Architecture Asia

ARCASIA MEMBER INSTITUTES
Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) House 11 Road 4 Dhanmondi R/A Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh T/F +00 8802 8611454 E iab@truebd.com W www.iabnet.org President: Mubasshar Hussain The Architectural Society of China (ASC) 9 Sanlihe Road Beijing China 100835 T +00 86 10 8808 2236 F +00 86 10 8808 2222 E asc@mail.cin.gov.cn President: Chunhua Song The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) 19th Floor One Hysan Avenue Causeway Bay P O Box 20334 Hennessy Road Post Ofce Hong Kong T +00 852 2511 6323 F +00 852 2519 6011 E hkiasec@hkia.org.hk W www.hkia.org.hk President: Dominic K. K. Lam The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Prospect Chambers Annexe 5th Floor Dr D N Road Fort Mumbai 400 001 India T +00 91 22 204 6972 F +00 91 22 283 2516 E iia@vsnl.com W www.iia-india.org President: Prafulla Karkhanis Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI) Kantor Pusat IAI Gedung Jakarta Design Center Lt 7 Jalan Jend Gatot Subroto Kav 53 Jakarta 10260 Indonesia T +62 21 5305715 F +62 21 5304722 E iai-nasional@cbn.net.id President: Endy Subijono Japan Institute of Architects (JIA) Kenchikuka Kaikan 2-3-18 Jingumae Shibuya-Ku Tokyo 150 0001 Japan T +00 81 3 3408 7125 F +00 81 3 3408 7129 E myasuda@jia.or.jp W www.jia.or.jp President: Taro Ashihara Korea Institute of Registered Architects (KIRA) 1603-55 Seocho1 dong Seocho-gu Seoul 137-877 Korea T +00 82 2 581 5711 F +00 82 2 586 8823 E secretary@kira.or.kr W www.kira.or.kr President: Choi Young-jip Architects Association of Macau (AAM) Avenida Coronel de Mesquita 2F P O Box 3091 Macau T +00 853 703 458 F +00 853 704 089 E macauaam@macau.ctm.net President: Leong Chong In Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) 4 & 6 Jalan Tangsi 50480 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia T +603 2698 4136 F +603 2692 8782 E info@pam.org.my President: Boon Che Wee The Union of Mongolian Architects (UMA) P O Box 59 Ulaanbataar-210620a Mongolia T +00 9761 1321 610 F +00 9761 1310 638 E uma_gc@magicnet.mn President: Khurelbaatar Erdenesaikhan The Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) ST 1/A Block 2 Kehkashan Clifton Karachi 75600 Pakistan T +00 9221 588 3865 F +00 9221 588 5060 E info@iap.com.pk W mail@dgp.com.pk President: Shahab Ghani Khan United Architects of The Philippines (UAP) 53 Scout Rallos Quezon City 1103 Philippines T +00 63 2 412 6364 F +00 63 2 372 1796 E uapnational@yahoo.com W www.united-architects.org President: Ramon Mendoza Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) 79 Neil Road Singapore 088904 T +65 6226 2668 F +65 6226 2663 E info@sia.org.sg President: Ashvinkumar s/o Kantilal Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) 120/7 Vidya Mawanta Off Wijerama Mawanta Colombo 7 Sri Lanka T +00 94 1 697109 / 691710 F +00 94 1 682757 E sliagen@sltnet.lk W www.slia.com President: Ranjan Nadesapillai The Association of Siamese Architects (ASA) Under Royal Patronage 248/1 Soi Rong Rian Yepun Rama IX Road HuayKwang Bangkok 10320 Thailand T +00 66 2 319 4124 F +00 66 2 319 6419 E foreign affair@asa.or.th W www.asa.or.th President: Thaweejit Chandrasakha Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA) 23 Dinh Tien Hoang Street Hoan Kiem District Hanoi Vietnam T +00 84 4 825 3648 F +00 84 4 934 0262 E hoiktsvn@hn.vnn.vn President: Nguyen Tan Van Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA) Jung Hem Hirnya Complex Tripureshawor G P O Box 20461 Kathmandu Nepal T +00 977 1 426 2252 E sona@htp.com.np President: Binod Neupane
XXXX House by Mount Fuji Architects Studio
House in Fukawa by Suppose Design Studio
a journal of the architects regional council asia (ARCASIA) which is an international council of presidents of 17 national institutes of architects in the asian region Front cover Purple Hill House
IMAGE COURTESY OF IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS ARCASIA OFFICE BEARERS 2011 President George Kunihiro Zone A Deputy President Kalim Siddiqui Zone B Deputy President Sathirut Nui Zone C Deputy President Anna Kwong Honorary Secretary Marco Corbella Honorary Treasurer Junichi Ito Designers Immediate Past President Mubashar Hussain Advisers Kun-Chang Yi Yolanda Reyes Corresponding Editors Zakia Rahman Bangladesh (IAB) Wang Xiaojing China (ASC) Chairman of Media Resource & Publication Committee Hong Kong (HKIA) Vijay Garg India (IIA) Andra Matin Indonesia (IAI) Takayuki Matsuura Japan (JIA) Chun G Shin Korea (KIRA) Rui Leao Macau (MAA) Lee Chor Wah Malaysia (PAM) E Purev Erdene E Tuya Mongolia (UMA) Bishnu Panthee Nepal (SONA) Arshad Faruqui Pakistan (IAP) Michael T Ang Philippines (UAP) Ow Chin Cheow Singapore (SIA) Prasanna Silva Sri Lanka (SLIA) Veerachat (Jop) Thailand (ASA) Nguyen Van Tat Vietnam (VAA) Imaya Wong Lin Hsueh Yin www.grainstudio.asia THE ARCHITECTURE ASIA TEAM Editorial Board Lee Chor Wah Boon Che Wee Saifuddin Ahmad Abu Zarim Abu Bakar Adele Chong Advisers Kun-Chang Yi Dr Tan Loke Mun Editor-in-Chief Lee Chor Wah Projects Editor Adele Chong adele@pam.org.my
CHAIRMEN OF ARCASIA COMMITTEES Chairman ACPP (professional practice) Balbir Verma Chairman ACGSA (green and sustainable architecture) Ashvinkumar Kantilal Chairman, ACAE (architectural education) Abu Sayeed Chairman Fellowship Committee Nela De Zoysa
PUBLISHER Pusat Binaan Sdn Bhd A wholly-owned company of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) on behalf of ARCASIA 4 & 6 Jalan Tangsi 50480 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia T +603 2693 2843 F +603 2693 2849 E p.binaan@streamyx.com
Printer Percetakan Zanders Sdn Bhd
Architecture Asia is published quarterly. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from the Publisher is strictly prohibited. Architecture Asia cannot be held responsible for any unsolicited submission materials. Submission materials (manuscripts, photographs, drawings, CDs etc.) will not be returned unless submitted with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the preparation of each publication, the Publisher, Printer, and editorial staff accept no responsibilities from any effects arising from errors or omissions.
Purple Hill House by IROJE KHM Architects
CONTENTS ISSUE 1 January / February / March 2011

40 20
50
Editorial
6
Projects
THAILAND 12 Bunker House VaSLAB Architecture 50 Pims Guesthouse and Ceramic Studio all (zone) PAKISTAN 20 Green KaravanGhar Initiative The Heritage Foundation KOREA 28 Purple Hill House IROJE KHM Architects CHINA 34 Embedded Project HHD_FUN JAPAN 40 Bubbletecture H Endo Shohei Architect
78 8
74
Events
8 Special Report: 14th Asian Congress of Architects Lahore, Pakistan
50
Features
24 Mediations in an Emergency: The Rise of Disaster Housing
24
Books
78
54 Fukuwa House Suppose Design Studio 74 XXXX House Mount Fuji Architects Studio INDONESIA 46 Wisnu House Djuhara+Djuhara SRI LANKA 60 Tsunami Housing Development at Payagalawatta, Kalutara Sheran Henry Associates MALAYSIA 66 Sime Darby Idea House Jason Pomeroy 70 BAKITA Bar ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd
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4 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 contents
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54
28
EDITORS NOTE shelter
All too often enough, mental images of starchitect-designed edices are evoked upon initial mention of a citys architectural presence. No doubt, the runaway success of the Frank Gehry-initiated Bilbao Effect left a prolic trail of proclaimed urban landmarks trailing breathlessly in its wake, with city authorities all over the globe vying against all odds for their own version of the Guggenheim Bilbao; or more specically, a transformative, albeit costly, architectural facelift which could potentially serve to retrieve an economically-ravaged area from the ashes. The all-too-recent natural disaster on March 11 which propelled the country of Japan into a state of emergency overnight has, however, emerged as a kind of rude awakening from this previous preoccupation with large-scale window-dressing, forcing architects and laymen alike to reassess what exactly it is that architecture means to humankind and how the medium can potentially serve as a better mediator in the case of circumstances that come about as a result of environmental, sociological or political shifts in the way we live. In this rst issue of 2011, we are redirecting our focus to the very basics of architecture: creating shelter. Regardless of whether the task lies in designing a suburban housing block or devising makeshift dwellings for disaster victims, as in the case of the resourcefully crafted Green KaravanGhar module in Pakistan, the question remains as to how architecture can respond more effectively and adequately to heightening degrees of personalisation with respect to contemporary living environments. What are the ways in which housing may be customised so that it may be better equipped to accommodate the immediacy of our needs yet fulll the diversity of our wants? Lastly, how can architects strive beyond the connes of dispiriting structures and cultivate a balance between resourceful strategies and preserving the human aspects of housing? Indeed, the distinctive projects featured in these following pages give one the hope that a more thoughtfully crafted future is at least somewhat within reach. Adele Chong Projects Editor
Erratum: The India Glynols LTD project was mistakenly accredited to Arcop (Pakistan) on the cover of Issue 3, 2010. The architect responsible for that project is Morphogenesis (India). The editors would like to apologise for any confusion or misunderstanding arising as a result of this oversight.
