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...

An architecture of the 7 senses

First of all, it's really a beautiful article to read through. There i explicitly realized, how architecture is not complied of just structure and finishes. There are plenty of external forces to foster an excellent architecture.

It's all about create pleasure of the senses. The eyes, ears, nose, skin and tongue. Having says that, if all of your sense organs had perceived a good impression, u will so likely to remember it. So do the architecture.

The writter judged contemporary architecture had lost the primitive modality, standing its way over-emphasis on the intellectual and conceptual dimensions further contributes to a disappearance of the physical, sensual and essence of the architecture. For me, it's a trend. Besides architecture wise, most of architects design building had being too commercialized. Apart of galleries or buildings for rememblance, most of the architectures tends to bring returns to the owner. Who does care about the authenticity of architecture and venture their time and money on the extra works?

Architects always the crucial, reading and exploring will bring them back to the essence of architecture.

Now talk about the senses of architecture:

We see world through our eyes. Gaze of pleasurable comings, nice scene, right proportion, materials tell the age of the building. Natural material means the veracity of the age of building. The wear of patina adds the enriching experience of time.

We smell the architecture. Odor makes one remember and imply the memory of one place or certain space. Particular scent arouses the memory, good or bad, it's a way to store in mind. "Rainer Maria Rilke gives a dramatic description of images of past life in an already demolished house conveyed by traces imprinted on the wall of its neighbouring house. -There were the midday meals and sicknesses and the exhalations and the smoke of years, and the sweat that breaks out under the armpits and makes the garments heavy, and the stale breath of mouths, and the oily odour of perspirating feet. There were the pangent tang of urine and the strench of burning soot and the grey reek of potatoes, and the heavy, sickly fumes of rancid grease. The sweetish, lingering smell of neglected infants was there, and the smell of frigtened children who go to school and the stuffiness of the beds of nubile youths." Oh so beautiful <3 but somehow nobody will like to move in a house like that. *** I still remember how my boyfriend's home smell like, always filled with the little smoke and incense smell... now wherever there is incense, it triggers my memory of that sweet home.

We hear the surrounding. We have our own judgement of the transmit of the sound, there we determine whether the place is noisy or exhilarating, the volume of the space and realize the activities within the sufficient area one can hear. "One who has half-risen to the sound of a distant train at night and, through his sleep, experienced the space of the city with its countless inhabitants scattered around its structures, knows the power of sound to the imagination; the nocturnal whistle of a train makes one conscious of the entire sleeping city." I love these words badly. It gives infinitely imagination to me. But undoubtedly, the perception of humans are different, some will be so annoyed with the train noise in the night but some find that they love the everyday's happening.

End of the day, it's still the happening between the habitants and the architecture. How they perceive means a lot to the one who create the particular space and building.

And, we touch and sense. The skin reads the texture, weight, density and temperature matter. Tactile surface enriches the journey of stroking, tactile sense connects us with time and tradition; through the marks of touch we shake the hands of countless generations. "It's preasurable to press a door handle shining from the thousand hands that have entered the door before us; the clean shimmer of ageless wear has turned into an image of welcome and hospitality. The door handle is the handshake of the building."

We taste the architecture. Now it sounds a bit abstract. How does it taste? Let's just take an example. Our Petronas Twin Tower, the idea of its appearance is based on our abundant rainforest. But merely look on it, how does it taste like? It tastes like steel because its appearance looks "steely" but actually this massive structure is made of concrete. The idea is of rainforest, the plan is derived from islamic pattern. But it doesn't taste like that from the view of passenger without knowing its origin. It's the option one can indulge the different kind of taste into their building.

Scale and anthropometric. Primitive men build their dwelling refer to their dimensioning of body proportion like what a bird does too. Good scaling of space makes one feel warmth, chilling or etc. High ceiling often applies to a grand entrance, walkway often in smaller width to make one moving on to their destination. The destination should seduce people, make'em comfortable to stay.

The 7th sense in my mind is the movement. Movement brings lively. No matter it's the beautiful ballad of the pine trees, the swaying coconut trees along the beach, the kids jumping hilariously in the garden, the fast pace of people walking along the city, movement makes a place lively! Sunrise and sunset too reflect the movement of shadow. A building brings a lot of movement is exhilarating!

Lastly, architecture has its task to place people in the continuum of culture. Our domicile and home are intergrated with our own identity; they become part of our own body and being.

Monuments, Testimony & Memory

It had really triggered me of how to commemorate the dead through architecture.


