1) What you have learnt in Semester 2?
I have learnt much from this project in Semester 2, from process thinking when building a building(Aesthetic Design, Functional Design and the Craftsmanship and Material), to critical thinking in solving problems of the building, to researching and applying them on my building design. We also get to experience what a real life architecture and building designer is like.
2) Difficulties Encounter
The project was generally smooth and simple, however there was once that my sketch-up crashed in the middle of me building the design, causing me to start from scratch.
3) How did I overcome these difficulties?
I shut up and carry on with life by redoing it.
4) How do you think you can do better?
I think I'm at the peak of my performance already with the time and tools provided to me, however more platforms of more precise, real and complicated building design software can be provided to make the design more realistic.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Retirement Home
1st Picture- As Singapore is experiencing the crisis of an aging population, I have then concluded that an essential building to build would be a retirement home. Due to the aging population of Singapore, there would be an increase in the number of elderly, which would in turn means the increase in the demand for housing for them. Furthermore, there is also an increase in the proportion of older persons living alone or only with their spouse, from 9% in 1990 to 15% in 1997, and this trend is likely to continue. The number of unmarried elderly persons is also expected to increase. Both trends mean that the demand for housing will also likely to increase, thus having a need for a retirement home, a place where the elderly can retire into having to spend the rest of their lives in.
2nd Picture- With the placement of two cuboid residential buildings, the centre portion would left empty, this space will be used for recreational facilities such as gym, garden or a pool. With these recreational facilities being placed in between the two residential buildings, it will not just allow easy and quick accessibility for the residents to the recreational facilities but also it with the recreational area being placed in between two buildings will more or less decrease the noise level, gave off by passing cars or roads nearby. Satisfying the wants of the elderly of having a quiet environment, enabling the elderly to do their activity in peace. Furthermore, the building placements will also allow the elderly to be more active, As the recreational facilities is just a few steps from their home, it will ease mobility problems of the elderly of having to travel a long distance for recreational means. With the recreational centralize it also will allow more socializing between the residents as they will meet one another more often having this placement.
The 3D view of a unit in the retirement home. This unit is a sample in which is based on a studio apartment which has no bedroom (56m^2). The total number of units that the whole retirement can hold is about 255 of this type of units.
The studio apartment, as you entered the unit, the first thing, that you will see is a bed. Behind the bed is a protruding wall which allows the elderly to have some privacy when they are sleeping from the window. At the other end of the wall is an all in one tv, it includes a dvd player and two small speakers at the sides of the player. This allows easy usage for the elderly as they system configurations are easy and simple, thus making lives of elderly easier. The coffee table placed in front of the couch is function both as a dining table and also coffee table. This is so because after much consideration, I find that the dining table is too space consuming thus decided to place the two coffee table in order to create more space which makes elderly mobility around the house easier and also to decrease the chances of an elderly falling and hitting an object. And for elderly who are wheelchair bound it is also easier with more space. Beside the couch is a small kitchen, which contains the necessary things that a kitchen needs. The kitchen is placed in a way that it i facing the window. This is to allow easy spotting when a fire breaks out in an apartment, this will ensure that the fire will be stopped immediately once spotted and also that the safety of elderly in the unit. Behind the kitchen is a bathroom which has a shower room, this makes it easier for elderly to bath as the walls and the door can provide a support for the elderly while they bath as elderly tends to have a weaker leg muscle therefore the shower room thing is chosen. The toilet bowl should have handles at the sides to aid the elderly when getting on and off the toilet bowl. The unit flooring is of carpet this will allow a greater friction between the elderly leg and the ground, therefore decreasing the chances of elderly falling. Furthermore, carpets will allow the elderly when falling to have a softer impact on the ground compared to a hard tiled flooring which might cause serious injuries to the elderly’s bones and joints. The colour of the walls are chosen of the colour between gold and orange. This is because, orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.To the human eye, orange is a very hot color, so it gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental activity. It is highly accepted among young people. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. Orange is the color of fall and harvest. In heraldry, orange is symbolic of strength and endurance. Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention and highlight the most important elements of your design. Orange is very effective for promoting food products and toys. And gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. Gold often symbolizes high quality. With orange, the elderly will be able to feel stronger as orange symbolizes strength and endurance, it also provides more oxygen supply to the brain, stimulating mental activity thus helping the elderly mentally and emotionally. Gold will allow the elderly to feel that they are of high quality and is needed greatly by the society, not letting them feel left out or such. Gold is also the colour in favour to most elderly which will help with the adaptation.
