Of Khao San Rd and other short stories

06

Semester 06 works by Shamin Sahrum

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Of Khao San Road and other short stories

06

identification number 2009360311

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Tectonic & Field Ensembles.

First Edition 2012 All rights reserved.

Thanks to all the lecturers who made this happen: En Fairuz Reza En Hailane Salam En Jamsyid Idrus Puan Mazuiyah Muhammad Shamin bin Sahrum

FSPU, UITM

We like design to be visually powerful, intellectually elegant, and above all timeless.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

S06 semester zero six works

“ Tectonic & Field Ensembles “

project 01 Architectural Design for the Disabled Barrier Free Simulation: Recording and Capturing

project 02 The Refurbishment of FSPU To improve access for Universal Design

project 03 Capturing the Temperament Of chaotic Bangkok

project 04 The architectural ensemble of Khao San Road, Bangkok.

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PROJECTONE01BRIEF

Architectural Design for the Disabled Barrier Free Simulation: Recording and Capturing

Looking at various issues on disabled access and discuss possible solutions to those challenges. We will spend time learning about designing within specific context in order to establish continuity within new proposed structure and existing spaces. We will discuss and examine other important topics in spatial spaces and complying building requirements. At the end, we will seek to understand how to improve existing spaces, contextual site, in practice, while recognizing its limits and complexity.

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Previous page :

Recording and Simulating a disability, (blindness). By doing this we see the built environment problems faced by the blind plus see the reaction of our society, whether good or bad.

These recordings will provide to be useful later on during during the design process for barrier free design.

Above: Segments of the short movie titled So Close, So far.

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Above and below:

The use of senses, particularly smell, touch, hearing was documented and focuesd on as these were the strong points for the blind to go on navigating through their daily lives.

So close so far: A Group Project Members are: Salar Khoramian Pour Muhammad Shamin Sahrum Fadzli Fuad Nur Hidayah Samsaimon

PROJECTTWO02BRIEF

The Refurbishment of FSPU To improve access for Universal Design

Physical access has become a pointed problem in FSPU. Increasing numbers of students with disabilites, old buildings have to be adjusted for disabled students. Not all rooms in the faculty are accessible and the University will have to adjust parts of the environment to facilitate the mobility of disabled students, who are usually accomodated on ground floors.

The overall task is to design an educational annex- consisting of a series of spaces; as an attachment to an existing building especially within courtyard areas. We we’re asked to make a proposition for a new extension that is confidently inscribed into the existing landscape and studio design classes.

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Project 2: A Group Project Members are: Salar Khoramian Pour Muhammad Shamin Sahrum Fadzli Fuad Nur Hidayah Samsaimon

For the second project, a continuation of the first project. A Series of experimental collages were done, in 3d and 2d, to extract parts from the movie. These were done to bring the experiential parts out, to become a factor in designing.

Above: Idea where the disabled person moves faster than normal people. An environment where the full senses are being utilized. A space where time is slowed down.

Early impression of interior

Previous page: Idea where the environment meets half way. Where normal people’s vision is reduced partially by the dark, guided only by strips of light.

Here in this space, mist will fill the area. Imparing peoples vision while the mist (air moisture) will be felt by blind people and normal people alike, increasing the experiential feeling felt.

Time is slowed down, the destination will become of second importance.

Here, the journey is everything.

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From the information gathered, we propsed the idea of an activity whcih would relate to all the senses, both for disabled and non disabled.To foster social interaction between individuals, to slow movement down to take the time to enjoy the finer things in life.

So that’s when the idea of drinking tea came up.

Above are the types of tea leaves each with their own properties.

Inside this space, the repeated activities of making tea will become a norm. And the repeated process of making tea will cause the blind to make tea at a speed where normal people would be astonished to see.

A space where everyone would become equal.

1

2 Sound

Sound Sound Tactile Smell Sound 3 Tactile

4

5

6

Here, the environment will be designed for ease of use and safety for the blind. Shown here are the processes of making tea by the blind. Showing how they navigate with their senses.

