architecture design studio 4
ARC2126: Architecture Design Studio 4
Project 1: Precedent Studies
As a kick start of the project, there are 2 precedent studies.
The aim of analyze the precedents is to investigate the building’s
spatial typology, programme, and the poetic senses in the space.
Precedent study A
Nature Appreciation Center: Museum of ocean and surf by Steven Holl architects
For Precedent B, 5 spaces in Belum Rainforest Resort are chosen to further analyze its
space in terms of function,poetic qualities and natural settings.
Project 2: Nature Appreciation Center
Site: Sepang Mangrove Forest beside Environment Interpretation Center (EIC)
Base on the analysis, a few issues and strategy are identified. The issues including: number of entrances and its sizes, unorganized landscape and lack of engagement. The strategies in the design is the direction of prevailing wind and the changing tide levels with variety of activities.
Solid and void technique are applied from precedent A in spaces to draw people’s attention to dominant spaces in my building. Whereas from Precedent B, usage of different light and shadow experiences are being adopted to create poetic spaces.
Since lack of engagement is the main problem, Art and Science programmes are set as main programme to gain community’s interest. The idea is to create a common platform for people to get inspired and express. Thus, an open air art gallery is the main feature of the Nature Appreciation Center.
Sepang Mangrove Art & Science Center:
The concept of the NAC is ‘The living wetland’. The idea is to let visitors to explore the wetland, get inspired and produce artworks/outcome from it, giving a second life to the nature elements.
The programmes in the center fully engage to the surrounding context, including Nature walking trail, art and craft workshop, juice extraction workshop, specimen making workshop, seed planting and also bird watching deck.
The relationship between NAC and EIC is that NAC is the introduction to visitors, to regain interest of community towards nature, then devoting themselves into EIC, which stands a role in protecting and conserving the nature.
There are a few sustainable approaches in the NAC:
(i) By comfort ventilation
-shaping the building form to enhance ventilation, manipulating sizes of inlet & outlet,.
(ii) By shading devices
-Cantilevered blocks,large overhang eaves,creepers as shading devices
-Ramp is redesigned which it provide shading purpose as well
(iii) Green roof
(iv) Material
-In terms of materials, inspired from Precedent B,
low embodied energy materials are employed in the building,
such as Concrete and timber
-Salvaged bricks on site,recycle and reuse the brick in accommodation blocks,
bricks are also locally available materials
(v) Daylighting
There are skylights in the building which provide natural lighting
as well as provide different poetic experiences to the users
