I love youtube

I found this youtube documentary explaining about Indus Civilization. It is really interesting because it compressed everything about the era in a very one short video but full with knowledge to let us know about the Indus civilization.

Here is another documentary about Lahore - one of the popular place in Pakistan. It discussed about the culture, history and at also about the early architecture of the place.

Concept Revisited

My concept is generated base on these 4 pictures. My project for this semester is build the Pakistani Embassy. Therefore, I need to create a building that is very significant to Pakistan, something that is in common with Pakistan, a building that when people see from far, they could straight away recognize that it is a Pakistani Embassy.

Therefore, my interpretation towards that is to relate back Pakistan with its early history, the beginning of Pakistan. After doing the research, one thing that attracted me was about the Mohejo-Daro Great Bath during the Indux Valley Civilization. Since that civilization was the origin of Pakistan, I believed it is the most suitable element for me to relate with my concept. "Bring back history into life!"

People might say what is the relevant of having this as my main approach to design a building that needs to look contemporary as it main requirement? My explanation is easy. An embassy is mainly used by the particular residents and it purpose is mainly involving those issues with the original country such as dealing with nationality, passport and cultural activities. It is the new beginning at a new country. This is where we could easily see that most of the people coming here are from the same background and could actually feel the connection and at least have something in common to talk about, their own country. Therefore, by interpreting it as a beginning of the Pakistan at the different world is definitely something could be accepted by all. In fact, that is basically the main purpose of having the embassy - to help the oversea's original residents!

Thus, since this is mainly involving with architecture, I want to re-create back moment that could be found during Indus Valley Civilization by injecting some of its elements that mainly could be found from its popular great bath, into the contemporary aspect of this embassy as a way of combining two different culture into one building that is very significant to the Pakistani in Australia and the Australian themselves.

Concept

I am still doing my research on this project. Since I am going to design an embassy, my approach is to have a building that can portray about the country of the embassy. In my case, I want people to straight away get the idea that it is the Pakistani Embassy.

In order to realize that, I am deeper my research into the culture of Pakistan since this is the best element could be used in portraying Pakistan through the architecture of the embassy. One thing that trigger me the most is about the Islamic architecture. This is because, Muslim in Pakistan appears to conquer 97% of the population which make Pakistan as an Islamic country.

Since religion is always number 1 in Muslim's life, the design that I need to do about this embassy must be Islamic-friendly. The reason is because, as we know that an embassy is a place where the residents of particular country to get together and at the same time, the place where they could practice their belief and culture in an open-way. They want to have the freedom in doing the activities which they used to do at their own country. In other words, an embassy is like a small portion of their country but being placed distance away from the original land. It is a place that is being borrowed for them to reminiscence their older days at their own country.

Therefore, after considering all these, the element that I believe could help me in achieving what I want is to actually try to relate my design with the architecture of a mosque. A mosque in Muslim's view, based on the Islamic history is not functioned just as a place for prayers but during the early era, it is being used for people to meet up, discussion, madrassah and any knowledgeable activities. By considering that, I believe this really suits well with the Pakistani Embassy.

Anyway, that was just my initial approach. I might be changing it to something else if and only if I found anything which is more interesting that this.

The Brief

So here is the brief that I need to do for my latest project. It is divided into 2 where I need to design about the embassy itself with the ambassador house.

" An important part of the brief is to understand the security requirements of the two buildings, and to cater for these sensitively and unobstructively. The building should be in contemporary style, with good use of natural light and ventilation, as well as shading and shaded area s to deal with Canberra summers."

"The brief also calls for cultural aspects of the brief. An Islamic republic it is the desire of the Pakistan Government to have some motifs reflecting traditional screen and textures from Islamic architecture, but in contemporary interpretation."

