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architecture portfolio exploring the happy architecture
探索开心式建筑设计
menerokai seni bina yang riang
“Architecture is about journey of my life, a story which could never be replaced or untold.” “Architecture was never a noun, it was, it is, and it will be a metaphor in our lives…”, a statement from “Architecture as Journey” by Kevlin Henney. People often perceive architecture as a way to convey artforms into reality, or even treated it as a major job field, or rather a fine word to describe buildings. But the truth is, we never truly understand what architecture means in our life. Different people means different perceptions. Buildings are obviously physical, whether rooted in stone or concrete, whether arching high or sprawling wide, whether large or small, whether magnificent or mundane. Their structures have little choice but to respect the physics of gravity and their materials. Despite that, I see buildings as a storybook which the architect wanted to show it off. Because why not? I believe as architect or designer, one must treat
their design as a colour pallette, mixing the vibrancy of local culture and context to a solid massing yet fluid in feeling interpretation. All arts are precious, and architecture is one of the many parts. Throughout the journey of discussion, design, sketching, and modelling, I learned a lot about how coworking creates great architecture, as I can share my feelings and design inspiration to create a new form of art, an innovative architecture between you and me. This portfolio is an archive of my journey to discover what architecture means to me and eventually shaped me into what am I today. Me and my friends’ inspiring teamwork and conceptual metaphors with the ultimate goal to translate our stories and feelings which gives a strong architecture impact to the people in the form of poetic architectures.
THE WOVEN CASQUE 锦绣头巾 Tenunan tengkolok Taman Tugu is a mini tropical urban forest, which act as the green lung and the iconic landmark for Kuala Lumpur city. It is a good approach for the people to get more insights into Malaysia’s historical sites. Hereby, it is like revisiting the fallen soldier’s helm, while still granting vital vision. It is like seeing what he has seen, the local tropical context that is his homeland, and giving us a chance
to experience a glimpse of the historical context, his courage, sacrifice and pride. ‘Woven Casque’ is the concept which showcase the relation between the nature environment context and historical context of the site. This literal metaphor allows us to spare a nick of time to appreciate their sacrifice towards our beloved country.
pelindung’s passiveness 守护者的体贴 keprihatinan pelindung The nature of ‘pelindung’ (guardian) has a soft side, which always take care about the people who in dire needs. Gentle, caring and warmth elements are the key to design this gazebo. Derived from the form of the ‘tengkolok’ (traditional malay casque), we interpreted the design into different planes with
different height, as we perceive planes are more passive-driven in terms of its nature, as well. With different planes joined together, it creates such sense that there is a guardian embracing you when you are inside the gazebo, creating a peaceful and calm feeling when resting inside.
perspective view
plan view
north elevation
perspective view
east elevation
south elevation
plan view
west elevation
section a-a’
section b-b’
pahlawan’s activeness 战士的热血 kejaguhan pahlawan Similarly, as for the nature of ‘pahlawan’ (warrior), it has a passionate side, which always fight for his people and his country. Brave, courage and strong elements are generated to design a active-based gazebo. As our concept is ‘Woven Casque’, the concept ‘woven’ is highly used in this
gazebo. Random lines are created not just portrays the progression of the warrior’s path, it also represents the activeness architecturally. Lines are weaved together and eventually forms a shade at the top, reminiscing of a warrior’s blood, sweat and tears when defending his own country.
perspective view
plan view
north elevation
east elevation
south elevation
west elevation
section a-a’
section b-b’
we, as courage as guardian and warrior 我们，像守护者与战士般勇敢 kita, seberani seperti pelindung dan pahlawan This project is undoubtedly one of my first poetic approach in terms of the architecture style. The encounter of poetic architecture opens up a whole new world to me and my friend which we were afraid to explore back then. From this assignment, I have set myself a milestone for being brave to explore in poetic architecture.
RECONCEIVE & REFLECTION 构想 与 回眸 konsepsi dan pantulan Derived from the ‘decade of injustice and unfairness’ - 2000; and the ‘decade of extremism and radicalism’ - 2010, memorials has to be built to commemorate and remember the events which impacted us throughout this two decades. The cold and dark side of the decades has infiltrated our life, causing us to be scared and hopeless within our own vicinity. Though convincing, we may, or we are still even living in the shadows of the past that we couldn’t just let it go, even if we wished to do so.
