GAN LIN JIE
TAYLOR'S ARCHITECTURE STUDENT
+ 60 17 4731 798
Project 1
Contextual Sketch Journal of a Traditional Street (INDIVIDUAL)
Task :
This project aims to explore how the identity of a place is influenced by social, cultural, economic, and political factors over time. The focus is on traditional streets in rapidly globalizing cities like Kuala Lumpur. The project seeks to understand how urban development changes the significance of these streets. This involves documenting both the physical architectural and spatial qualities, as well as the intangible socio-cultural attributes that contribute to the identity of these traditional streets.
A key part of the project is visiting one of the assigned traditional streets in areas such as Kuala Lumpur (Chinatown, Kampong Bharu, Chow Kit), Malacca, or George Town. The street boundaries will be defined using provided maps and both the physical and non-physical aspects of the chosen street will be identified. These aspects include religious buildings, architectural styles, shophouses, markets, traditional trades, local cuisines, historical events, and social institutions. Observations will be recorded in a manual sketch journal, supported by references from books, websites, and articles.
The expected outcomes of the project include a deep understanding of place contexts and their role in shaping place identity and socio-cultural meanings. The project will demonstrate the ability to discuss the relationship between architecture and its social, cultural, and intellectual context within the Asian region. The findings will be presented in a well-documented sketch journal accompanied by a written summary.
Outcome
Reflection :
This project has greatly enhanced my understanding of how socio-cultural, economic, and political factors shape the identity of traditional streets. By engaging in on-site visits, I was able to interact directly with both the physical and socio-cultural aspects that characterize these urban areas. This immersive experience underscored the role of architectural styles, historical events, and social institutions in maintaining a community's cultural heritage.
One significant realization from this project was the critical importance of context in architectural analysis. My exploration of Jalan Tun H.S. Lee revealed the profound effects of urban development on traditional street environments. Additionally, the project honed my research skills, allowing me to effectively collect and synthesize information from diverse sources to bolster my field observations.
Upon reflection, there are areas for improvement. Conducting more comprehensive preliminary research would have deepened my understanding of the historical and cultural backgrounds of the streets, resulting in more insightful observations. Moreover, refining my sketching skills would have enabled me to capture architectural details with greater precision.
Overall, this project has broadened my understanding of the interplay between architecture and its socio-cultural and economic contexts. It highlighted the importance of historical context and meticulous observation in studying urban spaces.
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Project 2 :
Poster and Seminar-Contemporary Issues in Asian Architecture (GROUP)
Task :
This research project focuses on developing critical thinking and interpretive skills related to the impact of globalization on Asian architecture. We will use a problem-based learning approach and engage in weekly group discussions led by tutors. The objective is to create a comprehensive framework for analyzing major issues and developing potential solutions. Our final presentation will consist of a research poster and a video, which will account for 50% of our final grade.
We need to form groups of 6-7 members and choose a significant issue from our initial observations in Project 1. Then, we will select one of the following research themes: architecture and place identity, adaptive reuse of traditional architecture, sustainable heritage tourism, or cultural spaces in urban settings. Conducting a literature review will help us refine our research focus, develop a specific research title, and identify relevant issues and their importance. We are also tasked with creating a visually engaging research poster illustrating our findings and producing a 10-minute video presentation to convey our research and conclusions.
The expected outcomes include a deep understanding of the historical evolution of vernacular architecture in Asia and the ability to analyze contemporary issues in Asian architecture, particularly concerning tradition, modernity, and globalization. We aim to showcase our critical thinking and problem-solving skills by proposing well-informed solutions and effectively communicating our research findings through the poster and video presentation.
Reflection :
This research project has been instrumental in expanding my knowledge of the contemporary challenges in Asian architecture. Engaging in weekly group discussions has provided me with a deeper understanding of how globalization influences architectural practices, especially regarding the interplay between tradition and modernity. I have learned to critically evaluate different architectural themes, appreciating the nuanced balance between maintaining cultural heritage and embracing modern innovations. The process of creating the research poster and video presentation has also improved my ability to effectively communicate complex ideas both visually and verbally, which are vital skills in the field of architecture.
Looking back, there are areas where I could have enhanced my approach. Dedicating more time to preliminary research would have given us a more solid foundation for our analysis. A better initial grasp of the chosen topics would have enriched our group discussions and led to more detailed and thoughtful interpretations.
In summary, this project has been a valuable learning experience that has deepened my understanding of Asian architecture within its socio-cultural and economic contexts. By focusing on these areas for improvement, I can further refine the quality and depth of my future architectural research and presentations.