The Residence House:

1. Bedrooms up to 4 children - arranged around an intimate, private court

2. A guest quarter - I'm still not sure about this. Need to ask my tutor today after the lecture.

3. A living space for the family on daily basis

4. A LARGE room for entertaining up to 50 people - I'm taking this as a place if the ambassador is having a social party at his/her house

5. Intimate/private court - this must be near to the bedrooms

6. Swimming Pool

7. Praying room - my own addition since 97% of Pakistani are Muslim.

The Embassy

1. Office for the ambassador + a secretary + waiting room

2. Office for a cultural attache

3. Office for a military attache

4. Office for passport services

5. Office for the administrative staff + toilets + tea kitchen

6. Interview room

7. Performance space ( concerts, movies, cultural events) - can accommodate up to 100 people

- attached with catering kitchen

- accessible toilets

8. A small Musolla - my own addition to the brief

New Chapter

So this is the turning point of another new chapter. The one during the Summer had finished with a style and here I am, again... bringing you guys to the world of where I am having the full-power to control. The world where I am the designer behind all.

As the new semester starts, another new project need to be done. And at this time around, my project is about a Pakistani Embassy in Canberra, Australia. Since I am studying in Sydney, there will be a group-site visit to Canberra on the 22nd March 2010 and I believe it is going to be very very exciting.

The plan there is to actually with our own eyes how does an embassy is functioned. Finland and Mexico Embassies are two embassies that had been mentioned many times in the class by Harry as among the best architectures!

Back to the story, the brief for this project is for us to design an Embassy + a Residential House for the Ambassador. One important element that needs to be taken into serious consideration is Pakistan is a Muslim country. Thus, it is mostly to happen that the embassy building should have showing the Islamic architecture elements but in the CONTEMPORARY way.

Anyway, that's it for now. I need to do my site analysis first before getting back here.

Final Design

Schematic Design

I am sorry for the very long time before I come back here to keep updating about my progress of my design. The main reason is becauce my laptop was infected by virus and my main source of computer is at the FBE uni lab.

Anyway, based on my discussion with Paulan and Cyrus regarding my schematic design, my main problem was about the 'circulation' of my pavillion. I need to reconsider back everything and start making every single journey become more meaningful. I need to make sure that every space is being used and at the same time, it would benefited the viewers.

Besides, another reminder from Paula and Cyrus is for a 1to50 scale plan, I need to provide as many informations as possible rather than square boxes or just rectangles.

Preliminary Concept

After the presentation and the consultation session with the tutors, there are a few things that need my immediate attention in order to achieve successful result with my final design. This is need to be revised and proper solution need to be presented during the Schematic Concept Exercise. They were:

1. Location.
My proposed location of the pavillion need to be revised back in order to enhance the my concept which is "Convict's Circuit". Basically, my concept is about creating a pavillion as a representation of the convict's history at the Cockatoo Island. The reason I choose this as my main argument is because if we tracking back the history, we can see that the convicts were atually the backbone of the island where mostly all of the buildings on the island were there due to their hardworks. However, to my surprise, there were minimal story-telling about the convicts in the island besides the Barracks, Mess Hall and some other buildings with no detail explanations about what were actually the had to go through at that particulat time.

Thus, my main intention here is re-create back the history through a story telling, not by having a narrator but through the expression of feeling by using architecure and lights. My intention is to create different feeling through out the journey inside the pavillion which at the same time, telling them about what were actually happened during the convicts era.

Therefore, in order to maximise the quality of the exploration, I need to place my pavillion to somewhere where evertyhing is related to my story-telling, giving the oppurtunity for the viewers to straight away relating their interpretation and imagination with the real history.

My first proposed location was near the entrance (at the Plaza) but that doesnt seemed to be perfect because of the environment there did not potrays what I wanted to create inside my pavillion.


2. Concept Model
I try to show an abstractness that I need to potray through my concept model, since my story telling about the history is being done by using the abstract interpretation by using different light quality. However, after the consultation process with the tutors, by following the same orientation of the original building would actually enhancing my concept, and making it more perfect to be placed at that particular site. Besides, it is actually a way of reminiscing back the older days through architecture, a way of showing relationship between architecture and the local context.