Memorials as such are created to provide internal comfort for people as the memorials can act as a place for the people to reconceive and reflect themselves throughout the specific decades. However, the ultimate goal of having the memorials are to let people untangled their dark shadow that casted behind their soul into the place, which they could feel free again to welcome more decades to come.
memorial’s linearity 纪念馆的直线属性 kelurusan memorial The architecture approach is a form of progression, which leads people through journeys of poetical values. Our intention is to create a linear progression from one point to another, as we wanted to express the impact of journey within the memorial. Implication of the linearity of the memorial
could let people to feel more diverse in terms of senses as they walked in. With all things considered, the form of the memorial is like a story-telling tunnel, describing each and every details they wanted to tell to you, and eventually ended with a specific answer which only you could describe to yourself.
site plan view
lower ground floor plan view
north elevation
east elevation
section a-a’
section b-b’
reconceive the resonation 重新构想那段声音 konsepsikan semula suara itu The source of light beam emitted on the pathway from the opening between the two imposing structures addressed a sense of resonance for the people to move towards to the same direction together. Passing through the opening, a drop of exquisite panorama view of people living in the city area of today which represents a whole new dimension of the world that have been positively changed throughout the long period of the injustice and unfairness.
f h s e s .
memorial’s concentricity 纪念馆的中心属性 pusatan memorial The form is simple, a cylindrical building with a focal point at the middle. But then again, the big oval-shaped massing is more than meets the eye. The idea of the memorial is to let people to reflect their soul, with the help of the spatial quality of the memorial and the surrounding site settings.
Unlike the linear form, the concentricity of the form of the memorial is easy to be exploit, by increase the coverage in relation to the surrounding site, and reflects back into the focal point of the memorial, which the users will be flooded by the poetic messages that reflect from all around the concentric building.
ground floor plan view
site plan view
north elevation
east elevation
folded section view
reflection of the soul 心灵的反照 kepantulan jiwa A sense of reflection will become stronger when the natural light source beams onto the platform where the users would linger right below the oculus, giving an existential experience for people to awake and realise. The platform becomes the only focal point as it creates contrast with the dim interiority of the memorial. Stepping out of the platform, serenity is measured through the bottom of the foot too as the users would have to move barefoot on the shallow water coating the ground floor to find the exit from the memorial
we, as flexible as linear and concentric 我们，像直线和中心属性般柔韧 kita, seanjal seperti kelurusan dan pusatan Through this project, we were able to be critical in terms our concept to both linear and concentric forms yet provide adequate amount of poetic values in it. I was able to play with the poetic architecture with the help of my friends that impacts me for my architecture path in my future years.
PLAY . SHARE . BOND 玩。享。聚 main . kongsi . rapat Interplay between the object and the child makes his total world — play. He exploits the vitality of his environment and draws upon his imagination to create his world. All that has changed ever since technology became a distraction to children nowadays. Their forms of amusement are heavily relied on electronic gadgets and computer games. They had lost that sense of exploration and discovery of the outside world. Therefore, to create a playscape, we want children to learn about the physical bonding and interaction with others, through a shared moment or memory experienced from playing.
All the activities are suitable for all ages to participate, so there’s physical interaction between parents and their children. They can also gain new friends while playing with each other as most of the activities are group activities. They will learnt how to approach and engage with friends differently and friendly from how they meet new friends online. Most importantly, children has the opportunities to create their own memories from the time spent playing with friends and families. They will always appreciate and remember the moments and one day they will realize a closer bond has built upon their family and friends.
ideas behind playscape 游乐场背后的构思 akal belakang taman permainan The architecture approach is simple and straightforward, which is the happy architecture driven by our childhood memories. Our intention is to commemorate and reintegrate our past happy and fun matters into reality again, so that it would not been forgotten inside our mind’s graveyard for us to mourn.
see-saw inspiration
implementation of bonding
The intention is simple, but the current trend of the kids nowadays are greatly different. Mobile phones and computer games are the only hype for the millenials wished to immerse into. The neglectance of parents due to workload has affected their intimate times between their kids. Such phenomenon has become one of the common urban family problems. The thing is, we wanted to attract both parents and kids come to our playscape to play and bond with each other. We wanted to promote the intimidation not just between family, but also with strangers that you play with as well. The proposed playscape activities are generally safe and fun for the kids and relatable for the parents’ childhood memories as the activities are derived from their past happy experiences.