Upon entering the entrance one is greeted by the smell of various tea leaves. The jars are not labled but relies on a person’s sense of smell to decide which tea they would like to make tea with.

One is also encouraged to feel the texture of the tea leaves.

From here the leaves are taken into the room further to make tea.

A small pantry is provided from where instruments of making tea are prepared.

Here the process of making tea is heightened to more than just making tea, but with the controlling of light, views and materials, the process becomes an experience.

Drinks are enjoyed on small benches prepared with slight openings in the roof letting in view and light in an other wise dark room. Letting people appreciate the ambience of taking things slow, isolating the foyer’s bustle.

Views and light are controlled. Only certain openings penetrate the structure. It makes people appreciate the light more. While the feeling of the suns warmth can be felt by the blind as they pass under the openings.

Below: View of small strcutre as seen from the corridors of the faculty at block B.

It is hidden amongst the tress. Weaving in betwwen them. Connected at a location where traffic is the most.

Views from above the studio corridors.

Longitudinal cut through site, Section X-X

Section Z-Z

Section Y-Y

Location Plan Within FPSU, Shah Alam

Sectional Cuts

Ground floor plan

Roof Plan

PROJECTTHREE 03BRIEF

Capturing the Temperament Of chaotic Bangkok

“Vision separates us from the world whereas the other senses unite us with it.�

Pallasmma. J (2005) The Eyes of the Skin

Stage 1: Recording and documenting travel from Shah Alam to Bangkok.

This stage is about the senses that you use to make observations. By exercising your senses, similar to the concept which you have done previously during your 1st and 2nd project, and by using them more conciously, you will become a better observer.

The role of the body and senses has been emerging in architectural philosophy. We wanted to explore how the other sense influence our perception of space.

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THAILAND (IN A NUTSHELL)

Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in Asia for international and domestic visitors, because of its richness of natural beauty, temples, wellknown hospitality, famous and unique cuisine, and Thai ancient kingdoms.

With all its resources, Thailand captures the attention of a wide range of visitors.

The attractions of Thailand have often been featured in film and media, making Thailand even more attractive. For the country itself, tourism has become an impor- tant economic factor. The most popular destinations are the coasts as well as Bangkok and the hills in the northwest.

Tourism Development in Thailand, Julia Ledl, Austrian Association of East Asian Studies Summer School Research Paper Series No. 2 (May 2010)

KHAOSANRDISSUES

The Khao San Road area in Bangkok is probably the epidome of the backpacker ghetto. South East Asia is the most popular region for international backpackers; Bangkok is their main gateway to the region; and when there, most head for the Khao San Road. The devel- opment is spectacular: from two guesthouses in the early 80s, there are now several hundred in the area (Cummings and Martin 2001:231) along with restaurants, travel agents, internet cafes, bookshops, and more. Thus, the Khao San Road area strikingly illustrates the world- wide growth of backpacker tourism during the past two decades.

Bangkok is a place of architectural and cultural interest for students ti undertake their contextual studies and research for the design of buildings with medium scale complexities “Urban Side Ensemble� i.e community center, cultural spaces, shops, restaurants, or even a dance studio extension as part of the city fabric that offers a rich spectrum of cultural of built forms.

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The development is noted in the research literature. In 1972, Cohen depicted the drifters of the 60s who shunned the tourism sector in their quest for immersion in the host societies (1972:175–77). How- ever, as early as 1973, Cohen described the Vermassung (growing mass consumption) of drifter-tourism and how it supported the rise of an alternative service infrastructure, a development also observed by Turner and Ash (1975). The institutionalization of backpacker infra- structure, destinations, and routes is further described by Cohen (1982), Pryer (1997) and Riley (1988).