The Pier : Model and Drawings

Study of Precedent: the 'Pier' by Jorge Pardo

The 'Pier' by Jorge Pardo was a contribution for the Munster Skulptur Project 1997. It was done by the American Artist, to be part of the event.


The idea to actually having a pier came when he walked around the Aasee lake (the venue of the event) and saw a very beautiful lake, with the background of the panoramic view of the city, top up with great landscape of the park itself, giving an imprompt idea to Jorge to have a very long pier to the middle of the lake.


His main intention is to manipulate every great views of the place to be incorporated with his pier. In order to make to experience while contempleting the views becoming more interesting, he had chosen a hexagonal shape, top up with walls and roof in certain arrangement, to actually create some sort 'hide and seek' game with the viewers as the players.

It is actually indirectly a way to provoc the viwers to start exploring the pier by themselves. Element of stairs and platform are used to make the experience becoming more dramatic with the viewers having different views and interpretation along their journey. Apart from that, he is actually giving the freedom for the viewers of chosing their own exploration path. The most interesting part is, whenever they are tired, they could just sit down and dip their legs, experiencing the coldness of the lake's water.

Site Location

The cigarrate box with Jorge's caricature at the site

One element that I found very interesting is when he placed a cigarette vending machine at one of the walls with his caricature by the side is something different to be incorporated with the design. However, he said that his main intention is to disturb viewers concentration inside the pier by puzzling them with something that would make them pause for a while and think. It is his way of grabbing the viewers attention from something 'functional' to something which is not, like art.

Here is the video of about an interview with Jorge Pardo, discussing about his works.

Interpretation Model of the site

As for my interpretation of the site, I am actually trying to show about the materiality of the place by using the direct interpretation of the actual element. This is can be seen as I am using green dust to show about the vegetation, blue plastic bag as the water surround the island and I am actually made the original site model with buildings to actually have a better and clear understanding about the site.

Apart from that, there was an abstract interpretation of the robust architecture on the island by using straight and long foam-core glued surround the island. It is an interpretation that most of the buildings over there are big in scale. Besides, it is also an interpretation of the boundary that limit us from seeing the island. It is a representation that in order for us to know about the place in deep, we cannot just depending on the external sources. What we should do is to go there and experience it because by knowing Cockatoo Island through websites and books is totally not the same by actually going there and exploring the island. It is a place full with colours. Colours that represent the life of the place.

Site Analysis

This is the first exercise we need to do for this project. From my site analysis, one thing that I found attracts me the most is about the building and materials that could be found at the island itself. As my personal opinion, Cockatoo Island is a place that is full with artistic elements and can be taken as an art gallery. Every single building and element on the island has their own story to tell. What makes them more special is the originality that could be found in there because they are the one that is in the story, not an imitation or a replica.

Sketches

I only managed to sketch two drawings during my site visit that day. I have to rush back for some important event. Anyway, what made me to choose to draw these two sketches?


This first sketch is about an old machine that found at Cockatoo Island, near the site of where I am gonna built my pavillion. What is interesting about this old machine, eventhough it is already old and could not be used I believe, it is actually has its own artistic value. By just looking at it, when could actually dig in into the history of the place, a place where maritime lifestyle was once the most important industry at the island.

Besides, the design of the machine which slightly looks like the 'transformers', would surely attracting every single eye that passing through. The shape is very unique, looks like a robotic element. Furthermore, the patina covered its body has actually boost up it artistic value besides just being a plain and lame machine.



The second sketches was about the two contra elements due to different textures. This drawing was sketched when I was walking on the steel deck at the Plateau. This place is located at the pathway in between the industrial building and near the cliff of the Upper Island.

When I passed through the place, my attention was caught with the hard and solid yellowish textures of the sandstones on my right contrary with the texture on my life which is plain but being repeated in the corrugated way. Plus, the shining texture of the steel or maybe aluminium of the pathway makes the place to be something full of artistic elements, and going to be something that is every art-lovers waiting for.

Thus, based on this I beleive, to be chosen as the site for one of the most popular art event like Syndey Biannale, Cockatoo Island is definitely a right place to be chosen as the host.