6 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 editors note
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EVENTS
SPECIAL REPORT: 14th Asian Congress of Architects, Lahore, Pakistan

Background Formally founded in 1980, The Architects Regional Council, Asia, (ARCASIA) is a vibrant association consisting of architects from 17 Asian countries. It is represented on the Council by the presidents of the Institutes of Architects within each country. The Council meets each year at different venues and accompanying the meeting, in alternate years, are the Asian Congress of Architects and the ARCASIA Forum. In 2010, The Institute of Architects, Pakistan (IAP) hosted the 14th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA-14) with the theme Go Green: Architecture of the New Order. Alongside ACA-14, the 31st ARCASIA Council Meeting and other related meetings as well as the ARCASIA Architectural Students Jamboree were held in Lahore from 25 to 29 October. The new EXPO and Convention Centre in Johar Town, Lahore, designed by Ar. Nayyar Ali Dada, was the venue of the ACA-14 as well as the Building Products Exhibition, where the 2008-09 ARCASIA Awards for Architectural Excellence and an exhibition of the ARCASIA Students Design Competition 2010 was held. CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (COC) The Congress Organizing Committee (COC) is headed by its convener Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui. The Students Jamboree Organization Committee comprised of Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami as Convener while Prof. Dr. Yusuf Awan was appointed as Deputy Convener. Prof. Fauzia Qureshi, Ar./Plnr. Sadia Fazli and Prof. Tauseef Ahmed acted as members. In planning the event, the COC faced a number of notable challenges: ongoing economic recession had very severely hit the construction industry, affecting the situation of necessary sponsorship for hosting a large number of foreign delegates for seven nights in Lahore. The oods further eroded the ability of potential sponsors as they diverted, their entire marketing budgets for relief works. The aggravating security situation in the country was also a major hindrance. Blasts in Lahore on two occasions seriously impinged IAPs efforts to persuade foreign delegates, especially concerned parents of visiting students, to defy growing resistance against the hosting of ACA-14 in Lahore. It was no small feat to invite 100 foreign delegates to stay for a week in an environment brimming with fear and uncertainty, as was reported by foreign media. The successful hosting of ACA-14 was indeed a national service on the part of IAP who, against all heavy odds, proved to the international audience that life still goes on as usual in Pakistan. This, truly, was a tribute to the resilience of the Pakistani people. ARCASIA MEETINGS & STUDENTS JAMBOREE October 25, 2010 The rst day began with the ARCASIA Golf Championship held at Lahore Gymkhana Golf Club and saw the enthusiastic participation of foreign and Pakistani architects. An international jury comprising Ar. Rita Soh of Singapore, Ar. Jayantha Perera of Sri Lanka, Ar. Dr. Chalay Kunawong of Thailand and Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami from Pakistan, as Chairman, met in the morning to select winners of the ARCASIA Students Design Competition-2010. 16 entries emerged from eight ARCASIA countries. The rst prize was jointly awarded to entries from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh while the third prize was also awarded to Bangladesh. The ARCASIA Ofce Bearers meeting was convened in the afternoon by Chairman ARCASIA, Ar. Mubasshar Hussain from Bangladesh. This was followed by parallel meetings of ARCASIA Committee on Professional Practice Group (ACPP) chaired by Ar. Balbir Verma from India (in absence of Ar. Edric Florentino from Philippines) and ARCASIA Committee on Green and Sustainable Architecture (ACGSA) convened by Ar. Chandana Edirisuriya from Sri
8 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 events
As we pursue the goal of Green Architecture we shall work toward the day when the prex Green will no longer be necessary.
clockwise from top left
Ar. Raq Azam from Bangladesh presenting his paper; Ar. Bashirul Haq from Bangladesh presenting his paper; A group photograph of the ARCASIA Council Meeting participants; Ar. Karan Grover from India presenting his Keynote address at the Inaugration of the ACA14, 2010; Ar. Shariah Hosseini from Iran presenting her paper
Lanka (in the absence of Ar. Kazuo Iwamura from Japan). Ar. Balbir Verma of India was elected the Convenor of ACPP for 2011-12 and Ar. Ashvinkumar from Singapore was elected the new Convenor of ACGSA. In the evening, the ARACSIA Students Jamboree Inauguration Ceremony took place in the Sports Complex Auditorium at UET campus. October 26, 2010 The 31st ARCASIA Council Meeting was held under the chairmanship of Ar. Mubasshar Hussain and attended by ofcial delegates from 14 of the 17 member countries. Country Reports and progress reports on various ARCASIA projects were presented to the Council. Later, all participants joined the rescheduled ARCASIA Fellowship meeting convened by Ar. Rabiul Hussain of Bangladesh. In the afternoon, the ARCASIA Committee for Architectural Education (ACAE) chaired by Dy. Convenor, ACAE, Prof. Dr. Chalay Kunawong from Thailand. Country Reports on architectural education were presented and progress on specic ACAE projects was discussed. A brieng and update was given on the ongoing Students Jamboree. Prof. Abu Sayeed M. Ahmed of Bangladesh was elected the new Convenor of ACAE and Prof. Dr. Chalay Kunawong, the Deputy Convenor. At the UET, the Jamboree programme commenced in the morning with presentations by ofcial student delegates on the theme of the Jamboree, Dynamism in Architecture The Asian Spirit. In the afternoon, they participated in an exciting and most informative architectural quiz competition organized by Ar. Gita Balakrishnan of ETHOS India, who came especially for this event. The three-hour marathon concluded with the two-member team from National College of Arts, Lahore declared as the winners, the team from Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, Karachi, as runners up and the National University of Singapore team in third position.
Prof. Sajjad Kausara gave a slide presentation of the Walled City of Lahore and briefed on a Workshop that was to take place in the Walled City the next day. October 27, 2010 The ARCASIA Council Meeting continued for the whole day. Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui was elected unopposed as Vice President of ARCASIA representing Zone A comprising India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Ar. Sathirut Nui Tandanand from Thailand was elected Vice President, Zone B and Ar. Anna Kwong Sum Yee from Hong Kong was elected Vice President from Zone C. Ar. Nela DeZoysa from Sri Lanka was elected Convenor of the ARCASIA Fellowship. Indonesia won the bid against Hong Kong to host the 33rd ARCASIA Council Meeting and ACA-15 in Bali in 2012. The 32nd ARCASIA Council Meeting and Forum-16 on the theme Asian Cities in the 21st Century, will take place in Danang, Vietnam, 15 to 20 August 2011. In the morning schedule of the Jamboree, assigned student group were dropped at a different gateways to the Walled City where they followed the route chalked out for them. Documenting various aspects of the inner city, the students returned with thousands of photographs, sketches, video and sound recordings. Members of each group also used the data to create their own story of Lahore. October 28, 2010 All the foreign delegates moved to UET Sports Complex in the morning for a ceremony at which trees were planted on behalf of each of the 17 ARCASIA member countries. Powerpoint presentations on their Story of Lahore were then made by the six student groups before a large audience. The Jamboree events led to fruitful interactions and an important bonding experience between students of different countries, cultures and languages. It was the rst time students of different institutions within Pakistan met in such large numbers.
14TH ASIAN CONGRESS OF ARCHITECTS (ACA-14) October 27, 2010 The ACA-14 Inaugural Ceremony was held on the evening of October 27 at the new Convention Centre, Johar Town, Lahore. Inaugurated by Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, the ceremony was attended by over 900 architects and students representing 20 countries including all of the ARCASIA countries plus Austria, Australia, Canada and Nepal. Participants from within Pakistan originated from Jamshoro, Peshawar, Multan, Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Abbottabad and Islamabad. In his welcome address, Ar./Plnr. Kalim. A. Siddiqui, the Convener ACA-14, briey touched on the background of the conference and its theme, Go Green: Architecture of the New Order. Upon his request, the guests observed a minutes silence for those who lost their lives in the devastating oods. A short video presentation was also made on the oods and IAPs relief efforts. In his address, Ar. Shahab Ghani Khan, President IAP, traced IAPs history and its links with international organizations as well as its role in dealing with national calamities. IAPs efforts towards sustainable and green architecture and its proposal of forming a National Rehabilitation Authority (NARA) were highlighted. In his address, the Prime Minister lent the support of his government towards sustainability and promised to consider the rehabilitation proposals put forward by IAP. He announced the lease of Bradlaugh Hall, a heritage building, to IAP for restoration and use of the Lahore Chapter as its Secretariat. The Prime Minister later inaugurated the building material and products exhibition and other exhibitions at the EXPO Centre and mixed freely with all the foreign delegates. The ACA-14 inaugural session included the keynote speech of Ar. Karan Grover of India, entitled The Complex Green a powerful, 40-minute presentation promoting the value of natural resources. October 28, 2010 The rst technical session began in the afternoon, after the return of the delegates from UET. The rst speaker was from Pakistan, Dr. Naumana Anjum, followed by Aga Khan Award Winner, Ar. Dr. Anna Heringer of Austria who is currently residing in Bangladesh. Heringer presented her sustainable projects, including the award winning Community Centre. Her presentation was followed by that of Martin Rauch, an Austrian ceramist who utilised compressed earth blocks for building construction in his home country. A friendship night was later hosted at the Punjab Governors House which saw all the foreign delegates and host organisers being received by Governor Salman Taseer and given a tour of the historic building. He also briey joined the audience to watch cultural performances by delegates and students from different countries.
