PORTFOLIO | CYNTHIA SENANGSYAH
EDUCATION EXPERIENCES SKILLS
Master of Architecture
Melbourne School of Design
Venice Studio with Bolles+Wilson
Architectural Association Visiting School
Melbourne –– Domestic Animal
Bachelor of Design [Architecture]
Melbourne School of Design
Architectural Association Visiting School
Bandung –– Bamboo
Victorian Certificate of Education
Methodist Ladies’ College [MLC]
Graduate of Architecture at Denton
Corker Marshall - Melbourne, Australia
Graduate of Architecture at Hassell
Brisbane, Australia
House Renovation Project Jakarta, Indonesia
Volunteer at Australian Institute of Architect [AIA]’s Award Presentation Day
Guest Crit at Melbourne Polytechnic’s
Final Studio Presentation:
Public Building in Context
Grasshopper
SketchUp
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Premiere Model Making
Wood Working
Note: Complete CV is attached in the email.
TENANG MORTUARY
Studio : Open Thesis
Supervisor : Rory Hyde
Year : Year 2, Semester 2 [M.Arch]
Site : Bogor, Indonesia
Context
Indonesia has been on a long journey battling COVID-19. To date, Indonesia has recorded more than 140,000 deaths. Death of COVID-19 also means that families are not able to perform proper funerary rituals. When in fact it is a very significant aspect when faced with death, where the living would plead to a higher being for the dead’s afterlife, and care for each other in times of grief. As a highly religious country –– this is devastating. Thus, Tenang Mortuary looks to cater to this sensitive area of deaths by designing a facility that would enable Indonesians emotional and spiritual needs to be met while acknowledging the threat and urgency of COVID-19.
2-3 years
Site / Location
The site is located in Sentul, Bogor –– an hour away by road from Jakarta, where the epicentre of covid in Indonesia is. In between a river and a golf driving course, the site is situated near a highway for easy access, but with just enough buffer space that helps maintain its secluded quality. The mortuary will also consist of a burial site, columbarium, and ash scattering platform that overlooks the river, to offer a more practical completion of the death ceremony.
In 2-3 years, when the facility is no longer needed, the temporary structure of the Mortuary will be dismantled, and materials will be used to build the rest of the Columbariums for the Cemetery which serves as a physical imprint of memory to the land it once was.
Catering for specificity to the diverse religions within a single facility, with courtyards that prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as offering alternative views away from the grief. Moreover, axial passages that help provide calmness to mourners are also explored, through the sense of autonomy, time and distance.
Tenang Mortuary tries to foster an environment of acknowledgement rather than denial –– where one enters through a portal, into the communal area with other mourners, before heading to the individual funeral halls for a more intimate procession.
While the experience of death can be isolating even to the living, this lament journey gently reminds them that they are not alone.
In regard to COVID-19 safety, bodies will be placed in a Closed Body Room1 with glazing, while having the coffins opened. Once funerals are done, staff will close and disinfect the coffin, before proceeding with the burial/cremation. As a response to the urgency of COVID-19, Scaffoldings2 are used for its quick and easy construction. Lastly, Openings3 toward the courtyards for cross-ventilation are implemented throughout the facility.
Tension between emotional and spiritual aspects of death are explored through the transversed main structure where funerals and preparations are held, and the tower that offers you a view outside of the facility, which also symbolises hope beyond the grief.
The five funeral halls which cater to specific religions in Indonesia, does not only look at the historical aspect of their sacred buildings, but also how it is used nowadays in the context of Indonesia’s funerary culture.
Furthermore, the use of scaffoldings offer a degree of individual specificity –– where customisation, or a tribute to their life’s story can be achieved through the different colours drapes that are offered, and other personal ornaments that can be hung directly to the scaffoldings.
SOLEMN DELIGHT
Type : Alteration & Addition
Year : 2020
Site : Jakarta, Indonesia
Lot : 6 x 20 m
Solemn Delight is a house renovation project that is currently on build in Jakarta, Indonesia. The brief from the client is to design a house that is extra private and closed off from the streets - as this house is located on a T-junction. However, they also wanted to make do with the breeze from the fact that it is located in a T-junction. As a young family with two active boys, despite wanting to be very exclusive, they are inwardly very affectionate and exuberant. Thus, Solemn Delight tries to capture these qualities of an introvert, yet playful young family in its intervention.
The existing structure is a two storeys house with no openings internally, except for a small light well in the middle west side of the house. The new design kept the house’s staircase to minimise cost, at the same time acting as an extra layer of privacy from outside. The more private programs are located further inside the site, with living areas located on the first floor. A small backyard is also opened up on the ground floor and an outdoor terrace on the first floor to enable for cross ventilation from the facade.
As per clients’ need, a new level is added ––however the overall height is kept similar to its neighbouring houses by having a flat roof.
Hints of quirkiness is found through out Solemn Delight, despite the limited tone of colours used. An open lliving area is designed to allow children roam around the house freely, with rounded corners to ensure their safety. Childrens’ play area that is one with the Home Office provides the contrast it requires for division, without having to have a physicall wall - this enable parents for passive surveillance.
ABBOTSFORD SENSES
Studio : Studio 44 –– Ultimate Spinach
Leaders : Danielle Peck & Samuel Hunter
Year : Year 1, Semester 1 [M.Arch]
Site : Lulie Street, Abbotsford, Victoria
Partner : Kimberly Aussie
Started from a combined dish by me and my partner, that is then translated into the Abbotsford’s rich history –– the institute is deconstructed into small-scale scent laboratories on a long site, with voids that act as reliefs to reignite and accentuate the memories of Abbotsford.
The landscape sculpted a meandering journey through scent, while the building forms are optimised to generate and have scent travel, by tapering and forming a bottleneck towards the roof, with the additions of vessels and chimneys that aid in extraction of scents into a separate pavilion for ‘display’.
“Cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and star anise, to name a few — the mixture of spices becomes the soul of the broth, and its ability to perfume and distinguish its flavour profile before tasting began to serve as inspiration to our project. These are the scents strongly tied to memories we call home.”
Project Panel
The Industrial memories and character can be seen from the train. While being non-olfactory from inside the train, the visibility of the thick smoke rising from factory serves as a visual reminiscent to the site’s history.
Furthermore, collective scents are stored in the scent pavillion, where scents are ‘displayed’ to hopefully stimulate memory from one’s own olfactory system.
LEARNING FROM CONTRADICTIONS
Studio : Studio 22 –– Capriccio, Folly, City
Leader[s] : Kim Vo & Richen Jin
Year : Year 2, Semester 1 [M.Arch]
Site : North Philadelphia East, Pennsylvania