Site Visit

Just like what I said in the previous post, we have to choose in between to have our pavillion to be at the Royal Botanic Garden (next to Opera House) or at the Cockatoo Island. We went to the Royal Botanic Garden with the whole class yesterday. Based on my observation, the garden is too commercial and doesnt suits with my proposal idea of pavillion. Besides, the garden is too big and there is a probability that people might lost while searching for the pavillion. More than that, we are bounded with too many boundaries, rules and regulations which might be giving me less freedom for me to be as artistic as I could. The original idea might be going a lot of alteration stages before the final idea is decided and this will surely not going to be the same as my original idea.

However, as my ferry approaching the Cockatoo Island, the moment I saw the place from far, I knew that the island is more than enough to be chosen as my site for the pavillion. Here are some of the photos of the island.





I'm sure you guys feel amazed with the photos of the island. Yes, I was very excited when I first step into the wharf. It is like going into somewhere not Sydney. The island is 100% different from the normal Sydney life - busy, hectic, worka-holic. Cockatoo Island has its own artistic value which could not be gotten from anywhere.

The most interesting element at the island that attracts me the most is the different textures and materiality can be found through out the island. As you walk, appreciating the nice views and culture of the island, you will surely encounter the different colors due to the different materials and textures of thesurround areas.

Besides, what makes this island special is there are a lot of 'ready made sculptures' around the place. This so called sculptures were actually the machines that is being used during the early times at the island, where it is being treated as a place to built up ship to be used for the Royal Australian Navy.

Moreover, this place has its own story to be shared with the people coming to visit. By just looking at every single things at the island, we could easily connect ourselves to be part of the story. It is understandable through the richness of textures and colors of each and every single things on the island.

Last but not least, it's location as an island, giving the Cockatoo Island its own territory and the freedom to express itself as whatever it wants. Thus, to be chosen as the site for Biannale Sydney, it is definitely gonna make the event become more interesting due to the original nature of the island, not something artificial or man-made but full with original art to be appreciated for those who hunger for it.

Biennale Sydney 2010

My latest design project is to design a pavillion for one art-event in Sydney, "17th Biannale of Sydney". There are several site for the event to take place and they are located around the Sydney Harbour. As for this course, we are given the freedom to choice either to have the pavillion at the Cockatoo Island or the Sydney Botanical Garden.

During the first class, we were ask to draw a spontanious drawing about how are interprete the pavillion to look like.The number shown on the sketches are the chronology of the process before I got the final image which is no.5. Basically, my main idea is to create a pavillion that is actually can be taking as one of the artwork for the Biannale Exhibition. I want people to actually inspire the architecture of the pavillion not just as the place for the them to look for the artworks but something for them to admire from far, for them to take it as part of the exhibition - an artwork to gather some other artworks.

Taking the theme for this year Biannale, " the Beauty of Distance", I would like my pavillion to be part of the theme, where people is going to admire it not just from far, but will actually feel the excitement as they approaching the pavillion.

As for the concept of the pavillion, two important elements that I am focusing at is the lighting and the view. That is why, as for my initial concept, there are a few lighting-slots to direct the sunlight into the pavillion. Besides there are also view-slots at the ground level for the people to contemplate at the certain views.

In term of shape, it is actually the representation of Science and Art, an atomic molecules with the injection of fluidity element to show the connection between both fields. In my opinion, since this event is actually the link between Art and Science, therefore, the pavillion is indirectly acting as the 'LINK' between both element. In other word, it acts as the bridge for the people to actually get into the other dimension created by the human being.

Thus, in conclusion as for tonight, what I can say here regarding my initial idea of the pavillion, the pavillion itself is the artwork to be installed with other artworks. At the same time, it acts as the link for the people to come into another dimension created by the human being. That new dimension is mainly occupied by the lights and views for them to contemplate with. At the same time, it provides with different experience as they continue to explore.

Anyway, here is the website for the Sydney Bianalle 2010 http://www.biennaleofsydney.com.au/bos17/home.htm