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Yien Ling Studio: Getting Away from it All Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape A portfolio submitted as fufuilment of Architecture BA (Hons)
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studio: gafia
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The intention of this studio has been to promote the exploration of the Northumberland coast within a cross-diciplinary design framework whilst forming a speculative proposal for a destination of pleasure. Thre brief has given the space to follow individual narratives representative of a personal expression of taste and intrigues.
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CONTENTS
Primer; coastal typologies ....................................................................8-17 Staging; follow the pilgrim route .......................................................... 18-33 Thesis Project; The Lindisfarne Pilgrim Station .....................................34-87 Cross Discipline Design; Typography Design ........................................88-89 Primer Exhibition.....................................................................................90 Thinking Through Making ......................................................................91 Dissertation.............................................................................................92-97 Appendix
n.b: all new work completed post-final critique has been marked with this symbol
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getting away from it all; primer coastal typologies
Typologies of defense; understaning coastal architecture. A cross diciplinary analysis of the architecture of the coast with a particular focus on typologies of defense. Defense could be looked into military defense and flooding defense. However, my interest focus on the military archtiecture from forts in the sea to enclosed-like pillbox. They usually composed with thick wall to ensure basic defense and simple form for economic consideration. These buildings are varied and unique to their geographic location and designated use. Small practices are begins of comibning typologies study and design. Thinking points that the unique seaside surroundings could bring to architecture.
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HM Fort Roughs, Something interest in this project is about the way this concrete structure sitting in the sea. And a strong monumental odd atmosphere it brought to people. Additionally, the cylinder concrete structure is to provide accomodation and technical support.
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Expo. Blyth Harbour Pillbox, Atmosphere explration of pillbox
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Calshot Castle, UK Ancient defense architecture section analysis in model, and unfolded elevation
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Waven Cafe, Korea Coastal Building nature ventilation studty
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Spatial Organization
Fort Drum, Philippines Having Interests in the circulation and spatial organization as a heavily fortified island ( or architecture!). Analysis was shown through diagrams.
Circulation and Entrance
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The Thame barrier, UK It is for flooding defense that sitting in the Thame. Research focuses on the way it being located on the river bed through section and model.
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SMALL PRACTICES RESPONDING TO THE STUDY OF TYPOLOGIES -Seaside Seatings
Seating area along seaside, it aims to follow the cliffy geography, being casted by concrete. Further thought is about taking the whole group of area as an assemblage of pillboxes. Visitors are allowed to sit upon or inside the pillbox-like seat, depending on different weather condition.
Distribution of seats along seaside.
Seats directly expose to surrounding.
Pillbox-like seat, could get away from rain but remaining opportunities of scene viewing.
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SMALL PRACTICES RESPONDING TO THE STUDY OF TYPOLOGIES -Public Toilet
/ Planning the toilet location, using color to exaggerate edges, route, form
Concrete Simple Enclosed Accomodate Tall /
A small practice about public toilet on coastline, responding to previous primer study.
Model showing the idea of toilet sitting into the surrounding in coastal area.
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northumberland coast visit; staging follow the pilgrim route
Staging has provided an oppourtunity to experiment, test and explore ideas to feed into my these project. The Northumberland coast was the focus of our studio with each individual being given a strectch to study. Berwick to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) was my testing ground. During my visit, I fell interest into the history of pilgim in Lindisfarne area, that I started to explore the pilgrims’ route through a series of talk with locals to understand the related information. The visit was recorded through a two minutes short film, including places that Lindisfarne’s pilgrims will visit, to understand the whole journey of pilgrims.
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Film Poster/
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Film Sets/ Follow the Pilgrim Route
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When you hear the word “pilgrimage” you may find yourself thinking about a medieval expedition - but the concept is alive and well today.
“ I’ve got pretty sore feet, I’m pretty hungry and I’m pretty cold “
The act of the pilgrimage is considered a unique witness to the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. And it seems like a common thing between the past of Holy Island and the experience of pilgrims.
