Achitecture Culture and History II - Project 1 (Precedent Studies)

For this module, we were assigned with only one project which was precedent studies. This project was to based on the findings and information we gathered for Design Studio project 1 and we were required to include more research into our precedent studies such as the architect name, building concept and ideas, history, spatial organization, structure and more then explain them with the use of sketches, plans and annotation onto an A2 board.

Part A

We had chosen Mies's project Barcelona Pavilion and in a group of 5 we went to research more on the historical background of the building and also the impacts it caused to the social and economic in that time when it was built. We had then expressed our ideas in the form of sketches, drawings and also descriptions.

Part B

There was a second part for this project as we were required to further elaborate our findings into essay form and also compare the previously selected building to another building by other architect. It was an individual project and I had chosen Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House to make the comparison.


Through this project, I was able to know more about the historical background of my selected buildings besides understanding the architectural elements in it. Moreover, this project had also got me exposed to more elements and consideration in the construction of a particular building as it takes a great effort to develop from an fundamental idea to a complete thing, things like the massing and form, materials, structure and the construction methods need to be carefully measured and considered as well. Besides, through this precedent idea I got to know more about the concepts behind these two buildings I had selected and exactly what they have that make them so unique and worth looking at.

Building Construction I - Project 2 (Construction Details and Specification)

This project is actually a continuation of the first project as we were required to provide construction detailing solutions for Project 2B in Design Studio II from what we had learned from the first project.
And we were only allowed to do the detailing for timber and steel structure on our building.

The objectives of this projects :

1. To develop an understanding of the structural elements in construction and its application in the construction industry.
2. To apply suitable construction elements, materials and details/joints solutions suitable for a specific design.
3. To demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of build ability.
4. To demonstrate awareness of how buildings are developed in response to practical considerations.
5. To demonstrate certain levels of manual drawings and sketching skills.
6. To allow student to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of construction, material and technology.
7. To encourage students to produce manual sketches, drawings and detailing relating to construction.

Architectural Design Studio II - Project 2B (Beach House at Port Dickson)

This was the final project of this module and we were required to design a beach house for our selected client in the previous project. The location and site will be the same as last project as well.

The objectives of this project are :

1. To introduce the notion of concepts, program and process in architectural design.
2.To introduce student to the understanding of user specific design requirements.
3. To introduce the notion of space, form and function in architectural design.
4. To introduce awareness of site specific design and the process of site analysis.

Through this project, I was introduced to designs based on specific site requirements and also client requirement. It was a good way for me to get further understanding about the notion of form, space and order in the architectural designing process. Besides, I also learn that it was important to create a balance between the spaces within and also the surrounding context.. I was also exposed to a clearer idea of developing my design from the hierarchy of program, definition of spaces and also arrangement.

Architectural Design Studio II - Project 2A (Picnic Pavilion at Port Dickson)

It was the second project assigned to us which we were required to conduct a site analysis on the site given (Port Dickson), collect all related data and present them. And the next part of this project was to design a picnic pavilion based on the character we had chosen.

In this project I was paired up with Jia Yi and the client we had chosen was novelist, J.R.R Tolkien who wrote the trilogy of The Lord of The Ring and also The Hobbit. We had carried out a thorough research about our client's life and work and decided to further develop our concept from his perception in languages. The ideas was then translated into our design in terms of its spaces, form, functions and facade.

In this project, I was given the chance to pair up with my friend and designing a picnic pavilion for our client. In the process of developing ideas, we explored all the possibilities in strengthening our concepts and activities required in the pavilion. We actually discovered from our client's passion towards language and derived the words and findings we got from this information. We learn a whole new way of defining the spaces and form of a building and recreated a space that is uniquely and specifically designed from what we understand about our client. We also got to play with different types of materials by trying out an unusual one like cork sheet to have more flexibility to work with. It was indeed a project that allowed me to pick up new skills and brush up what I already have.

