theorizing architecture

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1 | Page SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA) Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture) THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC2224) Project: Theorizing Architecture NAME : Audrey Chan Chu Sien ID: 0300457 LECTURER: Ms Ida Marlina JUNE 2014 MARKS & GRADES

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Theories of architecture and urbanismTaylors University

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA)

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture) THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC2224)

Project: Theorizing Architecture

NAME : Audrey Chan Chu Sien

ID: 0300457

LECTURER: Ms Ida Marlina

JUNE 2014

MARKS & GRADES

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Table of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 2.0 Analysis

2.1 Climate ------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-5

2.2 Architecture Theory --------------------------------------------------- 6-8

2.3 Users --------------------------------------------------------------------- 9-10

3.0 Discussion and Conclusion -------------------------------------------------- 11 4.0 Final Diagram -------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 5.0 References ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

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1.0 Introduction

This project attempts to convey an understanding of architect’s architectural

theory through a direct observation and analysis of his buildidngs. The purpose of this

essay is to explain the contributing factors towards the architectural design of Ar. Chew

Sein Yat. The factors includes the architect’s self and experience, as well as external

factors such as climate, architecture theory and building users.

Ar. Chew Sein Yat is born on th 22nd of April 1973. He grew up having an

architect father, but that did not influence him much towards his choice of being an

architect. He took up actuarial science in pre-u and eventually fell in love with the

actuarial science’s method of analyzing problem. He slowly venture into things like

problem solving, and this leads him to take up architecture , hoping to be able to solve

site issues and unlock each site potentials.

Ar. Chew went to University of Sydney and majored in Urban and Regional

Planning during his advanced diploma studies as he was interested in dealing with not

only a building site, but also larger issues like the neighborhood, stakeholders, culture

and the impact over the surrounding. Upon his return to Malaysia to practice

architecture, he realized that he will have lesser freedom in designing compared to the

times in university. He took over his father’s architect company- CS Chew Architects

Sdn Bhd, and is now the director of that company. He felt that the few years of

education as an architecture student was the most fulfilling moments in his journey with

architecture therefore he took up education and became a part-time lecturer in the

Design Studio module.

The building designed by Ar. Chew that I am studying is the Villa Orkid in

Segambut, Kuala Lumpur. Villa Orkid is a freehold, mid-cost condominium, completed in

August 2013 by the developer BREM Holdings Berhad and was designed by CS Chew

Architects Sdn Bhd. Villa Orkid consists of three blocks, each having 16 to 18 floors.

Each floor has approximately eight units.

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2.0 Analysis

2.1 External factor- Climate

Due to the fact that Villa Orkid is located in a tropical country, Malaysia, the hot

and humid climate becomes an important factor to be considered during the design

processes. The primary concern of the architect in designing in such a climate would

have to be to allow minimum solar gains, maximum ventilation and dealing with the

heavy rainfall through materiality and forms. Besides that, the social and psychological

effects of the climate on the users also have to be dealt with. The climate thus, must be

taken into consideration because in the tropical region, the climate has an effect on the

life and work of the people.The building layout and orientation is important as it

determines which side of the building receives more direct sunlight, hence leading to the

decision of design solution towards direct sunlight. An optimal amount of natural lighting

and ventilation is also important to the internal building spaces using operable windows.

Villa Orkid has been designed with a good consideration of climatic factors. The

building layout and orientation has been designed to the site context.(Diagram 2.1.2)

Villa Orkid is designed to catch the prevailing wind from the south-west and north-east

direction. The building is also orientated as such that each unit has lesser exposure to

direct sunlight. Fenestration of Villa Orkid on the north and south façade allows

maximum natural ventilation through the operable windows. Design strategies such as

using the voids and sky terraces also helps to regulate wind and fresh air into the

apartments. (Diagram 2.1.1) It also allow stack ventilation to happen, hence maintaining

the air quality in the apartment, help remove heat and other pollutant as well as provide

a perceptible air movement so that thermal comfort in the apartment can be achieved.

Besides that, balconies are used as copings for the unit below. This is to prevent direct

glare from entering the apartment unit.

Landscapes around Villa Orkid are also designed in a way that greeneries are

placed around the boundaries to create a buffer zone that helps to reduce heat from

entering the apartment area . This further helps the apartment area to stay cooler to

achieve the thermal comfort level. (Diagram 2.1.3)

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(Diagram 2.1.1)

(Diagram 2.1.2)

(Diagram 2.1.3)

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2.2 External factor- Architecture Theory

The architecture theory applied to Villa orkid is Critical Regionalism. Critical

regionalism is an architecture theory and approach to architecture that strives to counter

the “placelessness” and the lack of meaning in modern architecture. It is the

combination of the simplicity of modernism, but with a sense of place and meaning by

using contextual forces and contextual relationship to the surrounding. It also rejects the

individualism and ornamentation of postmodern architecture. Critical regionalism

emphasizes the importance of “placeness” which could neither be branded as

internationalism nor as a historical concept of region and architecture (traditionalism).

