choose four best pictures that inspired us the most. 

These are the four photos that inspired me.

Growth of stems in different directions

texture of the lily pad

Strength of stem to support leaves

Natural staircase

After that, we have to extract the ideas from these four pictures that inspired us and produce a series of conceptual models just like what we've done from the first project.

These are my conceptual models.

In this project, we were required to build a watch tower with a volume of 3x3x3m. This tower has to be designed for a particular character with the purpose of using it. Through the discussions with my team mate and tutor, Mr Caleb, we had eventually decided to design a viewing deck for a photographer as our character. First, we made five working models which shared the same idea which was to provide different views, different angles and a variation of height and posture for the photographer to take a good pictures on the lake from the tower. 

These are some pictures of our working models.

Next, we started to proceed our final tower model. 

This tower is built on the lake. The whole concept of this design is to provide different viewing positions, angles and height for the photographer to take nice masterpiece photos. In order to capture a good angle and view, this tower provides five prone position tripods for the photographer to take pictures in a prone positions. This tower also provided the photographer a good view in capturing the picture of the sunrise and sunset at the top most of the tower. The material used in this tower is timber as timber is a natural material. So this makes the tower more adapt to the nature environment by its texture and colours. Glass also used as glass allows more penetration of natural sunlight to illuminate the interior of the tower.

Through this project, I had learnt how to explore user specific requirement into a spatial planning and how the site correspond to our building which I think these will help me a lot for my upcoming projects. Other than that,  I also learnt the importance of the surrounding of a site which will directly affect a building in term of its climate, soil condition and the user.

PROJECT 2 B |PANTAI KERACHUT RETREAT

This is our final project,we were required to design a retreat house for the user. We have to ensure ourselves that we achieve these criterias - Clarity of design concept/idea and translation into design, appropriateness of form and space to design idea and function, response to anthropometry, scale and proportion, level of craft of architectural presentation & models.

This project is similar to the previous project I've done which is also required us to design and build a retreat house up to a space of 150 square meter for a forest ranger in Pantai Kerachut. First, we are asked to explore two case study and learnt from them by doing some sketches and drawings. From the case studies, I modified out my own spaces by drawing it out some bubble diagrams and plans. 

After some of the discussions with my tutor, he suggested me to do a massing model and play around the space of it. By doing that, I learnt that the spaces in a house were not needed to be so compact together. We can make some separation to the spaces by using walls and other elements which will make the building looks more unique and mysterious. 

After receiving the comments from my tutor, he told me that I still need a lot of improvement in it. Honestly, I was very blur about this as I couldn't get actually what my tutor wants and I was stuck in my design. My tutor who was sympathetic enough and helped me to modified my design during our discussion which made my design more interesting and unique. 

These are some photos of my final design.

From this project, it made me understand the importance of the case studies and reference books which help me a lot in my design. I was very appreciate to all my tutors, Mr Hong, Mr Caleb and Mr Edward. They gave a good tutorial and comments to me every time. They was so helpful and helped me a lot when I met difficulties and problems during the process of my project. The entire process is hard and difficult and sometimes felt very upset of doing it. And yet, I don't keep on complaining about the heavy tasks but took them as an experiencing for my future architecture journey.

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ARCHITECTURE CULTURE & HISTORY 2 [ARC 1323]

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• Lecturer: Ida Marlina Mazlan
• Tutor: Norhayati Ramli
• Tutor: Nurul Anida Mohamad
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• PROJECT | ARCHITECTURE HERITAGE BUILDING ANALYSIS

  
  
  
  

  Klang is considered one of the oldest town in Selangor. Today, many developments are taking place in Klang thus changing further its current conditions in term of architecture. Without proper documentation of what was happening there, future generations might not know the city, its origin and development changes. Therefore, this project designed to document Klang through report and analysis.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  We were asked to form a group of four. My group members are Hiew Yen Nee, Annie Goh, Chng Xing Yue and me. We were given a list of Klang's heritage buildings to choose from.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  List of sites in Klang:
  1. Klang Railway Station
  2. Gedung Raja Abdullah
  3. Klang Fire Station
  4. Klang Municipal Hall
  5. Klang Convent School
  6. Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
  7. Old Chartered bank Building
  8. Islamic religion Office
  9. The Royal Gallery
  10. Klang Primary School
  11. Sultan Alam Shah Islamic College
  12. Sultan Suleiman Royal Mosque
  13. Anglo Chinese School
  14. Klang High School
  15. Royal Klang Club

  
  

  16. Indian-Muslim Mosque

  
  

  17. Kuan Yin Temple Klang

  
  

  Shophouses (to choose on shophouse)
  18. Shophouses along Jalan Tenku Kelana
  19. Pre-war shoplots at Jalan Raya Timur
  20. Shophouses Along Jalan Stesen 1

  
  

  
  

  In a group of four, we selected a building and we were required to study the function of the building type to serve the community within its vicinity. From our observations on site, we identify the different architectural elements (exterior and interior) that have been adapted to site to best serve the practical and functional needs of the local community as compared to the similar building type found in another region.
   

