THEORIES IN ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM
[ARC61303]
Theories of Architecture and Urbanism is a module which offers a thematic inquiry into architectural and urban theory in the broader context of philosophical schools of thought and cultural and social conditions, which include modernism, postmodernism, phenomenology, semiotics, post-structuralism, deconstruction and critical regionalism.
Project 1: Case Study: Tung Chau Street, Hong Kong
The first project consist of a group assignment where we were required to read and study Jahn Gehl's "Life Between Buildings (1971) “, where he examined the relationship between patterns of space use, especially outdoor activities, and the spatial properties of the physical world. We were then required to use the knowledge and information acquired through the reading material and implement it on a case study, a city assigned by our tutors. We were to examine patterns of social activities and identify the contact points found within the city.
Final Board
Project 2 & b: Sypnosis Writing and Comparative Essay
Project 2a is an individual project which requires us to read and study 4 given articles. We were required to identify the key points from the reading and use appropriate architectural terminologies and writing skills in the synopsis, as well as express our opinions and reactions within 300 words for each article.
Project 2b is an individual project which requires us to write a comparative analysis essay based on findings from case study (Project 1- Tung Chau Street, Hong Kong) and local site research (similar site as Architectural Design Studio 5 module- Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur). We were to examine similarities and dissimilarities based on the patterns of social activities, types of ‘contact points’, and the varying degrees of contact intensity between the two cities.
A 5000-word essay is to be produced to document the findings, complete with visuals and diagrams.