However, the institutionalization has not been accompanied by homogeneity among the users of the backpacker facilities. On the contrary, this mode of tourism seems more composite and multifaceted than ever. Even casual observation at favorite locations such as Khao San Road confirms this. In this small area one can observe the interactions and groupings of disparate characters such as well-educated young Westerners on extended leave from affluent society, high school gradu- ates on gap year travels, Israelis fresh out of military service, university students on holiday or sabbatical leave, young Japanese in rite-of- passage attire, ordinary holidaymakers, (ex-) volunteers from various organizations, and the like. The heterogeneity is manifest, whether viewed in terms of nationality, age, purpose, motivation, organization of trip, or life cycle standing.

"Twenty years ago Thais liked foreigners.

Now they despise them" Robert W. Howard* School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia

Khao San’s popularity is corroborated by the ever increasing num- ber of budget hostels. The Tourist Authority of Thailand estimated that at the beginning of the 90s, there were 83 guesthouses in the area catering to some 238,000 backpackers (Footprint Handbooks 2000:126). A Bangkok Post (2000a) article estimated the number to be around 100 guesthouses with 4,000 rooms, 126 eateries and res- taurants, 144 shops of various business types, 2 bank branches, 8 cur- rency exchange booths, 12 Internet cafes, 20 travel agencies, and hundreds of roadside vendors. The street has evolved to become a backpacker’s paradise and those who work there have formed the Khao San Road Business Association to publicize this haven on an official website.

A closer examination of this landscape will reveal more than just the numbers. The Bangkok and the Beaches Handbook also refers to the street as a farang (‘‘foreigner/ white’’, used interchangeably) enclave. Formerly a middle-class neigh- borhood with a commercial specialization in dressmaking and tailoring, the location is now a world of its own A Post Colonial Analysis Of Backpacking, Peggy Teo (NUS) Sandra Leong,Tourism Singapore Board

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MICRO SITE DESCRIPTION

“ Duality of the site: Whats most intriguing about the alley is it’s duality and transition of thresholds from day to night as we see the activites unfold through the alleys. As the entrance itself is secluded, few would have guessed that its a connecting route to another main street. “

Our micro site is located along back lanes from the main street of Khao San all the way inside connecting the main street with Rambuttri street just parallel to it on the north.

This small alley measures a witdth of just 1.5m and goes as far almost 80 metres. The entrance is through the side of Lucky Beer Restaurant and bar, through a small shop which sells souvenir items for tourists.

From here the route goes bending past a Tailor Shop which is located in the same building as Lucky Beer. This winding route continues further as it finally connects to a courtyard just behind the building, before going through the back alleys of other buildings to Rambuttri Road. The route is surrounded by hostels which range from 4-6 stories in height so most of the light is shaded by adjacent buildings.

Duality of the site: Whats most intriguing about the alley is it’s duality and transition of thresholds from day to night as we see the activites unfold through the alleys. As the entrance itself is secluded, few would have guessed that its a connecting route to another main street.

Upon appearance the alley looks gloomy and relatively unsafe because it bends and turns so we are unaware and wary of what goes on after the next bend. But once we calm ourselves down and procede to move on further, we find that the route is a relatively calm alley where the locals use this route to travel to and from Khao San and Rambuttri.

During night, when the souvenir shops is closed, the alley becomes even more sceptical to the unknowingly person, again, after taking the risk from our fears, we find that there is a rather small Raggae Bar, operating within the small alley, and a number of other smaller bars behind it. And this bar is full with the local inhabitants of the bar and tourists alike.

With the bar, it totally changes the atmosphere and our perception of what the alley should and would contain. Thus the duality of the site is continued from day to night as the alley is continually used throughout the 24 hour period in a day. The bar also alleminates any negative activity that were to arise sholud pedestrian want to use the shortcut.

SITE PHOTOS

View B site from adjacent roof

View A

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Aerial view

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View C site from street level

View D site from street level

View C View D

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Isometric section of site going through existing allyway.

Eye level view of alleyway with its rastafarian bars operating throughout the night.

