Winter Study Abroad Documentation 2015 Singapore, Malyasia & South Korea Sean Brungardt
Airports, Round 1
Dubai Airport
Singapore Airport
Wichita to Singapore took me nearly around the world in about a day. As such I spent quite a bit of time in some very interesting air ports. I got bumped up to a business class seat preciated!
Denver Airport
Business class seat, Emirates
Singapore Marina Bay Sands Complex
View from across the bay
View from atop the ferris wheel
Inside the Art and Science Museum’s courtyard
Original sketch of Marina Bay Sands The Marina Bay Sands was a fantastic place to explore. It contains the largest mall I’ve ever been in, with gondolas, shops, food, a large subway station, bars, housing, museum and the infamous sky deck. This place was the setting to two great days, and a continual stop on the way to other things.
Sky Deck
The master plan of architect Moshe Safdie, the Marina Bay sands felt like a focal point in Singapore. Creating an environment which rivals even the best city skylines.
Art and Science Museum
Stella Artois being enjoyed at the Kudeta-sky deck
Moving skin system-exterior of Marina Bay Sands tower
Singapore was a wonderful place to explore, not only as a group but individually. The entire time we were there my only thought was...how can we get things like this in the states?? The buildings all felt new, thought out and grand in scale. While Singapore does not possess a cohesive style in the same way a city like Venice does, it was exciting and full of change. This is mostly due of course to the 99 year leases associated with every property in the country. Meaning that after 99 years the government may choose to improve on the current lot should the owner no longer own it. ums, stores, buildings and aquariums I visited. Singapore
Bottom most level of Marina Bay Sands
nearly everyone spoke english.) But it had an interesting mix of cultures, commerce and architecture. All of these things opened my mind to totally new and interesting possibilities, which could be brought back to the US on perhaps a smaller scale. Singapore is an excellent example of working within your means.
Marina Bay Sands Shopping
View from Marina Bay Sands looking towards Gardens by the Bay
View from Gardens looking back towards Marina Bay
Louis Vuitton Island
FOOD!
Barbeque Stingray
Laksa
Roasted Duck
Shrimp Soup with barley water
Some kind of noodles, with Satay and Teh Terik
Green tea Kit-Kat
Tika Masalah and naan
Icre cream sandwhich
Unagi Burger
Milo Dinosaur
Other Sites of Singapore
Sculpture at Red Dot Museum
Singapore National Library
Building by WOAH
Sculpture at Red Dot Museum
Temple in China Town
Red Dot Museum
Sculpture in Modern Art Museum
Aquarium on Sentosa Island
Super Tree by night
Art School
Modern Art Museum
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
At first, Malaysia seemed foreign from it’s neighbor Singapore in so many ways. But upon further reflection, that is because it is. Malaysia has a much more pronounced cultural history within even their most iconic buildings. Malaysia also has many unique and interesting foods, styles, languages and over al culture which Singapore lacked. For being two neighboring countries and sharing essentially the same environment, the contrast between the two countries was huge. That’s just from one big city to another. Kuala Lumpur itself speaks very little for the country side surrounding it. Kuala Lumpur was a bustling, dirty and hectic city (at least compared to Singapore). It was the culture shock I think so many of us had not felt until this point. Crazy traffic jams, tons of cars, motor bikes driving on the side walks, smog, and tons of people. However for all those things, there is much to be said for KL. Delicious foods, great markets, contemporary buildings adjacent to ancient temples, and a culture much more centered on Islam and religion than I’ve ever previously experienced. KL was the distance from the United States I didn’t even know I wanted until I arrived.
Historic Building in Main Square
The Petronas Towers
Old Mosque Downtown
View from the Petronas Towers
Oldest Outdoor Covered Market
View of the Petronas Towers’ Supports
Other Sites of Malaysia
Vernacular Housing
Venturing outside of our home base of KL, park version) of the vernacular housing was an eye opener. Not only was it because I knew that I would be talking a semester long assignment on this very subject, but also because it was such a stark contrast to the city of KL. Without being nostalgic in the form and appearances of these vernacular buildings, the actual function of them was delightful. It was pleasant, that on a hot day I could be indoors without AC on and not feel awful. Taking a trip to the “new” capitol of Putrajaya does not seem as noticeable as it is within the
The Bantu Caves
Vernacular Housing
two large mosques, one of which was having it’s call to prayer when we were there. The way the governmental workers came from the capitol building into the mosque next door we were a part of while abroad.
