Architecture Thesis - Take Your Time

Take Your Time “ a slow space for Ipoh”

Nicole Hooi Yi Tien / 0313611 Design Thesis Booklet Masters of Architecture / Taylor’s University,Malaysia

Design Thesis Journal submitted to the School of Arts & Built Environment in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE at Taylor’s Univeristy,Malysia Year 2019/2020 Design Thesis Cluster : Background, Frame & Platform Under the supervision of Mr.Nazmi Anuar

Content I / Introduction Introduction Thesis Framework

II / Theoretical Research Living in a Fast Era Slow Movement Slow Tourism Slow Space

III /Contextual Research Ipoh Old Town Site Analysis Urban Strategies Site Accessibility Urban Strategies

IV / Architectural Intention & Exploration Maze Concept Mazes In The Past Diagrammatic Exploration Planning Strategies Exploration Spatial Exploration

V / Design Intervention VI / Appendices

I INTRODUCTION

Abstract Take Your Time is prompted by Slow Tourism – a travel philosophy of The Slow Movement. Located in the heart of “tourist paradise” - Ipoh Old Town , it is a thesis reflecting on how technology and infrastructure has allowed “fast tourism” and extricating the experiential component from the journeys. The thesis focuses on the exploration of creating slow spaces using materiality, space and time and adopts a maze-like spatial planning which is a self -instrument of discovery, transformation and fulfillment.

Introduction Tourism has become one of the most important drivers of economic growth worldwide. Cities start to plan with a view of attracting tourists and local businesses are oriented to tourists’ attraction in a fast way. Negatively, this becomes the prime cause of extricating the “experiential” component from the journeys undertake causing disengagement and detachment from the destination. People become more fixated on the visual and aesthetic aspects of a community’s culture, facilitating a more materialistic understanding of heritage.

The thesis as a reflection of “fast tourism” provides a public “slow space” for both travellers and locals to explore. It is a hybrid programme centered around tourism and locality. Historically, mazes were used as a means for meditation and reflection using the prolonged different pathways without a programme to prolong the “time” of being in “spaces” in a maze as long as possible. “In memorable experiences of architecture, space, matter and time fuse into one singular dimension.” (Juhani Pallasmaa, 1996) Thus, the thesis adopts an unconventional maze-like open circulation planning as an attempt to create memorable slow space experiences.

Inspired by the works of Peter Zumthor who explores the tactile and sensorial qualities of spaces and materials . The thesis pays an extensive attention to the choice and use of materiality in relation with spatial experience. The natural raw material- Rammed earth which is an ancient construction technique and its ingredients available locally in Perak is carefully chosen as the main material. The thesis also explores the use of Rammed Earth in modern construction, which is rarely used in the industry.

In the hope of creating slow and meaningful spaces, tactile and sensorial qualities of spaces and materials in relation with human spatial experience shall be considered thoroughly and explored carefully in architecture, for “Architecture is not about form, the ultimate goal is to create emotional space ” (Peter Zumthor, 2006).

Thesis Mindmap (Author,2020)

Thesis Framework Aim To provide a public platform for travellers to slow down, relax and reconnect to the locality of Ipoh- a place for gathering, cultural exchange, leisure & respite for both travellers and locals.

Research Question How architecture can create a slow public space to foster a more meaningful tourism in the old town of ipoh using pattern of a maze as starting point ?

II THEORETICAL RESEARCH

LIVING IN A “FAST” ERA WHAT HAS THE PLEASURE OF SLOWNESS DISAPPEARED ?