“the pilgrimage can be a tough experience. It involves walking 100 miles, sometimes in awful weather, and sleeping on (church hall) floors.” — A pilgrim
The lindisfarne area, which usually called holy island is known as the Cradle of Christianity. As a tidal island with its unique nature view, some sense of the sacred increase, which make it stand out from other pilgrimages. Hundreds of pilgrims came to visit the priory on Holy Island every year since 1976. This film aims to explore the final route of pilgrims, mainly focus on the A1 road that most pilgrims will pass by and then through the causeway to the island. It is about where they passed, they rest, they saw. And with some talks with locals, more things were revealed, that once several threatens came and destroyed the place. Whereas the sanctity of place is still alive and attract visitors.
For with the flow and ebb, its style Varies from continent to isle; Dry shod o'er sands, twice every day, The pilgrims to the shrine find way; Twice every day the waves efface Of staves and sandalled feet the trace.
In the end of the film, a short clip about military defense ruins that near the causeway was added. As a reminder that threaten once was there, so closed, near our generation.
Film Pamphlet
A1 ROAD TO HOLY ISLAND
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The film briefly introduced the pilgrim route through a talk with local. Film sets show places that pilgrims will pass.
Full Film
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Berwick
For with the flow and ebb, its style Varies from continent to isle; Dry shod o'er sands, twice every day, The pilgrims to the shrine find way; Twice every day the waves efface
Holyisland
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Collage showing pilgrims and the destinition of the pilgrims.
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SITE Causeway
Main Spots on the pilgrim route and their connection
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Holyisland (Lindisfarne)
The Priory (Destinition of the pilgrims)
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30 Pillbox 10 min walk
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In front of the causeway, left hand side is the existing car park, and the site is behind it.
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Low tide wet meadow will appear
View from causeway to the site
High Tide
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Vehicle Cycle Walk
Military defense
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Thesis Project; Realisation and Refinement The Lindisfarne Pilgrim Station
The Lindisfarne PIlgrim station aims to recreate the local timeline that led by tide time, which provides different levels of rest for visitors to stay, to gather, to spend on its own new timeline. The design was considered to hold on the timline in different aspects, from view, atmosphere, flooring, activies to typography design. The chosen site is next to the end of the causeway and causeway car park, which is only three minutes walk from the car park. A row of military defense concrete scatter left after second war across the site, and around ten minutes walk to the north side of the building will meet two pillboxes is nestled into a hill. The site is on the way to the Holy Island that people usually wandering around to wait for low tide, moreover, it is a boundary for the mainland and the Holy Island.Through the time visitors stay in this area extends, it expects that the connection between the mainland of the uk and Lindisfarne gets tighter.
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Originally, the acitivies of visitors around the site was dominated by tide condition, that people came and left due to the tide. The destination of the pilgrim station is to recreate the timeline. While visiting the site, it was high tide time, an elder was waiting inside his car to wait for the tide down, he said he has been wait for hours. And during my visit, lots of visitors came without knowing the tide time, and most of them decided to leave first and see.
Recreate the timeline, Develope its own timline.
Sleep/ Meditation Cafe/ Dinning Toilet/ Short Stay/ Quick food
numbers of visitors (Before) numbers of visitors (After)
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Explorint existing and potential walking path
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Military concrete scatters highlight the boundary of the land and sea, that visitors walking forth and back of it, being indicated without attention. According to PRIMER and pillbox in context, spaces inside thick walls also be served as inhabitable walls. In design, secondary activities were located inside the solid wall and main spaes are emphasized by a sense of openess in space.
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Process Model
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Process
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Process
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Initial Thinking about building activity.
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FROM PILLBOX TO‌. A strong influence by Primer and pillbox near the site to my design reflects on the atmosphere and cylinder form. The enclosed cylinder space dominates an initial thought about a gathering space in the pilgrim station, which is for gathering in silence.
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15min
1 hrs
3 hrs
6 hrs
E Exploring initial concept through section
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Considering crowded summer. it is necessary to plan the sleeping area flexibie and could be expanded. The concept is not a “comfortable hotel quality” sleeping area. That is, visitors laying on mat with sleeping bag gathering together. During my visit, I’ve spent a night in a hostel near the site, it was winter, and I’m the only guest in that night! And there’s bed, but no blanket provide, you have to rent a sleeping bag.
