interlocking cubes

Design idea: 10 degrees

This simple study is focusing on massing and forming. The idea is how to interlock two cubes with a same size, in 10 degrees angle at the critical one point only.

The critical point is to use three main sides of every cube to be done the strategy of interlocking. The construction is quite hard since the need of maintaining that 10 degrees angle.

The result is the special space which is the interlocking space is defining well. The top cube will define as a light massing while the bottom cube will define as the base.

bridging cubes

Design idea: Circulation

The simple study is about the sense of circulation in movement, I provided the straight path which will break the domination, and also the separation zones of the clockwise and counter-clockwise movement. 

 

The study needs to be the focus on the idea of tension, which one of the cubes will be supporting the other one of the cubes. By means, the one will be on the ground and one other is floating or suspended. The supporting element is the straight bridge which defined as a special space and the important for the entity.

The base cubes will have a heavy architectural element while the floating cube will have lighter languages, to give a sense of stability. The angular support will recall the idea of structural stability of architectural engineering.

the leaves

Design idea: The planar coordination

Location: imagination sloping site

Client: N.A

Material and Construction: Brick + Steel + Timber

Category: freestanding structure

Site context: slope site surrounding with flora

Area: 15 sqm @ 160 sq ft

A brief

The small shelter should be located at an imagination site of a slope, any condition with any point of approach. The area limitation should be 15 sqm, with an idea of surrounding element. 

The solution

As an imagination site, it’s should be a hillside with a flora element of trees. It’s a place to gather information of surrounding, which is bold enough for the visitors who pass by and engage this structure. The site is sloping 30 degrees while approaching point is a flat land.
 
 The architecture
 

The idea is a literally pick from one of the nature elements – the leaves. The leaf is specialized for the process of photosynthesis. Their function is very important in every plant; to store a food and water, absorbing carbon dioxide to transform it to become oxygen, and much more. The uniqueness of this creature is that, the function is varied even thought the size is really small. Every different type of trees got their unique form leaves, and sometimes the colour could be varying. Usually, the colour of leaves must be in green; referring the main content of chloroplasts inside. 

This idea drives my architecture to become very minimal, since the surrounding element is a kind of hybrid of nature; I would like to introduce a contra language for her. It’s a perfect linear with sharp edges in every perspective.

 
To give a sense of belonging, I’m using the main wall which been placed in a perfect coordination, between one and another. Every element is speaking to each other’s and shows how this language is composing in harmonious order. The sculpture is placing at one of the corners, which comes with a bench for seating. It’s enhancing the entrance point for this particular architecture, which also been an anchor.

 
I’m using a basic idea of architecture languages. The 4 main vertical planar elements are use to support the horizontal planar above – which is the leaves. All combinations are to define the actual space required, which is the interlocking space defined by the coordination of every planar. All those planar is the place where an idea of information should be placed. As a minimalist structure – the sharp edges cut for this structure is a simple idea how to bold it in the surrounding of the hybrid element. It’s contemporary but reflecting the tropical climatic.
 
Material itself is a combination of natural brick from surrounding in a modular order, which been used on the main vertical wall, and fresh wood from selected trees for the floor. Only the roof I’m using steel members. This is to give a sense of belonging to her and to avoid too many natural damages. The space is very transparent without any special technology.

 
The user who will be using this small piece of architecture is; an environmentalist, photographer and hiking personal. This is because of the location should be placed in a high ground level to frame magnificent views in front of it. Approaching point in this site is perfect flat, which that piece of land could be use from another function.

Very small area, simple languages, and truths to material are really shown here. It’s my study of modern architecture, base on Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ideas. The famous Barcelona Pavilion is my precedent study, really helping me to understand it better.

painting of light

Design idea: Casting of Geometrical Composition

Location: Rimbun Dahan, Selangor.

Client: N.A.

Material and Construction: Steel +Concrete + glass

Category: Semi public – Studio + Gallery

Site context: Flatland facing the lake

Area: 200 sqm @ 2150 sq ft

A brief  
As a study for the Malaysian local artist, for our handicrafts which need to be conserve in a form of permanent architectural stand, for the next generation to learn how it’s work. And to be a place for an artist related, sit down and feel a different atmosphere of working style in this small cottage: exhibition gallery – work – play – sleep studio.
 
The solution

The batik fabric of arts is my favourite, which will be the main core of this design. It’s a kind of textile which very popular in Malay Archipelago. The architecture will build and creates a place of light and shadow; a silence and noise; relations of autonomy. It’s defining a transition between the exterior and interior, collective and individual.

The architecture

The meaning of batik in Malaysia is much larger than a simple definition of the physical batik process. For most Malaysians, batik connotes certain design characteristic and particular motifs. The process is just secondary. It can refer to one of the several types of cloth; the cloth printed with traditional designs – which is blocking printed with wax, or cloth decorated with hand-drawn design.

Historically, the form of attire worn by peninsular Malays was the sarong. Men and woman alike wore the simple skirt, originally made of locally woven cloth, kain pelekat, or for special occasions, songket and kain limar. The sarong is characterized by its side-stitched tubular structure and the panel of a distinct design known as kepala (head). The main design of the sarongs covers the badan (body), and in batik sarongs, there is also a border pattern called kapit and kain tepi (edge of the cloth). Malays had an instinctual need for the sarong; early batik was used strictly to decorate the surface of that sarong. 

In Malaysia, floral motive is a popular pick by an artist to make their own creation. Batik artist usually needs to live close to a nature to get influence by an idea of surrounding; its help their imagination. Since it’s a kind of wet making fabric, I choose a location which is a combination of wet (lake) and dry (flat land) as a position it’s should placed.

The placement and positioning are very perfect linear. This linearity will be attached by ancillary building to merge and be harmonious languages. The two post end-to-end is to be a guideline for her, since it’s also a minimalist sculpture of focusing point.

The zoning is very clear of private, semi public and public space. The working space and main gallery are a public space. The dining and kitchen are a semi public while the living room and the bedroom itself is a private space.

The main building is a gallery which it placed at the centre of the line. This gallery facade is a creation of arts, not only as a skin of a tube, but also a perfect composition of geometrical language – how the space of light, will combine together with a diversity of materials chosen. Main gallery facade is a combination of few prefabricated panels – solid, glasses, perforated, and louvers. This is to create a dynamic facade but still need to relate to its special function – to give a good solar protection for magnificent contain inside – batik arts.

This combination of facade also needs to create a good transversal ventilation system, and must have a very low thermal capacity – to create an atmosphere which is not harmful to exhibition material. A very high ceiling is an idea to drive the heat inside to the top of the volume, and the sense inside will create an element of perspective to one direction, which is framed using a post at both end. 

The user will come in two categories; the artisan and visitors. This artisan will be a resident artist for a month or more, which he/she will be living inside this complex. They will allow creating their own personal arts using the facilities provided inside. The final art piece later will be placed inside the main gallery. The visitor will be a personal that got a deep interest of this kind of design. They will be coming drop by, having an interaction with the local artist itself. They will be allowed trying a bit of batik making, which is they are also getting potential buyers for this prestigious art of batik. Usually, they came with special interest; which they want a particular artist to create their own customize design.

This is not for a one person kind of building; this is an architectural stand for everything about batik, which will be an education for public A – Z. It’s design to suit the needs of general batik artists, of how they should live, work, play, and exhibit their perspective of batik creation. She must protect most information for batik itself, which is really needed to preserve it for the next generation to appreciate their culture. This piece of design is floating in the garden – easy and straightforward way with the least impact to the planned site. The elevated idea gives an impression of ‘light architecture’ which also represent by material chosen – steel.