Wednesday

Chapter 3


This is my chapter 3, it is 80% complete. Most of the images i already have it with me, some are still on the way (: I did not include them here as somehow pictures screw up my blog structure.

Some touch ups are still required, this is the first "draft" it normally only gets better after 3 times .. haha.. Enjoy the read!

PS : the Figure numberings aren't the actual ones as chapter 2 has more pictures
PSS : I have 2k word count just in Chapter 3 .. i'm worried. Will there be marks minused if the whole dissertation is over 5k word count? :/
PSSS : Mr Leong it's time to update your blog :p




3.0 Judging art by its colours / Judge wise or regret otherwise

Malaysians in general tend to be superficial towards designs in architecture despite not admitting to it. The complacent attitude of Malaysians is one of the important factors that affect them when it comes to judging architecture. Despite not knowing the process of design, Malaysians would rather just judge buildings by the way it looks as that would make them feel knowledgeable despite being otherwise. Additionally it because of their easy going and carefree attitude that makes them accept things without questioning the sources.


3.1 What is the meaning of design process?

“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space” - Louis Kahn.

Ideally, buildings are designed for the users and their needs. The process that designers have to go through isn’t short and easy but rather long and torturous. From the start of finding out the user needs to the user preference and researching the site location including its environment and surroundings, not one piece of information has to be left out to create the final design of the building. Additionally, no building is designed purely on conceptual ideas but rather only after going through a series of developed models and prototypes will it only then be considered as a maybe for the outcome. Aside from that, cultural and historical values have to be analyzed beforehand. Finally, after going through the hoo-hahs, the finalized design of the building will be created. Not only has it got to be functional and logical but also high in aesthetic value.

That being said, a design idea does not automatically become a building without going through processes. Unfortunately, it’s proven by the survey done (Refer to Fig 8) that the laymen do not think about the issues that designers face while designing the building but rather just look at the outcome of it. This shows how Malaysians take architecture for granted and really couldn’t care less of what becomes or could come from it.

*insert Fig 8

3.2 Reaction towards design

When something is designed, it is normally for the purpose of improving the quality of living, there isn’t any design that one can specifically pin point and label as bad as all design is subjective. Thus, when a designer designs for the convenience, how does one react to it? The simplest logical answer to that is to appreciate it. For example, a simple door that has a handle on one side and a plate on the other (Refer to Fig 9 and 10) needless to say means to push or pull without having to read the signage, and think before reacting.

*insert Fig 9 & 10

This shows how designers have thought one step ahead just to design the convenience for the users albeit it being a big issue or a tiny one. Unfortunately, in this modern day era, Malaysians tend to take things for granted and just do not know how fortunate they are. This is because of the way children are brought up these days, gone are the days that children have the need to work hard to be rewarded. According to the survey results in Fig 11, most Malaysians do not even bother to look and notice buildings. To most, it is just a place in which they have to enter to perform daily tasks. Eg: work, eat, rest, work out and etcetera.

*Survey results image

It is the community that encourages each other to dispose of the old designs to keep up with the trend. It is all about what costs more and which is newer, no longer is it about what is good and has satisfactory quality. Malaysians now have adapted to the new world living of ‘buy and throw away’ only a handful would take the time to think of how things work and how they can adapt to it whereas others would just throw a design away without attempting a second try/chance. This attitude has caused a whole lot of issues within the nation itself. Eg: Burning waste in Malaysia causes climate change, wastage piling up in rural areas affecting the environment and etcetera.

“In Malaysia we produce 19,000 tones of waste every day, and a majority of that ends up in landfills. To put in perspective 19,000 tonnes of rubbish, if you piled it all up it would be as high as 36 Petronas Twin Towers, that’s an awful lot of rubbish to deal with on a daily basis.” – Nural on Recycling in Malaysia

Getting back on track, this attitude applies to how Malaysians look at architecture as well, always wanting to look at ‘new’ buildings with fancy designs and cost a whole lot more to produce than the last expensive building. All that matters is aesthetics, aesthetics and higher aesthetics. Eventually, the extravagance that Malaysians crave leads to bombastic forms but lack in functionality.
Additionally, when the demand for aesthetics rather than functionality is overwhelming, designers who strive to make a living would eventually give in to the pressuring needs of the community that wants to be in ‘trend’ and just design something for the sake of earning enough monies to make a living. This leads to the lack of passion within designers and buildings will end up soulless as designers will end up competing to design more bombastically and aesthetically eventually they will lose sight of the basic design process of which is focused around the needs of the society. The competition between designers that initially brought a more enriched design lifestyle to Malaysians would eventually be the factor that destroys the future generation in architecture design.

