Dissertation

COLOUR TECTONICS:

S e nsory effects in Malaysia University Library Design

N O R SYIFAA BUKHARI

M ASTER OF ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY

M a rch 2019

Abstract

21st century library building in a compelling position as world and trends of library architecture is changing concurrently from old to the modern designs. Architects commonly design spaces focuses for human needs based on design necessities, but visual is much more than just seeing; it is a subjective human experience. From old to modern library, library has its own importance as a place within the community for many years to come. Malaysia university library are unable to fulfil some of the sensory experience functions, but are able to extend purpose of what the library can offer as cognitive spaces.

The interconnection and collaboration of architectural aspects when looking at sensory experience is necessary when designing a space to cater for human experience. In this research paper, the nearby university library in Selangor is chosen as a context to further explore the relationship between two elements. Due to dominance described to the visual sense in the Eyes of The Skin, Juhani Pallasmaa argues that this aspect is being neglected in architecture of 21st century. Theory such as Peter Zumthor’s architectural environment, it can simply concluded that the study of visual sense hasn’t been deepened enough when coming into design solutions. As this query is further looked at in contextual aspect, the first readings were take upon a site analysis with the observations of library characteristics such as what visual senses intrigue more to users and conducting questionnaires with the users of nearby university public library in Selangor which familiar of using library for

long term not just focusing on reading to further understand their perceptions on the colour tectonics, sensory experience in the building. This research paper will focuses on Malaysian architectural current research findings and how applicable in cities such as Selangor which will also reveal the proper architectural elements that are needed to be considered when tackling colour tectonics, sensory experience and such as the study of

human experiences and building where users activities are taken place for enrichment of architectural design. From looking at the findings, this research paper will provide different perceptions to architects when coming up with design techniques for making university library close to student in modern city generation which it is not just an option with an emphasis the benefits to students, designers, communities, and architects.

Keywords: Selangor; university library; sensory experience; colour tectonics; visual sense

Preface

This is an original dissertation by the author, Nor Syifaa Bukhari, submitted in total fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Architecture. It contains work and research done from March 2019 to December 2020.

The thought of colour tectonic was theoretical idea developed in multi discipline perspectives, this dissertation focuses on the research of the relationship between the theorization of colour tectonics and its application to explore visual sense and human experience in Malaysian context.

The research is made solely by the author with references to the sources. The information and research accumulated here will be beneficial to aspiring architects and designers of the Malaysian built environment.

Acknowledgement

No work is ever the making a single person. I would therefore like to thank everyone who made it possible for me to put this document together. Firstly, I would like to thank my main supervisor, Dr. Keith Tan for his continuous support from the very beginnings of the research, and for his guidance, criticism, advice, patience, knowledge, motivation and patience has been an invaluable asset throughout this dissertation.

I would also like to acknowledge my co supervisor Dr Filzani and also Dr Sucharita Srirangam and Dr Camelia May Li Kusumo for their valuable comments on this dissertation.

Finally, I would like to thank my parents without whom not only this year, but my

entire architectural education would not have been possible. I thank them for their constant support, source of wisdom, strength and encouragement.

Last but not least, my friends and colleagues for making this architectural journey an enjoyable experience.

Thank you.

I have read and understood the regulation of Taylor’s University concerning plagiarism. I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which has been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma of the University or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.

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1.0 Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 1 provide a base of this dissertation by presenting a summary background of the study, research problem, research question, aim, objective and methodology.

1.1 Problem Statement

Colour as sensory effects in library architecture is increasingly accepted and valued in the building industry across the world as contemporary design approach to address the built environment issues, the overall progress on colour tectonics implementation in building designs in Malaysia are not really well implemented. This need is to derive from the observation that there is the lack of understanding of the nature of visual sense in the nature of university library architecture in existing Malaysian landscape.

In acknowledging the Goethe’s idea of colour theory that “sense of colour and the message it potrays in creating the ambience is importance or the functions of a space supported by psychological mood” as well as taking into consideration that “to grasp the phenomena of the Theory of Colours, pure observations and a sound head are required but both are quite rare than one might think.” Furthermore, as well as taking into consideration that “there is no separation at all between observing at things and reflecting on those things. And even less so, there is no disconnection that may hinder a set of organized elements similar to a human being from becoming a communicative part of an organism” (Bogushevskaya, 2015) there could be some validity to the theory that the use of colour, as well as knowing the effects, can be used as interaction between the production and the reception of colour.