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determination of material in model
MATERIALITY
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Diagram of timeline in final design
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Initial Design in the context
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Final Design in the Context
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GROUND FLOOR 1. Ramp 2.Dinning area 3. Meditation Space 4. Nursery Room 5. Disabled Toilet 6. Toilet 7. Locker Room 8. Infomation center 9. Stair pass the Bridge 10. Storage 11. Kitchen 12. Sharing Kitchen 13. Shower + Changing Room 14. Platform
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FIRST FLOOR 15. Stiars to Sleeping Space 16. Bridge 17. Sleeping Space
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Roof
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Section, building relationship with sea and land
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Comparison of Moments in the pilgrim station
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Comparison of Moments in the pilgrim station
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Section showing activies
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Entrance, Toilet, Information: 15min- 1 hr
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Dinning Area: 1-3 hrs
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Sleeping Area: 3-6 hrs
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View come out from toilet in the pilgrim station
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View from exterior into dinning area in the pilgrim station
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On the bridge in the pilgrim station
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Exterior view of the pilgrim station Ramp to Entrance
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TExterior view of the pilgrim statione, dinning area
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Exterior view of the pilgrim station
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Cross Discipline Design
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To emphasize the concept of timeline in design and considering the visual need of elder group. I decided to introduce tygpgraphy design into the pilgrim station. Following the sign, it indicates visitors the direction and implicates the timeline.
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Primer Design
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Thinking Through Making
This process aims to think in 1:20 scale in real material for initial concept. The part of building that I focus and experiement is about the relationship between wooden structure and tinfoil curtain.
Dissertation 92
Hyperspace/
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Introduction
H
yperspace, an installation designed by the Chapuisat brothers, which was displayed in the Kusthalle Sankt Gallen in Switzerland in 2005.
Entering a hole in a wall, the viewer will slide for several metres before being immersed in a labyrinthic space made of cardboard but perceived from the inside as a cave. Once inside, the only way for the visitors to leave is to crawl and squirm through the complex pathway until he emerges from the other side. The installation provides opportunities to explore the space in-between the wall, which lead people to think about more possible experiences while walls are accessible.
Chapter 1, Starting from Jennifer Bloomer’s The Matter Of Matter: The Longing Of Gravity, the nostalgia related to the ruin was revealed, which was affected by the haptic experience and resonated with childhood memory. Chapter 2, In next chapter, the poché in the dome of the St. Paul Cathedral, is a place that I’ve visited before and was impressed by its desolate feeling with the sense of disorientation, the echo sound mixed by walking steps on metal spiral stairs and the chatter of visitors. To understand the emotion in the dome precisely, a writing by The Gentle Author will be conducted to
To understand the diversity of the experiences in-between the wall more, I will explore a variety of cases to provide firsthand information for my study. For example, the space in-between old castle wall, it is a unique experience that visitors will focus on details of the surrounding. Following the steep stairs climbing up to the top. Within the narrow space, texture and roughness of the stone, the echo of foot steps sounds of visitors, dusts that floating in the dim light, or the smell of time ( Metal rust? Moss between the gap of stone bricks?),
ananlyze factors of disorientation. Chapter 3, Exploration of the sense of fearlessness in-between the wall are not situations that usually happen in normal life. Thus, the researches on media works are conducted. Through two films, that is, “The voice from stone “(2017) and “Behind the wall” (2015), a focus on sound came from the wall arouse the imagination in the residents mind and cause a series of following stories in three of the dwellings of film.
which occupied the senses of visitors, as if a series of journey of perception. As for the function of the wall, it could provide security and sometimes carry the weight of a roof to form a shelter. lt can also define an interior and an exterior space and guide the direction inside a building or might materialize a border. In addition to other cases, a blur domain within the thickness in the inhabitable wall is an enlarged enclosure that hosts a space in itself. Considering that the space in-between the wall is not easy to access, the research will look into resources that present in films, comic, literatures and installations.Moreover, to clearly discuss the cases of the space in-between wall, chapters will be arranged according to experiences, which is harmony, disorientation and horror.
The dissertation aims to describe these spaces more completely, sometimes introducing poetic or evocative forms of writing. Due to the need of other thoughts from different viewer, direct information or record from others will be important to explore. To borrow a series of literature work will also be required, in order to discuss more metaphor in different aspects that is beyond expression. In addition to the limitation of academic level and constrains on researching methods, the study is based on a review of relevant academic literature including fiction.
