Architecture Design Studio 5 | this-is-how-i-design

Architecture Design Studio 5 – ARC60306

Architecture Design Studio 5 focuses on the theme of place-making for the urban street. It aims to explore and provide appropriate architectural solutions in designing a community library for the city’s inhabitants. Preliminary studies are conducted as an introduction to the studies and context of urbanity through the analysis and documentation of the current urban condition of a selected inner-city site. This will be done in concurrence with the research of urban infill and community library precedents, and their architectural responses.

Thereafter, an appropriate scheme for an urban contemporary community library within a dense inner-city street environment is developed; one that takes into consideration an understanding of applicable current legislations, building technologies and cultural imperatives of the site and its surroundings. The definition of place-making is seen as a proposal that is sensitive to the context, local character and distinctiveness of the space.

The studio runs through two projects:

Project 1: Preliminary Studies (Site Analysis)

An urban study on place making aspects, this project called for a thorough analysis of a given site. The allocated site for Studio 5 was Jalan Sultan in Kuala Lumpur. The study needed to be carried out in two levels of complexity: the macro and micro contexts. The macro study is about the role and how the location fits into the city. For the micro study, we were required to make a comprehensive analysis on urban form, activity and movement-pattern. ‘Legibility Analysis’ which is a method through the exploration of Kevin Lynch’s Elements of legibility (Lynch, 1960) is employed here as a study method.

The findings from the urban study needed to be comprised of the following:

a) What are the patterns on legibility in the existing urban fabric?

b) What are the characteristics that could offer legibility in the proposed community library?

c) What are the urban issues pertaining to the context?

d) Key ideas and themes to be discussed in relation to the analysis include: Legibility, Way-finding (5 Lynchian Principles), Typology and Morphology, Figure/Ground Mapping, Patterns of Movement and Use, Human Behaviour and Street Culture.

Precedent Studies

In addition to our site analysis, we were also required to study and analyze examples of an urban infill that is a community library. This was done so as to develop an understanding and awareness of:

(1) What is an Urban Infill?

This investigation is to help you understand what an urban infill is, and what are the architectural strategies (massing, spatial planning, façade design, etc.) adopted that are necessary in response to its physical context and functional programme pertinent to the idea of legibility.

(2) What is a Community Library?

This part of the Precedent Study entails an investigation into a relevant example of a community library and inquiry into establishing its role within its specific context and community pertinent to the idea of legibility. Exploration of various definitions of a community library was encouraged here.

Key themes and criteria that require consideration in this study include the following: Programmatic Response, Formal Response, Public/Private Realms, Society & Culture

The complete set of panels comprising of my group’s preliminary studies of Jalan Sultan and our precedent studies are provided below.

Reflecting back…

This project proved to be a valuable learning experience for me as it provided an overview of the physical and cultural contexts in the development of urban environments. In addition, it also was a detailed look to urban issues pertaining to quality of the public realm, character, ease of movement, legibility and diversity through which we as a group were led to establish and develop appropriate architectural responses and strategies for designing within an urban infill site. These studies along with precedents we chose, gave me a more thorough understanding of the site, the issues and opportunities it possessed which helped inform my personal understanding of the role of a community library within this contemporary urban setting.

Project 2: Design of a Community Library

This part, comprised of architectural strategy and design development which employed a content driven design approach (Low, 2010) in which architecture was to become the narrative of an answer to a specific question posed in relation to its context. Design narratives were to be derived for the community library in order to relate to and offer legibility in the urban context.

Apart from this, the design needed to take into consideration a holistic application of structural, spatial, functional and environmental requirements to address the user needs for the community library. It needed to be inclusive of an introduction to the legislative restrictions impacting the architectural scheme, the integration of lighting and acoustic design, as well as the design exploration and detailing of the façade and building envelopes that is coherent with the architectural language of the overall design project.

We were provided with an option of two sites within the area of Jalan Sultan. I chose the site along Petaling Street for my project. Provided below is the documentation of my progress throughout this project followed by the compilation of the set of panels from the final review.

Initial ideas and translation of those ideas into floor plans

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Design development and second draft of floor plans

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Final draft of floor plans with amendments along with facade proposals

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Final panels

Reflecting back…

Through the process of this project I learnt to apply the knowledge of urban architectural typologies, infill design strategies, and programming into the design of the community library. I learnt the importance of the incorporation of local design codes and building regulations within the design. From this experience, I realize now that while it is of utmost importance to ensure that they are followed these regulations should not take over or overshadow the design of a building, instead they need to be used as tool for problem solving in design.

Producing a design outcome for a community library that was site-specific through its formal, cultural, legislative, structural and environmental design responses was key throughout the whole process as it ensured that we design for a specific community and for a specific site which I believe is what gives a great sense of value to the architecture of the building for it not only contributes to placemaking but aids in strengthening its target community while also drawing in foreign visitors as a result of the reactions/feelings instilled within those that visit it.