FARAH KASSIM | ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
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CONTENTS
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Personal Statement VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER |
Pulau Besar, Malacca
MAH MERI CULTURAL CENTER | Pulau Carey, Selangor BRICKFIELDS COMMUNITY LIBRARY | Sentul, Kuala Lumpur KRISTANG UNESCO CENTER | Portuguese Settlement, Malacca
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PERSONAL STATEMENT
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Architecture. Frozen and materialistic imprints of an individual’s thoughts, emotions and memories. Design is afterall a subconscious expression of longing to connect internally with the external environment. To have a creation materialize before your eyes, existing outside the mind at last is the aim of all designers, myself included. Although architecture does not just encompass one’s own indulgence in expressionism, it touches on every aspect of life on a global scale. Not only is it a mere tool for the artist, it is potentially a voice for the people and the world as well. Communicating with the people who experience it even as they do not perceive it, it speaks and responds, engaging with nature as it strives to integrate and sustain it. Architecture is indeed a powerful tool and to me, the interpretations of others of the workings of my mind are what sustains my creative spirit. Enabling me to project my own interpretation of the experience of life in my own persona l and intimate brand of design to the world. This connection with the universe and its people allows for an involuntary engagement where I am solely experienced through my arcchitecture makes me believe I have transcended time and left my mark in my time with society and nature. It is what makes me feel significant, architecture.
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VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER PULAU BESAR, MALACCA | STUDIO 3
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The concept of positive isolation was derived from the serene surroundings of Pulau Besar, where one is able to find peace in being isolated with nature. For centuries many have come to the island to find calmness within the isolation and beautiful surroundings. Therefore the concept is to re-create these positive spaces of isolation within the Visitor Interpretive Centre to harness the unique quality. The design maintains a connection with the landscape that is the main component that allows the phenomenon to occur to provide the visitors with a fully rounded experience.
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ISOLATION + CONNECTION
LAYERING
INTERLOCKING
INTERSECTING
In response to the natural strata of the site.
In response to the natural integration on site.
Contrast and breaking horizontality by establishing relationship with verticality
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C
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AREA SCHEDULE
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55m2 75m2 10m2 10m2 15m2 20m2 20m2 10m2 85m2 180m2
C
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FIRST FLOOR PLAN A
8 7
B 1
2
A 4 5 3 6
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8
GROUND FLOOR PLAN B
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SECTION A-A
SECTION B-B
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MAH MERI CULTURAL CENTER PULAU CAREY, SELANGOR | STUDIO 4
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The Mah Meri’s connection to nature and tradition is the basis of their religion and culture, the guidelines that govern them as a community. The cultural development and engagement centre manifests Mah Meri cullture and lifestyle by integrating the Mah Meri “adats� or traditions into the design. Aiming to increase awareness of cultural identity among the tribe and inspire voluntary development.
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CIRCULATION
SUN PATH
WIND DIRECTION
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The centre utilizes a centralized organization to preserve mah meri social behaviour and culture to ease and direct the Mah Meri towards a progressive pace. The centre’s design maintains a visual and encompassing connection to the natural outside environment, adopting the Mah Meri’s concept of using nature as a medium of education and to intil potential into their natural built environment.
Concept of simplicity and connection to nature, closely relatedto Mah Meri social culture. Precipitating the Mah Meri ideas of spirituality, whereby God is believed to exist within nature itself.
Mah Meri Philosophy : - Life as balanced and deliberate as nature = Closest to God(perfection) Floor Plan : - Discovering symmetry and balance within geometry -Interlocking and intersecting levels(mimic nature)
Circulation : - Anti-clockwise, integration of Mah Meri beliefs - Organic and interconnected
Mah Meri Community Center: -Manifests Mah Meri culture and spirituality, integrating them with the natural built environment.
CONCEPT OF SIM NATURE, CLOSELY TURE. FOLLOWING T OF SPIRITUALITY, W WITHIN NATURE ITS
MAH MERI PHILOSO - LIFE AS BALANCED GOD(PERFECTION). FLOOR PLAN - DISCOVERING SYM -INTERLOCKING & I
CIRCULATION - ANTI CLOCKWISE - BRANCHES OUT BU - GATHERS SPACES SENTING PERFECTIO
MAH MERI COMMUN - MANIFESTS MAH TEGRATING WITH T PROCESS
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FIRST FLOOR PLAN
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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FRONT ELEVATION
REAR ELEVATION
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SECTION
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COMMUNITY LIBRARY
BRICKFIELDS, KUALA LUMPUR | STUDIO 5
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The city of Kuala Lumpur is a patchwork of grids and solids. In Brickfields, these voids exist among the community. The Brickfields Community Library addresses the voids of both the city and the people and transforms them into podiums or windows that punctuate the ddense concrete jungle, displaying hope and potential. Taking advantage of the alternating logic between solid and void, the libraru re-routes the community netowrk and absorbs community negativity as they experience the library on their daily commute.
