Exit blog

This semester is unusual for me, and it goes a bit "hardcore". I have to work and study at the same time to finance myself, thus i just afford to have two subjects on hand this time, Theories and construction. To do design is impossible for me while i still need to work. I'm working in an architectural firm though, the entire week is also like rushing on the assignment nonstoply. I have no much to talk about for uni life this semester as i'm just having two classes perweek. After the class, rush to office. However, the practice in office is much more practical. I had learnt lots of construction and actual practices. In conjunction with construction class, it works on me really well. Even life is tiring, i see this as an opportunity.

Talking about the class for theories of architecture, first thing it's morning class in... 8:30am. Undoubtedly there were so many sleepy faces, i might be one of them sometimes. It will be so hypnotizing if we just keep listening on talks. Therefore lecturers request feedbacks from us. That's really good, it's a good trend that one uni should have. I never have that when i was in diploma. By interacting with the whole clsss, we're actually happy to let people comment on our opinion.

It's my first time to have theory class like this, which i need to read essays, do a lot of thinking and trying hard to understand. And i got a lot from it. I was amazed by those philosopher and architects. The way they thought, the theories they generated. The favourite session of mine is the seven senses of architecture. It had opened me of the undiscovered part of my mind towards architecture, enlighten me. To do a design is not merely just draw and build, it's about a whole consideration and it will be always better way, better idea waiting me to discover. The course had trained us to have critical thinking towards architecture.

I would have to say that i love the idea of "blogging" as our submission. Time efficient, green, and we can do it anywhere X) The worst thing is that, i often do blogging at the midnight, and the next day i need to go to the morning class, and afterward to work. AWW. Time is really crucial for me.

Best thing is, i actually live an abundant life :)

Afterall, what is my philosophy for future? I will always do my design based on human, because this is the ultimate purpose of architecture. I wish my architecture always be green. It's a need. Others than that, it will be visually, auditory, tactility pleasing! Architecture must get rid of boredom, bring in with rejuvenating elements. With good architecture there will be good people.

Taboo and Trangression

"Each setting, each fragment, was aimed at seduction, but always dissolved at the moment it was approached. And then each time it would be subtituted by another fragment. Desire was never seen. Yet it remained constant. The same goes for architecture.

Pleasure, to be implied in architecture, some said it's decadent. This is an ambiguous issue to talk about. Pleasure as in seduction, in sensuality, in erotic act. Some architects seem to behave their design to comply with ideologies and also financial wise, to make no confront with rationality. There are still somebody dare to express and indulge sexuality into the space/ building. However it's not an easy task.

Did a little research on this, having said that building has its own gender. Curvy buildings are more to female however rough and tough outlook more to derive male. (http://architecture.about.com/od/architectureandsex/ss/gender.htm) Architect like I.M Pei is more on producing "male architecture" eg.Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University. While another example for "female architecture", The esplanade in Singapore.

How do architecture arouses sensuality?


Firstly, through eyes. While a space illustrate the experience of bodily libido. It's the direct way. Eg. India's Kama Sutra Temple. 10% of the carvings contain sexual themes. But to avoid the hassle of people on behalf of the morality, it's likely to create a space of geometry speaking for it (with veil). "Presence of absence" Architecture is a "thing of the mind" a geometrical rather than a pictorial or experiential art. The pleasure of a space can only be experienced in the existence, it can't be told in drawing or words before it's built. For my opinion, space that offer more privacy with soft light and nice scene, and maybe more curvaceous element will be arousing sensuality.

Whoever knows how to design a park well, he will know to plan a building of a city. Garden is the practice of expressing pleasure and eroticism. Landscape has to be organized in which have to be dismantled, which have to be ordered to generate a rejuvenating space for people to loiter on. By that kind of exploring, one can really appreciate the existing, and enhance it. Garden merges the sensual pleasure of space with the pleasure of reason.

Architecture provides salubrity of cities, guards the health of men, protects their property and works only for the safety, repose, and good order of civil life. Undoubtedly architecture is the main resource of recalling the past. What and how ancient people live will be revealed on their buildings. "Artistic supplement" a.k.a ornamentation is useless but we had always found that in old buildings. It's not prevalent nowadays because of profit/financial wise. People will favour simple less ornamentated layout to get rid of not neccesary cost.