Ever since industrialization, the “fast revolu- “Today we are addicted to speed, to cramtion” has gained momentum and has drasti- ming more and more into every minute. cally transformed lifestyles into a “fast Every moment of the day feels like a race mode”, “on-the-go” lifestyle (Joseph & against the clock, a dash to a finish line that Singh, 2013) creating demand for everything we never seem to reach. This roadrunner easy, speedy and instant. “Fast” is now culture is taking a toll on everything from our avilable eveywhere in our durroundings, health, diet and work to our communities, visible in fast transport, fast technology, fast relationships and the environment (Hongadgets, fast facilities, fast services, fast food ore,C. and fast communication, among others, all of which are attracting people towards the “fast land” of life (Wajcman, 2008). This fast revolution has permeated into the domain of travel for leisure as well. Positively, the advent of fast modes of transport has enabled speedier, long distance, time bound journeys adding to the convenience of travel. On the other hand, negatively, the increasing speed has become the prime cause of extricating the “experiential” component from the journeys undertake, hence making travel of contemporary times distinctly different from the of bygone eras. The ill effects are seen in the fact that the depth of travel experiences gained through attachment formed between the traveler, places and people on the journey has become inversely propotional to hectic pace of the journey undertaken. The disengagement and detachment perceived as damaging for the destination long term, has prompted the evolution of a counteractive form of travel under the banner of ‘slow tourism’(Markwell, Wilson & Fullagar, 2

0

1

2

)

.

,

2005)

”

WHERE HAVE THEY GONE, THE AMBLERS OF YESTERYEAR ?

(Kundera,M. , 1995)

THE SLOW MOVEMENT WHAT IS SLOW ?

‘Slow movement’ started in Italy in 1986, as

slowness in life’. But what’s so great about

a brainchild of Carlo Petrini. It is a revolu-

slowing down? Like the concept of voluntary

tion, an alternative to our obsession with

simplicity made up of people who are resist-

speed. Petrini’s conceived the idea of ‘slow’

ing high consumption lifestyles and who are

as a reaction opposing ‘fast food’ that was

seeking, in various ways, a lower consump-

introduced through the opening of a McDon-

tion but higher quality of life alternative.,

ald fast food chain unit in Italy. Opposing the

slowing down acknowledges that quality

inroads made by the global fast food chain,

rather than quantity is more important.

he argued that local gastronomic richness

Focusing on the quality of our time and being

should be preserved, organically grown and

present in the moment of actions and

locally available seasonal fresh food should

relationships regardless whether you are at

be consumed, traditional slow cooking style

work, just as simple as having dinner with

should be practiced, and food should be

family at home, hanging out with friends and

consumed leisurely (than be rushed with) in

even

when

you

are

travelling.

order to savor the distinct flavor of the cuisine. Gradually the philosophy of ‘slow’

Living in a world where everyone is addicted

became widely acceptable and appealing,

to speed , it is not a surprise that travelling or

and thence filtered into many other aspects of

vacation which is supposingly a form of

life, creating several new labels that are now

leisure or getaway whereby you take your

identified with the prefix ‘slow’, viz. ‘slow

time and enjoy the destination is now speed

leisure’, ‘slow transport’, ‘slow city’, ‘low

up as well by the pressures of length and

interaction’, etc.

From fashion and food

pace of travel, access, personal social media

right up to travel and education, the ‘slow

updates, attempt to knock out every site in

philosophy’ has attracted many with its

your guidebook within a short timeframe etc.

counter intuitive ideas about how to experi-

Consequently, despite the fact that we take

ence life, perpetuating a shift in priorities and

our time off to go on a vacation but we lose

values. In essence, the aim of all ‘slow’

our connections with the best that the desti-

forms is centered on prompting a ‘natural

nation has to offer as we failed to take in

rhythm of life’ at a ‘right pace’, a pace that is

surroundings of the desitnation and let the

ideal to experience a meaningful ‘quality’ in

culture slip in naturally at a relaxed pace.

everything, ultimately enhancing the overall ‘quality of life’. Disapproving of the growing ‘fast’ culture, he argued in favour of encouraging the return to the original idea of

Framework of The Slow Movement (Author, 2020) References : Pecsek, B. 2017. Slow Tourism Model, Hungary.

Sonia,K. 2015. How slow is ‘slow’. Dilemmas of slow tourism, India.

