Architecture and Nation Building

portfolio by syaza yunos

a r c h i tecture & nation build ing

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arc 2322 tutor: pn. nor hayati hussain elective

standard information on subject understanding the characteristics of a nation, its history and architecture influence on the nation building

This subject intends to show case the idea of the ever-changing architecture identity throughout the world based on humanistic, cultural and political values. Taught to understand the architecture identity through the understanding of how the society of the specific places was built or come about.

In my own opinion, this subject is divided into two main views on study, nation building in Malaysia through the lectures in classes as well as nation building of the world through the three projects of the module.

The lectures focuses mainly on the Malaysian Architecture identity based on humanistic, cultural and political values of multicultural Malaysia. It also integrated with the modernists and post-modernists reconstruction of history and architecture vocabulary to transfer the values into built form. Such was to build our understanding on the issues pertinent to architecture and nation building of Malaysia. To end our subject as well, we underwent a site visit to the Textile Museum on A.B Hubback’s architecture works in Kuala Lumpur.

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The assignments on the other hand, focuses on our chosen cities or countries nation building understanding such that the studies in the lectures were to be showcased through our assignments but through different perspectives i.e different areas of the world. This was handled in groups of 3-4 people. It is divided into three projects; Identifying Identity, Interpreting Architecture Identity and Erasure of Identity.

part1: identifying identity This group assignment required the students to identify the identity of a nation of a specific country of our choice through tangible and intangible aspects with three buildings as architecture examples that corresponds to the national identity. The country chosen was Russia and the buildings chosen were the Grand Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for we felt that these buildings showcase the spot on identity of the Russian architecture, holding the Russian rich history and culture. Profound research was studied with the buildings as examples to understand the nation of Russia, its history and architecture essence and identity. Our studies were presented in class.

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part2: INTERPRETING ARCHITECTURE IDENTITY This assignment was a continuation of the previous assignment. We had to individually pick a building off our chosen country and interpret the architecture identity by studying through its characteristics, history and analysis.

It was also required to showcase our understanding through architecture diagrammings and comprehensive photographs. This assignment was submitted by presenting our boards in class and hardcopy of boards.

The building that I had chosen was the Winter Palace in St. Petersbourg, Russia.

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part3: erasure of identity This project focused on the transformation of an area from its society to its architecture development. We were required to understand the timeline history of its architecture and people and put it into an essay as a group. We were then required to summarize the essay into individual boards of interpretation on the area we have chosen to showcase the changes of the area to how it is today. The area or city we have chosen was New York and the essay focused on its transformation of architecture development towards the famous city of skyscrapers and the international hub of commerce.

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manhattan // new yor 16th - 17th century

19th century

ch bu

equitable life building

New York, or New Amsterdam as it was used to being called, started during the 17th century when the dutch settled for commerce. It was prominent port for trading due to its location and it served as one of the major ports for the nation.

As commerce bloom, the buildings started to bloom as well. And once the technology had been introduced, higher buildings started to be built.

The architecture style during this period still revolve traditionally, mainly Gothic, Greek and Roman architecture.

Higher levels in buildings used to be cheaper for rental due to the many flights of stairs to be climbed until elevators were introduced, which made the higher levels more prominent.

Buildings built were then mainly to promote the corporate companies such that as a form of good marketing, these large namely companies such as Singer, Woolworth and Fuller.

This became a trend until the city offices also built buildings regarding to the style to show that office buildings can be as ‘interesting’ as these commerce buildings

singer building

Transportatio created the v the city.

flatiron (fuller) building

After the implementation of the Zoning Resolution in 1916, the buildings started to groom to retrofit the urban site of New York. Setback skyscraper style resulted the resolution and in no time, influenced with other cities such as Chicago and Shanghai.

woolworth building

rk

Nur Syazwani Binti Md Yunos 1007p79444

20th century

21st century

the ART DECO style became famous after the Zoning Resolution. This resulted many buildings such as the Rockefeller and Chrysler buildings.

hrysler uilding

on technology then vibrant and life of

rockefeller building

Manhattan, 1922

After the World War II in 1945, New York boomed out at its highest rate as the economy was haywired and they had the abiliy to rise.

The Seagram building was one pivoting factor of the New York architecture where the Art Deco was evolved to the International style.

Manhattan, now

portfolio by syaza yunos