This is a devastating thought as it is certain that Malaysian designers have much to offer in the architecture industry. An excerpt from an interview with Chief Design Officer (CDO), Lillian Tey, of Veritas Architect Sdn Bhd is proof a legitimate Malaysian architectural design company that strives to achieve a better lifestyle for the future generation-to leave a mark that represents Malaysia’s current identity.

*insert excerpt from interview with lilian tey

However, despite being an internationally renowned company with a superb portfolio (Refer to Fig 11, 12 and 13 for examples of their building designs in Malaysia), they still weren’t given the chance to design Malaysia’s iconic twin towers, Petronas Twin Towers.


*Pics from Veritas portfolio – Fig 11,12,13

Petronas Twin Towers (Refer to Fig 14 and 15) was one of the first reasons that Malaysia was put on the map globally, Being the first twin tower that was the tallest in the world definitely brought up the nation’s standards. However, when one uses the World Wide Web (WWW) to search up the towers, they’ll find out it wasn’t built nor designed by any local architects but rather foreign ones. This factor causes people to realize that Malaysia houses the first tallest twin towers that wasn’t designed by Malaysians. Thus, it’s not Malaysia who should be receiving the credit for such a building.

Designed by Argentine architects Cesar Pelli and Djay Cerico under the consultancy of Julius Gold. Tower 1 was built by a Japanese consortium led by the Hazama Corporation while Tower 2 was built by Samsung C&T and Kukdong Engineering & Construction, both South Korean contractors.” – Wikipedia on the architecture of Petronas Twin Towers

This decision by the local government to request foreign designers to design Malaysia’s iconic buildings does not only decrease the chance for Malaysian architects to shine and show their talent but also degrades Malaysian architects to the extent of assuming they do not have the talent to design their own nations’ iconic building.

*images of Petronas Twin Towers – Fig 14 and 15

Thus, despite however much effort any local designers put in to rise above the lack of opportunity given by the local government only disappoint and lowers morale to do better and work harder. It is safe to say therefore that not only one person is to blame for what the Malaysian architecture is becoming but rather every single person plays a part albeit it being a big role or a minor one.

Reactions have purposes, despite it being a pleasant one or not, it is still one that affects others. Malaysians should not be selfishly indifferent as their lack of reactions will only cause others who have the potential to make a difference in the architectural world to be stumped and not progress forward.


3.3 Human senses playing a part

The five main human senses are sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. However, despite having five major senses, Malaysians tend to only use one when they judge designs in architecture; their sight. This is one of the human flaws as we depend heavily on our sight without paying much attention to our other senses. Additionally, our sights can be easily deceived with illusions of the eyes, thus it goes to show that it’s not very good for us as human to only rely on one of our five major senses. Refer to Fig 16 and 17 for examples of how our sight can be manipulated with simple illusions.

*insert eye illusion pictures - Fig 16, 17

Alternatively, when designers design, they will be taking every little thing into consideration. By that, if one utilizes all five senses while being in the designed space only then will one truly be able to feel and be connected with the space. For example (Refer to Fig 18 and 19), a long and narrow corridor in comparisons with a wide one will have a different affect when one is at a stand still-the air quality, sound and the smell would feel different. Designers and architects are those of ability to manipulate a space into one that expresses and evokes feelings of users.

*insert example hallways – fig 18 & 19

The sense of touch is also known as one of the most influential factor that allows one to interact with designs. In fact buildings should not be designed solely on aesthetics as people will not be able to interact, connect or have an emotional link with them. Thus, new buildings these days have incorporated a touchable feeling that allows users to feel accepted within the building while allowing their senses to expand and develop a new sense of acceptation towards architecture.

There are also several international buildings that focus mainly on creating the effect of touch in which users will have to tune all their senses to be able to appreciate the architectural design. Fig 20 and 21 are examples of international buildings in which are catered specifically to stir up the human senses to adapt and accept the buildings’ architecture.

*insert example senses buildings – fig 20 & 21

These are the types of effects that architects have incorporated within buildings to enhance the quality of the space in which users will use. However as not many Malaysians bother to connect with buildings using all their senses, they will not be able to appreciate the architectural design of the building, thus condemning it as a poorly designed building due to the lack of high aesthetics by sight alone. Needless to say, the failure of laymen who are ignorant about using all their senses to explore a building only will lead to them not being able to fully understand the purpose of the design. This is a critical factor as the efforts of the architects will have gone to waste and the ripple effect created by this will cause a wave of low morale amongst other architects and designers.

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