SLOW TOURISM HOW SLOW IS SLOW ?

Slow tourism is an alternate form of tourism

, recreational and interpersonal experiences’.

that has already existed in tourism literature

There are three activities appear to be key

since long (Butler, 1990). It is a conceptual

elements in goal-driven consumer behaviour

framework that involves people who ‘travel

process : goal setting, action planning and

to destinations more slowly overland, stay

goal attainment/failure (Bagozzi & Dhola-

longer and travel less’ and who incorporate

kia , 1999). In a slow tourism context,

travel to a destination as itself an experience

immersing into a natural environment and

and, once at the desination, engage with local

thereby revitalizing body and mind may be

transport options and ‘slow food and bever-

goals to a traveler taking a vacation whereas

age’, take time to explore local history and

through research by Oh (2014) the motiva-

culture, and support the environment (Oh,H.

tions include relaxation, self-reflection,

, 2014). It means eschewing ‘fast leisure’ and

escape, novelty-seeking, engagement, and

‘fast tourism’ , tourists who engage in slow

discovery. .As the action plan, the traveler

tourism visit places for gaining understand-

may want to choose the destination(s) and

ing and experiences instead of seeking the

the way to travel (pace, access, length, com-

usual ‘touristy comforts’, and having a genu-

pany, etc.) that are aligned with travel goals.

ine interest in immersion in nature and

The degree of goal attainment will then

culture. However, the concept of slow

determine his/her satis- faction with the trip

tourism remains relatively new and, to date,

and relevant future behavioral inten- tions

defies an exact definition.Hence, literatures

(Higgins,2002). To conclude, slow tourism

document little systematic research on the

revolves around the idea of tourists slowing

topic. One of the researchers - Oh (2014)

down to a desired pace so that they can value

conceptualises slow tourism by incorporatig

the journey, sense and soak in the sights,

theory of goal-driven consumption theory.

sounds and aromas of places travelled

Oh (2014) cites Bagozzi and Dholakia

through/to, take time to appreciate the envi-

(1999) that consumers are goal-directed,

ronment, and gain deep insight into the

they purchase to produce end-state goals or

culture of places by having a meaningful

outcomes which are central to consumer

interaction with host population. Eventually

decision making. Once goals are set,

slow travel should result in the culmination

consumers strive to achieve them in as effec-

of memorable ‘quality’ tourist experiences as

tual ways as possible. For instance, “a

opposed to merely becoming a count destina-

person’s vacation goal might not be limited

tions, visa stamps, souvenirs, cliché touristy

to a particular location and time period but

photographs or innumerable status updates

rather might reside in anticipated education-

from airport lounges, coffee shops or hotels.

SLOW SPACE TIME & SPACE

Time, space and matter can fuse together in

“In memorable experiences of architecture,

great architecture to allow for deep human

space, matter and time fuse into one singu-

experiences. In fact, time can literally and

lar dimension, into the basic substance of

perceptually slow down under the right

being, that penetrates our consciousness.

spatial conditions and this may provide an

We identify ourselves with this space, this

antidote to our instantaneous, speed-driven

place, this moment, and these dimensions

contemporary lives. Time is necessary for

become ingredients of our very existence.

those fundamentally human aspects of life —

Architecture is the art of reconciliation

love, connection, meaning, inspiration, awe,

between ourselves and the world, and this

wonder. Things like creativity, art and

mediation takes place through the senses.”

intimacy cannot be done faster without paying a steep price. Carl Honoré, author of

Architects used to know how to design Slow

In Praise of Slowness, writes, “All the things

Space, and a few still do. Builders used to

that bind us together and make life worth

be able to build Slow Space, and a few still

living — community, family, friendship —

can. Our favorite architects from the

thrive on the one thing we never have enough

past designed Slow Space — Frank

of:

Lloyd Wright and Alvar Aalto. And today

time.”

the architects designing Slow Space are

JUHANI Phenomenologists, like Architect and PhilosPALLAS- opher Juhani Pallasmaa, have for some time MAA understood the relationship between time and space and how they can fuse to create powerful architectural experiences.In his book, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses, first published in 1996, Juhani Pallasmaa

writes,

“Time and space are eternally locked into each other in the silent spaces […]; matter, space and time fuse into one singular elemental experience, the sense of being.”