  After much opinion, we have decided to go with Church of Our Lady Lourdes as all 4 of us think that the church is very interesting in terms of architecture elements and history.

  
  

  Images of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Group:

  A report must be produced.The report should be written based on the following:

  
  

  Introduction
  Fast facts of the building
  – building name, location, architect, size, function etc
  Contextual condition
  – before and after the building was built & can be looked at from different aspects e.g. physical, social, political, economical, cultural etc
  The architect / Design Ideas / Concept

  
  

  Building Inventory
  Architectural elements/ special feature of building
  - The element of the building (to include explanatory images/photos)

  
  

  
  

  
  

  This is our group report of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang.

  
  Use the link below to view our group report.
  https://www.dropbox.com/s/fj33xltfahq4hw8/OLL%20xing%20yue%20final%204%20%281%29.doc?fb=1&fb_action_ids=699973173355520&fb_action_types=dropboxdropbox%3Aadd&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%22699973173355520%22%3A659497404094421%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22699973173355520%22%3A%22dropboxdropbox%3Aadd%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D 

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Individual:

  
  

  From observations on site, students are to identify architectural components (exterior and interior) that have been adapted in response to local contextual conditions through a set of annotated sketches. A brief explanation of building names, location, architecture style, architect, function, construction and material is required to accompany the sketches. It should comprise of an analysis highlighting response, user and context, concept and change upon which the building was built.

  
  

  
  

  We are required to choose one of them to work on as our individual analysis. I was assigned to work on User & Context.
  
  
  This is my individual analysis board.
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  All of our individual boards pin up on the presentation day.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  
  
  The overall presentation went really well and we definitely learned a lot from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, both in terms of architecture knowledge and spiritual wisdom. Besides, it helped us interpret architectural language in relation to the development of Western architecture between Industrial Revolution and post World War. We were also gained the ability to extract important information and presented them in your own way.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABLE DESIGN [ARC 1413/1412]

• Lecturer: Tamil Salvi Mari
• Tutor: Sanjeh Kumar Raman
• Tutor: Sujatavani Gunasagaran
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• PROJECT 1 | GREEN-GO 2013 INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM CONTEST

  
  
  
  

  Environmental issues have become a major concern for our society at the present time as these issues are affecting us and also our mother earth. At the same time, there are a number of environmentalists or movement either government or non-governmental trying to fight against these issues caused by us.

  
  

  
  

  For this project, it intends to encourage us, as the architecture students, to take a part in helping the reduction of environmental issues by producing shortfilms that reflects these concerns.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  We were given 3 topics to choose from, which were listed below :

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Life in Plastic, It's Fantastic?     (Plastic)

  Water - The Drop of Life             (Water)

  Stayin' Alive                                 ( Extinction of Species )

  
  

  After brainstorming ideas for a week, I've decided to choose the topic of Extinction of Species. I've went through several tutorials with my tutor Ms. Salvi to produce the best short film ideas which I can come up with.

  
  

  This is the video that I produced for this project :

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  The main idea of this video is to deliver the message of the importance of preserving endangered species to people who are not concerned about it. We, as humans, must care for our living environment and the surrounding creatures and try to live in harmony with them. 

  
  

  
  

  In conclusion, I've truly learned a lot from this project and also enjoyed through completing the video as this is the first filming making I've done in my life. Besides, it has helped me explored the top listed of endangered species globally and therefore helped me realized the importance of preserving endangered species in our planet Earth.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  PROJECT 2 | APPRECIATING ENVIRONMENT - NOTHING IS CONSIDERED WASTE

  
  

  Waste should become the less consideration in the construction industry. The professionals in the industries itself should be aware of the impacts of waste to the environment and respond to the issue by reconsidering things such as designs, site managements, specification and others, which will help in contributing towards a sustainable development with minimal wastage. 