10 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 events
October 29, 2010 The morning session began with a very memorable presentation by Ar. Indika Samarasinghe from Sri Lanka. He was followed by Ar. Qazi Azizul Mowla from Bangladesh. A highly inspiring paper presented by Dr. Ajantha Perera, an activist and environmentalist from Sri Lanka, received a standing ovation from the large audience. Focused on the rehabilitation of ood victims, papers were also read by Ar. Bashirul Haq from Bangladesh, Ar. George Kunihiro from Japan, Ar. Mishal Abidi from Canada, Ar. Hajjah Noorzehan from Malaysia, Ar. Sharriah Hosseini from Iran and Ar. Raq Azam from Bangladesh. The last paper included some delightful, environmentally friendly projects. The technical sessions were concluded in the evening by Prof. Dr. Gulzar Haider who summed up the proceedings. A resolution drafted by him together with Ar. Ejaz Ahed, Ar. Arif Belgaumi and Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami was adopted unanimously. Ar. Kalim Siddiqui then formally presented the resolution as stated below, at the Awards Ceremony and Farewell Banquet. RESOLUTION The 14th Asian Congress of Architects assembled in Lahore, Pakistan hereby resolves: That as we pursue the goal of Green Architecture we shall work towards the day when the prex Green will no longer be necessary. That the ideas of Green Architecture should be introduced in early education in schools and that the ARCASIA professional architectural institutes will offer outreach programmes in their countries to promote Green concepts in schools. That the curricula in architectural educational institutions will be developed to introduce Green concepts from the rst year of architectural degree programmes. That the ARCASIA professional architectural institutes will develop and maintain continuing education programmes to disseminate Green concepts to professionals in the eld. That the national governments of ARCASIA countries should develop policies to provide incentives to develop and adapt sustainable building materials and manufacturing processes. That the ARCASIA professional architectural institutes will identify Green Leaders from amongst professionals, educators and members of the construction and materials industries in their respective countries, who may be recognized by ARCASIA with a special ARCASIA award. That there should be productive collaboration between the governments, construction materials industry, educational institutions and professionals in the development of
Green building materials, so that research and development effort can be sustained without public funding. That the ARCASIA professional architectural institutes shall advocate to their respective governments, proGreen policies at the macro level, especially the planned Green human settlements. Awards Ceremony and Farewell Banquet The last event of the Congress was the Awards Ceremony and Farewell Banquet, held at the State Guest House. At the event, the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, as Guest of Honour, presided over the ARCASIA Awards 2008-09. The Mehdi Ali Mirza Awards 2009, conferred to the top student from each accredited institution and the IAP Graduate Awards 2009 for the most outstanding thesis projects were awarded. Two graduates from the Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture and one from NCA, Lahore received IAP Graduate Awards. Winners of the ARCASIA Architectural Students Design Competition were also acknowledged and prizes were given for the best stalls at the exhibition. In addition, a video documentary on the historical buildings of Lahore, produced by Ar. Prof. Sajjad Kausar, was screened on the occasion. October 30, 2010 As part of the city outings arranged by Ar. Prof. Sajjad Kausar, the foreign delegates were taken on a guided tour through the Walled City of Lahore, Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort, the Museum and the Lawrence Gardens on the last day of the festivities and treated to tea and a cricket match at the Gymkhana Cricket pavilion. A very interesting programme was also organized by Dr. Afshan Siddiqui for the non-architect spouses who accompanied the foreign delegates. They were taken to an exciting polo match and after participating in a meeting of the International Womens Club the next day, took in other attractions within the following two days.
CONCLUSION The success of ACA-14 and the related events can be gauged by the warm comments received by the President, IAP from delegates and attendees including Ar. Mubasshar Hussain, Chairman ARCASIA and Ar. George Kunihiro, Chairman-Elect. Regarding the event, Ar. Hussain remarked: I hope for other member institutes interested to host such ARCASIA events in the future, the 31st Council Meeting, ACA-14 and Student Jamboree will serve as a source of inspiration. Please convey my special thanks to the student volunteers for their dedication and interest in the activities of IAP and ARCASIA. They are the future of ARCASIA. I am sure that all of us will have fond memories of the week spent in a city that is functioning well as any other cities around the world. We shall work together to take ARCASIA to another level to become more involved in the global network. maintained Kunihiro. The event was attended by a total of over 260 architects and faculty members and 550 architecture students from all over the country. More than 100 architects from 20 countries and 17 foreign students acted as participants while over 100 representatives of the building materials industry were also present.
(This article is based on the report submitted by Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui, convener ACA-14)
Audience applauding Dr. Ajantha Perera; Dr. Ajantha Perera from Sri Lanka presenting her paper; Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, declaring ACA-14 open; The COC with other committee members; Ar. Mishaal Abidi receving shield from Ar. Sohail Abbasi; Ar. Hajjah Noorzehan from Malaysia receiving shield from Dr. Gulzar Haider; Dr. Gulzar Haider giving away shield to Ar. George Kunihiro from Japan
The ARCASIA professional architectural institutes will develop and maintain continuing education programmes to disseminate Green concepts to professionals in the eld.
Architect VaSLab Architecture Thailand
Bunker House
Built by young Thai studio, VaSLab the iconic Bunker House manages to hold its own against the stoic military backdrop of Thailands Lopburi province.
a matter of security
PROJECTS
PROJECTS BUNKER HOUSE VASLAB ARCHITECTURE
Inspired by bunker architecture built and abandoned along the coast of France during World War II, Bangkok-based architects VaSLab Architecture took advantage of their clients partiality to concrete as well as the specic context of the site to create a structure which taints the space of domestic life with the feeling of something a little less civilian. The location, a province home to the largest Thai military camp in the country, also lays claim to Cholasit Dam, the biggest reservoir in Central Thailand. The dams profound structure and exposed concrete appearance made a strong impact on both the architects and the client with respect to the aesthetic decision to use cast-in-place concrete as the houses shell. Aside from being inuenced by its characteristic surroundings, the house is curiously dened by its contradicting sensibility, notably that of being both a hidden and visible space. The challenge to harmoniously fuse together these conicting elements was one which was deliberately posed by the client for whom a private, secure, yet open, home was a priority. The architects, thus drew their concept from the sophisticatedly crafted French defense system, attracted by its ability to maintain a hidden, placid presence while allowing inhabitants to keep on guard at all times from within. The unorthodox approach to designing the house also meant an unconventional layout: the asymmetrical H shaped oor plan of the house gives rise to two inner courts. Separated by a corridor that links the main living space and guest room, these inner courts can be utilised as outdoor living areas in both the morning and afternoon. In response to a compact budget, the idea of incorporating concrete was also costeffective, aside from being a strong aesthetic factor. Reinforced concrete posts and beam structures were chosen as economical options for the framework of the house. Aside from the implementation of cast-in-place concrete as the principal material, industrial materials include metal sheet siding, used for the overhang shading situated above the walkway, and aluminum louvres on the west faade to alleviate the effects of the strong afternoon sun. Green-tinted glass and black aluminum frames were implemented in the case of voids and openings while the use of warm timber around the stairs, terraces, ceilings and roof deck help create a contrast with the raw surface of the concrete. An aspect of the house that remains particularly evocative of authentic bunker design is the slot opening embedded in the balcony of the master bedroom wherein one can experience a view of the sites lush green surroundings, canal and nearby highway.
Approaching the main entrance with aluminum louvre as shading element; recreational sky deck with access from master bedroom
architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 15

from left
View of patio towards car port, view of covered terrace with cantilevered steel structure above for shading
16 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects
The dams profound structure and exposed concrete appearance made a strong impact on both the architects and the client with respect to the aesthetic decision to use cast-in-place concrete as the shell of the house.
architecture asia october / november / december 2011 projects 17 architecture asia january / february / march 2010 15
The roof terrace connects to the master bedroom
CANAL 7
PARK
SITE PLAN
Principal Architects Vasu Virajsilp Boonlert Deeyuen Project Architect Ratthaphon Sujatanonda Client Siriwan Tiensuwan Location Lopburi Thailand Site Area 800 sqm Bldg Area 293 sqm Gross Floor Area 360 sqm Bldg Coverage Ratio 37 percent Gross Floor Ratio 45 percent Bldg Scale Two stories above ground
Structure Cast-in-place concrete Max Height 7.6 m Landscape Area 507sqm Parking Lot 2 cars Exterior Finish Bare concrete Year of Completion 2009 Structural Engineer Konpoj Jittijaroonglarp Contractor Polpaiboon Limited Partnership Photography Spaceshift Studio
1 CAR PORT 2 PATIO 3 LIVING 4 DINING 5 PANTRY 6 STORAGE 7 KITCHEN 8 CORRIDOR 9 GUEST ROOM 10 STORAGE
11 BATHROOM 12 SCULPTURE COURT 13 INNER COURT 14 POND 15 MASTER BEDROOM 16 WALK-IN CLOSET 17 MASTER BATHROOM 18 PLANT BALCONY 19 ROOF TERRACE 20 OPEN
IN TE RN AL AD RO
SECTION A
SECTION B
10m
12 7 9 14 6 11 6 8 5 2 14 4 14 1 18 19 18
17
16
15
13 3 20
LOWER LEVEL PLAN
UPPER LEVEL PLAN
10m
in the face of disaster

Architect The Heritage Foundation Pakistan
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM
Green KaravanGhar (GKG)
Dened by its inventive employment of traditional and modern techniques, the Green KaravanGhar initiative is aptly evocative of the ingenuity and resilience of both its designers and the community it was designed to house.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM
PROJECTS GREEN KARAVANGHAR (GKG) THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Seven million people were reportedly displaced when the recent oods in Pakistan left the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in ruins, prompting the Heritage Foundation to extend the combined architectural expertise of its project team. As the rst phase of a three-part disaster outreach programme, relief packages of food and non-food items were sent to 500 families in the district of Swat. Phase Two entailed the construction of transient shelters or nucleus houses known as Green KaravanGhar. Finding the most resourceful means of building a hardy structure was initially a chief concern for the architects. Using lime-mud mortar, and wood and stone retrieved from the debris of the devastated houses and corrugated galvanized iron sheets for roofs, some 1200 units, were constructed in 75 hamlets within Hazara. A traditional crossbracing technique locally known as dhijji which survived the effects of the earthquake was crucially incorporated as a supporting element within the design. Tying methods and bolting techniques were also researched and implemented in the case of wooden posts and bracings. Later, the galvanized iron roofs were replaced with timber joists and purlins carried on cross-braced timber structure. Mixes of mud and lime, inspired by mud-lime mortars traditionally used in medieval Pakistani architecture, were used as mortar and plaster, resulting in a high level of insulation.