Capitol Building, Putraya
Rose Mosque, Putrajaya
Steel Mosque, Putrajaya
New College, Putrajaya
Melaka
Ruined Church
Man playing an Erhu
Ruined Battlements
that this city would be fantastic. While not nearly as fast paced as KL, Melaka had much more character. The historic Shop houses, old forts, ruined church and Dutch square; all made this city stand out. But I think the thing that made the biggest impact was seeing the ways in
houses. Still very much in use, the Chinese shop houses maintained their historic form and veneer, but often the interior was gutted to be used to its fullest extent in the 21st century. These historic buildings had the character of their past, with “vernacular� additions made to them. It is a testament to what being named a historic site can really mean for a communicase, it protected the historic forms, while allowing the current residents not to be stuck in the
Back Streets
River next to Chinese Shop Houses
Ruined Battlements
Dutch Square
Seoul, South Korea Modern Art Museum
View of Seoul from the Tower
Leaving the hot and humid days of South East Asia behind, we returned once again to winter with South Korea. Again a great change from Singapore and Malaysia for so many reasons. I had already traveled to Japan a few years back, so Korea felt like coming back to the Asia something familiar about being a country where I 100% could not read anything again. Korea was perhaps my favorite country we visited, only because there was something about it I just can’t quite describe. Like the other two countries, Korea, an Seoul in particular, is a place of extremes. A city which is nearly equally diverse in it’s skyline as it is in its use of underground space. I have never been somewhere that allowed me to walk to an under construction sky scraper, only to descended to shopping, restaurants, subway stations and an underground amusement park before. Seoul is a city which embraces it’s past, present and future all so tects, that still maintains the level of awe in every other portion of the city which is felt in the presence of these great works. Seoul is a city which I loved walking at night just as much as I loved walking by day. There is something which captures the imagination, wanderlust and adventurous sprit in this city.
Women’s College
Street View
Remaining Portion of City Wall
Zahah Hadid Complex
Zahah Hadid Complex
Temple Grounds
Seoul City Scape
Art Instullation in City Hall Building
Lote Tower
Planning Museum
Planning Museum
Lote Land, Underground Theme Park
Street Scene
Art Instullation in City Hall Building
FOOD 2!
Strange Ice Cream Cones
ing is eating, and the other half is architecture. This trip allowed me to do both of those things, and while Singapore and Malaysia had great food, Korea was nuts. There was not a single thing I ate the entire time that I knew what it was called before I ordered it, nor regretted oris sushi the same in reverse). My ony regret while abroad is the time I wish I had spent eating more food. I was fortunate enough though to have the best birthday of my life while abroad. I wish I had than any of the other times we had gotten it. The night was full of great food, laughter, percally interesting people. Now once they found out it was my birthday the CEO himself got up asked me why I did not mention my wife. Of course since I barely knew they people it isn’t Korean BBQ
hol), continual jokes about that, and building relationships with some really great people.
Spicty Soup Which I Can’t Pronounce
Orange Truck
Macaroon
Bukchon Hanok Village
Gagnam for hours looking for food.) The Hanok village is a historical neighborhood where here right around sunset, and left a little after dark. This place had mostly cleared out by then and I found myself walking through these historic streets alone. In the distance I could see the modern city and I began to think. I began to think about all of the fantastic things I saw, tasted, touched, smelled and heard. The experience was one I would go back and do right now if I could. To understand architecture and to be a good architect, you have to experience architecture. You can experience a great deal of architecture in the states. But in tial and eye opening that was. With the opportunity to do this, processing the design oriented mindset I now have, I understand the nuisances these cities have over once like Lawup by the picture on the top right there. Asia’s culture is rooted in tradition and history which extends further back than our own. But while this is the basis for their culture, they always have their eyes set to the future. Sometimes, like Singapore this can be detrimental to your past. But in places like the Hanok village, everything seems to align itself. Asia has and will always draw me as an example to what I feel design is all about. Standing with one foot in the past, one in the present and your eyes to the future.
Trip Home
Leaving South Korea
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver Airoport
Canada
Rockies
Rockies
Back to Kansas!