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.