from left
Split bamboo planking used for roong; household member nishing walls with mud/lime plaster
Taliban insurgence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in early 2009 led to the internal displacement of local communities, inducing the need for easily fabricated housing and community facilities. While a mud-brick community kitchen was initially designed, excess costs and time constraints prevented the actual utilisation of the design. A quicker alternative involving bamboo posts, beams and matting with stone, mud and lime was later devised by Yasmeen Lari, a local architect renowned for her work in emergency housing. Requiring a completion period of just three days, the bamboo matting, walls, completed with mud-lime plaster, allowed for a 10-degree temperature variance between internal and external temperatures. Keeping in line with the objective of creating a green module, bamboo was implemented in the roong system. Dhijji lling with stone was also used for the rst time. By July 2010, the objective of achieving a green low cost construction methodology was realised with a circular structure that was to be used as a Womens Centre. This unit utilised materials that were both indigenous and renewable, incorporating a traditional construction technique that had been tested against every extreme natural element, including earthquakes. At the advent of the oods in August 2010, a lightweight, easily fabricated and sustainable Green KaravanGhar was ready to be deployed. A Green KaravanGhar demonstration unit was completed in Marghazar, Swat in September 2010, one month after the onslaught of the oods. A workshop/warehouse was consequently established to prepare a kit for each house. Artisans made the foundation, plinths, frames and roofs. Each household broke their own stones, made inll walls, and plastered the inside of the walls and oors, with assistance from the artisans team. A unit, consisting of a room, a veranda, kitchen, bath and WC, was completed at the cost of just USD500, employing the use of bamboo posts and beams, bamboo matting, stone, mud and lime. Plinth was made with stone while masonry walls supported by a bamboo cross-braced structure with stone inll or other materials derived
from the area. Both the walls and oors were nished with mud/lime plaster while the roofs consisted of bamboo ring beams and joists, with a polythene sheet waterproof layer sandwiched between thick mud/lime layers, edged with grass to keep in line with local practice. The structures incorporated easily transportable prefabricated doors and windows. Initially, a split bamboo planking that was diagonally xed onto the beams was used, taking almost three days to complete. It was later replaced with a strengthened bamboo matting that was interwoven for increased strength. This matting was made available in prefabricated panels, taking up no more than mere minutes to secure. The standard GKG proved ultimately advantageous due to its capacity to be customised in accordance to the various temperatures and climatic constraints of different regions of Pakistan, rendering the module a versatile emergency shelter. In all, the Green KaravanGhar initiative involved four primary groups of people: the skilled artisans team, the local artisan trainees, student volunteers and the local community and household members. The success of the module can be measured by not only the effectiveness of construction materials and techniques it utilised but also by the number of trained artisans produced through the process and the job opportunities that it presented to the devastated locals. The involvement of college and university students was fundamental with respect to making the Green KaravanGhar module a success. Household owners and community members were also urged to participate in the construction process, including the excavation of foundations, general help around the site and the nishing of the mud/lime plaster. The construction of 266 houses was completed in under six months, enabling affected families to inhabit their houses before the onset of winter. The units, insulated with three to four inch-thick walls, proved sturdy enough to withstand extreme conditions, including snow loads of up to four feet as well as the heavy rains that preceded the snow. Crediting much of the initiatives success to the close co-operation of local administration and the Pakistan Army who provided logistics and facilitated security within Swat in the aftermath of the disaster, the Heritage Foundation is currently involved in Phase Three of the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation.
This unit utilised materials that were both indigenous and renewable, incorporating a traditional construction technique that had been tested against every extreme natural element, including earthquakes.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. SALEEM BUKHARI
PROJECTS
Location (Villages in Swat district Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Pakistan) Biha Buklaria Charma Chatikal Chuprial Ditpani Fazal Banda Gawalrai Islampur Koray Labat Mandaldag Marghazar Nalkot Pishtunai Roringar Sedara Serai Shingaltan Site Area Estimated over 3000 sqm (Plot sizes of each GKG dependant on land holdings available) Client Community Project Team (The Heritage Foundation) Yasmeen Lari (Sitara-I Imtaiz Honorary Project Director Chair and CE) Naheem Shan (Project Manager) Mariyam Nizam (Project Coordinator) Wajiha Siddiqui (Architectural Drawings) Civil and Structural Engineer Amin Tariq (Amin Tariq and Associates) Quantity Surveyor Heritage Foundation
GREEN KARAVANGHAR (GKG) THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
BAMBOO DOOR
MUD PLASTER
ELEVATION
SECTION
1 BASE 2 VERANDAH 3 KITCHEN 4 BATH 5 W.C 6 ROOM
from top
Fixing bamboo matting for walls; completed unit with beneciary family; completed unit, Biha, Swat
PLAN
5m
FEATURE
Text by Adele Chong
Mediations in an Emergency: The Rise of Disaster Housing

beyond their means to achieve the seemingly impossible is how thoroughly these actions - brought about by a revived consciousness of our collective mortality divulge the resilience of the human spirit, irrespective of the kind of future that awaits us all. It is a sentiment that one, in an ideal world, likes to imagine designers of all emergency housing bearing in mind, particularly in the generation of structures which not only serve their initial purpose of temporarily sheltering displaced victims but also function as a psychological respite from the traumatic effects of the disaster. According to Cameron Sinclair, co-founder of Architecture for Humanity (AFH), an NGO which has garnered critical acclaim for the pro bono design services it offers to communities in need, the commonly accepted idea of architect-as-pure aesthete, in these situations, is automatically delegated to the backdrop. Ego gets you inches but it doesnt get you impact, maintains Sinclair. A true architect is not an artist but an optimistic realist. 1 That said, being an optimistic realist in Sinclairs books doesnt mean deferring to poorly devised and cheaply manufactured structures that give little or even no thought at all to the mental and physical plight of disaster victims. On the contrary, he emphasises that there is a need for architects to better comprehend the intricate workings of the situation they are helping to resolve in order to create a beautiful yet tangible solution that is loved by others and the community at large. In Sinclairs opinion, a generic solution simply often doesnt sufce in these circumstances. Concerns and needs of housing have to be addressed in direct relation to the affected community in question in order to achieve the desired impact; it is a matter of integration vs. imposition. So while the at-times overshadowing
For many, the on-the-ground reports that really struck a nerve following the March 11 disaster in Japan did not come via CNN, the BBC or any other major news agency for that matter. The most compelling accounts of the tragedy, signicantly, managed to trickle their way through the news feeds of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. While successive tweets, status updates and uploaded images quickly became indicators of life for anxious family members and friends awaiting news from suddenly displaced loved ones, the civilian commentary that surfaced also offered the international community a deeper, more intimate glimpse into the situation at large as well as the severe impact of the earthquake-cum-tsunami on the Japanese urban environment. A short video posted on YouTube, for instance, depicted the hair-rising effects of the tremours as the anonymous lmmaker himself remained crouched beneath a table within the crumbling interiors of the Sendai Mediatheque, a highly publicised building designed by Toyo Ito. Watching the walls and ceiling shudder violently from side-to-side as if the structure itself were composed entirely of foam, one cant help but be left aghast at the disclosed fragility of such outwardly robust architecture - and of the human condition - in the face of Mother Natures wrath. Without a doubt, the last decade marks an ominous period in the history of modern civilisation; the Japanese catastrophe comes as the latest in a string of natural disasters that have continued to strain global communities in the past few years, ranging from a destructive earthquake in Haiti in 2009 to the recent oods in Pakistan which displaced as many as seven million people. But while the wary among us might be inclined to interpret these events as the beginning of the end, what can at least be said about the ensuing process of rebuilding communities and cases of affected individuals striving
In an age rampant with natural disasters, can publicity and smart branding strategies help call attention to the pressing need for intelligent, sustainable shelters which house the body as well as the soul? What can this mean for the future of architecture in general?
persona of the author-architect may be diminished, the need for intelligent design, for him, remains more pertinent than ever before. But its not to say that getting your cause plugged by a larger-than-life personality exactly hinders things either. Acknowledged in the past as architectures potentially most important patron,2 American actor Brad Pitt has been lending his star appeal to the profession since the he reportedly interned at Frank Gehrys ofce subsequent to being bitten by the architecture bug a few years ago. Call it what one will but Pitts steadfast devotion to furthering the reaches of humanitarian design to where its most needed is turning the heads of some of the hardiest cynics around and proving to the public that hes not just exercising his celebrity right to nurture a very expensive hobby. After chairing an architecture competition to rebuild a block in New Orleans, Pitt made the leap and founded his own organisation, Make It Right, collaborating with a Los Angeles based architecture rm, Graft and a Green consultant. Devised as a means of reconstructing the Lower Ninth Ward district of New Orleans, one of the areas in the city reportedly most affected by Hurricane Katrina, the initiative was launched in 2007, with the objective of building 150 affordable high-quality design homes. A total of 13 architects, including highprole personalities such as Thom Mayne, MVRDV and Shigeru Ban were enlisted to contribute to the project, working for severely reduced design fees or for nothing at all. But really, money isnt the main issue here. The respective star power of each big-name architect within global architecture circles, combined with Pitts own movie star clout, not surprisingly, served to generate an avalanche of media coverage beyond ones wildest expectations. Good intentions aside, the collaborative efforts harnessed in support of the Make It Right initiative amounted to the kind of publicity that is very nearly impossible to buy. More crucially, it so happens that the domain of public perception, of all domains, is one which Pitt nds himself faring rather well in. The actor wisely took the opportunity to drum up attention to the dire circumstances surrounding the displaced residents of the Lower Ninth Ward, promoting his cause on every well-watched media programme from The Charlie Rose Show to Entertainment Tonight, with a trail of picture-hungry paparazzi thrown in as a perpetual given. Implementing an idea of Pitts to ll a few blocks of the Lower Ninth Ward with bright pink canvas houses initially meant to be replaced with digital renderings of where future homes would stand, Make It Right threw a symbolic bent on the idea of sponsoring a house. Photo-op moments at the launch of the posturing actor with the houses as a memorably graphic backdrop gave the cause something of a trademark identity, aptly and ofcially afrming the merger between architecture and Brand Brad. What is also important to note about the predictably overblown hoopla around Make It Right is the fact that it was all completely part of the big picture which was, inevitably, to draw attention to the scale of the physical and psychological damage that was wrought by Katrina. The main message of the entire initiative was communication, whether one is looking at the deft way in which the publicity machine was wielded or at the actual architecture itself; examples of the development include a poetically crafted dwelling by Thom Mayne which is being supported by two pylons meant to anchor the house in place like a boat should future oods ensue.
architecture asia january / february / march 2011 feature 25
What can at least be said about the ensuing process of rebuilding communities and cases of affected individuals striving beyond their means to achieve the seemingly impossible is how thoroughly these actions brought about by a revived consciousness of our collective mortality - divulge the resilience of the human spirit, irrespective of the kind of future that awaits us all.
IMAGES COURTESY OF SHIGERU BAN ARCHITECTS
IMAGE COURTESY OF MVRDV
FEATURE
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma asserts that design can only really speak to inhabitants when due respect is given to the original context of an area.
