STUDIO AIR JOURNAL UPDATE 1

Architecture Design Journal

STUDIO

AIR A D e s i g n Jo u r n a l b y He n d y Yu d h i s t i r a Student ID: 551486

“We shape our building; Thereafter, they shape us” Winston Churchill

C O N T E N T S

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I N T R O D U C T I O N My name is Hendy Yudhistira. I’m a second year architecture student in The University of Melbourne. I grew up in Bekasi, a town in Jakarta’s Greater Region. I moved to Melbourne in 2010, in order to finish a degree in architecture. I did virtual environments in my first year of university. Studying Rhino was really helpful for my previous design studios. I was able to express my ideas in a whole different way using computer programs. I aim to develop my skills and have a better understanding of computer architecture by doing design studio air.

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01 CASE FOR

I N N OVAT I O N

WEEK 1

ARCHITECTURE AS

DISCOURSE In recent years, architecture is not only seen as an individualistic form of art, but also a complex form that relates to the complex environment surrounding it. According to Williams (2005), there are a number of different ways to approach architecture: architecture as a form of art, architecture as a symbolic realm, and architecture as spatial experience.

Defining architecture as a form of art, according to Williams (2005), is misleading. Architecture, unlike any other form of art, goes through lengthy and complex designing process to be created.

Take painting as an example. A painter is given a blank page, a paint, and all the freedom he can get to express his ideas.

Architecture, in terms of design space, has a lot of limitations, including size of space, the function and the form of its surrounding environments. In other words, it is essential for an architecture to relate to its environment. Moreover, unlike a painting, architecture involves a lot of experts, including the architect him / herself, a geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, etc.

Viewing architecture as art is a very narrow paradigm. In fact, there are kinds of building that is not intended as art (Williams 2005), which broadens the approach, and allows various types of interpretations. This kind of approach is called architecture as sign.

Another important approach in architecture is relating to its surrounding environments. Frank Gehry (2005) explained that a building “interacts� with its surrounding building in different ways. It can be passive, stoic, or it could be a passionate player. The interaction is what makes architecture different from paintings and other form of art. It has a broader meaning beyond the aesthetics of the building. A building can accomodate social and political aspects of a city. This is when a building becomes a passionate player. Most importantly, it needs to be open to interpretation, question, and use. The complex interaction behind a design process and its openess to interpretation and discussion is what makes architecture, a discourse.

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P R E C E D E N T S

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“The only thing an architect can do is be optimistic about how it (the building) interacts with the surrounding buildings.

It can be a passive player, it can be a stoic player, it can be a passionate player.”

Frank Gehry “Sketches of Frank Gehry”

Walt Disney Concert Hall Location : Los Angeles, CA Architect : Frank Gehry Construction : 1999-2003

Walt Disney Concert Hall, located in Los Angeles, California, is an assembly of undulating smaller pieces that forms into one complex form. The complexity of the design is Frank Gehry’s rejection to modern architecture, where “less is more” and “form follows function”. It is an expression of freedom and creativity by breaking acceptable social norms. Of course, freedom and creativity could also be related to the purpose of this building as a musical concert hall and the home of Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

One of the key elements in Walt Disney Concert Hall is how it responds to its surrounding environments. The building stands amongst other iconic structure with cultural values for the City of Los Angeles. Gehry decided to break down the scale into smaller pieces in order to

“It is a serene, ennobling building that will give people in this city of private places a new sense of the pleasures of public space” Paul Goldberger

respect the iconic buildings. Yet, the building still stands out with its sophistication and lustrous exterior.

It is one of the few public places in a district dominated by private spaces. The presence of the building gives more opportunities for social interactions and intimacy. It gives new life to a district of private places and conventional architecture.

Source: LA times 04

Kaohsiung Port Terminal Location : Kaohsiung, Taiwan Architect : Reiser + Umamoto Construction : 2012-present

“Reiser + Umamoto awarded first prize in the Kaohsiung Port Terminal Competition” World Architecture News

As the name suggests, Kaohsiung Port Terminal is a place, which main purpose is to dock ships and board people onto the ship. However, the design intent has a deeper meaning than that. Designed by Reiser + Umamoto architecture, this building is scheduled to complete by 2014. The building is located in Kaohsiung’s harbour district in Taiwan, and it is intended to revitalise the area by transforming it from an utilitarian industrial zone to a place of recreational use. Another essential element in Kaohsiung Port is how it connects to the surrounding environment. The existing pedestrian pathway is amplified by creating a continuous elevated public esplanade along the waterfront. The boardwalk in the waterfront space connects the new pop music centre, the arts centre, and the shopping districts. The place will be a very important landmark in Kaohsiung Port Terminal by giving a new life to the city.

Kaohsiung Port Terminal has a few elements that are similar to Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, not just in its physical form, but its design intent as well. The port terminal is currently constructed on top of a utilitarian industrial zone. It means, the land use is drastically changed from private into a public space. It is intended to give a new image to an area, which may have been considered as ghetto, so that it becomes a lively social space. It also creates a connection between other iconic landmarks in the area by building a walkway, as a way to attract people to an area that was once restricted. This space undoubtedly will have a great impact on the city of Kaohsiung.

Source: World Architecture News

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