THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
SITE CONTEXT
The term “Context”, for me it can be divided into 3 parts, which is physically, spatially & historically. Physically as in, it includes the physical aspect of the environment surrounding the building, as in the climate, topography, vegetation, wind path sun path, humidity etc. Spatially as in the neighbouring building, the traffic circulation, pedestrian circulation, gathering nodes of the site etc. Historically as in the story of the site before, what had happened here, who are the group of people discover, contribute and develop here, what are the reason behind the “pioneer” of the place choose here to be their home, how was the development through of the years, etc.
Roll of Context in architecture very important no matter in the past of current. But definitely it is more important today than that compare to how it was century ago, in all of the three aspects that just mentioned above.
Physically- What is the natural condition there. climate change throughout the years has given a lot of negative effect to us, especially the issues of global warming. Therefore, to achieve a good thermal comfort inside a building is more challenge than that compare to last time how it was like. Opening and envelope of the building, thermal conductivity of the building material, vegetation spot in landscaping, all of the above have to take into a real deep consideration, in order to provide a good thermal conform to the user inside the building and people around the building, and ensuring that the existence of the building would only gives the minimal negative environmental effects. Besides of global warming that make us need to think about the size and where to put the opening, and material use, the topography also need us to take into consideration when designing the structural, wind path for ventilation, vegetation for air purification and sound absorbing barrier etc.
Spatially- what is already having there (man made). The number of building has increase drastically throughout the 100 years. The existence of these buildings with different function provided shelter to different group of people for different time. And these created the different spatial quality in different spot in and around the site. New building that is to be built should be follow the existing neighbouring building’s language and function, create relationship between each of the building that is surrounded by to increase people’s interaction and communication, in order to create a good relationship among the community. Besides, the existence of vehicle resulted the need of traffic road and created the traffic circulation. Good traffic circulation save our time vies versa bad one waste ours. In this hectic ear today, time is very important for every one of us. A proper traffic planning should be introduced nowadays, which need to be strategic, safe, economic and using friendly.
Historically- What had happened there. Every place in the world has been through their own particular story, and whether these stories are interesting and worth for people to discover and remember, that’s just a matter of opinion for each of the individual. For me, that’s definitely a YES for people to know, recall and remember what the story behind each of place is by architecture. Not only remind the people what the contribution has done by the people in the past, and also reminding them to appreciate what they are having today.
Case study -
Contemporary VS Past 100yrs Architecture
C180 Balakong, Malaysia
C180 is a mixed commercial development in Cheras South, just before Balakong. Sitting on an 18-acre freehold land, it is dubbed to become the modern and urban enclave of Cheras, which is the reason why the developer came out with the 180 name, which means 180 degree of transformation to Cheras.
C180 comprises of specialty retail shops (called The Gateway), service apartments and a hotel (called The Nest), an entertainment complex (called The Centerstage), corporate offices and business suites (called The Latitude), signature office/showroom (called The Longitude).
Physically, this project fully utilize the natural light by using the transparent glass panel and roof covering in the centre of the shop lots. And water features in two different spot inside to increase the humanity and cooling effects. Green wall and water wall is also introduced in some of the spot especially in the entrance of the area.
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Spatially, we can see the developer includes retail shops, apartment hotel, entertainment complex, corporate office and business suites in the project. This is because they see the demand of the big environment of cheras south, they see what the people need and require there, and so the make the opportunity to get profic from there. Besides, the circulation planning like c180 is really rarely to be found in any other business centre in KL. Cars are able to access even to the first floor level height of shop lots, resulted not only the shop lots that facing the main road has chance to expose to the people in the car, but also shop lots in every part inside the business centre.
Methodist Boys School, Petaling Hill, KL
Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur (MBSSKL) is a semi-government aided Cluster School of Excellence and High Performance School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was founded in July 1897, making it one of the oldest schools in Malaysia.
The school was founded by Christian missionary Dr. Kensett in July 1897. The school population grew to be overwhelmingly Indian and the school was named Anglo-Tamil School, at a small wooden shophouse at the corner of Batu Road and Java Street, since demolished.
In 1904, the school decided to move to Petaling Hill (its present site) after a few evacuations by the sanitary board due to the dilapidated condition of the buildings..
The reason for Rev Horley (Past-Principal) choosing this site for the MBSSKL, the parsonage and the Wesley Church was not different from other pioneer missionaries who chose sites for church, school and living quarters in other parts of the country. It was to be close to the community whom they wanted to serve, but yet sufficiently removed to have the quiet serenity for school and church to function and the incumbent pastor who used to also head the school, to dwell in peace. So, he has taken the site context of the aspects of spatially into consideration most. It is not surprising that as the country developed and as towns became cities, churches and schools which were once at the fringes of towns, are now engulfed in the midst of city centres.
Historically, they brought in the architecture element in British as we can see in the photo provided. This finishes, the ornamentation, the opening, the roof etc... Each of the element represent thr Briggs and the Christianity.
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This can recall the people now, that the Briggs had had been here, leave a footprint here, create history here.
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Besides, the school crest has changed somewhat throughout the years especially on the removal of a "white cross" upon which the text "MBS" once sat. The removal of the cross was initially made in deference to Muslim students in the school who would specifically wear the "cross-less" version of the badge. (The badges of convent schools which featured a prominent cross had to be completely redesigned.) Politically, Malaysia was developing into a primarily Muslim country with a multi-racial, multi-ethnic population who have long learnt to exist among each other with tolerance. The permanent removal of the cross in 1989 reflects this subtle shift in the country's sensitivity to the Muslim community.
School Crest is a representation of a school no matter in architecturally or other aspect. The school willing to change it to follow the current culture of the site, that show their respect toward the culture of the site
