Paper: Temporal Activity & Permanence of Space

MARKS & GRADES

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA) Master of Architecture RES70103AC237-M Research Methods

Assignment 1

NAME: Irwan Adiputra Bin Abdul Samat 0300951 Lai Hoi Yan (Frances) 0326769 Tu Pi Lian (Felicia) 0326492

DATE: 3rd May 2016 LECTURER: Dr. Sucharita Srirangam Dr. Lin Chia-Hui

RESEARCH TOPIC: Temporal Activity & Permanence of Space RESEARCH QUESTION: How does the flexibility of spaces facilitate temporal activities through time changes?

INTRODUCTION Malaysia, as a developing country, drives the local community to grow with the inflationary of economy and to incorporate the advanced building technology. As the local community undergoes a rapid development, bringing a strong impact on the culture and living patterns of the local community. Placement of buildings to be contextualized with the growing local community should consider the aspect of time as a design element. Building designers focus on aesthetic expression and functionalism, freezing out the time aspect, ignorance to the temporal activity in relative with the permanence of building. Inconsideration on time aspect, the longevity of building will decrease and eventually cause demolition of building “A building is not something you finish. A building is something you start” (Stewart Brand, 2002). Considering the adaptability and flexibility of buildings as a design aspect, able to enhance the sustainable built environment as minimizing the demolishing of building and reducing wastage of material due to renovation. The aim of this research is to find out in what way can the flexibility of spaces to hold and incorporate the temporal activities as time changed, by exploring and observing the relationship of temporal activities with permanence of spaces in terms of time aspect, built form and public spaces.

Definition of Time “Time has a significant influence on the design and development of buildings.” (Leupen, Heijne, & Jasper, 2005). Time is defined as a measured period of an event from the past, through the present and to the future, which is an irreversible process of human evolution. In this research, the time aspect involved is the progression of human being in the surrounding context. At different time frame, the temporal activity varies and change. In this research, time as a dimensional factor which causes the relationship of temporal activity and permanence of spaces changed, derived into two term, long time-period and short timeperiod. Time in terms of long period involve the process in years or decades; in terms of short period, time involving the process in a day, differentiate between the morning, afternoon and night. It is important to include time as an aspect in designing building as to adapt the rapid changes of the current community. “Buildings have a long and complicated life, during which their parameters of use can change widely. They are mostly built on permanent sites, but the environment around them continues to change as others buildings are redeveloped or replaced.” (Kronenburg, 2007) Why do some building continue to stay for few decades, and others get demolished before decades? The longevity of a building depending on how well the building able to resist or adapt the changes of human activities throughout the period of time. In this research, will explore on to what extend the time as a factor that affects the design of the flexibility of spaces to facilitate the temporal activities.

ROLE OF RESEARCH IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Through studies of a designated built form in its relationship with temporal activities, the lack of sustainable functions in buildings at Malaysia caused the cycle of building to be demolished turn visible as the issue currently able to be seen in the city. The rapid growth of the local community has increased the continual changes to both living and working contexts.

The capacity of flexibility in a building allows modifications and adaptability reduces the wastage of material and prolongs the building longevity. The flexibility in building design is characterized as the capability of the building to tolerate the rearrangement of layout while hold the same purpose of the usage of spaces in a larger scale. “Our current definition of adaptability is a synthesis of these four underlying characteristics, namely ‘the capacity of a building to accommodate effectively the evolving demands of its context, thus maximizing value through life”. (Schmidt, Eguchi, Austin, & Gibb. (n.d.). What is the meaning of adaptability in the building industry? [Abstract]. Retrieved April 30, 2016, from http://adaptablefutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Schmidt-et-al.-2010b.pdf) For example, the office design to withstand the flexibility for the layout to change due to the expansion of the company after few years. Another description of flexibility is the capability of building to withstand the functional changes without undergo major renovation nor demolish works. For example, the designated spaces for commercial changed its function to residential as the surrounding context changed in time. The time aspect involved in the buildform is in long term time-based as the changes and impact only visible through few years or decade.

The void side of a building, which is the open space located adjacent to the buildings, has the same function as the solid buildings have. It does hold the various human temporal activities too. The local community exists through sharing and exchanges of different skills and resources. Robert Kronenburg claims that “Therefore, perhaps the most important architectural spaces outside the home are the places that have been established where meetings between individuals occur.” (Kronenburg, 2007). One of the importance of open spaces is act as a meeting spaces in the urban context. The squares or piazzas are used for many purposes to support the community’s activities such as market stalls, festival events, eating spaces and carpark. In different time frame, the temporal activities are varied. During the weekdays, it served as a meeting places as it is not crowded and as a landmark for easy recognition; During weekends, the open spaces function as weekend markets for the communities to sell their art and craft and also products. There are also various function of the open spaces as comparing the time in day and night. In the day time, the open spaces served the building as a carpark; during the night time as the building is not functioning, the open spaces can use as a roller blade square for the communities to hang out together.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND DESIGN Researched and studies carry out on some case study to understand the issue on lack of sustainable functions in buildings and public spaces. The Next 21, located at Osaka, Japan designated by SHU-KO-SHA Architects, is a flexible housing projects aim to accommodate different household in a variance of residential units in a particular same building. Although the building is mean to designated to a specific people or household, but as time evolved this specific household will also involve in certain degree of changes.

http://www.studiomarcopiva.com/next-21/. Retrieved on 25th April 2016.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/77/81/c4/7781c43a70d33fdde4caa61a84eb9f7f.jpg. Retrieved on 25th April 2016.