There is also a controversial addition by MVRDV which offers a twist on the conventional shotgun house by drastically folding the structure in the centre and forming a V in mid-air while the oors remain level. The latter was deemed controversial by critics due to its indirect allusion to actual houses which were tossed and mangled during the disaster. Although Pitt received a great deal of praise for his efforts internationally and managed to raise enough funds to build over 50 houses for 200 occupants in the Lower Ninth Ward to date, there are those who do continue to question the discrepancy between the architects newfangled contemporary designs and the original structure of the traditional shotgun houses that were formerly situated in the area as well as how successfully inhabitants are able to adapt to the drastic change in housing typology. Shelter is one thing but can so-called highly designed architecture help to rehabilitate a community of disaster survivors in a truly social sense? Japanese architect Kengo Kuma asserts that design can only really speak to inhabitants when due respect is given to the original context of an area. In a recent commentary in the Financial Times published shortly after the latest disaster in Japan, Kuma criticised the countrys government and wealthy elite for shunning the relevance of Japans rural areas and failing to acknowledge the problematic gap that continues to exist between the poor and the rich. For him, the fact that nuclear power stations are generally shuttled away to the innermost corners of rural outskirts - with local governments being paid generous subsidies to turn a blind eye to the risks of hosting such a facility - is revelatory of the blatant neglect that many authorities living in cosmopolitan areas are guilty of.3 According to Kuma, it is a fact that was left mostly unacknowledged until recent widespread fears of leaked radiation emerged as an aftermath of the disaster, threatening to have a critical impact not only within the vicinity of the country alone but also on a global scale. Long renowned for championing the virtues of local materials and techniques, Kuma implored architects and planners to overcome the powerful inuence of Tokyo cool and the temptation to submit to trends that have become so readily associated with the big-city glamour of the nations capital, particularly when designing for local regions whose culture and traditions are vastly estranged from popular urban design elements. Now we must rethink how we design buildings for particular locations, he states. Each place has its own history, culture and - potential risk. Each place must adopt a design that is adapted to the specic risks of an area. While Kumas perspective on the futility of creating environments based on a city-centric mindset is not exactly unheard of, the timeliness of his statement lends an invigorated validity to the real meaning of designing in accordance to context. Bearing this in mind, the example of disaster housing should not be perceived as an isolated domain; ensuing developments in the eld are destined to modify the way in which we live, disaster or no disaster. With so many architects already paying heed by employing a more sensitive approach to projects in accommodating cultural, social and environmental factors, its a clear sign that perplexing challenges as well as an important new beginning await architecture.
1 Conversation with Cameron Sinclair, The Atlantic, March 21, 2011 http://technologyforgood.info/2011/04/11/a-conversation-withcameron-sinclair-ceo-of-architecture-for-humanity--by-danielfromson-of-the-atlantic-and-sinclairs-ted-talk/ 2 Andrew Blum, Saint Brad, Metropolis Magazine, March 19, 2008 http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20080319/saint-brad 3 Kengo Kuma, Tokyo cool has swayed Japan for too long, Financial Times, April 5, 2011 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/30c411f0-5fb8-11e0-a718-00144 feab49a.html
clockwise from left
Shigeru Bans paper structures temporarily shelter the displaced in a gymnasium in East Japan; Dutch rm MVRDVs controversial take on the traditional shotgun house for Make It Right; recent examples of disaster housing in Sri Lanka and Pakistan
architecture asia january / february / march 2011 feature 27
Architect IROJE KHM Architects Korea
Purple Hill House
For South Korean rm IROJE KHM Architects, the problem of insufcient natural light gives way to an ingeniously designed house fraught with idiosyncrasies.
PROJECTS
structured outlook
Devising an innovative design, the designers kept the coveted view of the mountain intact by concocting a way of making the most out of light originating from both the south and east side of the structure.
PROJECTS PURPLE HILL HOUSE IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS
Sited in a scenic residential area near Gwanggyo Mountain, the Purple Hill House is surrounded by the lush greenery of a sprawling natural environment. While being situated next to a picturesque mountain meant being able to enjoy access to spectacular views of the landscape, the northwestern positioning of the site also alludes to a lack of natural sunlight emanating from the south. Thus emerged the dilemma that plagued IROJE KHM Architects when the South Korean rm rst took on the task of building the house in question. For principal architect HyoMan Kim, it seemed ironic that the outlook of the structure would prove to be such an issue given the panoramic locale; in order to fully partake in the breathtaking beauty of the mountain, inhabitants would literally be forced to remain largely in the dark due to insufcient natural light. Devising an innovative design, the designers kept the coveted view of the mountain intact by concocting a way of making the most out of light originating from both the south and east side of the structure. The resulting oating glass garden features a complex clustering of glass boxes which meander through the interior space, facilitating the presence of sunlight on various levels. By lining the boxes with a combination of various plant life, the designers essentially created a garden specically for each room, literally bringing the outside, inside. Strategically positioned directly over the main living area throughout the dening three oors, the oating boxes generate a distinctive identity for the house with respect to a exuding a dynamic that alludes to movement whichever way one choose to view the entire structure.
SITE PLAN
FRONT ELEVATION
LEFT SIDE ELEVATION

0 1 3 5m
Principal Architect HyoMan Kim Design Team KyeongJin Jung JiWon Ym EunHae Park Structural Designer MOA SungYeong Oh Contractor JEHYO Location Gyeounggi-do Korea Site Area 554 sqm Bldg Area 110 sqm Gross Floor Area 291 sqm Structure Concrete Rahmen Exterior Finishing Aluminium Sheet Exposed Concrete Interior Finishing Exposed Concrete Lacquer Photographer JongOh Kim
1 MAIN GATE 2 SUB GATE 3 ENTRANCE 4 ENTRANCE COURT 5 PARKING 6 ROAD 7 STAIR WAY 8 SUNKEN COURT 9 MECHANICAL ROOM 10 LIVING ROOM 11 DINING ROOM 12 DINING GARDEN 13 KITCHEN 14 UTILITY 15 LIVING DECK 16 POND 17 WATER FALL 18 SERVICE YARD 19 STAIR DECK
20 STAND DECK 21 BALCONY 22 STUDY ROOM 23 BEDROOM 24 MASTER BEDROOM 25 MASTER BATHROOM 26 DRESS ROOM 27 GARDEN 28 MASTER GARDEN 29 REAR GARDEN 30 FLOWER GARDEN 31 ROOF GARDEN
PROJECTS PURPLE HILL HOUSE IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS
31 30 24 30 31 26
31 31 25 23 22
18 13 3 18 14 23 9 6 2 9
23
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
0 1 3 5m
31 30 30
21 23 30
30 22 20 24 28
26
THIRD FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
3 29 23 30 10 7
27 5
7 23 15 4
22 19 14 13 18 16 17 12 11 27
1 9
6 2
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN

0 1 3 5m
An unusual temporary project by HHD_FUN introduces visitors to a new way of observing urban change.
asymmetrical shifts
PROJECTS
Architect HHD_FUN China
Embedded Project
PROJECTS EMBEDDED PROJECT HHD_FUN
Based on the concept of complex systems, young Beijing-based rm HHD_FUN, in collaboration with artist Aaajioa (Xu Wenkai), dreamt up a temporary, interactive installation designed to observe, perceive and research our living world, society and biology. The structure housing the installation was inspired by a triangular fractal pattern. Each triangle has been sub-divided or cracked again and again, resulting in a unique cube-like enclosure wrapped with a three-dimensional, surface pattern. The element that clearly sets the structure apart is most certainly in its jettisoning of traditional architectural design methodology in favour of a computational algorithm. For the designers, the appeal was in the creation of an organic structure through combining the logic of the algorithm with the physicality of architecture. Within the internal space of the installation, virtual architecture is embedded into various cities and regions within the mapping programme Google Earth and projected onto the oor. To further enhance the connection between the computational design and realised architecture, the generated digital data or three-dimensional architectural models of the external structure have been embedded into the Google Earth projections. The movement of visitors entering the space is tracked by motion sensors which then forward the resulting input to corresponding projectors. As visitors move throughout the space, the displacement of their bodies triggers subsequent changes in the projected scene. Hence audiences play a direct role in generating unusual perspectives from which to view the globe, the city, open elds as well as the algorithmic architectures embedded into the Google Earth projection. Through the Embedded Project, the designers ultimately hope to place emphasis on the dynamic that exists between the movement of people, visual experience and what they term, urban messages. In short, the idea is that one may be able to experience the simulation of shifts occurring within our urban environment through the projection.
The Embedded Project is wrapped in a skin inspired by a triangular fractal pattern
Through the Embedded Project, the designers ultimately hope to place emphasis on the dynamic that exists between the movement of people, visual experience and what they term, urban messages.
PROJECTS EMBEDDED PROJECT HHD_FUN
Location Beijing Site area 100 sqm Date of Completion 2009 Project team Zhenfei Wang Luming Wang Collaborator Aaajiao (Xu Wenkai) Materials Steel and wood Client E- Arts Curator Xiaodong Yan Project Cost 20 0000 RMB
ELEVATION
An interactive projection is housed within the interior space
Architect Shuhei Endo Architect Institute Japan
Bubbletecture H
Based on the idea of circulation, the new bubble-shaped environmental institution by Japanese rm Shuhei Endo Architect Institute, draws inspiration directly from functions inherent to the structure itself.
