Architecture Design II
Architectural Design II is a core course in site analysis that teaches students how to examine essential site factors such as landscape, climate, and existing structures. Students will learn how to incorporate these elements into their design processes in this course, resulting in products that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally appropriate. Students get the ability to develop sustainable, context-sensitive architecture by learning how to balance their designs with the natural and constructed environments. By enabling them to make well-informed design choices and encouraging creativity while honoring the particularities of every site, the course produces more intelligent and adaptable architectural solutions.
Project 1:Diagramming Architectural Principles
This project will help me learn how to illustrate architectural concepts by abstracting and simplifying complicated ideas for straightforward communication. I will discuss how design intents and the production of architectural elements such as solids, planes, lines, and frames give buildings and spaces life. To clearly convey these architectural ideas, I'll also use pure and diagrammatic models. By using this method, I will have a deeper comprehension of architectonics and the fundamental components that form architectural environments.
In this group assignment, my team and I will focus on the work of a specific architect and one of their key buildings. We'll conduct thorough background research on the architect and their design. I'll contribute to creating detailed architectural drawings at a scale of 1:50, which will be hand-drawn on A3 landscape format and carefully rendered. We'll also analyze the building through various drawings like floor plans, sections, and elevations. Finally, we'll summarize our findings into 5 analysis diagrams and 5 diagrammatic models to showcase our understanding.
PARTI
CONTEXT
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CIRCULATION
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SPACE PLANNING
This project aims to enhance my skills in illustrating architectural concepts by abstracting and simplifying complex ideas for clear communication. I will explore how design intentions and architectural elements—solids, planes, lines, and frames—bring spaces to life. Using pure and diagrammatic models, I’ll gain a deeper understanding of architectonics. In a group, we will focus on a specific architect and their key building, conducting detailed background research. I will help create hand-drawn architectural drawings at a 1:50 scale, analyze the building through floor plans, sections, and elevations, and summarize our findings into 5 analysis diagrams and 5 diagrammatic models.
CONSTRUCTION
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Project 2:Designing with Architectural Principles + Materiality
Nature Observation Post
To produce a meaningful gesture of architectural space, I need to investigate my conceptual and operational methods using the architectural concepts from my first assignment. The architectural principles that I have chosen will be defined, and their possible meanings and consequences will be examined. I will specifically look at how these principles will affect two design criteria: creating forms and creating spaces. I'll be gathering information from the place and analyzing its physical surroundings. I'll document and examine the site data using real maps and diagrams as a guide. I'm going to create a matrix of Design Response Vignettes based on this report.
I will be working with my team to construct a Nature Observatory Post in the National Botanical Garden as part of this project. Our intention is to create an area where guests can enjoy and see the ecology of the garden in all its beauty and vibrancy. The design ought to be instructive and immersive, strengthening the bond between guests and the natural world. Within a 50 square meter space, each observatory station must be able to seat two persons comfortably. It is our duty to investigate cutting-edge design ideas, materials, and technological advancements that support environmental stewardship, sustainability, and accessibility. The finished product should exhibit originality, careful planning, and a profound comprehension of both the built context and architectural principles.
After completing this assignment, I have gained a deeper understanding of how to create meaningful architectural spaces by investigating and applying key architectural principles. By defining and exploring the implications of these principles, I was able to see how they influence the creation of forms and spaces. Through thorough site analysis using maps and diagrams, I documented and analyzed the physical context, leading to the development of a matrix of Design Response Vignettes. Collaborating with my team, we successfully designed a Nature Observatory Post in the National Botanical Garden, focusing on creating an immersive, educational, and sustainable space. This project enhanced my ability to integrate innovative design concepts and technologies while demonstrating a strong understanding of architectural principles and the natural environment.
Project 3:Designing with Architectural Principles + Materiality + Context + User:
I've been tasked with designing a Hideout Retreat at the National Botanical Garden in Shah Alam. For a brief stay of two to three days, the building should have a maximum built-up area of 150 square meters and be able to comfortably house four individuals, including myself. In order to ensure that there is a strong link between the retreat and its surroundings and to make the architecture distinctive to its environment and activities, my design must be tightly matched with the local tropical site setting. In order to provide users a memorable spatial experience, the design should clearly convey my ideas through the application of materiality, constructability, and architectural principles.
This final project will help me better comprehend architectural principles, design concepts, and procedures. By creating an architectural plan tailored to the needs of the user, it presents the concept of architectural space-making. The project investigates the interplay of users, architectural tectonics, spatial experience, and site environment.
I now have a much deeper grasp of architectural principles, design concepts, and procedures after finishing this homework. I was able to investigate the interaction between architecture and its tropical site environment by designing a Hideout Retreat at the National Botanical Garden in Shah Alam. This allowed me to make sure that the retreat was both unique and well-integrated with its surroundings. Having to fit four people into a 150 square meter area for a short visit forced me to carefully consider materiality, constructability, and architectural principles. I learned a lot about architectural space-making via this process, particularly how to balance the interaction between people, site environment, spatial experience, and architectural tectonics in a way that creates a memorable spatial experience.
Reflection
I have a better grasp of architecture after thinking back on these three assignment especially when it comes to site study, design concepts, and creating spaces that are tailored to the needs of individual users. My ability to simplify and abstract architectural ideas was refined in the first assignment, which also helped me understand how components such as solids, planes, lines, and frames create spaces. My understanding of how careful design affects utility and aesthetics has grown as a result of the group project, which also enhanced my abilities to write architectural drawings and conduct in-depth research. Creating a Hideout Retreat in the National Botanical Garden for the final project was a crucial experience. It forced me to think critically about how building interacts with its surroundings, emphasizing constructability, materiality, and generating a satisfying user experience. Overall, these projects have improved my capacity to take a comprehensive approach to architectural design, striking a balance between originality and sound