DATA ON KHAO SAN ROAD BEING A TOURIST ENCLAVE

‘‘There is nothing Thai about the character of Khao San Road. Everything is for the farang, from the clothing, to the jewelry, to the food.

Most residents in surrounding neighborhoods tend to keep the road at arm’s length and do not claim familiarity with it’’ (Marc Askew, Footprint Handbooks 2000:126)

To me, Khao San Road has got nothing to do with the real Thailand. It’s shops and hotels and restaurants and loads of people calling themselves travelers but being ripped off all the same. But it’s got whatever you need and some great food, and it’s a good place to meet other travelers. I always hang out in Khao San Road when I’m in Bangkok (Timothy from Germany).

A Post Colonial Analysis Of Backpacking, Peggy Teo (NUS) Sandra Leong,Tourism Singapore Board

‘‘I may be Asian traveling in Southeast Asia but I feel so strangely out of place here.

Like a foreigner. . . the Caucasians here, I bet they feel very much at home because, look at this place, this place is totally made for them’’ (Korean male, 30) Khao San has ‘‘disintegrated into a foreigner’s playground’’ (Japanese male, 28) ‘‘too commercialized and lacking in character. . . there is really nothing Thai about Khao San at all these days except for the little carts selling Thai food and vendors selling Thai tatamis and [straw] bags; but then again even these have blaring [sic] English signs or signboards’’ (Japanese female, 24) Interview conducted on Altogether, information from 30 Asian backpackers and 10 operators/facilitators who are hostel/restaurant owners or vendors were collected A Post Colonial Analysis Of Backpacking, Peggy Teo (NUS) Sandra Leong,Tourism Singapore Board

Fa cts

The Table below summarises responses to the question of what they liked least about Thailand. The most frequent response was ‘‘The Thai people’’, ironic because the friendly and polite people are a major tourist attraction. However, the reason seemed to be a reaction to overcharging and perceived increasingly negative attitudes toward tourists in tourist districts

On Average Monthly Income and Flooding The diagram on the left combines the dynamics of power relations with the spaces in which these take place.

At the core of this framework are the Asian backpackers. An understanding of how they may be included/ex- cluded needs to take into account their relative position vis-a`-vis the operators, facilitators, and White backpackers who ultimately have a bearing on Asian congregational spaces in Khao San.

The pie chart to the rightshows the monthly income demographics of Bangkok.

According to data An average thai style room (basic studio) with basic amenities for 1 person would cost around 4500 baht.

Based on the pie chart 40% can’t afford a basic room, and this does not even take into account how families would afford an accomodation.

“ that by 2100 Bangkok will have become a new Atlantis “ Smith Dharmasaroja, the head of the National Disaster Warning Centre

Much of the metropolis is now below sea level and the ground is subsiding by 1.5 to 5cm a year. In the medium to long term more than 1m buildings, 90% of which are residential, are under threat from the rising sea level. In due course the ground floors of buildings could be awash with 10cm of water for part of the year.

Asian Institute of Technology

THE VISUAL ARGUMENT

Top: The changes in residential dwelling, from vernacular, to typical modernist flats have urged a rethinking into a different type of dwelling that would incorporate best of both world’s.

Below: Target users of the dwelling

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Development sketches excerpts “ A corridor links two perhaps very different spaces. It is in effect a space of transition between them. Transition. Transience. A pause.

A place of reflection on what we are leaving and what we are coming to. These are the very essence of the exploration, the speculative. “ Lebbeus Woods

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Inspiration: Left: Plug In city by Sir Peter Cook Below: High House, Sarajevo by Lebbeus Wood.

Diagram showing the diferent typology of the dwellings according to the users needs. The increase in spaces are later added by the addition of scaffolding as structural material.

The 3 types of dwellings are the single units, double and triple. As with most asian families, it starts off as a single person, which then grows into a couple with families, then with the added members of relatives and family members these homes quickly grow into a house whcih also accomodates extended families.