Bondage- While we know there are many rules that restraint the design of building. However, the myth is that how you play with this rule and create a sense of "bondage" which carry the means of "the more numerous and sophisticated the restraints, the greater the pleasure" It's a challenge on human, human loves challenge and evilly might wanted to do what cannot do/ not supposed to do. Unspoken pleasure will come to them.

Eroticism brought by the architecture is how concept and space interrelated each other, brought to excess and that is the immediate experience of the space. Architecture actually seduce people by facade, arcade etc. It's the disguise that whoever will have different perception/ thought on it. It's the mask of the city. There are stories behind. People will love to discover it to know whether it gives pleasure?

In conclusion, architecture is not interesting because of what they represent or not represent, it's the reflection of what our desire can be revealed. It might be set in the way to seduce but it's unconscious.

Aesthetics, Ruins & Space -- Kellie's Castle

Insight/ feeling
After a little drizzles, sky was cloudy still, a big field presented into our vision, a stream runs across the yellow bridge, and i heard the echo of voices... if it's visitors', or if it's Kellie Smith's, from the mansion half way done. It was supposed to be done while William Kellie Smith's time, for his lover. A symbolic of love, power and wealth. Sorrowfully it couldn't reach its final face, but left unplastered, broken bricks, exposed. If a house could have a suit, it's left uncovered with its line of beauty.
Truthfully, it opened itself to us things of its. True material, workmanship, and it declares itself a piece of broken heart with nothing hidden. It therefore becomes alive. Paradoxically it left unfinished, but it had aesthetically overflowing. Touch it and you will feel the texture, see it as like u had touched it.


Idea/ concept
It was intended to be the hub of social life for the area's wealthy colonial planters and administrators, or a symbol of love to his wife. A grand mansion with a six-storey tower, wine cellar, stately columns. Moorish arches and walls embellished with Greco-Roman designs. There was to be a rooftop courtyard for parties and even an elevator, the first of its kind in the country. It also featured Islamic architectural elements, such as dome-shaped windows. But the building was never to be completed.

Restoration
Kellie's castle had been restored for a memorial of William Kellie Smith of his contribution to Malaya, construction of public road in south Perak, and also the success of rubber plantation. It was an area for wealthy colonial planters and administrators. With also appreciation of its unique architecture at that time, Kellie's castle was restored to the condition it was in when work stopped, so that it look abandoned and incomplete, as it awaiting its mater to return and finish the job.

Beautifulness


Long corridor with moorish arches, cast the shadows when there is sun. Repetitive form creates rhythm, one can feel the volume and distance of this corridor.


Nice scene comes right to the eyes while starring out the window, with the unfinished surface of the room, paradoxically beautiful view outside will be more appreciated.


Party area covered by layer of quarry-faced pvc. However the rooftop left with no railing.



Lift shaft which believed it's 1st in Malaya. However the lift never be existing, this long lift shaft left with a long void, increases the emptyness of the mansion.


Piece and pieces windows adjoined together, it's a piece of beautiful painting. With cut off but continuity of the scene, serenity had been granted for the space.

Imagine

The collonaded corridor will be furnished with elegant lightings, with very nice plaster ceiling, and floor will be finished with pattern tiles, every wall should be painted in white.


Extra information
Kellie's Castle was to surpass his estate bungalow. Seventy tough workers, mostly from Madras, were employed and bricks and marble were imported from India. But during the construction, a mysterious illness had killing many of Smith's workers. The superstitious Smith was told that a temple must be built to appease the gods. He immediately transferred his workers to build a Hindu temple nearby. Work resumed after the temple was completed but the castle was never to be realised. But tragedy happened again. On a visit to Lisbon, at the age of 56, Smith died of pneumonia. His wife, Agnes, sold the estate and with the passing of time, and the end of colonial rule, the castle soon faded into memory. Over the years, the sturdy castle appears to have waged battle against the undergrowth. Although once creepers sprout from its exterior and gnarled tree roots fill the compound, the interior is undamaged. Only the spiders and insects make home of the empty rooms. Despite signs of decay, the castle exudes a certain air of dignity. Moving from room to room, one can imagine the rich furnishings that would have filled the stately structure, had it been completed. As we wander around the castle, there is a eerie feeling of being watched. Sunlight streams through a series of arches on the two main floors, casting ghostly shadows on the verandah running the length of the building. Perhaps, there is some truth to the local legend that the spirit of Old Man Kellie still wanders along the corridors...