Peter a

Zumthor, few

others

Glenn

Murcutt

(Aamotd,

and 2019).

Peter Zumthor is known for his uncomproPETER ZUMTHO mising approach to his work, for his craftsR

Furthermore Nitschke points out that the

manship and his careful use of materials and

time-place) “is expressed in Japanese as

light, which can be seen in his best known

“space in flow,” making time a dimension of

projects, including the Therme Vals thermal

space. Indeed, time is essential to human

baths in Switzerland. Zumthor is famous for

experience

characters

for

time

of

時間

(literally:

place.”

his refusal to be rushed in his work, he has said in an interview that he doesn’t want to make mistakes by building under a time pressure. When he was asked when a particular project will be finished. “It will take as long as it takes,” he says, simply. In his works, he explores the tactile and sensorial qualities of spaces and materials by using propotion of spatial qualities such as openness and ensclosure, view and darkness, space

and

massiveness

and

so

on.

“Architecture is not about form, the ultimate goal is to create emotional space” The Japanese concept of “ma” also relates time and space. Gunther Nitschke defines ma

THE JAPANESE COCEPT OF MA

間 as “place,” in the following way, “place is

the product of lived space and lived time, a reflection of our states of mind and heart.”

“The dual relation of ma to space and time is not simply semantic. It reflects the fact that “All experience of space is a time-structured process, and all experience of time is a

space-structured

process.”

Therme Vals, Peter Zumthor

III CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH

IPOH OLD TOWN (PALOH) THE CITY THAT TIN BUILT

Ipoh, Malaysia’s fourth largest city, the

The main road Jalan Sultan Iskandar that

capital city of the state of Perak, Malaysia.

leads to old town from the new town divides

It’s around 200 KM north of Kuala Lumpur

the old town into two parts. Tourist hot spots

and 130 KM south of Penang. This makes it

are located in only one part of the old town

a natural stop if travelling between Kuala

leaving the other part mainly for the locals.

Lumpur and Penang on the North-South Expressway or by train. Ipoh is also bordered

The accessibility crossing from a part of the

by the popular Cameron Highlands in the

old town to the other is rather weak due to the

east, making it easy to visit Ipoh from there

busy main road and lack of pedestrian walk-

after one too many teas. Limestone cliffs

ways. The only pleasant pedestrian walkway

with extensive cave networks surround the

would be by the river front which not only

region. The Titiwangsa Mountain Range

connects both parts of the old town directly

dominates the eastern flanks while the

but

to

the

new

town

as

well.

.

Kledang Mountain Range curves around the north; both are visible from the city centre.

It’s laid back, creative, trendy and all set

Combine this spectacular nature and colonial

amongst interesting heritage architecture.

heritage with cave temples, mosques,

The only downside was at night when Ipoh

churches and Hindu temples and it creates a

old town feels a bit like a ghost town. Most

Malaysian cultural hub. Sadly, after Perak

businesses seem to close after dark.

gained independence from the British in 1957, all of this was forgotten. Ipoh has slowly gained recognition as an alluring tourist destination, thanks to a recent city revival and Visit Perak 2017. With a colonial centre, traditional shophouses and a multiracial heart, Ipoh thrives as a cultural capital of Malaysia. This phenomenon is known as the “Ipoh Renaissance”. Ipoh centre is split in two by the Kinta River with Ipoh old town on the west side and Ipoh new town on the east.

Kinta River which is a major river in Perak and the main source of water for Ipoh citizens. However, little effort has been done to revitalise the river front despite publications on revitalisation proposals for the past few

years.

