The Discovery Center
Project 2 (2a & 2b)
2a
Society, culture, history, memory and the landscape of a particular place echoes the meaning of that ‘place’, or its ‘genius loci’. These qualities will inform the architectural concept and generators for Project 2 as the aim of the project is to design a Discovery Center (aka visitor center) for Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest. The project design brief calls for an architectural response toward the sense of place with a strong engagement and relationship to the site and programmatic requirements. Project 2a requires an analysis of the site context as a starting point. It is a fundamental need for any design project as it will suggest a series of parameters to suggest architectural solution, one that will be appropriate to the place and its meaning, and contributes to its context.
2b
Project 2B is a continuation from Project 1 and Project 2A. Project 1 was aimed to introduce and explore the formal and poetic articulation of architecture in a site-less or hypothetical site condition. Project 2a was about the historical research and site analysis as a driver for architectural development for the Discovery Center. Finally, in Project 2b, the design brief calls for an architectural response to design A DISCOVERY CENTER (Visitor Center) emphasizing a strong engagement and relationship to the site, people, culture, history, spatial experiences, and programmatic requirements.
Learning Outcomes of this Project
2a
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Generate design through conscious consideration of spatial typologies, section-plan relationship, contextual conditions and considerations of human scale, natural light, materiality, and textures.
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Document, interpret and analyze the physical conditions of the site and ‘genius loci’ of place and generate design based on the character and conditions of the site context.
2b -
Resolve basic building construction, materials, and environmental considerations.
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Produce and justify a design of a small-scale community building within an open/suburban context, following analysis and exploration of the site, the user requirements, environmental sustainability, buildability, and spatial poetics.
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Communicate design through effective visual and expressive verbal presentation to peer, tutors, and architects from industry.
TASKS
2a
In Project 2a, our tutorial team, consisting of 15 or 16 students, conducted a site analysis of the designated Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest Discovery Center site and study area. The goal was to identify tangible and intangible elements of the site to develop design guidelines considering the site conditions. We distributed the five divisions of tasks among the team members to complete the site analysis within less than two weeks.
2b
The task was to design a Discovery Center (Visitor Center) for the Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest, focusing on celebrating cultural diversity, heritage, history, and the well-being of the place, community, activities, and economy. The design was required to follow the given space and design requirements.
2a (Site Analysis)
2b
Presentation Boards
Design Process Journal
Throughout Project 2a, I felt excited and challenged as we analysed the different aspects of the given site. The site analysis allowed us to connect with the place's cultural and historical aspects, inspiring a meaningful architectural response. Working in a tutorial team enriched our design process, resulting in a project that felt genuinely connected to the site and its community.
The second part (2b) of the project was a lot more challenging as this was our first time designing a building of this expanse. The project built upon the knowledge and insights gained from Project 1 and Project 2A, where we explored poetic architecture and conducted site analysis. Drawing on that foundation, I focused on resolving building construction, materials, and environmental considerations for the Discovery Center.
I found myself inspired to design a space that not only showcased the site's rich culture and history but also embraced its natural environment and well-being. The challenge of creating a poetic architectural expression that celebrated diversity and connected visitors to the essence of Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest was exciting.
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