Theories of Asian Architecture
(ARC 60704)
Project 1: Contextual Study Sketch Journal of a Traditional Street
In this assessment, we are required to conduct a physical site visit to one of the designated traditional streets in either Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, or George Town to study its distinctive place contexts. I chose Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, as I am interested in exploring it as an out-of-state student. We analyzed physical contexts such as religious buildings, architectural styles, shophouses, and markets, as well as non-physical contexts like traditional businesses, local cuisines, historical events, and social institutions. We then compiled our work into an A4 manual sketch journal, which includes one hand-sketched site plan showing the boundaries of our selected street and eight pages of sketches depicting the physical and non-physical contexts. We are encouraged to color our sketches to enhance their expression and add captions and annotations for clearer explanations. Lastly, we need to include a 300-word summary reflecting our site visit experience, identifying a context that best represents the street’s distinctiveness, and discussing how rapid development and modernization might affect it. The expected outcomes of this project are to gain a thorough understanding of the street's physical and cultural features, create a well-organized sketch journal, and develop the ability to analyze the street's historical and cultural context. This will help us appreciate how traditional streets influence and reflect local identities and experiences.
Jalan Tun H.S. Lee
Jalan Tun H.S. Lee
Religious Buildings
Religious Buildings
Architecture facade and styles
Architecture facade and styles
Shophouses
Shophouses
Markets
Markets
Reflecting on this project, I found it to be an enriching experience that deepened my understanding of cultural and historical contexts within traditional streets. The physical site visit allowed me to engage directly with the environment, observing architectural details, vibrant markets, and local businesses. Documenting these observations through sketches required careful attention to detail and a thoughtful approach, while using various media was both challenging and rewarding. Writing the summary helped me synthesize my findings and consider the impact of rapid development on these unique areas. Despite all of the above, I would like to seek for improvement on my drawing and colouring skills to express all the contexts clearer than the current works. Overall, this project enhanced my observational skills and appreciation for cultural heritage, inspiring me to advocate for the preservation of historical landmarks.
Summary
Summary
Social Institutions
Social Institutions
Historical events
Historical events
Local/Traditional cuisines
Local/Traditional cuisines
Traditional trades/businesses
Traditional trades/businesses
Project 2: Poster and Seminar-Contemporary Issues in Asian Architecture
For this project, we formed a group of 7 individuals and identify a significant issue based on our observations from Project 1. We are to expand our study by choosing one of the following research directions: architecture and place identity, adaptive re-use of traditional architecture, sustainable heritage tourism, or cultural space in cities. After selecting our research direction, we conducted an extensive literature review to identify specific issues and the significance of our study, which will help us define the precise scope of our research. We then generated a research title that accurately reflects our study's intention and scope. Our findings are visually represented in a research poster, and may also include examples of relevant architectural designs in Asia or a comparative study, pending tutor approval. Finally, we present our research findings in a video presentation. The expected outcomes include a comprehensive understanding of the selected issue, a well-defined research scope, an effective research title, a visually appealing research poster, and a clear and engaging video presentation.
Final Poster
Final Poster
Reflecting on this project, I found it to be a great learning experience that improved my research, analysis, and presentation skills. Working with my group to identify a significant issue based on our initial observations was a valuable exercise in teamwork and considering different perspectives. Exploring one of the research directions allowed me to dive into an area of architecture I’m interested in while doing a thorough literature review helped me get better at evaluating sources and pulling together information to define our research clearly. Besides, creating a research title that fit our study’s goal was challenging but satisfying. My main responsibility was to write the abstract and the conclusion, which improves my writing skills. Preparing for the video presentation helped me improve my public speaking skills although it was just an edited video. Despite all of the above, I would like to improve my socializing skills so that I can communicate better in a group and so work better with my groupmates. Overall, this project deepened my understanding of how traditional streets and architecture influence local identities and cultural heritage, highlighting the importance of preserving these elements amidst rapid development and modernization.