Be the big box (or the candle)

 

Meet the Farnsworth House by Mies. At the corner of the house is a big box; filled with all the basic amenities of a house. You know, things like kitchen, bathroom, toilet, wardrobe and even a fireplace. The beauty of the box lies in its positioning. Depending on the size of space that it captures on its sides, it defines the function of the space.

A wide space, coupled with the fireplace of the big box, will become a suitable space for a living or even a bedroom.
 It can remain as flexible as we want it to be.

A narrow space, framed by the kitchen side of the box will obviously suggest that the 'hallway' is only for cooking purposes. The adjacent space near the area is probably a good space to have the dining area, as suggested in the picture below.

Notice one important thing; there are no walls to define the space and function. The clever design and strategic positioning of the big box is enough to ACTIVATE the space surrounding it and suggest to them their own function.

It would be a totally different house if the big box is not there.

 ...

Think about this as an analogy.

How would our surrounding change if we are no longer part of it?
Would it be any different?

If the answer is yes, then we should try and be the big box.
Because our ummah needs a lot of these big boxes.

خَيْرُ النَّاسِ أَنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ

“The best people are those who are useful to others.”

Shahih al-Jami’ no 3289 (Hasan).

Da’ie is like a candle that burns itself to light up the way for his people.

So, be the big box. Or the candle.
(Not to be taken literally laa...)


ps:
The big box doesn't have to do everything to activate the space. It only needs to be there, making sure it plays its role as the core of the house. The furniture will help it to do the rest.
Likewise, being a da'ie, we don't have to do everything on our own. Just spark the change. Our surrounding will eventually change, provided we do our work.

Allahua'lam. Allah knows best.

Girih Tower project : a parametric modelling experiment using Digital Project V1R4

I enrolled for a SIAL subject ('Flexible Modelling') for my elective this semester. Almost all students thought that the subject would be an advanced modelling class for Rhinoceros, only to be told by the tutors that its not. We were asked to used a different software called 'Digital Project' V1R4, a parametric software developed by Gehry Technologies. (Frank Gehry's company)

Never thought that I'd be learning about parametric modelling this semester.

Apparently, parametric modelling is about the flexibility to change the design easily, either by changing the parameters (height, width, depth, curvature, etc) or via scripting. The experts in parametric design don't have to re-model a project if changes are to be made, instead they will just alter the figures in an excel spreadsheet or the script that they use to create the model, and voilà, they can produce numerous variations in a very short time.

The subject comes with another great opportunity. We were given the freedom to choose our own project. I chose Islamic tiling.

I get to learn about the complex geometry tiling that the Muslim civilization discovered during their peak period. This unique geometry system, which is still considered a breakthrough even today, is called Girih tiling.

They are made of 5 unique tiles, that can be arranged in many different ways so that the deco lines in each shape would form one continuous pattern. Here is an example in Darb-I-Imam shrine in Isfahan.



The amazing thing is, this was all done without computers. Pure genius, subhanallah.
Here's another image that I like. A dome structure, also somewhere in Iran.


There is something that we should reflect upon ourselves here. When we see all these achievements by our predecessors, and compare them to ours, where do we sit?

The Muslims used to be the best of nations. They were the leaders in every aspect of life. Here we are only talking about aspect ie knowledge. They became researchers, pioneers in their field and set an example to the rest of the world. It is a legacy that we cannot deny. On the other hand, we have become something else. We can't really say that we are the best of nations, judging from the reality that we live in. The modern-day Muslim is always associated with laziness, corruption, extremist, etc.. There are some great Muslims out there, but their voices are unheard off. There is a great lecture by Dr Yusuf Qardhawi, have a look.

Anyways, here are some snapshots of my work so far. Final presentation is next week.

02 Kuching Waterfront, Malaysia by Connybeare Morrison

Mapping exercise for Asian Architecture and Urbanism.

Kuching Waterfront was built on the very riverbank where the city itself was born. It was a place where the institutional buildings from the Brooke era was built. Along the river, we can the well-preserved Court House, Fort Margherita, Square Tower and a few other historic buildings. It was also a busy maritime port in Sarawak where trading would take place. That was probably the reason for the establishment of Indian and Chinese shophouses along the riverbank.


There was also a dynamic between the contested edge; where water meets land. With a tidal difference of 5-6 metres, Kuching Waterfront is an area that is prone to flood. The local used to complained it being a mudflat.

Therefore, this project sets for itself a clear criteria for the designers. There is a tension between dealing with the flood events and preserving the rich history and intellectual memory of the city.

Basically, the design decisions was to reclaim a strip of land along the riverbank to have a firmer ground, opening up corridor views towards the river from the city. A promenade was designed along the strip, with the a few preserved historical buildings running along ie. the Square Tower, the Sarawak Steamship Company (now used as Bazaar for souvenirs and food outlets), an unknown colonial structure (now used as a performance stage), Chinese Pavilion and the Chinese Museum. The pavements along the waterfront uses the floral motif common among the indigenous, the Iban people.

Square Tower

Pavement along Waterfront

Nowadays, the Waterfront is no longer the maritime port as it used to be but it has definitely been remotivated to become a central part of the Kuching City. There were always events being held in the public square where the Square Tower sits. One of the most common one is the annual regatta; an boat race event. Participants would use long boats, that are still being used to get into the deeper areas in Sarawak. It was also said that the long boats are used in the memory of the Dayak war boat.

Sarawak Regatta

Kuching Waterfront might be a little bit figurative in terms of its design, however in terms of its function, it was quite successfull. It was a good dumbbell design that enhance the riverbank as a vibrant place in the city.

01 Dialogue House, Malaysia by Architron

A lot of people say that there are not so much of commendable contemporary architecture back home, Malaysia. That includes me. We see a lot of bad things as oppose to the good ones. I guess, thats the common nature of man.

By commendable I mean, an architecture that is more responsive of our own culture, climate, heritage and so forth while embracing modernism, instead of buildings that makes reference to the west, or even middle east in the case of Islamic architecture.

So, after a few years of criticizing local architecture, I think there are much to see and appreciate. Though not much, there are some instances of appreciation towards a more regional approach on architecture. Thanks to a subject called Asian Urbanism that I enrolled in at RMIT, I came to know about Architron.


"A single family house facing a golf course. The owners require a segregation of private life and public entertaining, the house therefore forms 2 “wings” along a central atrium space, resembling an internal garden and facing the golf course, as if the course entered the inner space of the home. One side of the garden is private, the other dedicated to social gatherings."

A lecturer once said, the house tries to evoke an image of vernacular, and the bright colours signifies the colorfulness of the local architecture. Or something like that.

Whatever it tries to do, it has definitely shaken the typical form of architecture in Malaysia, taking into consideration the climate (especially with the atrium space), and more importantly, making appearances in international magazines.

With that, I think I'll start compiling precedent architectural projects and post it here for future references.