“Critical Regionalism emerged as an architectural concept in the early 1980s” (Eggner,

2002, p. 228).

The phrase “critical regionalism” was first discovered by the architectural

theorists named Alexander Tzonis and Liane Lefaivre.This idea was continued with a

slight different approach by Kenneth Frampton, a historian-theorist. Based on

Frampton’s criteria for critical regionalism, Tadao Ando adopted them in one of his

buildings- Rokko housing at Kobe in Okinawa. He describes critical regionalism as

having a “direct dialectical relation with nature”. Tadao Ando chose to locate his building

on the sever slopes to make “a quiet building standing quietly in nature”. (Diagram 2.2.1)

The architecture of critical regionalism makes references to the site, the “genius

loci”. Instead of dealing solely with the region itself and a particular regional style,

regionalism mainly stresses on the relationship of a building to its site and location in a

sociological context. It is also a preference to how the architect deals with the

irregularities of the physical landscape rather than how he or she employs local culture.

In the design layout of Villa Orkid, it can be seen that it adopts the simplicity of

modernism by having a symmetrical floor plan. However, to emphasize on the

importance of “placeness”, design strategies to use sky terraces and voids have been

employed to the design of Villa Orkid. Each apartment unit is addressed by a sky

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terrace, creating higher engery efficiency during the day. The idea was to allow a piece

of green in every unit, allowing natural lighting and ventilation as if living in a landed

property. Voids help regulate air in the apartment and create natural ventilation to allow

thermal comfort. The apartment units are designed using the modernism theory of form

follow function but not merely an architecture without meaning.

Critical regionalism encourages a dialectic relation with nature, using the

topography to its advantages without bulldozing and flattening the space. This helps to

speak more of the relationship of the building to its space. Modernization would

approach to clear and flatten the site, therefore optimizing the economy of earth-moving

equipment and making way for the rational layout of building. The removal of

topography is a universal technique, causing a design of placelessness. Critical

regionalism would instead seize the topography as a manifestation of the region’s

geologic and agricultural history. Villa Orkid is an apartment building that is designed to

be set into the terracing contours of the land. The building form followed the topography

of the site, bringing a sense of placeness and relation to the contextual surrounding.

(Diagram 2.2.1)

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(Diagram 2.2.2)

(Diagram 2.2.3)

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2.3 External factor- Users

Villa orkid is designed to the comfort and convenience of the users, hence

being a user-friendly apartment. Public open spaces are important in high density

residential developments. Residents and visitors will rely in part on public open

space for a venue of relaxation, recreation and meeting grounds. Access to

essential and safe public open spaces is essential for the well-being of the whole

community. The public open spaces of Villa Orkid includes the wading pool, lap

pool, sauna, gymnasium, multi-purpose hall, playground, jogging track, barbecue

area as well as the landscaped gardens. These are generally most successful as

they are relatively small (not larger than a block), lined with active edges, with

access to sun and shade and opportunities for passive recreation. They can

provide a focus for community activity and are located at prominent and easily

accessible places.

The entrances of Villa Orkid is designed for the convenience of its tenants,

giving priority to the users. The primary approach to the apartment is the gateway

with a 24 hours gated security. The main entrance is perpendicular to the line of

approach. For units type A1, the entrance to the unit is addressed by a sky

terrace before reaching the main entrance of the unit. The sky terrace creates a

feeling of home garden that provides a piece of green to the tenants as though

living in a landed property. The entrance is linear to the line of approach, leading

the user straight into the living room and dry kitchen area. (Diagram 2.3.1)

Besides that, structural elements also plays to the advantage of the users.

Clearly expressed rectangular columns are used in each apartment units.

(Diagram 2.3.2) Structural elements are also used for simple separation of

spaces. They are all located in corners to create a maximum span and

unobstructed space to ease the users in arranging furniture and household items.

There are no decoration or embellishments added to the structural elements,

creating a clean and simple interior images. The effective space planning of each

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unit also allow maximum users interaction as the living, dining and dry kitchen

areas are of open layout that compliments one another.

Lastly, the balconies creates a great private-open space that provide for

limited recreation and entertainment uses. It also allow views and allow natural

ventilation for the users. The louvered materials also provide weather protection

and privacy to the users.

(Diagram 2.3.1)

(Diagram 2.3.2)

(Diagram 2.3.3)

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3.0 Discussion and Conclusion

Ar. Chew Sein Yat adopted critical regionalism in designing Villa Orkid. Based on

the first part of the understanding of “self” of Ar. Chew, he enjoys problem solving and

analyzing site, to unlock the full potential of a building site. This has a direct connection

to his style of design in Villa Orkid. If Ar. Chew were to adopt modernism instead, he

would have just flatted the land to ease the layout design and construction of the

apartment . Instead , he looked more towards the site potential of having a challenging

topography, as well as to give a stronger sense of contextual relationship to his design.