Phase 1

+ Dropping of the unit’s core by helicopter onto designated location. Along with the core are scaffolding units to start building own house. No technical assistance is provided by human personel.

Method : Surface Clipped using cable clips/ cleats

Outbuilding

Head End

Submain

flat @ T&E (Twin and Earth) Wires Intercepting electricity from current mains

Phase 2

TACTICS OF INVASION

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Upon dropping of the dwelling core, the residents takes no time in locating the main electrical source through existing power posts or wire nodes around the location of the drop.

Extraction of electricity are through illegal methods such as surface clipping using cable clips or cleats.

Phase 3

POSITIVE WASTE OUTPUT In developing countries, simple home and farm based anaerobic digestion systems offer the potential for low-cost energy for cooking+lighting.

End products

(UN, decentralized sources of energy supply)

Respiration

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waste

Micro + organisms

NH3 PO4 SO4 CO2

Synthesis

More micro organisms

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION definition: A series of processes in which micro orgaanisms break down biodegradable material in the absense of oxygen

WASTE

Anaerobic Composting

Leftover foods from hydrophonic farming and Lucky Beer’s restaurant.

ELECTRICITY

Gas Cooler

FAN

Liquid Trap

Gas Mixing Loop

Electrical Heater

Composting Material

Gas Warmer

Gas Analyzers

C02, 02 NH3 valve

Pump

AIR IN

GAS OUT

Domestic Scale Batch Biogas Digestor

Portable Gas-Electric Generator

Harvesting energy from composting by means of anaerobic composting. This is done on a domestic scale and the product (methane gas) can be used to cook food or power up small gas-electirc generators.

laundry

Rain Water Collector

toilet

waste line to septic tank

Grey Water

lavatory

Vertical Soil Filter System

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bathtub

ipes

vent p

Permeable Membrane

main waste and vent stack

Water Tank

Water p

ner

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Gravel

Sand

Soil

trap

kitchen sink

pipes vent

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Aquatic Plants

Treated W ater Out

Collected Water

Clay pellets growing medium

“Window Farming�

Hydrophonic planting by means of sustainable materials

Previous page: The recycling and cleaning up of gray water by collection and its uses in watering hydrophonic gardens and flushing toilets among others.

Below: A photocollage of the structure being sent in by helicopter to the site, and the erecting of scaffolding structures into a dwelling. Khao SanRoad.

Drawings depicting the surroundings and experience of walking through one off these scaffolding dwellings as one walks through the alley.

DEVELOPMENT MODELS

Models of the organisation of spaces inside the dwelling. These units are flexible and can be added and depends on the users for its growth. The blocks represents diffferent spaces such as toilet, bedroom, kitchen etc.

Material: Resin, copper rods

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The dwellings arrive in Single Units, Double Units and Triple Units, all of which double and triple units are the expansion of the single unit dwelling as the family grows.

Previous page: The optional possibilites of organization fot the dwellings.

(Below) Optional organization on plan

Details of proposed structure using available scaffoldings from construction sites.

Based on current scaffolding techniques, the dwelling will continue to grow and expand in size as the families needs grows.

The scaffolding will be a temporary structure before connecting to a main structure to help distribute the increasing load.

Case study: Southwark lido

Case study: East Dining

Massing model, viewed in roof plan.

Material: Cardboard, Wire Mesh, Wax

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Sectional View through Lucky Beer Restaurant showing structure

Development models of ‘ Excavated Voids’ : Concrete Model

Projected growth of dwellings into a community overtaking Thannon Khao San as Bangkok eventually rises in sea water level.

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Above: The indicated drawing in pink represents the sturctual and services core of the dwelling. here the main structure will support and connect existing scaffolding (building components) and provide a permanent structure to support and shift the load off from the scaffoldings, transferring them down through the core.

Right: Development sketches for diagonal structure/services core

The services are all situated around the hollow core. Provided are infrastructure for electricity, gas and water as well as ventilation.

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