SITE PLAN
CITY GRIDS
VOIDS
AXIAL POINTS
CIRCULATION
CONNECTION
TRANSLATION
Gridwork exploration uncovers voids within the grids.
Alternating logic between solid and void creates connectivity
Axis between site and nodal points form focal point and circulation.
Voids shape interior circulation.
Combining focal and nodal points, urban networks. Relation to existing urban grids
Vertical translation respond to focal and nodal points also.
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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FIRST FLOOR PLAN MARKET
5
LEGEND 1. INTEGRATED READING AREA 2. PRINTING CORNER 3. DISCUSSION ROOM 1 4. DISCUSSION ROOM 2 5. DISCUSSION ROOM 3
4 3
2
1
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SECOND FLOOR PLAN MARKET
LEGEND
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1. ARCHIVE 2. OUTDOOR READING AREA 3. SILENT STUDY AREA 4. PRINTING CORNER 5. COMPUTER CORNER
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3
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1
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SECTION A-A
SECTION B-B 29 | FARAKASSIM
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UNESCO CULTURAL CENTER
PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENT, MALACCA | STUDIO 6
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The Kristang people of the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, Malacca possess a unique culture due to their multicultural history and roots. However, as a result they have suffered discrimination and estrangement from other communities who would not claim them in the past. Over time, this treatment has caused the Kristang community to suffer a decline in their cultural values and even language. Through time, they have slowly become secluded and naturally gravitated towards the only aspects that they feel defines their identity now. They are strongly connected to the ocean which they feel provides relevance to their roots and current existence as it was how their ancestors arrived to Malacca and made a life from. The cultural trauma experienced by the Kristang run so deep that it has instilled a rooted fear of being deemed irrelevant as a community, this consequently rises to the surface as social issues and a cultural decline. The UNESCO cultural center aims to address these issues and protect this unique heritage that has been molded and shaped by the land and oceans of Malacca,thus can only be found in Ujong Pasir.
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SITE PLAN FARAKASSIM | 36
By using the site to connect the two defining elements,the idea of a Cultural Center with the concept of a cultural courtyard/plaza as a connecting space is derived. The courtyard will act as an intermediary space between both elements where opportunities to resume their cultural activities outside the boundaries of institutions are provided. By materializing such a space, the Kristang will have the opportunity to practice their culture thus raising awareness of it and giving a sense of validity and encourage preservation. Programmes encouraging a sense of responsibility towards the preservation of their own culture will be incorporated, such as a youth center for the youths to engage with real world responsibilities including the running of the center as part of the programme. Workshops and studios to cater to every cultural activity currently b eing practiced are also designed to engage with the locals and showcase to society.
FACADE ORIENTATION
Building is oriented west to east to minimize sun exposure and reduce heat gain. This is also to align with the existing structures to enable angagement with the surrounding context.
AXIAL FRAMING
Maintaining the sea as the main focal point, axial points from the potential engagement points around the site are incorporated to maximize cultural connections on site to the community.
MASSING RESPONSE
Taking the axial points from earlier, a semi massing was developed to respond to the engagement level desired and also the existing site conditions.
VOIDS AND TRANSPARENCY Levels were created to open the site to the
INTEGRATION
CONNECTION TO NATURE
surrounding engagement points by subtracting from the massing form and added back through overlapping transparent volumes to maintain a sense of openness, maximize connectivity and control the views available on site. The resulting combination of voids andvolumes allowed for sheltered open spaces for public circulation, creating integrated levels of public and private spaces. Green spaces are incorporated within the building to reduce the building footprint as well as bring more of the natural site environment into the building for a more integrated design.
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5 4 3 6
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2 1
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1. MULTIPURPOSE HALL 2. LOBBY 3. MEETING ROOM 4. OFFICE 5. OPEN WORKSHOP AREA 6. OPEN BAR CAFE 7. PLAZA 8. OCEAN AMPHITHEATRE
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10 12 11
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8. DANCE STUDIO 9. MUSIC STUDIO 10. EXHIBITION GALLERY 11. YOUTH CENTER 12. COUNSELING ROOM 13. OBSERVATION DECK
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14. ACCOMMODATIONS
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SECTION 1
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