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The space in-between old castle wall, visitors’ close view to surroundings
“Lying in the broad, enveloping poché of an ancient castle on Loch Ness, my face catching the gentle breeze off the water through the machicolation, I am cradled in a sac of pure pleasure. The summer breeze, the setting sun, the warmth of the stone, the weight of it, the possibility of the monster- oh, I think I see it! No, now it’s gone. I am swallowed by this wall, warm, safe, comfortable, but also pricked by longing. It has something to do with the immediacy of the material and its attributes- warmth, weight, odor, color, texture- and the distance of history of which it is a pregnant trace. Other bodies, sharp projectiles, boiling liquids, abject substances, scrambling limbs, the sound of metal on metal, metal on stone, metal on flesh. The howling of dogs. The longing of human to animals. Here, in this utterly foreign place, I feel at home. This wall of home and shelter, gravid object swollen with these facts, can be represented with two simple straight, parallel lines.” —Bloomer
The text of Jennifer Matter
Bloomer’s Of
Matter:
Longing Of Gravity
The The
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The
poché
in
the
dome of the St. Paul Cathedral.
Exploring
the
simi-
larities between the poché in the dome of the St. Paul Cathedral and “the borrowers”.
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Through the movie,“The Whitechapel”, to discuss the disorientation in the reality in the poché
After found the trace of young brother, they started a chase.
The brother cannily designed a nail wall, smelly pool, and other interactive equipment
A Room with Four Layers Walls
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Conclusion
To conclude, the space in-between wall could be explored through haptic, Miniature and auditory imagination, which will le different experiences to visitors. In chapter 1, a feeling of home was contributed through haptic, the memory of childhood and the history of the place in a foreign poché. Further discussions, it reveals the significant role of the materiality and form in an environment that could increase the level of intimacy of people to a place. In the poché, the limit of the distance of perception is controlled by the narrow form and human will concentrate on the proximity of body instead of the perspective view of the world. Such an experience shown in the secret places and the womb in childhood and it leads visitors to find harmony in a poché of foreign castle. In chapter 2, it discusses the disorientation of visitors in a subsidiary space within the space in-between wall in cathedral dome. The analysis of the poché is about the abnormal configuration and the less consideration of human scale in design, and these unconventional experiences attribute visitors to the difficulty of recognizing the whole condition of the space in the first visit. Then the discussion moved from the influence of physical form of the space to the visitors themselves, which is about the loss of height, the proprioceptive and imagination. The imagination is partly related to the memory of the miniature world in childhood, or other way of saying is that it is naturally for anyone to imagine about shrinking or enlarging of people’s own body, and in the poché, the imagination came true that visitors entered into an imagined-like world— the miniature world, that the experience blurs the feeling in reality. In chapter 3, the relationship between walls, sounds and residents is explored through two horror films. Through sounds, residents could easily connect with the location of the sounds. Meanwhile, residents will simultaneously imagine the source of sound and gain information through it.
For instance, the echo of the sound of church bells transmitted through the streets of a town lead people to notice their citizenship. In domestic environment, the penetration of sound between residents could bring a social connection. However, sometimes it woiuld be served as annoying noises. Further discussion in the future is that the penetration of sound reminds residents of the loss of privacy. Therefore, it is important to search for a balance between the sense of privacy and community. Through the discussion, it reveals that memories from the past plays an important role in awakening an experience, which is a clue that could be done in modern architecture design to enhance the feeling. As referred in the discussion, haptic, miniature and auditory imagination are points that are been thought of in modern architecture design courses yet could be considered more. For instance, seeing a miniature world, people would imagine themselves inside the miniature world simultaneously. Thus, what can we do with the imagination that people simultaneously have? Same question is given to the possiblity of manipulation of on auditory imagination. Other exploration in the future could take Poché Parisienne as reference, which is a consideration through the space in-between wall, or the “blackening” part of apartments in a city. The “blackening” part of apartments is identified as Poché, which is a distinction between public and private, exterior and interior, moral and immoral, etc. The Poché of apartment is not only structure from space but movement areas from main rooms, courtyards from covered spaces, buildings from the street, and so on. Furthermore, the Poché is a separate space suspending within the fabric of the city and the boundary of apartment. In this case, through the operation of the Poché of apartment, it could readjust the relationship between city and residences. Additionally, main arguments in discussion, including haptic, miniature and auditory imagination, could be tried to introduced into rethinking the Poché of apartment.
Poché Parisienne
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