PROJECTS
a tribute to nature
PROJECTS BUBBLETECTURE H SHUHEI ENDO ARCHITECT INSTITUTE
Bubbletecture H by Shuhei Endo Architect Institute is a recently built structure sited on a steep slope along the north side of a forest in Japans Hyogo Prefecture. While its overall construction may appear a tad out of the ordinary, its situated context is certainly appropriate with respect to the nature of its intended function; the clients brief called for an architectural space which could be utilised as a point of contact with respect to the surrounding nature. The main objective was in the creation of a place which could foster local and widespread interest in global environmental issues. Bearing this in mind, the Japanese rm based their unusual design on the notion of circulation. The design of Bubbletecture H, at the request of the client, revolved around three main functions with two being arranged on at land due to the existence of an old road used for commuting to the old town nearby. The third function was coordinated in conjunction with the natural slope of the site so that it could oat alongside the same level as the two corresponding functions. The rationale behind the correlation of all structural functions lay in a few key factors: to maximise the use of the limited at land and landform and to minimise the damaging effects of construction on the natural environment. The form of the building thus, unveils the naturally generated shape which arose from connecting all three functions. In the case of the superstructure, the designers chose to use Japanese cypress thinning wood log with the intention of promoting localised building materials. According to the architects, Japanese wood was used also in an attempt to neutralise C02 emissions. The emphasis on materiality extended to other aspects such as the roof and wall which features 1.2mm thick weather-resistant steel board. The ultimate advantage of using the steel board lies in the ready presence of initial rust which stabilises the material and prevents further rusting from occurring. But while the low maintenance feature of the steel board was considerably benecial what remained of foremost interest to the design team was the evolving form of the material which achieved a clear correlation with the ever-changing mode of nature itself. The part of the building that achieves direct contact with the earth consists of RC structure and composite underground beam while the part of the building that oats above ground uses SRC structure in conjunction with a steel frame. The oating part, propped with an underground beam, is supported by the building frame of RC which also doubles as a water tank for re prevention. The superstructure itself boasts a single-layered, three-dimensional truss structure made out of Japanese cedar thinning wood log and ready-made hardware. The truss, made of out several logs, was assembled on site and connected by hand in each of the three main spaces within the building, giving way to spaces such as a waiting room or an ofce.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ENDO SHUHEI ARCHITECT INSTITUTE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MR. YOSHIHARU MATSUMURA
from top
The structure is sited along a foresty slope; Bubbletecture H as seen from above
The main objective was in the creation of a place which could foster local and widespread interest in global environmental issues. Bearing this in mind, the Japanese rm based their unusual design on the notion of circulation.
44 architecture asia january // february / march 2011 projects october november / december 2010 projects
Architect Shuhei Endo Architect Institute Location Sayo cho Hyogo Prefecture, Japan Date of Completion February 2008 Principal Use Environmental institution and exhibition space Height of Structure One storey Site Area 5000 sqm Building Area 968 sqm Total Floor Area 995 sqm Period of Construction for Truss Structure (Upper Part) August 2007 to September 2007
Period of Construction for Truss Structure (Lower Part) May 2007 to July 2007 Period of Construction for Roof September 2007 to December 2007 Design Duration May 2005 to March 2006 Period of Construction November 2006 to February 2008
PROJECTS
top
These main spaces within the structure are connected by way of a hand-assembled truss
BUBBLETECTURE H SHUHEI ENDO ARCHITECT INSTITUTE
1 a 4 11 1 14 13 14
NORTH ELEVATION SECTION A
b
1
8 14
11 12
WEST ELEVATION SECTION B

0 5 10m
3 2 9 10 8 1 11 10 10 8 7 6
4 5
PLAN
10m
SITE PLAN
1 ENTRANCE 2 THEATRE ROOM 3 STAGE 4 LIBRARY AND INFORMATION AREA 5 WORKSHOP ROOM 6 OFFICE 7 WAITING ROOM
8 STORAGE 9 OPERATING SPACE FOR THEATRE ROOM 10 LAVATORY 11 COURTYARD 12 MACHINE ROOM 13 FIRE TANK 14 TANK OF RAINWATER FOR REUSE
PROJECTS
Architect Djuhara + Djuhara Indonesia
Wisnu House
Energy-efcient and cleverly designed, the Wisnu House in Pondok Gede, Indonesia by Djuhara + Djuhara promotes a very human way of living while adhering to the constraints of a modest budget.
ad-hocism at its best
PROJECTS WISNU HOUSE DJUHARA+DJUHARA
Nugroho Wisnu and Tri Sundari, the then soon-to-be owners of the Wisnu House knew what they were looking for when they consulted Indonesian rm Djuhara + Djuhara about building their dream property. The client initially purchased the land that he had been living on in a tiny 26-metre house. Measuring 78-metres within a high-density housing area in a Jakarta suburb, the originally acquired land eventually grew to encompass a total of 250 sqm after Wisnu managed to buy up the remaining land behind his house. After investing a great deal of capital on the land, a limited budget was left when it came time to renovate the actual house. Ahmad Djuhara, principal of the Djuhara + Djuhara, had been earning accolades for his work on the low budget Sugiharto Steel House. As Wisnus initial preference for the architect in charge of the project, Djuhara appeared to be the perfect choice. The concept was at once simple and unconventional: build a oating box as a means of sheltering an open space on the ground oor, bringing to mind a modern interpretation of the traditional rumah panggung or platform house. The open-air concept of the living room also promotes natural ventilation, encouraging the inhabitants to minimise the use of air-conditioning. The living and dining area have been situated on the rst level while the bedrooms, a sitting room and study are housed on the second oor for ample privacy. The feeling of open space further extends outwards into the houses surrounds; the main front gate serves as an adjustable barrier, opening up to create a spacious connection between the house, communal garden and badminton court. Still bearing in mind the restraints of the budget, Djuhara chose to employ the use of concrete columns, beams and slabs as main components of the basic structure - at the time of construction, concrete structure was reportedly cheaper than its steel counterpart. The challenge of creating a lightweight structure was overcome by crafting the second oor out of a lightweight steel framing and metal deck roof. To shield the house from the effects of the hot sun, a screen composed of reclaimed wood was purposefully implemented on the front facade of the box. Other repercussions arising from the natural elements were also considered. In order to keep the rain at bay while simultaneously facilitating the presence of sunlight, the project team created a 600 mm gap which would allow excess rainwater to ow directly into the gutter, preventing any leakage concerns. The design also took into consideration the well-being of the inhabitants, including the servants living in-house. Eschewing a layout typical to most houses of its like in Indonesia, the designers opted to locate the servants quarters in the front of the house. This pragmatic restructuring of typology not only grants the servants easier access to the general space, it also allows them to enjoy ample sunlight and ventilation while fullling their daily domestic duties within the home.
Location Pondok Gede, Bekasi, Indonesia Architect Ahmad Djuhara (Djuhara + Djuhara) Interior Designer Ahmad Djuhara (Djuhara + Djuhara) Project Team M Lukman Hidayat Imron Yusuf 3D Illustration Imron Yusof Structure Eduard Sirait Contractors Eduard Sirait Alex Gandung Andi Linardi Ujang Nurhayat Supri Built Area 215 sqm Site Area 242 sqm Project Duration 2005 to 2007 Cost of Project RP 200 0000 000 Client Nugroho Wisnu and Tri Sundari
The concept was at once simple and unconventional: build a oating box as a means of sheltering an open space on the ground oor, bringing to mind a modern interpretation of the traditional rumah panggung or platform house.
from top
The design achieves a gentle transition from inside to outside; the cleverly devised layout makes the most out of the limited site area
PROJECTS WISNU HOUSE DJUHARA+DJUHARA
FRONT ELEVATION
SIDE ELEVATION
SECTION 1
ROOF
MASTER BEDROOM
BEDROOM BEDROOM SITTING ROOM SECTION 2
LEVEL 1
SECTION 3
MAID ROOM LIVING ROOM DINING ROOM
PARKING
SECTION 4 GARDEN
0 5
SECTION 5
GROUND LEVEL
PROJECTS
a house reborned
Architect all (zone) Thailand
Pims Guesthouse and Ceramic Studio
The resourceful renovation and transformation of a small 70-year old wooden house in Bangkok by local rm all (zone) ttingly reiterates the idea that less is more.
PROJECTS PIMS GUESTHOUSE AND CERAMIC STUDIO ALL (ZONE)
Originally built as a family house on a large plot of land measuring about 1600 sqm, the structure in question was initially sited in an area that was previously considered a faraway suburb of Bangkok. Over time as the plot evolved into a middle class residential development, the house, having been converted into maids quarters and a space for storage, was well on its way to complete deterioration. The familys decision to keep the original structure and renovate the house was reinforced by their desire to retain a sense of the authenticity in a neighbourhood that was fast becoming gentried by the emergence of expensive condominiums. A critical part of the design strategy revolved around minimising the usage of new materials. Opting to re-use and reassemble much of the original structure, the designers intention was to allocate a larger portion of the overall budget to labour costs in an effort to benet the low-waged builders who worked on the project. The restructuring of the dissembled materials also meant that the design and building process had to amalgamate as virtually nothing could be planned out beforehand in the architects drawings. Hence all (zone) found themselves working quite intensely with both the contractor, carpenters and owners in order to arrive at the end result. After dismantling the house into parts, a main structure, reinforced with steel, was initially erected as the framework for the reassembled pieces. While the second storey of the house more or less retained its shape, the rst storey was stripped of walls, doors and windows and transformed into a traditional open air living space or sala, alleviating the need to return the building to a time when houses were naturally ventilated. Layers of paint peeling off the surface of the structure were deliberately left as is to serve as an aesthetic reminder of the houses history. Leftover materials from the renovation such as the wooden planks, door and window frames were enterprisingly used in the construction of a small open-air ceramic studio located in the compounds garden. Like the adjoining house, the studios main structure is composed of steel which serves as a connective element with respect to reassembling the salvaged materials. In enlisting the skills of local carpenters, the sensibility typical of vernacular Thai buildings was cultivated throughout the entire project, once again placing emphasis on the extensive history behind the original house. Moving beyond budget concerns, the resourceful execution of the project more signicantly arose out of a need to achieve several planned objectives: to minimise the impact on the environment by re-using and recycling materials, to create a naturally ventilated home that would stand in stark contrast to the air-conditioned spaces which have become the norm in the city, and nally, to endow the realisation of the project with a sense of social responsibility by drawing attention to the plight of underpaid workers in Thailand.
all images
The house and studio combine the best of the past and present architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 51
In enlisting the skills of local carpenters, the sensibility typical of vernacular Thai buildings was cultivated throughout the entire project, once again placing emphasis on the extensive history behind the original house.
