Noise from Asia Pacific

This article attempts to broaden your perspective on architecture by exploring ideas, architecture and architects from this region. In random order, I am going to briefly highlight a handful of the highly praised architects from this region that made a big impact on the built environment. This article can serve as starting point for your further exploration on the richness of knowledge that the Asia Pacific region has to offer.

Sources:

Mollard, M. (2019). Revisit: Aranya low-cost housing, Indore, Balkrishna Doshi. https://www.architectural-review.com/ buildings/revisit-aranya-low-cost-housing-indore-balkrishna-doshi

Photo Sources:

Kerry Hill Architects

Sebastian Posingis

Gregory Burgess (1945)

Gregory Burgess is an Australian architect known for his architecture for indigenous communities in Australia. Throughout history, the aboriginals have been suppressed in Australia and Gregory Burgess’ contribution helps to maintain the culture and identity of the country’s ancestral habitants. One of his bestknown works is the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre (1995) in Uluru in which the two uniquely shaped buildings symbolizes two snakes – a reference to the local Dreamtime story (The Kuniya and Liru story). “We want tourists to learn about our place, to listen to us Anangu, not just to look at the sunset and climb on the puli (Uluru)”—Tony Tjamiwa (elder of the Pitjantjatjara people).

Balkrishna Doshi (1927-2023)

Balkrishna Doshi is an Indian architect known for creating architecture for people with low income. One of his best known works is the Aranya low-cost housing (1989). The project was designed for the city’s Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as well as slum and street dwellers, providing a framework and access to serviced land, rather than a finished house. Over time, in line with the needs, resources and desires of occupants, homes begin to grow, creating a staggered flow of spaces, from private rooms to the outdoor staircases. The architect drew only a set of ingredients to be appropriated, giving residents the language and the space to ‘upgrade their life’ (Mollard, 2019).

Kerry Hill (1943-2018)

Kerry Hill is an Australian architect active in the Asia Pacific region and is known for his tropical resort architecture. He is considered a master of creating experiences in architecture. One of his greatest contribution is the Datai Langkawi Hotel (1993) in Malaysia which won the prestigious international Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001.

Geoffrey Bawa (1919-2003)

Geoffrey Bawa is a Sri Lankan architect that is best known for his tropical architecture. His approach is to combine respect for the landscape and local architectural traditions with the needs of today’s world. One key difference about Bawa and most architects is that he started the profession at a much later stage of his life. He was more mature at the beginning of his career than most architects. His knowledge for craftmanship gives him the ability to build with extra care – sometimes changing the design on site according to his knowledge. He gained this knowledge by experimenting with different materials and techniques at his country house in Lunuganga Estate (1949) – which is one of his best-known worksbefore implementing them on a large scale.

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu (1963 & 1967)

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu are two architects from China working in partnership. They are big supporters of valuing traditional craftsmanship due to its efficiency and accuracy, and they support maintaining traditional culture in the process of globalization in China. With the Lin’an History museum (2020) in Hangzhou, China, Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu showed their critique on the heritage destruction, which took place in in the city in order to make space for the International Style. Their effort to reanimate the loss of the locality and the spirit of the place was done by using materials for the façade that originated from destroyed heritage sites. They also placed emphasises on the landscape by creating roof shapes that resemble the mountains in the background of the city. //