implementation of see-saw
folded panels
imaginary battlefield
sand pendulum
monkey in the middle
be a wheel
tyre climbing
a
a’
plan view
shipping container’s fluidity 货运仓库的柔软性 kecairan kontena perkapalan Although the form of the corrugated metal shipping container seems very rigid and bulky, the possibilities of creating a programmable spaces and activities are enormous. As we designing this playscape, we have tried different approaches such as dismantling, tilting, and deforming the containers to create an ergonomic-friendly spaces to play inside. Implementation of recyclable materials has create a big opportunity for us to explore more on how to design such spaces with given materials. In this design, we prioritised in used tires as its form are quite stagnant yet provides a feasible human movement possibilities
and acts as a tool or furniture for the kids to having fun in it. We were also studied that used tires are commonly used in parks and recreational areas as the durability of used tires are great and easily to come by in abundant. The whole essence of this playscape are portrayed perfectly in terms of its design and programmes even with the limitation of the form making. Thinking out of the box has always a motto for us to design whenever there is a difficulty regarding the build form of the design.
front elevation
rear elevation
section view
upcycle the past 让过去变回主流 menyambung balik masa lalu Programmes provided in the playscape are varies, but every single of them are deeply related to our childhood memories. Featuring the ‘monkey in the middle’, ‘folded panels’, ‘tyre climbing’ and ‘imaginary battlefield’ are the most common activities we used to play during our childhood days, as it consists more on physical activities and test our own agility skills. Meanwhile, the ‘be a wheel’ and ‘sand pendulum’ are more intimate in terms of bonding session between parents and kids. They can play and share their happiness to each other.
Regardless, those forgotten memories are upcycled to reincarnate the long lost childhood culture which could be pass down and share to more people to expose themselves into a oblivion of happiness rather than immerse into modern technologies.
we, as strong as shipping container 我们，像货仓般坚固 kita, sekuat sebagai kontena perkapalan Through this playscape, we were able to revitalise back our forgotten childhood memories by creating back the activities that we played before. We were also grateful that we could possibly make this as a real project so that more people can encounter and get inspired by this forgotten treasures.
RETRO ART CULTURE SOCIAL HUB 经典艺术文化社交中心 pusat kesenian budaya sosial retro The Retro Art Culture and Social Hub draws the retro art culture closer to the public and reintroduces the art form. The aim is to bond public, especially locals and visitors closer to the soul of Johor Bahru city and revitalise the cultural essences. The reminiscence of retro art culture is still going on throughout the site, yet there are only a few people who willing to preserve it from elimination and could not expand the art by their own will due to rapid urbanisation of Johor Bahru. Moreover, younger generations would not aware of such culture is depleting within the site and highly unlikely would they wanted to carry on this legacy. Hence, a retro culture and social centre is introduced to reignite the dying arts.
The cultural centre provides an urban platform to showcase the long lost art culture vibe through architecture, by having large permeability spaces and interactive activities to enhance the engagement of public through the vibrancy and the connection between the two main road frontages. The cultural centre would be a potential cultural node within the vicinity as it invites and re-elevates other retro and traditional cultural activities with a range from cha-cha music dance to traditional confection workshops, where the retro culture will start to see the dawn again.
the retro ideas 经典的构思 akal-akal retro As for me to start an idea of the city lobby, there is an short encounter that inspires me to develop this idea into a real design. During my site visit at Johor Bahru, me and my friends decided to have a night walk at the nearby bazaar for data collection. Along the walk, we stumbled across a group of mid-age locals were singing and dancing in the middle of the street. They had their
performance stage and a row of chairs to indicate their ‘dancing territory’. These people are singing and dancing their retro, old-school music and dance moves. We were drawn by their attention, and started to gather at the other side to listen and watching their performance. Some of us quickly gather their data and some gazed at their performance.