  
  

  
  

  In this second project, we were no longer working alone but asked to form a group of four. My group members are Tan Heng Yee, Wesley Hew Xin Han, Hiew Yen Nee and me. We were required to collect waste data from at least two construction sites. Fortunately, this project was given simultaneously with Building Construction project 1 where we were also asked to visit construction sites too. Thus for this project, our leader chosen to use the same construction sites from Building Construction 1 subject to ease our work.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  We were required to collect data of the following :

  
  

  -Traditional/ Current uses of material

  -Survey and document on site - How waste is generated on site

  -How much waste is generated

  -Why waste is produced on site

  -Environmental impact of particular waste

  -Possibilities and limitations of recycling

  
  

  We were also asked to outline the following :

  
  

  -Methods and ways that can be avoided or reduced, reused or recycled in the  construction industry.

  -Identify possible innovative ways to recycle the materials

  -Discussion on life cycle analysis and embodied energy

  
  

  
  

  This is the poster of our data collection.

  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Individual task:

  While finishing the poster, we were required to use wastes from the construction sites to produce something that is creative, beautiful and environmentlly meaningful. This is an individual task, thus it is more challenging as we are rushing up with lots of other assignments too. After some brainstorming, I have chosen cracked floor ceramic tiles as my main material for this specific task.
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  This is my final product of this project.
  
  A vase made out of cracked ceramic floor tiles.
  
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Some products produced by my course mates.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

                After completing this task, I've learned to be more creative in making aesthetic product. I've also gained a deeper understanding on how, what and why the wastes are being produced on construction sites, which had arise my awareness to help to protect the earth for a better future.

  
  

  
  

Building Construction 1            [ ARC 1523 ]

Instructor: Lee Xia Sheng, Ar. Chin Tuck Hing.

PROJECT 1 | EXPERIENCING CONSTRUCTION - EXPERIENCING, DOCUMENTATION & ANALYSING CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

In this project, we were told to form a group of 8 members. 

These are my group members in my group :

Yong Seh Li

Hiew Yen Nee

Tan Heng Yee

Carmen Leong 

Liew Hui En

Chu Szi Wei

Eileen Cheang

Carra Chin

The task of this first and also last project is to select at least two construction sites which covers most of the subject topics covered in the syllabus in semester two. The selected sites should be medium rise or low rise buildings for example : terrace house, semi-detached, bungalow or maximum 4-storey building.

The project learning outcome are as follows :

To identify different types of building elements and its construction process, details and materials. 

To study and record construction of different building elements, which we have learnt in this module. 

Able to show and apply our knowledge in the details of the building construction drawing.

Provide a reflection of our understanding of the construction itself.

After we obtain our analysis from the sites, we were required to produce documentation regarding to the sites, the documentation should include the following requirements :

Document with visual images, annotated sketches and drawings
Construction process, methods, material, site context
Documentation should be in the form of pictures, sketches, drawings and written

Analyse and Explain
 Specification of material used in construction
 Dimensions and sizes of components
 Standards of descriptions
 Procedures of constructing the components
 Construction response to site context (environmental issues related to sustainable development)

These are the construction sites that we chose to visit :

The submission requirement for this project is a hardcopy of A3 report completed with visuals, sketches and manual drawings including the detailing and documentation of the project. 

This is our final report. 

Please do use the link below to view our final report.
https://skydrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=8205AD576C1BBF16!319&cid=8205ad576c1bbf16&ithint=file%2c.pdf&app=WordPdf&wdo=2&authkey=!AEQu6GtTgq03l6g

          After all these site visits, we have truly learnt and experienced a lot from them. From the basic structure theories, enable us to identify construction flaws. We have visited in a total of two construction sites all together : semi-detached and bungalow house site and also a high rise building site. Generally we were told not to visit high rise buildings as the differences between a high rise and a medium or small building is too distinct. But however, we still tend to pay a visit there. 

From the sites that we visited, we managed to gather useful foundation informations. Instantaneously, we were able to identify what kind of foundation they're using for the houses. Other than that, informations on superstructures like walls, stairs, slabs, roof, columns and beams were easily obtained as we have the project manager and civil engineer as tour guides to guide us on our visit journey. Besides, one of the most challenging parts is to gather details of the external works. It is quite tough to get information of it because most of the external works are hidden underground which made our researches much harder compared to others. We have no other choice but to ask for the project manager's explanations to get the exact answers that we need. Lastly, we had to surf through the internet to have a more general picture of all of the construction elements and also to backup the points that we have already gathered from the sites.

After accomplishing this report, we have truly learnt a lot not only in terms of architecture and building construction, but the ability to work as a team efficiently and co-operatively.