A ceramic studio was created out of materials leftover from the renovaion of the house
PROJECTS PIMS GUESTHOUSE AND CERAMIC STUDIO ALL (ZONE)
STUDIO
HOUSE
SITE PLAN
40m
Project Team Rachaporn Choochuey Sorawit Klaimak Isara Chanpoldee Namkhang Anomasiri Total site Area 1600 sqm Total Floor Area 215 sqm Budget USD60 000 Engineer CM One Co Ltd Somnuk Chatayanoon Somchai Kadpudpong Contractor Terdsak Tassayarn Duration of Project June 2007 to June 2008 Client Sudhikam Family
WORKING
MULTIPURPOSE AREA
HOUSE SECTION 1
TERRACE
FOYER
MULTIPURPOSE AREA
WC
MULTIPURPOSE AREA
E 7 6 5 4 3
0 2m
STUDIO SECTION
HOUSE SECTION 2
2m
E WORKING BEDROOM
STORAGE
OVEN 1
FOYER WC 2 WORKING AREA
TERRACE
HOUSE SECOND FLOOR PLAN
MULTIPURPOSE AREA MULTIPURPOSE AREA
WC UP
STUDIO PLAN
2m
HOUSE GROUND FLOOR PLAN
2m
Designed by Makoto Tanijiri of the young Japanese practice, Suppose Design Studio, a thoughtfully crafted suburban residence channels the feeling of living in a more organic environment.
skewed perspectives
PROJECTS
Architect Suppose Design Studio Japan
House in Fukawa
PROJECTS HOUSE IN FUKAWA SUPPOSE DESIGN STUDIO
Situated in the suburbs of Hiroshima, Suppose Design Studios recently built House in Fukawa was designed specically to accommodate a family of four. Due to the abundance of trafc around the site, the main challenge was in creating a residence which could function successfully as both a closed and open space. Bearing this objective in mind, the architects reasoned that in order for the house to maintain an internal sense of spaciousness while remaining walled-off from the chaos of the outside world, an illusion of innite space had to be conveyed through the design of the interiors. Working with a limited site area, each space had to be carefully devised so that it could act as a catalyst for the one situated next to it. A staircase stands at the heart of the house, surrounded by walls and built up towards the ceiling. In the narrative of the design, it is clear that its role is that of a main character, the pivotal focus of the entire structure itself. Spaces are randomly located at various levels and angles, reinforcing the perception that every room appears to have been fashioned using the pillar as a point of origin. The unusual structuring of the interiors allude to spaces at the top of each room which harbour the potential to be utilised as multiple terraces, giving inhabitants additional points of engagement. Non-standardised clusters of spaces two entwined rooms, two entwined terraces, and a room combined with a terrace contribute greatly to the dynamic sensibility of the house. Aside from enlarging the perspectives of the interiors through the layering of the rooms, the architects had also hoped to simulate the peaceful experience of residing within a more natural environment; the organic nature of the interior layout was inspired by the sublime act of lingering beneath a leafy tree and gazing upwards to attain a sense of eternity.
The unusual structuring of the interiors allude to spaces at the top of each room which harbour the potential to be utilised as multiple terraces, giving inhabitants additional points of engagement.
Makoto Tanijiris unusual design breaks up the conventional layout of the Japanese family house
all images
Intimate alcoves are created out of the nonstandardised clustering of rooms
PROJECTS HOUSE IN FUKAWA SUPPOSE DESIGN STUDIO
12
3-2F FLOOR PLAN
SOUTH ELEVATION
3m
14
11
16
10
3-1F FLOOR PLAN
13 EAST ELEVATION 15 9
1 ENTRANCE 2 LIVING 3 DINING 4 KITCHEN 5 BEDROOM 6 STOCK 7 BATHROOM 8 WC 9 TERRACE 01 10 TERRACE 02 11 LOFT 01 12 LOFT 02 13 CLOAK 01 14 CLOAK 02 15 KIDSROOM 01 16 KIDSROOM 02
2F FLOOR PLAN
12 4 6 9 11 3
Designer and principal Makoto Tanijiri Client Kenta Kubo Location Hiroshima Japan Built Area 114 sqm Date of Completion May 2010 Photographer Yano Toshiyuki
1
10 2
SECTION
1F FLOOR PLAN
3m
housing hope
Architect Sheran Henry Associates Sri Lanka
Tsunami Housing Development at Payagalawatta, Kalutara
PROJECTS
A social housing scheme devised for low-income families in a Tsunamidevastated area of Sri Lanka came as a much-needed respite for displaced inhabitants.
PROJECTS TSUNAMI HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT PAYAGALAWATTA, KALUTARA SHERAN HENRY ASSOCIATES
Realised by Sri Lankan architect Sheran Henry, the scheme for the Tsunami Housing Development at Payagalawatta, Kalutara consists of 18 housing units located on 10 perches. The task at hand was to generate a low-cost housing scheme for lowincome families who happened to be victims of a tsunami that ravaged the area. The objective was to study the lifestyles of this unique group of people and devise a series of feasible spaces based on the research. The resulting development facilitates social interactions by incorporating pockets of communal gathering spaces within the housing clusters. The scheme is part of a proposed village master plan consisting of 150 houses. The master plan simultaneously incorporates recreational areas, commercial activities, community and religious activities. The cluster of 18 houses is set along a linear pedestrian pathway, forming pockets of community gathering spaces, including two shophouses. Each unit is made up of a large verandah space, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a toilet. The kitchen, recognised as the domain of the women folk, was located closer to the garden to allow mothers to watch over their children as they played outside. The bedrooms have been tucked in for more privacy while a covered toilet can be accessed from the outside in keeping with traditional planning practices. Consideration was also given to the possible expansion of the houses by extended families by positioning the houses along an edge of the site for ample garden space. Concrete grills along the faade allow for the house to be ventilated via natural means. In addition to the grills, the roof promotes ventilation through gaps between the rafters, purposefully left uncovered to enable the passage of air. Most walls, nished with a rough plaster, have been outtted with coconut vertical sections in order to enhance cross-ventilation. A simple single pitch roof composed of coconut timber rafters is clad with Calicut tiles. Another signicant aspect of each unit is in the lighting of the interiors. Flooded with ample daylight, the use of electricity is minimised. The overall design of these simple houses bears in mind the importance of inner and outer spaces in a traditional context, existing as an apt architectural response to the vast paddy eld and rubber estates that surround this scheme.
The objective was to study the lifestyles of this unique group of people and devise a series of feasible spaces based on the research. The resulting development facilitates social interactions by incorporating pockets of communal gathering spaces within the housing clusters.
all images
The development incorporates a cluster of 18 houses set along a linear pedestrian pathway
PROJECTS TSUNAMI HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT PAYAGALAWATTA, KALUTARA SHERAN HENRY ASSOCIATES
SITE PLAN
0 15 30
50
150m
LAYOUT PLAN
FRONT ELEVATION
REAR ELEVATION
SECTION
5m
Location Pepiliyawatta Sri Lanka Dates of Construction September 2006 Principal Architect Sheran Henry Structural Engineer K P Piyasena Architectural Assistant Thanushka Wijayapala Write-up Research Dilini Mapagunaratne Land area 10 perches per house Floor area 61 sqm per house Cost Rs 12 500 000 Client The Lion Brewery Ceylon LimitedRehabilitation programme
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
0 5m
Architect Jason Pomeroy Malaysia
The Sime Darby Idea House
Designed by architect Jason Pomeroy, The Sime Darby Idea House is conceived as a test bed for new ideas, showcasing the latest in sustainable architecture in its designers quest to devise the rst carbon zero residence in South East Asia.
PROJECTS
eco-living redened
An understanding of the needs of the Malaysian demographic, coupled with due respect of the expansion and contraction of the family nucleus, nds its expression in the Idea House as a fully adaptable dwelling. Void spaces can be transformed into additional living or sleeping spaces as the family expands. These spaces can even be removed as the children grow up and leave home. An open-plan living format allows for a more exible lifestyle, promoting the internal / external adaptation of spaces to suit the families requirements in terms of work, play and everyday life. The environmental agenda is rigorously pursued with the installation of innovative active systems which include BIPV cells, rainwater harvesters, grey water management system and low energy appliances. Ultimately, a back-to-basics approach to the environmental strategy underpins the design; the building is carefully orientated to minimise heat gain and enhance cross ventilation while deep overhangs have been installed to provide shade and respite from the sun and tropical showers. Such social and environmental responses also contribute to the buildings economic efciency. By using a modern method of construction (prefabrication and modularisation), a speedier construction process is enabled, saving time and alleviating the nancial / resource burden. The modular frame and construction also allows the development, if necessary, to be demounted at any point to preserve the terrain for future generations and / or future development. The promotion of clean renewable energies in the scheme also mitigates the reliance on articial / mechanical means of lighting and cooling, reducing energy costs. The commitment to keep the design green even extends to often underlooked areas such as the driveway and parking spaces: instead of conventionally applying asphalt or concrete tiles in this areas, a lightweight, recyclable plastic grid structure specially designed to stabilise and support soil and turf is installed. To increase the wireless integration of the community, and hence the impact of transport requirements, the Idea House incoporates Ciscos Smart+Connected solutions. The solutions involve communities in real-time information exchange while facilitating interactions and access to virtual resources that help spur on social, economic and environmental sustainability efforts. For example, the safety and security system, accessible from any display device, heightens situational awareness of the occupants, while the unied communication system functions as a single communication infrastructure to serve multiple needs for information access, communication or even as a lighting control panel, hence enabling reusability and sustainability. An Integrated Building Management System (IBMS) has also been implemented to enable inhabitants control over the systems within Idea House in the case of security, HVAC, kitchen appliances and telecommunication. Furthermore, the IBMS doubles as an environmental dashboard for the management of running costs, energy consumption and generation (via BIPV), water consumption and comfort levels within the Idea House. Overall, the Idea House demonstrates the importance of having a sustainable process in place in order to deliver a truly sustainable product. The structure draws upon the combined expertise of some of the worlds leading technology and solutions providers, specically, architects, engineers, landscape designers, urbanists, contractors and suppliers, culminating in a design that reinterprets the Malay Kampung house in its ability to respond to the tropical context whilst embracing clean technologies with the impetus of achieving carbon neutrality.
