SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Research Unit for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO III [ARC 60106]
Prerequisite: Architecture Design Studio 2
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Project 2
GENIUS LOCI: Site Analysis & Concept Development

Digital
Project 2 LO 25% of Final Verbal
Group & Individual Presentation+
3,4 Grade presentation
Scaled Model

Society, culture, history, memory and the landscape of a particular place echoes the meaning of that place, or
its genius loci. These qualities will inform the architectural concept and generators for Project 2. In Project 2, the
design brief calls for an architectural response toward the sense of place with a strong engagement and
relationship to the site and programmatic requirements. The first assignment for Project 2 requires an analysis of
the site context as a starting point. It is a fundamental need for any design project as it will suggest a series of
parameters to suggest architectural solution, one that will be appropriate to the place and its meaning, and
contributes to its context. The site needs to be understood, in both intuitive and personal ways, as well as
quantitative and measured means. Techniques to record and understand the site are varied, from physical
surveys to qualitative aspects of experience and personal interpretation of the place.

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 Learning Outcomes

Generate design through conscious consideration of section-plan relationship with consideration of

human scale, natural light, materiality and textures
Produce site analysis which document, interpret and analyse the physical conditions of the site and
genius loci of place and generate design based on the unique character and conditions of the site
context

Tasks
Group work: Site conditions & analysis (5%)
In the same group from Project 1, conduct site analysis of the physical context within the identified MACRO site.
Use the following reference as a framework for your recording and analysis of your site: White, E. 2004. Site
Analysis: Diagramming Information for Architectural Design. Tallahassee, Florida: Architectural Media Ltd.
Collect data and record on the following using maps/diagrams and/or models:
Orientation (sun path)
Climate (rainfall & temperature)
Site contours
Adjacent street and vehicular traffic patterns
Pedestrian circulation
Neighbouring contexts
Vegetation
Views from the site
Views to the site
Views through the site
Noise
Human-Cultural

Site analysis
Produce a site analysis of the
identified MACRO site. 5-10
minute digital presentation per
group.

Individual work (20%)

Personal Interpretation & Concept Development as a response

Historical research: Historical tracings of the MACRO site

Mapping a site over a series of significant stages in the course of its
history provides a description of the life and memory of a place. They
can provide inspiration for a contemporary idea that connects directly
with past archaeology/memory/history of the site.

Conduct a historical research on the place. Data could be in the form of

literature (published/unpublished), old photographs, maps/plans etc.

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Submission:

Individually, produce your personal interpretation of the MACRO

site in the form of sketches. The personal interpretations of the
overall character of the site will inform subsequent design
decisions, and it is important to record these honestly and
immediately.

Use Gordon Cullens serial vision and/or Steven Holls

phenomenological readings as the basis/tool for recording your
interpretation of the character of place (sketches). You may pay
attention to the following on site:

Materials. Each site has an intrinsic materiality (photos)

The memory of place. Significant characteristics, sounds,

textures, events that make them memorable. There may
be aspects of the history and memory of the site that
needs to be reinforced in your design.

Conclude by identifying the key character(s) of place that would form inspiration in the design, and then present
a Design Concept for a Visitors Interpretive Centre derived from the issues discovered. This Design Concept
should be presented in the form of drawings & a model as follows:

Submission:
Submit your individual interpretation hand-sketches on 2 x A3 panel.
Submit your individual Concept Drawings : 1 Plan, 1 Section, 1 Elevation at an appropriate scale, with text to
illustrate the concept. Also submit 1 concept model (either physical OR digital), in context with your MICRO site
(total 3 x A3 panels + physical model OR 4 x A3 panels, including digital model).
The above submissions will be supported by an individual, 10-minute verbal presentation.

Site survey: provide dimensions of its width and depth and indicate any adjacent buildings at the levels of plans,
elevations and sections to create an accurate record of what currently exists

Assessment criteria
Site conditions and analysis
Group performance
Ability to plan and carry out research
Ability to analyse and conclude data
Ability to convey/communicate findings (audio and visual)

Personal interpretation of place

Ability to record and analyse the character of place
Ability to convey/communicate findings
Ability to conclude/make sense of findings for the subsequent design work
Ability to produce a meaningful concept which is communicated well via drawings & model.

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 References

Cullen, Gordon. 1961. The Concise Townscape. Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Holl, Steven. Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture, eds Steven Holl, Juhani Pallasmaa,
Alberto Perez-Gomez, A+U

Norberg-Schulz, Christian. 1980. Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture. Rizzoli, London.

White, E. 2004. Site Analysis: Diagramming Information for Architectural Design. Tallahassee, Florida:
Architectural Media Ltd.

Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by:

Dr. Keith Tan Prince Favis Isip Mohd Adib Ramli

. . .
Date: 23 Aug 2017 Date: 23 Aug 2017 Date: 23 Aug 2017
Email: Keith,Tan@taylors.edu.my Stream Coordinator Programme Director
Design Studies

Remarks:
1. The Project Brief is to be distributed to the students in the first week of the semester.
2. Any changes to the Project Brief shall be communicated (in writing) to the Programme Director and the
approved revised version must be communicated to the students.

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