Project 1 : Defining and Documenting a Project
Project 1: Preliminary Studies
The Preliminary Studies is a preparatory assignment that focuses on investigating basic notions of the city, and learning from examples of Learning Centre around the world. This assignment aims to firstly introduce students to the basics in urban design and its relation to architecture, and secondly, studying and determining the programmatic function, societal role and spatial layout of a Learning Centre and architectural responses for urban blocks.
A comprehensive study was carried out on urban form, activity and movement-pattern with reference to Ian Bentley’s ‘Legibility Analysis’ which is a method through the exploration of Kevin Lynch’s Elements of legibility.
Learning Objectives:
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To have an overview of the formation of cities and introduce basic concepts of urban design in relation to architectural design.
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To introduce and implement basic methodologies of urban studies.
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To examine various examples and architectural responses for urban infills
Site:
Klang is officially known as the Royal Town of Klang, a royal town and former capital of the Selangor state prior to the emergence of the Kuala Lumpur. The Klang River is the genesis of Klang history, as the river has been known to be the export route of tin mined from the interior since ancient times. The Klang River divides the town as North and South Klang City Centre. The city experienced a whole spectrum of activities from being a jungle by the river to a village in 1872, to a centre of agriculture in 1880, a port city in 1898, to manufacturing centre in 1920. Nowadays, Klang is the place mostly of industrial activities and for residential function.
The historical town center at the south bank is a fusion of old and modern as evidenced by some of the pre-Merdeka buildings which still stand firmly to this day and physical qualities of an old township can still be seen, although in endangered amount, such as the iconic features of five-foot walkway of shophouses and the mixed range of shophouses facades that built over the course of time.
Presentation Board Layout
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Final Project: Learning Centre, Jalan Stesen 1
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Students are required to design a Learning Centre within an urban block site. The design of the building is to consist of appropriate architectural responses that address the aspects of the urban street context and user behavioural patterns as discerned and analysed in the Preliminary Studies.
Learning Objectives:
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To take into consideration key aspects of urban design and context in relation to architecture.
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To develop an awareness and basic compliance to Design Codes and Statutory Requirements.
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To emphasize the importance of elevational context and composition in developing architectural design.
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To implement and explore the conceptual, schematic and design development phases in an architectural design project