Working Drawings
Project 2: Understanding The IBS System
Urbanism
In Class Sypnosis
Towards New Horizons in Architecture
Le Corbusier-Towards A New Architecture
Semiology And Architecture
Ar. Chong Voon Wee Biodata
Architecture Theory Analysis
Project: Theorizing Architecture
Introduction
Ar. Chong Voon Wee ventured
down the path of architecture subconsciously influenced by his father’s job
which is a contractor. Thus Ar Chong is not a stranger to seeing buildings
getting erected even at a young age, which later on influence him to actually
want to design a building of his own. The building that I chose to analyze Ar
Chong’s theory towards architecture is the Wisma Hamzah Kwong Hing located in No.
1 Lebuh Ampang 50100, which is an old office building which is later assigned
to Ar Chong for renovation in 2008. This paper aims to analyze architecture and
urban forms in relation to relevant architectural theories, and also the
relation between site context and architecture.
Analysis
Climatic
Analysis:
As an architect, Ar. Chong has to be a professional when it comes to site context, Lebuh Ampang is located next to traditional street Jalan Tun H.S Lee, which indicates there is a lot more to take into consideration when it comes to designing a modern building in a traditional urban context.
As an architect, Ar. Chong has to be a professional when it comes to site context, Lebuh Ampang is located next to traditional street Jalan Tun H.S Lee, which indicates there is a lot more to take into consideration when it comes to designing a modern building in a traditional urban context.
In terms of climate, the
natural flow of ventilation through the site is much affected by the urban
context itself as the built buildings is an obstruction and having tall
buildings can also block of the ventilation of lower buildings next to it. But
in the case of the Wisma Hamzah, the interior of the building is mechanical
ventilated as an office building, the use of natural ventilation is not so
practical given the terms of achieving a comfortable atmosphere for the workers
that are working in the building. As a professional, taking into account the
main purpose of the building and the activities going on inside the Wisma
Hamzah, Ar Chong insulated the external sound caused by the busy streets around
the building compound. Also given the hot climate in Malaysia and even more so
when it comes to a congested street with high vehicular activities and very
little vegetation, Ar. Chong finished the building façade with reflective
tinted windows to reflect the solar heat away from the building and also
introducing long strip window shade across the glass building façade to shade
from the high noon sun.
Architectural
Analysis
In terms of architecture,
Ar. Chong being a professional in his field of work, tries to coordinate the
principle of architecture in order to fulfill his client’s needs and demands
but not losing the architectural language of the old Wisma Hamzah when
introducing a new context for the building renovation, in this case is Mr Kwong
Hing the owner of the Wisma Hamzah.
Mr Kwong Hing is a traditional
chinese who believes heavily in Fengshui, and the balance of Ying and Yang in
order to bring peace, prosperity and wealth to his business. In response to Mr
Kwong Hing’s religion, beliefs and needs, Ar. Chong found a balance among all
the elements he’s taking into consideration. The interior floor area was
preserved as it was but the floor finishes was replaced by black marble stone
to better enhance the gold element of the building, the office floors are kept
as open possible, as the chinese believe that an open floor plan will enhance
the ventilation of air in the particular space, and hence increasing cash flow
in the workplace. Following up with the traditional Fengshui beliefs, the
façade windows are finished with gold tinted curtain wall, which is very much
different from the usual tinted windows we see on the skyscrapers on site. The
gold tint is demande by Mr Kwong Hing himself, the gold is said to bring in
more luck or prosperity for the tenants of the building as gold is known as the
imperial color throughout all the dynasties in China. Although the gold tinted
Wisma Hamzah is an outstanding building in the context of a traditional street
scape but it does not overpower the overall site. Wisma Hamzah isn’t the only
skyscraper on site but it is the one with the closest color tone with the
traditional shop house façade which are mostly milky in color.
Façade in relation to site context
The Wisma
Hamzah Kwong Hing was a 22 storey high concrete building with window openings
on the façade before the renovation took place in 2008. During the process of
the renovation, a steel structure was introduced onto the existing building
structure. Ar. Chong proposed a new structure on the old one using the existing
columns to support the steel frames of the long strips of curtain walls and the
sun shades.
The new façade is a total
contrast of the old façade, from the rigid form with rigid looking window
openings to the new gold tinted building façade and a smoother shape at the
edge to grant continuity for the tinted window strips. The new façade of the
Wisma Hamzah has a little more dynamics
if compares to the building façade in the overall site, but then if the dynamic
shapes were to be taken to a higher level the Wisma Hamzah will then be
unfitting for the surround site context, hence the decision of this façade in
the urban landscape, without overpowering the traditional street scape but be
able to give an old building a modern façade.
