CALVIN SUAH JAKE GINN
"life isn't about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself"
Architecture Nation and Building
Module Introduction
This module intends to present to students the idea of the new Malaysian Architecture identity based on humanistic, cultural and political values of multi-cultural Malaysia. It will present modernists architectural values as well as post modernist reconstruction of history and architectural vocabulary to transfer the values into built form. Students will undergo a series of continuous assessments such as assignments and project to ascertain the objective and outcome of the module is achieved.
Module Objective
1. To introduce ideas of new Malaysian architecture identity from the perspectives of humanistic, cultural and political values.
2. To cretae awareness of issues pertinent to architecture and nation building.
Project 1: Self Reflection
This assignment requires students to reflect on the concept of identity and architecture. In a group, they are to consolidate and collectively form a position on their identities and to represent it in the form of architecture. Its aim is for the students to explore architecture as tool for expressing identity.
Project 1 Objectives
1. To introduce ideas of new Malaysian architecture identity from the perspectives of humanistic, cultural and political values.
2. To identify the role of identity in nation building.
Project 1 Outcome
The building that I chose is Surry Hills Community Centre and Library which is located in Sydney, Australia. Ever since I was a young boy, I have always been thought to care and learn from each other, regardless of who we are and how capable I can be. Surry Hills Community Centre and Library caters for people with all ages and capabilities. It is a 4 storey building consisting of a library section, a community centre section and a children centre. Furthermore, the building is surrounded by residential areas, commercial areas and an open space for people to gather. Being able to learn from people brings you closer to each other or having better relationship among one another. And therefore this can somehow relate to this site. This library and community centre can only function when there are people to connect with, same goes to my personality. Without friends or people around me, I would not be as confident as I can be with the help of my surrounding.
Group Presentation
Project 2: Survey
This assignment requires us to conduct a survey study on understanding concept of identities in architecture. We were required to compile, synthesis and also present the findings in the form of Power Point presentation. I've learnt not only to work as a team, but communicate with my group members.
Survey Questions
Project 2 Presentation Slides
Project 3: Creating Your Own Nation
This project requries students to create a nation based on findings from Project 1 and 2. We were required to choose among others a government type, aa national religion, political entity of its citizens and its architecture. In a group, we had to preset the Nation and individually, as well as producing an illustrated essay. The objectives of this project is to introduce ideas of new Malaysian architecture identity from the perspectives of humanistic, cultural and political values. Besides, the aim is also to create awareness of issues pertinent to architecture and nation building. In this project, we were to propose the best multimedia tool to illustrate the design within 5minutes. After that, we had to produce an illustrated essay of 2000 words, individually. We were to justify our ideas of the design in relationshp to the identity from the perspectives of humanistic, cultural and political values.
Our Nation Video
My Illustrated Essay
Learning Outcomes
From the projects above, I have recognized and recall matters related to architecture identity. Also, I am capable of describing ideas of arhitecture identity from the perspectives of humanistic, cultural and political values. Furthermore, I have managed to explain ideas of Malaysian architecture identity in a written and oral formats through case stuies investigation.