initial sketches
I stood near to the chair boundary that they made for a closer look. Then, all of a sudden, an uncle approached me and invite me for a dance. I was hesitated and initially declined his offer as I was quite shy at the moment. But then, one of my friend pushed me into the ring and I couldn’t just walk out there, it would be pretty awkward, right? So, instead of making myself look embarrassed, I decided to join their dance. The uncle teached me step by step of his dance move, which I can slowly keeping up the pace, and dance uidly like he teached me. During the moment when I danced, I realised that these group of mid - age people are having fun among each other, even though in
a rather cramped space. Their intention is simple, that they wanted to feel happy and create happiness and spread it out to the others to feel it. However, these group of people seek happiness without a proper attention spreaded out to the outsiders, as I mentioned that they performed in a small space only. Not only that, they had their performance only for 2 hours a week. This raises a question on my head, why are they having limited spaces and opportunity to be happy when they eager to spread out the happiness? From there, I decided that I wanted to create a happy-inspired city lobby that can houses the needs for the retro art and culture preservers that they could be getting more attention to the outside world so that they would not be diminished throughout the time.
initial sketches
initial sketches
initial sketches
JOHOR BAHRU OLD-SCHOOL DANCE
YONG SHENG GIFT SHOP
ASSOCIATION
BESKARYA MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
MIDDLE AGE GROUP (30-40+)
HIAP JOO BAKERY AND BISCUIT FACTORY
urban site studies
the retro’s programme 经典的活动 program-program retro There are a lot of dying retro art and culture relics across the city, like the old school dance and music, retro costume making and the traditional confection shops. These individuals are relying on a subtle platform to revive and re-engage people to the retro arts so that retro culture will be a thing again within Johor Bahru.
The programme will be reflecting the needs of the stakeholders that helps to run and sustain this city lobby as to accommodate the tourists and locals to engage in the building.
site condition
The main consideration of different levelling between Jalan Wong Ah Fook and Jalan Trus to connect both sides.
Comparison of higher and lower intensity of human and trafďŹ c ow determines the orientation of the spaces and the engagement points within the site.
movement axis
Human circulation from both roads merges within the site, creating a potential space to be intersect with each other.
Pedestrian walkway to site, creating an attracting magnet to draw people towards the site.
The back alley of the shophouses provides an opening for a potential viewing point.
node axis
Attracting activities are designated facing Jalan Wong Ah Fook to the relation towards JBCC and Komtar to attract tourists.
Local-based activity are situated facing Persada as it directs and ease the locals to pass by and have a stop on the site.
facade & openings
Less openings on the west facade to avoid western sun and prevent unnecessary heat gain.
Openings are created at front facade to allow direct ventilation for the whole building.
High pitch roof are used to provide necessary sunlight protection from the sunlight.
design development & form studies
SETBACK Setback of 8m from Jalan Wong Ah Fook and 6m from the neighbouring buildings and Jalan Trus to preserve the side.
PUBLIC & PRIVATE Jalan Wong Ah Fook reflects more public space due to high intensity of human interaction and activity level.
FRONTAGE High intensity frontages creates opportunity of openings that reflects the contextual response of the site.
AXIS Spaces are segregated based on the intersecting movement axis, node axis and landmark axis.
SKYLINE Massing response to both frontages to prevent site’s skyline to be discontinued and alienated.
ROOF & FACADE Distinct architecture elements are reintegrated such as pitch roofing and vertical fins to revitalise the forgotten architecture language of the site.
the retro’s engagement 经典的互动 interaksi-interaksi retro Using the suitable architecture style with the combination of the local context, the retro interaction towards the people and the city are seamlessly bonded together. Visitors can feel the retro vibe throughout the vicinity, so that it could promotes engagement and let people to have the reason to stay longer in this area.
With the success of the engagement, this retro art culture and social hub could bring back the nostalgic lifestyle which Johor Bahru citizens are keen to look forward.
interior rendering
interior rendering
interior rendering
i, am grateful to what makes me as i am today 我，感恩所有人事物造就了今天的我 aku, amat bersyukur terhadap semua perkara yang mencorakkanku ke hari ini Along my journey through architecture, I’ve learned a lot of architecture knowledge, even though there are times that I fell down and struggle, there will be always a thing, a friend, or a spirit that guides me back to the line. I am very grateful of what I had during my architecture journey. Hence, this retro art culture and social hub is my final tribute and sums up my architecture life within this project. Thank you to all of you and I will not forget about the glorious times that we had together. Many thanks.
exploring the happy architecture
探索开心式建筑设计
menerokai seni bina yang riang