Discussion
Based on my understanding,
Ar. Chong’s theory in architecture was determined by his working experience
starting as an intern during summer break when he is studying abroad in
Australia, from there he was trained to sharpen his skills as a future
architect without the technology of today, so every drawing has to be hand
drawn but precise at the same time. After his return to Malaysia in 1991, the
working experience then defines his theory today, to be a professional in the
working field, requires the skill to complete a job or project assigned, the
ability to come up with a solution for the problem faced during the process and
being able to judge the which decision is the best way to complete the job, and
last but not least always respond in according to the clients need.
As a professional,
architects have the ethical and professional demands placed on themselves for
the health, safety and welfare of the public. Every design choices the
architect make will sooner or later impact on individuals, communities and the
environment. In the case of the Wisma Hamzah, adaptive reuse of the existing
building structure by Ar. Chong shows his professionalism in the field. Being
conservative of what he do with the existing building assigned to him to
redesign, preserving the elements that can be reused to form a new design, not
only that this is adapting to the on-site situation but also taking
environmental issues into consideration, to reduce new material usage, and
staying within the client’s budget at the same time achieving the goal that Mr.
Kwong Hing first hired him to do.
Given the fact that he was
assigned a street with a long history and with traditions and cultures
implemented in it, it is only fitting for a professional to gain sufficient
knowledge of the diverse needs, values and behaviors of the local community. In
this case Ar. Chong has to take in to account the overall site context of H.S
Lee introducing a modern look into the traditional street without diminishing
the ethical value of the historical street scape.
Architects is a profession
with significant responsibilities and power within society, a good design will
bring pleasure to the eye, comfort to the body of users, practical in the way
it is design to be, but a bad design can cause unnecessary problems in a
community, take the China Bird Nest Olympic Stadium for instance, it was
pleasing and iconic during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but then after the event,
the maintenance fee for it is way off the charts, and the rates in order to
rent it to the general public is too high hence the Olympic effect, and not
only in China, but all over the world facilities and monumental building were
built for that one grand event and usually being deserted after that.
In my opinion, for a
professional these factors must also be taken into account during the design
stage of a building. Given the issue that something like the Olympic effect can
easily effect the community around it, in a bigger scale the nations’ ecomonics
will also be pulled under. As a professional these issues are not to be
overlooked, must concern and responsibility must be placed into the designing
process and plans are to be thought through for the next 20 or 30 years or
more.
Being a professional in the
field means having profession ethnics, and this is what the theory of Ar. Chong
is all about, taking into consideration even the smallest issue that although
the window panels are all tinted but still implementing a short window shade
that matches the façade design of the gold tinted windows and at the same time
being practical to shade the window panes from the afternoon high sun which is
the largest source of heat in a tropical country like Malaysia. It is clear
that the shades are significantly short to be shading the whole strip of
curtain wall but, the shades are only designed for the purpose mentioned above,
this is practicality in completing an assignment, no extra cost wasted on
something that is not necessary. The open floor plans are not only for the
beliefs of Mr. Kwong Hing but also considering the main activities carried out
in this office building, some of the office floors are rented out to other
companies thus the open plans will allow them to partition according to the
needs of the tenants, even if they moved the partition walls can be easily
replaced by the new tenant.
In my personal opinion, in
the field of architecture today, we need more architects that practices
professionalism in the community, even with a beautifully designed building
without being practical that architecture is still considered as a failure.
Although the first impression of the building is good to the outside community,
but the impact on the surrounding society is still more important.
Conclusion
As a conclusion, being a
professional in the field of architecture requires the knowing societal and
professional responsibilities and integrating community service into the
practice of architecture. Not only taking into account the site condition
given, but also the surrounding of the site itself, which is more significant
if the site is an urban street scape like Jalan Tun H.S Lee. The society and
community within the site context is also an important aspect, from
macroclimate the natural state of the site including the climate and landscape
to microclimate which includes human behavior, human and vehicular circulation
and the community and user groups that are involved and possible group that
will be affected by the project.
Understanding architecture
did not end when you graduate a degree or even a master program, architectural
education is life-long and will always encompass an individual’s understanding
of relationships, perspective on diversity, knowledge of theory and design.
Knowing the differences and attributes of all the materials and how to combine
them, and understanding how nature functions. We architects literally have to
learn everything about this world and its inhabitants. What matters, ultimately
is how much you understand and how willing you are to couple experience with
structured education in order to grow, develop and finally broaden your
perspective to understand the power of architecture.
Reference
List
Professionalism, Retrieved
June 22 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professionalism
10 Characteristics of
Professionalism, C. Joseph, Demand Media Retrieved June 22 2014, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/10-characteristics-professionalism-708.html
Professionalism and Ethics
in Architecture Education (2009), D.L. Steidl, Design Intelligence, Retrieved
June 22 2014, from http://www.di.net/articles/professionalism-and-ethics-in-architectural-education/
Professional Ethics in
Architecture and Responsibilities of Architects towards Humanity (2012) H.
Sadri, Gazi University, Retrieved 22 June 2014, from http://www.academia.edu/2607379/Professional_Ethics_in_Architecture_and_Responsibilities_of_Architects_towards_Humanity
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