Critical regionalism is shown clearly through the courage of designing a building that is

set into the terracing contours of the land.

Instead of dealing solely with the region itself and a particular regional style,

critical regionalism mainly stresses on the relationship of a building to its site and

location in a sociological context. Ar. Chew also stresses on the climatic factors while

designing Villa Orkid. His passion towards site investigation and analysis has been

clearly shown through the way he tackle topographical and climatic challenges. The

idea of having a sky terraces in every unit and voids in designated places has brought in

a generous amount of natural lighting and ventilation to the apartment. Ar. Chew’s effort

of problem solving towards the challenges of tropical climate has been shown through

these design strategies. Thermal comfort in the apartment has been achieved through

sky terraces, voids and fenestrations.

Other than that, Ar. Chew also designed according to the users’ needs and

comfort. The arrangement of structural elements, the approach of entrances, the

application of public open spaces as well as the integration of effective space planning

has shown the critical thinking in problem solving to achieve a well-designed residential

area for the users. The time Ar. Chew spent during his studies on actuarial science

certainly are not wasted as those values and interest he gain were being brought

forward to his architecture, applying them to real life buildings and helping the urban

society to grow towards a city of “placeness”.

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4.0 Final Diagram

Working Experience

- Gained his working experience by working in Benoy Architects during his internship and CS Chew Chartered Architects & Town Planners.

- Learned about master planning competition during internship

- Experienced project design, development, implementation and contract administration in CS Chew Chartered Architects & Town Planners

ARCHITECT: SELF EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

THEORY ON ARCHITECTURE

CRITICAL REGIONALISM

-is an approach to architecture

that strives to counter the

“placelessness” and the lack of

meaning in modern

architecture

Critical regionalism is shown

clearly through the courage of

designing a building that is set

into the terracing contours of

the land.

Name: Ar.Chew Sein Yat Born: 22 April 1973 Place of birth: Singapore Nationality: Malaysian

Climate

Ar. Chew’s effort of problem

solving towards the challenges of

tropical climate has been shown

through these design strategies.

Thermal comfort in the apartment

has been achieved through sky

terraces, voids and fenestrations.

Users

The arrangement of structural

elements, the approach of

entrances, the application of public

open spaces as well as the

integration of effective space

planning has shown the critical

thinking in problem solving to

achieve a well-designed residential

area for the users.

Education

- Primary and secondary school did impact him much in terms of architecture.

- Took up actuarial science in college and was fascinated by problem solving and analyzing skills.

- Went to University of Nottingham for bachelor studies in architecture. Explored to his full potential during the design studio modules.

- Took up urban planning at the University of Sydney as his passion towards urbanism, analyzing site and problem solving grew.

- Realized how idealistic architecture failed. Felt that architecture is similar to actuarial science as it is more important to find out the margin of error than just an architectural solution.

Influence & Inspiration

- The architectural design makes up an important part of what influences him when he makes his design decisions.

- Robert and Brenda Vales have inspired him through the architectural solution as a set of compromised.

- Some colleagues and bosses influenced him in many ways lead him to be a better architect.

- Getting design inspiration from media.

Childhood

- Fascinated by the physical scale architecture models when he was first visited his father firm.

- No pressure even his father is an architect. - Talented drawing skills that help him to express his idea. - Father who is an architect always brought him and the

family to other cities to explore the cities in architecture way.

- Childhood experience influenced him to took up Actuarial Science which quite similar with architecture course in term of critical thinking skill and problem solving.

- His father’s professionalism as an architect influenced his childhood and gave him a very good impression with architect career.

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5.0 References

A history of architecture- critical regionalism. (2008, January 19). . Retrieved June 10, 2014, from http://www.historiasztuki.com.pl/kodowane/003-02-05-ARCHWSP-REGIONALIZM-eng.php

Bay, Joo-Hwa (2004) Sustainable community and environment in tropical Singapore high-rise housing: the case of Bedok Court condominium, pg. 333-341

Canizaro, V. B. (2007). Architectural regionalism: collected writings on place, identity, modernity, and tradition. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

Foster, H. (1985). Towards a Critical Regionalism: Six Points for an Architecture of Resistance. Postmodern Culture. London: Pluto Press.

Foster, H. (1983). The Anti-aesthetic: essays on postmodern culture. Port Townsend. Wash.: Bay Press.

Smith, B. (2004). Building Design Layout. Guidelines for Higher Density

Residential Developments . Victoria : Hampton Press.

Udaykumar, A. The response of Critical regionalism to contextual changes over time in South-east Asian Tropical residential architecture – A case study of Singapore . , 2-18. Retrieved June 6, 2014, from http://nceub.org.uk/dokuwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=nceub:uploads:members:w2012:extra_papers:w1218_udaykumar.pdf