The outcome of the study offer information relating to the transitions of thoughts of university library trends on how the term of library was used, how it was constructed and the position of architecture with the discourse on library. From the outcomes, the

identity of library was found to challenge the taken for granted understanding of space as an idealized concept to point out the condition of ‘colour tectonics’, as clarified relationship between the concept and manifestation of university library. The new knowledge and outcomes of the theoretical study extend existing views on the problematic nature of university library and offer alternative ways of perceiving the nature of university library to clear the equivocacies of university library. This can contributes the new knowledge of benefit to architecture and other place related

disciplines in term of both the theoretical and practical perspectives.

The purpose, environment, the information of users’ are also main factors which

creatively be effectivel y on users emotional conditions. Therefore, colours must be researched in real contexts where compounded patterns interact with behaviour and perceptions because they are experienced in environments (Tofle, Schwarz, Voon, & Max Royaie, 2004)

Following the current trends of architecture world, space design needs is quite common. Rather more than being comforted, it is subjective practice to develop certain interpretations of the space. The criteria from the visual sense that we have can give certain concept of a space which the insight of experiencing colour tectonics described as sensory experience. From the lighting, to the temperament, colour and overall visual ranges of the space, changing our senses to the environment that the space provides. At the same time, experiences thru sense is subjective, it is still very analytic in architecture

as people have diverge belief in connection about moving through a space as sensory experience. Thinking and fulfilling experience mind sets as well as finding a shared of attributes among individuals is difficult to achieve in space, which makes it all more encouraging when one can succeeds in this feat. The success of architectural space with colour and environment experience is essential because its ability to attract real audiences.

It is something remarkable that visitors will pass on to others. To remember, and even consider to revisit again should be drawn by an architect. In this context, to design amazing university library that meet current and future needs, we should recognize that pertaining to university library sensory experience must be identified during the development of new library buildings. The description of any indoor or outdoor environment is directly related to its colour and it is requisite where the theactivities occur to search the users’ recognition of the place. Thus, we know more

about how ambient environment conditions affect user’s experience than we know about how the university library space influences psychologically.

1.2 Background Study

The reality of university library architecture especially in Malaysia has lost its design approach, ensuing in the lack of user interest towards the built environment All condense architecture into a polish image, to be absorbed visually for a short period and then forgotten. The building is embraced into a pretty package and delivered straight to the public in this form. This is typically viewed as favorable to the architectural industry as it enables wider distribution of work and broader engagement by the public. However, the true nature of architecture is the built form that is, the project as it exists in reality and this aspect is being neglected. Architecture has become an aesthetic object. Realness and emotive connection. People cannot truly engaged with architecture unless it is actively experienced and perceived in the real world. The human body also deals with forces, forms, and structures on a daily basis, it constitute how we move and function and hence also displays tectonic characteristics.

During the last decade has seen a reinvention of the library in the UK and across the world (Ken Worpole, 2013). Today, the idea of modern library described as “living room in the city” becoming a factor of modern urban culture, libraries are as much about than that

where people meet, read, discuss and explore ideas as is, and to this change of role, architects are having to reflect to it. Due to this trends which differentiates the characteristics attributes of the traditional university library and the modern university library architectural pattern. Brian Edward, 2009 observed “than any time in the past hundred, in the past twenty years, libraries has seen more change”. He is an admirable group of contemporary library historians, architectural critics and practitioners, whose support for the new library movement. Visual sense is a creative art, the optic nerve

transferred data to the visual cortex in the brain where the image in view is immediately reconstructed each time we observe the world around us. An integral part of creative art of seeing, seen thru colour vision. In stimulating the observer, colour plays a significant role.

A paramount of example such as colours have been known in philosophy as lessimportant standard ever since before Le Corbusier. To architect known as Le Corbusier, modern architecture integrated in large urban projects with the aim to ensure the applicability of the art of several colours and architecture for the common man were part and parcel of the same ideal. Colour compliment the architecture of building in its logical and indispensable elements.

An article explains that “colour in contemporary architecture is a useful resource to express versatility, an aspiration formulated from era of modernisation is based on potential for change: changes in visual criteria of the buildings; honour of the buildings,

changes in position, procedure and technology” (Juan Serra, 2013, p. 2) It explains that people modify their own styles and the process things look around them in order to give them consequence or emotion, and to define and regulate space and behaviour. Reshaping the architecture is not only from colour but also its geometry, visual perception, visual matter, dimensions and texture. It may present a contrast between the one being perceived

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