Paloh in the past

SITE ANALYSIS

The site is locatd in the heart of Ipoh old town (paloh) along a main road Jalan Sultan Iskandar which seperates the touristy side of old town and non-touristy side of old town. It is located along the Kinta River which segregates the old town and the new town of Ipoh.

The site is located by the Kinta River facing the main road Jalan Sultan Iskandar. It is surrounded by backlanes of existing old shop houses.There’s an existing local primary school and the oldest chinese temple in Ipoh - Paloh Temple behind the site.

Most of the local activities are nearby the site such as the local temple and primary school right behind the site, local low cost apartments and local kopitiams where the locals gather every morning.

As Ipoh is thriving to be an art & cultural hub because of its richness in local art & culture, creative spaces start to grow and spread in Ipoh Old Town. However, the sapces are mostly confined in small spaces of old shophouses which some of them being private or outdoor spaces on the street.

THE RIVERFRONT PARK AN ABANDONED PEOPLE’S PARK

Kinta River is a major river in the state of Perak. It is named after the near threshing Ipoh, the capital of Perak. The 217.6 kilometer Kinta River is the main source of water for Ipoh citizens. Its beautiful surroundings and cool breeze also offer people a pleasant place for cycling, fishing and river- swimming like the old days, as well as the other leisure activities. Ipoh sits along this river.

There are many limestone hills in the area surrounding the river, and there used to be many tin mines. The supposedly largest tin field in the world was discovered in 1876 in the Kinta Valley.The river was also well known for its wide variety of freshwater fish.

The fisheries department reported a greater abundance of fish from the Intake Dam to Tasek, and from a secluded fish pool.Fishing in this area used to be a major local activity until the fisheries gradually closed down.

The site is an abandoned People’s Park gazetted in front of Ipoh’s oldest temple Paloh Chinese temple. It is a gift from government to people of Ipoh. It has been abandoned twice after being used as a display of plants collection, a car park with sunday craft market, a mamak in the park and now a bbq restaurant which is the main attraction

of

the

park.

Histroy Timeline of People’s Park (Author,2019)

Riverfront in the 90’s

SITE ACCESSIBILITY

The current situation of the park is the lack of permeability to the site which could highly be one of the reasons the park has been abandoned for more than once. It is facing a main road which has no zebra crossing nearby to allow pedestrians from the other side of the old town to walk over, back alleys on the west and south and a fenced riverfront.

URBAN STRATEGIES

The project proposes to revitalise the Kinta River front which was once important to the people of Ipoh during tin mining days. The project encourages visitors to enter the site through the riverfront coming from the other part of the old town by proposing a big scale landscape urban plan to promote walkability / bikbility of the town. The project will act as a river front throughfare for both visitors and locals.l

IV ARCHITECTURAL INTENTION / EXPLORATION

MAZE CONCEPT MAZE AS SELF INSTRUMENTS OF SELF DISCOVERY, TRANSFORMATION & FULFILLMENT

As a very interesting concept, maze image

uces the unpredictability, since it is defined

has been the part of various cultures and their

as an existence changes continuously by

architecture since the ancient eras, so the

movement, it gives the sense of being lost,

notion of the maze is strongly connected with

disorientation, intricacy, and chaos to the

cultural myths and legends of that times.

user. The concept of maze is not only about

Mostly, it was included in religious ceremo-

the rich intersections and narrowness of

nies and rituals and, what is very significant

circulation system components but also

is that it represented a prototype model for

relationships, positionings, and scattering of

sacred spaces in association with the state of

a variety of spaces. Maze-like compositions

high consciousness.When it comes to

are achieved by a high level of concentration

moving through a labyrinth it is neither

of designed spaces and that compactness is

effortless nor a fluent experience because it

supported by circulation system elements.