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
This is an interior layout of the units of the building. The bathroom is 2m by 3m as elderly is in need of a bigger bathroom, especially when they are wheelchair bounded. The kitchen is not a room but just a space formed from the living room to be used as a kitchen. This design is because that the window is just at the opposite of the kitchen as an elderly tends to be forgetful, it might cause a fire in the kitchen due to overheating of food etc, people on the outside or the opposite block will be able to spot it quickly and in time, to prevent any serious fire. The walkway of the units are huge and very wide allowing wheelchair to move around freely. The additional wall is to allow some privacy to the elderly from the window or entrance depending on the floor.
2nd Picture- With the placement of two cuboid residential buildings, the centre portion would left empty, this space will be used for recreational facilities such as gym, garden or a pool. With these recreational facilities being placed in between the two residential buildings, it will not just allow easy and quick accessibility for the residents to the recreational facilities but also it with the recreational area being placed in between two buildings will more or less decrease the noise level, gave off by passing cars or roads nearby. Satisfying the wants of the elderly of having a quiet environment, enabling the elderly to do their activity in peace. Furthermore, the building placements will also allow the elderly to be more active, As the recreational facilities is just a few steps from their home, it will ease mobility problems of the elderly of having to travel a long distance for recreational means. With the recreational centralize it also will allow more socializing between the residents as they will meet one another more often having this placement.
The 3D view of a unit in the retirement home. This unit is a sample in which is based on a studio apartment which has no bedroom (56m^2). The total number of units that the whole retirement can hold is about 255 of this type of units.
The studio apartment, as you entered the unit, the first thing, that you will see is a bed. Behind the bed is a protruding wall which allows the elderly to have some privacy when they are sleeping from the window. At the other end of the wall is an all in one tv, it includes a dvd player and two small speakers at the sides of the player. This allows easy usage for the elderly as they system configurations are easy and simple, thus making lives of elderly easier. The coffee table placed in front of the couch is function both as a dining table and also coffee table. This is so because after much consideration, I find that the dining table is too space consuming thus decided to place the two coffee table in order to create more space which makes elderly mobility around the house easier and also to decrease the chances of an elderly falling and hitting an object. And for elderly who are wheelchair bound it is also easier with more space. Beside the couch is a small kitchen, which contains the necessary things that a kitchen needs. The kitchen is placed in a way that it i facing the window. This is to allow easy spotting when a fire breaks out in an apartment, this will ensure that the fire will be stopped immediately once spotted and also that the safety of elderly in the unit. Behind the kitchen is a bathroom which has a shower room, this makes it easier for elderly to bath as the walls and the door can provide a support for the elderly while they bath as elderly tends to have a weaker leg muscle therefore the shower room thing is chosen. The toilet bowl should have handles at the sides to aid the elderly when getting on and off the toilet bowl. The unit flooring is of carpet this will allow a greater friction between the elderly leg and the ground, therefore decreasing the chances of elderly falling. Furthermore, carpets will allow the elderly when falling to have a softer impact on the ground compared to a hard tiled flooring which might cause serious injuries to the elderly’s bones and joints. The colour of the walls are chosen of the colour between gold and orange. This is because, orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.To the human eye, orange is a very hot color, so it gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental activity. It is highly accepted among young people. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. Orange is the color of fall and harvest. In heraldry, orange is symbolic of strength and endurance. Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention and highlight the most important elements of your design. Orange is very effective for promoting food products and toys. And gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. Gold often symbolizes high quality. With orange, the elderly will be able to feel stronger as orange symbolizes strength and endurance, it also provides more oxygen supply to the brain, stimulating mental activity thus helping the elderly mentally and emotionally. Gold will allow the elderly to feel that they are of high quality and is needed greatly by the society, not letting them feel left out or such. Gold is also the colour in favour to most elderly which will help with the adaptation.
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
This is an interior layout of the units of the building. The bathroom is 2m by 3m as elderly is in need of a bigger bathroom, especially when they are wheelchair bounded. The kitchen is not a room but just a space formed from the living room to be used as a kitchen. This design is because that the window is just at the opposite of the kitchen as an elderly tends to be forgetful, it might cause a fire in the kitchen due to overheating of food etc, people on the outside or the opposite block will be able to spot it quickly and in time, to prevent any serious fire. The walkway of the units are huge and very wide allowing wheelchair to move around freely. The additional wall is to allow some privacy to the elderly from the window or entrance depending on the floor.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
What makes a good Architectural Design?
What is in the design that you consider to be good design? What are the criteria?
I would consider the followings as a criteria for a good design:
Aesthetic Design- the building should be successful and visually attractive, whatever its style or type is, in other words, it refers to the visual and sensory appeal of the building. Beauty is the ultimate test of good architecture. Without beauty, a highly functional building is merely utilitarian. Aesthetic design would affect the visual qualities of the building.