I think local Malaysia is more likely to direct translating the history into a rememblance such as the National monument "Tugu Negara". The Monument was erected in honor of the the fallen heroes of the 1st and 2nd World Wars, as well as the Malayan Emergency from the years 1948 to 1960. It is located on a hill next to the Malaysian Parliament House. Perhaps it's not architecture, just a fine piece of art/sculpture. Ridiculously, the sculpture was casted in a foundry in Rome at a cost of RM600, 000. "You will see 7 bronze figures of soldiers, each of which symbolizes leadership, suffering, unity, vigilance, strength, courage and sacrifice. 5 of the figures represents the victorious allied forces while the other 2 figures that lie on the ground represents that of the defeated communist forces. Overall the monument depicts the victory of the forces of democracy, peace and freedom over that of the communist and evil. By the way, communism is outlawed in Malaysia." (sources from http://www.malaysian-explorer.com/tuguNegara.html) It does really remind our patriotism. It's a way to convey message, straight away.

Perhaps we should adopt Libeskind's intergration of architecture to reflect culture and history. Not talking about the details, let's interpret his masterpiece. I personally feel that Jewish Musuem is a modern building with simply geometrical design, in conjunction with the slanting narrow windows, nothing had really inspire me of its exterior look, without deep thought of architecture's concern. It simply amaze people with its differ look and unequal to surrounding. However, the internal space is the vital vein of the whole project. I love the Holocaust void, which the Menashe Kadishman's steel sculpture "Shalechet" covers the entire floor. I think there is a big different thing that Malaysia will not likely to do, is that, we are hardly to create something which is too artistic, art pieces that acquiring a deeper thought. Just like the fallen leaves. Undoubtedly, we have less creativity and we have living way too rigid. And the distorted space (slanting beam and narrow aisle for staircase) will be judged way too crazy of having such intergration in a musuem here locally. However, i would say it definately make people "WHOA" if this building is located here today. So how is it really conveying what the architect really want to say? Depends of one's perception, everyone should have feel different way while walking in this building. I would say Libeskind done a great job, had been proven while the hassles had been carried out by people, good or bad, had successfully arousing people for the reminiscences of the Jews in Germany and the repercussions of the Holocaust.

Now look on the National Musuem of us. I think it's the appropriate one if we wanted to make a comparison between two museums and architecture. Muzium Negara is a palatial structure built in the style of Rumah Gadang, an aspect of Minangkabau architecture. Its facade comprises elements of traditional Malay and modern features. See, another piece of "direct translating" architecture in Malaysia. And we're much displaying story and pictures, weapons for memorizing the heroes. Anyway i'm not depreciating our architecture. I believe we as local Malaysian see and receive things the simple way, we had born n live like that. But recent decades, we had much exposed to foreign architecture and being amazed, much of Y generation had belittled the local architecture, which is more native. This is very wrong.

If we're talking about how the heroes of Malaysia can be commemorated, for the past decades, current musuems, monuments, statues can still playing its role very well and splendid. But with the lapse of time, new generation had changed the way of thinking and culture as well. It's thus a challenge to patriotic architect who intend to hold the local culture meanwhile to be acceptable. How is it can be done? there must be a way XD I think it's a good idea to remain the building material such as timber, thatch or attap kind of thing to make a alteration on the native design, perhaps it will whoop up another new trend meanwhile sustain the culture base, why not? With not just displaying the pictures, gadgets or weapons, but intergrate in the building, i think this is best rememblance for our heroes.

Home

I had shifted once from wooden house to the terrace house.
The most impressive home of mine is the wooden one in shipyard. It stands on stilt like a malay house. The different parts of it are the louvre glass panel window in wood frame, instead of the malay house's window at body level. And the galvanized steel roof, instead of thatched roof. It becomes noisy in the rainy day.

Everyday when i came back from school, i ran into the house through the steel staircase. The wall is made by timber panels that attached to the timber frame by an angle about 10 degree to get rid of the rainwater penetrate into the house, and painted in light blue. The favourite thing of mine in that house is the timber floor. I like to sit on the floor eventhough we had couch in the house. The floor is cantilevered from the ground, thus i feel safe to lay on.

Small proportion but warm, simple layout can fit the main furniture but no extra space for else. How do this space really influence me on my design and perception later in my life?

I prefer timber construction more than others likewise. And i found that i'm likely to design something cantilevered from the ground, it's for ventilation, hygiene or purely my preference?

Talking about the lighting in the house. On the day, the main light is the natural sun light come in from the louvre window and the open door of balcony. There is no artificial lighting on the day as the mother taught us to be green since i was very young. So later in life, also under world's appeal, we are likely to produce building with so much natural lighting and ventilation. Nobody want a dwelling without window anyway.