strongly affects whole circulation and the

The concept allows both creating private

positions of the user in spaces that are richly

(secluded) and public (common) with its

related with each other. Features such as

flexibility of permeability and interrelated

encapsulating, concealing, revealing, hiding

open/close

and unfolding change immediately and unex-

While the secluded rooms can be distanciat-

pectedly but sometimes they happen together

ed from the intersection points of circulation

simultaneously. “A maze can be considered

and

as a folding or even extension of space.

visual relationships are cut, common (public)

Geometrically, the principle of the labyrinth

areas can be located at the points where

is, within the confines of its overall shape, to

many

fold the pathway to the centre so as to make the walking length as long as possible. The labyrinth performs an extreme of how architecture transforms spatial proximities by the arrangement of boundaries and connections.�Mazes are perceived like it has a very straight and linear way to a goal, however, entangled circulations (paths, corridors etc.) concretizes this journey in a contrasting manner. Although labyrinths and maze-like organizations may include patterns that emerge from spatial compositions and reduc-

bundles

conditions

of

intersections

of

spaces,

are

visibility.

and

their

overlapped.

Concept image developed in ADT 1 to inform the project

MAZES IN THE PAST

DIAGRAMMATIC EXPLORATION From the conceptual image developed, the walls are identified as an important element of a maze-like arrangement. The walls acting as boundary as they break up the space not only physically, but psychologically and visually as well. The spatial effects produced by the walls affect the experience of users moving in spaces framed . The wall as element is being explored in diagrammatic forms and it is being explored in a contextual approach by analysing the walls of Ipoh Old Town.

PLANNING STRATEGIES EXPLORATION

Model Exploration in ADT 1.

SPATIAL EXPLORATION

Conceptual Perspectives in ADT1.

(Author,2019)

Materiality idea sketch.

(Author, 2019)

V DESIGN INTERVENTION

Exploaded Axonometric of Rammed Earth Construction.

(Author, 2020)

The project focuses on creating spaces, exploring the tactile and sensorial qualities of slow spaces and materials by using differernce of propotion in spatial qualities for instance openness and enclosure, view and darkness, space and massiveness , solid and voic, hardscape and softscape and so on.

Planning Strategies.

(Author, 2019) Typically, a maze is enclosed with only an entrance and an exit.

However, due to the current situation of difficulty in accessing to the site, the planning strategy is to design a porous ground floor with multiple entrances and exits but still retain the spatial experience of a maze and the original programme of the site as a park.

Architectural Idea.

(Author, 2019) The architectural idea is to mainly play with clean horizontal and vertical planes in different scale and height both horizontally and vertically to control the degree of enclosure and view by puncturing the walls to frame views .

Different programmes are designed along the way for visitors to find the answers about ipoh bit by bit. It is a hybrid programme centered around tourism and local, more than just a place of getting travel information but also a place for gathering, getting information, cultural exchange, relax and respite for both travellers and locals. So the ground floor is designed as a public thoroughfare, a collection of pathways going in and out between internal and external space, narrow and wide pathways, open and enclosed spaces allowing the visitors to connect between the urban life of the street and also riverfront .as highlighted in brown, the walking paths extend out to the site surrounding. Moreover, It’s a hybrid programme cater for both locals and travellers.

Earth tone is chosen as it improves with ages as it develops a natural patina. Rammed earth is the main material of the project.

Rammed earth is an ancient construction technique that utilizes only the earth from the local to create thick, durable walls which can be load bearing,low cost, heat-storing and recycable.

Rammed earth walls are constructed by ramming a mixture of selected aggregrates, including gravel, sand, silt and clay, into place between flat panels called fromwork.

In the past, pottery old buisnesses which require clay which existed centuries ago in Perak. Thus, it is believed that the materials needed are available in Perak.

Layering of Plans.

VI APPENDICES

Ground Floor Plan in ADT1.

Sections in ADT1.

Nicole Hooi Yi Tien / 0313611 Design Thesis Booklet Masters of Architecture / Taylor’s University,Malaysia