Environmental Sustainable Design - Project (Nature & Us)

This subject is where we get to learn about the interaction between human, built environment and the surrounding nature. It's where we get exposed to the true meaning of sustainable in designs. And for this module, we were given the first and also the only assignment which was to write a research and reflective essay about an environmental issue chosen by us in a group of 3 and also to produce a poster that help to raise environmental awareness in the society.

The objectives for this assignment are as listed :

1. To increase awareness of current environmental issues locally and globally.
2. To explore the local and global context of growth and therefore realizing the relationship between the growth and its impact on the environment.

Part I - Research and Reflective Essay
For this part, we had chosen non-renewable energy as our main topic and did further research about it through the sources of books, journals and internet as well. We had chose to focus on 3 types of energy resources which included natural gas, oil and nuclear power. The main body of this essay is basically about the impacts these three types of energy brought to the environment and more about the bad sides of it.

Essay

Part II - Essay For this part, we were required to create a poster that brings out a strong message of the environmental issue that will raise the awareness in public. 
Poster

After completing this assignment, I had definitely gained more knowledge about the built environment. Besides, I got to explore the concept of environmental ecological sustainability and recognized the role and responsibility of an architect towards the nature environment and society. While doing this project, I was exposed to different types of non-renewable energy sources and got to know in detail about the process of extraction, usage, efficiency and also the pollution it brought to the environment and the impact to the society. I think it was a good experience to have an introduction into the built environment sustainability which will later help me out in designing buildings that are visually yet environmental friendly at the same time. 
Taylor's Graduate Capabilities :
Discipline Specific Knowledge

Lifelong Learning

Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

Citizenship and Global Perspectives

Architectural Design Studio II - Project 1 (Famous People, Familiar Faces, Diagrammatic Abstraction)

This was the first project for the module Design Studio II, and for this project we were required to form a group of 5 member and carry out an investigation to the selected building by the master architects given. And with our understanding and research, we were then to create 10 diagrammatic models to illustrate the concept and ideas behind the building.

The master architect we had chosen was Mies Van der Rohe and his project Barcelona Pavilion. We were required to understand and explore how the spaces are created from the architectural elements like solid, planes, lines and frames in order to express the ideas in the form of models.

Mies Van der Rohe's work is best known for the structural clarity where he dropped the idea of using walls as load-bearing structure but the columns instead, and with the clear separation of load bearing (columns) and non load-bearing (marble walls and glass). Besides, his idea was also influenced by the concept of suprematism by the artist Malevich where everything is back to simple geometric form, he prefer the ideas of using forms like rectangular and the overlapping of wall slabs to create a different kind spatial connection within each entity.

The pictures below were the research and ideas we prepared for the interim presentation,

Below are the final outcome of our work,

Through this project, I had learnt to express architectural concepts and ideas through not only sketches but also in the form of diagrammatic models. I think it helps in the way of presenting a clearer ideas about the true meaning behind the concept of a building done by the master architect. Besides, we had got the chance to carry out this deeper and detailed research about this building Barcelona Pavilion which I think was certainly a good way for us to understand the importance of the use of architectural element in expression. And it was indeed a good experience to work under the same group with all great and cooperative members.

Building Construction I - Project 1 (Experiencing Construction)

This was the first project assigned to us which we were required to form a group of 8 and go on a site visit to selected construction site for documentation and to help us have a better understanding about the construction industry.

The objectives of this project are as followed :

1. To introduce basic principles and procedures of construction process through real life project (experiential learning).
2. To understand the sequence and coordination of construction at site.
3. To expose students to construction technology/methods responding to site context.
4. To allow student to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of construction, material and technology.
5. To train students to produce manual sketches, drawings and detailing relating to existing construction.


Through this project, I was given the chance to visit the construction site myself and really experienced and observed the process, making of each part of a building. Besides, it was really an eye-widening experience as by the guide of the consultant at the construction site we were exposed to many more extra knowledge and situations about how they work in a site. It was really memorable to be able to see all these things with my own eyes.