And u will find i talk nothing about my second home. That's also as warm as like the previous one because we as a family are still living together. But undoubtedly, it doesn't really impress me. The floor with tiles is too cold and hard for people to lay on, and the brickwall as well. Rigid and square. no more noise from the galvanized roof. No more "catch a chill" on the balcony facing towards the river. No more noise of the steel staircase telling the mother i'm back.

I guess i miss this place so much as i wish to create another same ambience of dwelling in the later life, carry out the same soul, however, definately not the noises it could make. Even it's part of memory, it lives eternally in my heart.

Heidegger's Thinking

This week we venture our mind into Heidegger's philosophy on architecture.

It does really enlighten me of the other aspect of dwelling apart from just merely define it as a building. Heidegger's Andenken (genuine thought) had implied that the four folds which are, sky, earth, mortal and divinities are ought to be constituted in dwelling. World and thing are interdependent, building as a thing to open up a world meanwhile setting it back on the earth. To achieve the divine, the fourfolds must be brought through the act of building, preserving truth, generates ultimate Gestalt of that context it takes place. That is to dwell poetically. And, language keeps the world, but is used to say a world. Man's access to the world is through listening and responding to language.

Greek temple, a precinct, concealment encloses the figure of God stands in the rock cleft valley, what does it reveal as a precinct, that mortals would feel the presence of God in there? The thinking of Heidegger had remind me that, this building is not merely just constructed without thoughts during the ancient time. It had successfully dwell the God with the classic porticos standing gorgeously at the chapped valley. With its context, the boundary had been defined, what should be presencing is already there, open up a world to the mortals.
"The divinities are the beckoning messengers of the godhead. 0ut of the holy sway of the godhead, the god appears in his presence or withdraws into his concealment. When we speak of the divinities, we are already thinking of the other three along with them, but we give no thought to the simple oneness of the four"

Talking about man made and nature, that is kind of enlightening when reading through the Heidegger's thinking about the bridge gathers the earth as landscape around the stream. It's true. Nature is beautiful but infinite. Existence of man made elements had actually enhance the beauty but yet define a bouandary. The bridge does not just connect the banks that are already there. It makes a place comes into presence! At the same time the element emerges as what they are. To adopt it, i would say that an wooden chalet in the middle of the rainforest will simply capture man's attention and it is telling the man of the beauty of the rainforest with the existence of human being live in it. Rather than a man will see nothing but trees while standing in the rainforest without any man made things in it. Dwelling will be an enhancement of nature.

An inhabited landscape, which is also known landscape, brought close to us by building. Building is also justified as a place where human life takes place. Building are location and the location admits fourfold and installs the fourfold. Space is provided for locations. A location does have boundary yet boundary doesn't mean where it stops, it's the place that the truth presencing. Boundary and threshold are constituent element of place. Therefore, a place and space is to be said that having its own truth manifesting.

Dwelling is not building. Building is a former, dwelling is its goal. Stadium is a building but not dwelling, school is a building but not dwelling. What is the standard measure of dwelling indeed? Others than the essential needs of a mortal, shelter, air, light etc, dwelling does mean a quality of living. The work of architecture is not just an abstract organization of space, it is an embodied Gestalt, brings the inhabited landscape close to man, let him dwell poetically. This is the aim of architecture. Without considering this aspect in architecture, architecture will be just a piece of mute work.

To tell story, to give insight Gestalt, the word opens up the world. Man dwells in language. Poetry speaks in image. Language always give the Gestalt, language beautify Gestalt. In conveying message, language is the only way. With merely images, we would emphasizing the different aspects as humans have different perception. With language, we reiceive what one tells, we see the Gestalt of truth.


To be frankly, i didn't have a chance to pay a visit to any spiritual place around.
Yet, i have a clear memory/ Gestalt of the church i used to go in my hometown. I would share my thoughts here.

It's a christianity church, which dwells Jesus Christ in it. The church is not as much ornamentated as what in ancient time, with rose windows, vault kind of aisles etc, it is just purely a catheral with straight alignment funishing, white and holy. Cross in the middle of the front wall. The overall layout of church is mirrored. A long aisle from the entrance access directly to the cross. It too means that Jesus Christ will forgive repentance who come directly to Him, there are no obstructions when one is willing to believe in Him.

We feel ease in the church, the ceiling is high and the ridge get rid of suppression, we therefore open up ourselves to God, to worship in joy.

The tower of cross is standing there on the earth, to the sky, with a hollow metal bell in top, beckoning people to come towards Christ.

It's the church, which i find myself peacefully dwelling in.