Studied on Next 21 as to understand the definition on flexibility built form. The Next 21 designated using the frame concept where the building skeleton to be an independent subsystem. Separated the permanent parts of the building such as load bearing columns, load bearing walls and services with the changeable parts of the building. According to this concept, the building creates freedom and enable various adjustment cater to the changes of the family.

http://lowestc.blogspot.my/2012/03/next-21.html. Retrieved on 30th April 2016.

http://lowestc.blogspot.my/2012/03/next-21.html. Retrieved on 30th April 2016.

Another case study on understand the issue on lack of sustainable functions in building, the HSBC Office, Singapore designed by Broadway Malyan Architects, concept to support the maximum flexibility as to maximize the adaptability to changes in the future. This work place design strategy is based on the vision of growing, changing and the evolving of the company.

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/singapore/hsbc-singapore-fit-out. Retrieved on 30th April 2016.

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/singapore/hsbc-singapore-fit-out. Retrieved on 30th April 2016.

The building designed in an open concept which allows flexibility adapt to changes for the future- possibilities at the same time generates natural sunlight into the buildings. The central services of the office act as the building main core surrounded by the primary circulation acting as a routes connects different spaces together.

As to ensure the building’s longevity, the built form have to be flexible enough and have the capability of adaptability where the structural durability alone is not enough. This issue had been discussed since many years ago by some of the architect as foresee the architecture that responds to changes throughout the time is important. “British architect Alex Gordon may have been the first to put a name on the concept of design for adaptability. He coined “long life, loose fit, low energy” in 1972” (Future- Proofing your Building: Designing for Flexibility and Adaptive Reuse, 2003.Retrieved from: https://www2.buildinggreen.com/article/future-proofing-your-building-designing-flexibilityand-adaptive-reuse) This is a case study on understand the issue on lack of sustainable functions in open public spaces. The Campo Square located at Siena, Italy, is a very unique square which it’s shape form by the surrounding buildings. For a long period of time, Campo Square used as a space

for fair or market. After years, due to the sufficient of the size to gather the entire of the communities, the Campo Square turn into a space to hold all the important events such as the buffalo and bull races. Until today, the Campo square is still an important civic and social center for the communities as a unique meeting spaces. Studied on the Campo square helps in understanding the role of open spaces in an urban context and the relationship of buildings with the open spaces.

http://www.tuscanypictures.com/siena/siena-campo.jpg.php. Retrieved on 1st May 2016.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/7950253/The-Palio-of-Siena-a-bareback-horse-race-around-asquare-in-a-medieval-town-in-Tuscany-Italy.html. Retrieved on 1st May 2016.

Another case study on understand the issue on lack of sustainable functions in open public spaces, Jalan Alor, a typical street situated at the city center of Kuala Lumpur which served as a path for the vehicle to move around at Kuala Lumpur. During the day time, there are some food stalls along the shops of the road; Starts from 6pm, the food stalls start to transform the whole streets into a hawker center which is famous for local food. It is a totally different transformed open public spaces on its functionality, from a road crowded with vehicles turn into a public spaces crowded with peoples.

https://www.davidgriffen.co.uk/food-photography-blog/jalan-alor/ Retrieved on 1st May 2016.

https://www.davidgriffen.co.uk/food-photography-blog/jalan-alor/. Retrieved on 1st May 2016.

Discuss on the time aspect, the relationship of the public spaces and the temporal activities is on both long and short term depending on condition. The Campo Square is in a long term condition as it involved changes that visible only after years or decades, while for Jalan Alor, the time aspect is in a short term condition as the changes visible in a day. A successful design on linking the relationship of building with the public spaces will reduces abandoned spaces as both of building and public spaces do benefits each other with human activities.

CONCLUSION The designation of built forms and public spaces affects the characters of human temporal activities in an urban context. Time as an important dimension to be considered in designing buildings suggests that nothing will be permanent all the time and remain unchanged. “As biology teaches us, the ability to move, change and adapt are unequivocal prerequisites for life, and this makes a look at cultures that have a different relationship to nature than we do particularly fascinating. Yet the boundaries are fluid between what is stationary and what is in

motion� (Mathias, Kronenburg, Stephanie, Annemarie, Rammler, 2002).

The lack of sustainable functions in buildings and public spaces in an urban context is a global issue which is also happening in Malaysia. Buildings will change, no matter whether in a longer time frame or a shorter time frame. Studies of the adaptable and flexible building design are argued to be a useful approach towards solving the problems of buildings caused by the changes through time, they are also argued to be useful to prolong the longevity of buildings, as well as to reduce demolition and wastage of materials.

REFERENCES Book 1. Leupen.B, Heijne.R, Jasper.V.Z. (2005). Time-Based Architecture. Rotterdam, Neterland: 010 Publisher.

2. Mathias.S.C, Kronenburg.R, Stephanie.B, Annemarie.S.B, Rammler.S. (2002). Living Motion, design and architecture for flexible dwelling.: Vitra Design Museum 3. Kronenburg.R. (2007). Flexible, Architecture that respond to change. London, United Kingdom: Laurence King Publishing

Online Journal / Article 1. Schmidt.R, Eguchi.T, Austin.S, & Gibb.A (n.d.). What is the meaning of adaptability in the building industry? [Abstract]. Retrieved April 30, 2016, from http://adaptablefutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Schmidt-et-al.-2010b.pdf 2. Future- Proofing your Building: Designing for Flexibility and Adaptive Reuse. (2003, February). Environmental Building News. Retrieved April 30, 2016, from https://www2.buildinggreen.com/article/future-proofing-your-building-designing-flexibilityand-adaptive-reuse 3. Holger.S. (2014). Adaptive Architecture – A Conceptual Framework. Retrieved April 30, 2016, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235218510_Adaptive_Architecture__A_Conceptual_Framework