Functional Design- this refers to how a building is being used. It must accommodate practical requirements for every purpose within its walls. A building without function may be beautiful, but it's sculpture, not architecture. Functional design affects the value given to the building.
Craftsmanship And Materials- the building should have high standards in the choice and handling of materials, meaning how the building stands up. To be an architecture, it must create beauty from structural necessity. Craftsmanship and materials of the building would affect the quality it.
The building above is an example of an aesthetic and functional building. The building looks visually appealing and at the same time it is also functional.
The picture above is an example of a good craftsmanship and material building.
Sources:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/spotting-good-architecture.html
http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/beefp-fhbro/itm1-/criteres-criteria2_e.asp
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofxrGexTzTrU9s3AtCcxVdDEKpLSf2t_9hErpvm1mfojUHnym1vmqn6MGz7tPRwYO42nc1qnnYDG2KnVHTU5kS5PruPOgabMkJ-HIu2ShD1I4WTl3e8kLlKAMsL2XekUvRLMGHmPH3NlX/s1600/17th_of_july_brick_buildings.bmp
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6G5z9FYJWLT0AiiHCxKp4kOhdr9DuNBlyWnF2SwtZx0Um0o1Ds0QYkodYFyGLfv3xdQcT7DLu0QaJNxSzgOhyRy4TTOkbsqXAWOC9M_9dKIPt3kPwvNrIFu7Ptc1lQZe8CJmf8RQe8NX_/s1600/cesarchavez.jpg
I would consider the followings as a criteria for a good design:
Aesthetic Design- the building should be successful and visually attractive, whatever its style or type is, in other words, it refers to the visual and sensory appeal of the building. Beauty is the ultimate test of good architecture. Without beauty, a highly functional building is merely utilitarian. Aesthetic design would affect the visual qualities of the building.
Functional Design- this refers to how a building is being used. It must accommodate practical requirements for every purpose within its walls. A building without function may be beautiful, but it's sculpture, not architecture. Functional design affects the value given to the building.
Craftsmanship And Materials- the building should have high standards in the choice and handling of materials, meaning how the building stands up. To be an architecture, it must create beauty from structural necessity. Craftsmanship and materials of the building would affect the quality it.
The building above is an example of an aesthetic and functional building. The building looks visually appealing and at the same time it is also functional.
The picture above is an example of a good craftsmanship and material building.
Sources:
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/spotting-good-architecture.html
http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/beefp-fhbro/itm1-/criteres-criteria2_e.asp
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofxrGexTzTrU9s3AtCcxVdDEKpLSf2t_9hErpvm1mfojUHnym1vmqn6MGz7tPRwYO42nc1qnnYDG2KnVHTU5kS5PruPOgabMkJ-HIu2ShD1I4WTl3e8kLlKAMsL2XekUvRLMGHmPH3NlX/s1600/17th_of_july_brick_buildings.bmp
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6G5z9FYJWLT0AiiHCxKp4kOhdr9DuNBlyWnF2SwtZx0Um0o1Ds0QYkodYFyGLfv3xdQcT7DLu0QaJNxSzgOhyRy4TTOkbsqXAWOC9M_9dKIPt3kPwvNrIFu7Ptc1lQZe8CJmf8RQe8NX_/s1600/cesarchavez.jpg
Thursday, June 30, 2011
What is Architectural Design?
Architectural Design
-is the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings (Google Dictionary)
-the structure or design of anything (Dictionary.com)
-the art and science of designing and superintending the erection of buildings and similar structures (Dictionary.com)
-a style of building or structure (Dictionary.com)
-the style in which buildings are made (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
-the art and science of designing and making buildings to study architecture (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
My summary of Architectural Design:
Architectural Design is the designing of a structure, design or style of anything based on a principle of the needs/challenge.
Sources:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=architecture+definition&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=architecture&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=gj4NTu72MoXJrAfRpamwCw&ved=0CBoQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=7c7698e5a200fa5a&biw=1036&bih=610
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/architecture
-is the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings (Google Dictionary)
-the structure or design of anything (Dictionary.com)
-the art and science of designing and superintending the erection of buildings and similar structures (Dictionary.com)
-a style of building or structure (Dictionary.com)
-the style in which buildings are made (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
-the art and science of designing and making buildings to study architecture (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
My summary of Architectural Design:
Architectural Design is the designing of a structure, design or style of anything based on a principle of the needs/challenge.
Sources:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=architecture+definition&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=architecture&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=gj4NTu72MoXJrAfRpamwCw&ved=0CBoQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=7c7698e5a200fa5a&biw=1036&bih=610
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/architecture
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