PROJECTS THE SIME DARBY IDEA HOUSE JASON POMEROY
23 22 21 20 19
void 18
17 15 16
14
1 ENTRANCE FOYER 2 GUEST BEDROOM / TP ROOM 3 GUEST BATH 4 LIVING AREA 5 DINING AREA 6 DRY KITCHEN 7 WET KITCHEN 8 BATH 1 9 STORAGE 10 UTILITY ROOM 11 OUTDOOR DECK 12 POWER ROOM
13 CAR PORCH 14 STAIRS 15 MASTER BEDROOM 16 MASTER BATH 17 FAMILY AREA 18 FUTURE EXPANSION 19 BEDROOM 20 BATH 2 21 BATH 3 22 ROOF GARDEN (FUTURE EXPANSION) 23 BALCONY
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
13
02
03 12 04 01 05
06 11 08
07 09 10
09
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
5m
10m
Architect Jason Pomeroy Architect of Record Alizar Architect Typology Eco-friendly bungalow Rooms 3 +1 (expandable to 5 +1) bedrooms 5 bathrooms Site Location Denai Alam Shah Alam Selangor Lot Area 3431 sqm Gross Floor Area 710 sqm Net Floor Area 586 sqm Construction method MMC (Modern Method of Construction) Client Sime Darby Property Berhad Civil & Structural Mohd Asbi & Associates Mechanical & Electrical Consultant Perunding Eagles Engineer Landscape Architect Clouston Design Planner Mohd Asbi & Associates ESD Consultant Aurecon Singapore Main Contractor Shimizu Corporation Branding and Digital Communication Thinkscape Group
An open-plan living format allows for a more exible lifestyle, promoting the internal / external adaptation of spaces to suit the families requirements in terms of work, play and everyday life.
a refreshed take
The newly installed BAKITA bar-lounge and restaurant in one of Kuala Lumpurs most happening areas by local rm, ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd makes the most out of a run-down, historic structure.
PROJECTS
Architect ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd Malaysia
BAKITA Bar
Faade, corner view: The outer fencing wall mimics the building envelope, allowing visual transparency yet shielding the Forecourt.
Emerging from the remnants of a dilapidated 1950s shophouse, the recently built BAKITA makes a much-welcomed addition to the Changkat Bukit Bintang neighbourhood, the most bustling nightspot in Kuala Lumpur. The name, BAKITA literally translates as our own bar, having come about as a combination of the words bar and kita, a Malay word for our or us. Located on a corner lot just off the main strip, the ArchiCentre-designed bar-lounge and restaurants strategic locale and expansion towards adjacent streets allow for a clear linkage to be created between the enclave it resides in and Changkat Bukit Bintang. The corner lot location also affords BAKITA two sides of elevation and an allencompassing 20-foot strip of forecourt which was subsequently transformed into a timber-decked outdoor beer garden on the ground level.The brief called for a relaxed and eclectic space which could simultaneously accommodate a combination of both male and female guests while allowing for gender-specic refuge points wherein men or women could retreat to. Consequently, three disparate spaces were derived from these specications: a masculine bar on the ground level, a feminine cocktail lounge on the rst oor and an alfresco dining/drinking area. The unique ambiance associated with each space, ranging from the tropical sensibility of the forecourt, the Neo-Industrial feel of the beer bar to the cosmopolitan sleekness of the cocktail lounge, is directly indicative of the establishments multifaceted nature and aesthetic. Upon rst glance, BAKITAs faade remains one of the most striking elements of the overall design. Expanded metal used to envelop the existing balcony on the rst oor became something of a reiterated motif throughout, framed by rhythmic repetitions of triangulated panels. Though seemingly random in placement, the sheets formation came about as a strategic way of reducing material wastage while metal was utilised as a way of ltering glare and creating a voyeuristic feel. Existing aspects of the building such as the original soldier-bond balcony balustrade and masonary ventilation grilles above doorways were retained to establish a connection with the past and present. Steel columns mounted on individual footings and buttressed against the existing structure play multiple functions, supporting the expanded metal envelope and new eave overhang and bar equipment loading on the balcony and acting as an encasement for piped rain water during rainy periods. The presence of nature is heightened in the alfresco forecourt, an area leveled by two large planar surfaces to correspond with the uctuating levels of the road on the front and side. Rain trees lean towards the building envelope, offering a foliaged canopy over the forecourt and creating a visual synergy with the outdoor chengal wood furniture. To generate additional seating area, the brick fencing wall surrounding the forecourt was lowered to open up the previously cloistered space, giving way to seating ledges between the posts. Large openings surrounding the industrial-themed beer bar entice passing visitors. This area is complemented with a 18m-long bar nished in black granite and polished chrome workmen stools which strike up a contrast with the bar and rectilinear workbench steel tables. The masculine vibe of the beer bar also stands in stark juxtaposition with the cocktail lounge which has been envisioned as a communal living room, enabling casual interactions. Anointed with a sharp colour palette, the space is laden with shades of grey that permeate the ceiling, raw cement rendered columns and polished cement oor. The grey is punctuated with a scarlet wall which denes the rear as an intimate nook for small parties or gatherings. The lounge features a well-blended mix of modern and classical with respect to furniture and interior ttings. Strip windows along the two elevations welcome a panoramic view of the urban landscape. Peripheral seating facing the view outside redenes the spatial experience of the central area, enhanced by a drop ceiling which facilitates essential cooling, ventilation and lighting. As a apt nishing touch, a glass-encased lightwell sets the mood with its diffusing of natural daylight and reective play on the stainless steel mosaic-clad bar counter, generating a multi-chromatic experience for all.
PROJECTS BAKITA BAR ARCHICENTRE SDN BJD
ELEVATION
1 BEER GARDEN 2 BEER BAR 3 BEER MACHINE 4 TOILETS 5 KITCHEN 6 OUTDOOR KITCHEN 7 STORAGE 8 LIQUOR STORAGE 9 LIGHT WELL 10 STAIR CASE 11 PRIVATE LOUNGE 12 OFFICE 13 TOILETS 14 LOUNGE AREA 15 RAISED PLATFORM 16 BAR 17 DJ CONSOLE 18 FLAT ROOF 19 CAVE EXTENSION 20 METAL DARK ROOF
18 B 20 B
18
19
18
A ROOF PLAN
17 12 9
13
14
15
16
11 10
18
18
A SECTION FIRST FLOOR PLAN
1m
2m
3m
from top
Raised timber platform of the cocktail lounge bar; nature and built form converse: the urban raintrees interact with the building, leaning towards the envelope, offering a natural foliaged canopy over the forecourt; clusters of eclectically mixed modern and classical furniture, cocktail Lounge
Client WishWonder Sdn Bhd Architect/ Interior Designer ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd Project Team Ar Dexter Koh Esther Lau Andrew Yit Contractor TK Woon Construction Date of Completion June 2010 Photo Credits H Lin Ho Photography
3 1
5 B
2 B
10
1 7
Expanded metal used to envelop the existing balcony on the rst oor became something of a reiterated motif throughout, framed by rhythmic repetitions of triangulated panels.
A GROUND FLOOR PLAN
1m
2m
3m
in top form
Young Japanese rm Mount Fuji Architects Studio turned typically limiting budget constraints into a winning factor with the XXXX House by side-stepping a few conventions with respect to structure and process.
PROJECTS
Architect Mount Fuji Architects Studio JAPAN
XXXX House
Much like the design rationale behind the work itself, the initial coming to being of the XXXX House came about in a rather roundabout way: instead of opting to buy a Toyota sedan for his business, the client decided on a less pragmatic use for his money - an atelier which could serve as a gallery for his ceramic art collection. A mere 1.5 million yen - the amount needed to purchase the car - however, didnt exactly leave much room for options when it came to building architecture of a conventional scale. Yet for the architects faced with the project, the sum was still considered substantial enough to create an everyday object that could enhance ones life. In this instance, could a compromise be properly achieved? Tasked with this challenge, Mount Fuji Architects Studio found themselves reinventing the architectural rules and putting their capacity for resourceful-thinking to the ultimate test. A drastically scaled-down budget also meant that contractors were exempted from the picture altogether, requiring the architects to take on the actual building process on their own, with the exception of a few more complex procedures whereby the expertise of specialised technicians was sought. To minimise costs, the client, who stemmed from a ship- and boat-building background, even pitched in to help construct the structure. A total of three days were allocated for the design and construction of the project. Essentially, the team was given a short amount of time to source for the most inexpensive material and devise a way to create a fully functional space using the most effective means possible. With respect to material, structural plywood was utilised for the main framework; as a highly distributed dimensional lumber in japan, it proved to be the perfect choice. The building process primarily involved gluing four to ve sheets of plywood together to create a panel while maintaining a width of 900mm, culminating in a main structure consisting of pillar, beam and brace. For the oor, wall and ceiling, the nishing material included insulation, roof truss and material. By inclining even frames to the left and odd frames to the right, the framework was joined to form an X-shaped structure wherein an astylar tubular space was achieved with punctuated triangle-shaped slits that facilitate natural lighting. The repetitive X-shaped unit also bore an appeal because of the enhanced possibility to expand the structure in the future; one merely needs to add on yet another frame. Monocoque construction was purposefully implemented to simultaneously reduce costs and minimise the building process, reinforcing the value of the design. Finally, the presence of sunlight and natural breeze renders the structure fully whole by adding a metaphysical dimension to the nal form, endowing both interior and exterior with an otherworldly ambiance.
By inclining even frames to the left and odd frames to the right, the framework was joined to form an Xshaped structure wherein an astylar tubular space was achieved with punctuated triangle-shaped slits that facilitate natural lighting.
PROJECTS
Location Yaizu Shizuoka Japan Site Area 503 sqm Building Area 22 sqm Total Floor Area 17 sqm Number of Stories 1 Building Height 3m Structural System Wood Panels Major Materials Structural Plywood (Exterior and interior)
SECTION L FRAME (#2.4.6.8)
XXXX HOUSE MOUNT FUJI ARCHITECTS STUDIO
SECTION R FRAME (#1.3.5.7)
1m
2m
5m
NATURAL PARK
FIRST CONSTRUCTION OLIVE TREE
SECOND CONSTRUCTION
9 900
FRAME 8
8
WORKING TERRACE KILN
7 900 6 900
FRAME 6
FRAME 5
5 7200
900
FRAME 7
ATELIER
900
FRAME 4
4
GALLERY
FRAME 2
2
900
FRAME 1
1
900
ENTRANCE
(GL+50) 500 (GL0)
2000
1210 2420 a b
1210
1380
AREA FOR EXPANSION
PLAN
0 1m 2m 3m 4m 5m 10m
A gallery for the clients ceramic art collection was created by putting the architects penchant to resourceful thinking to the test architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 77
4500
FRAME 3
900
BOOKS
Contemporary Architecture in China: Buildings and Projects 2000 2020

Author Christian Dubrau Publisher Page One
Without a doubt, modern China continues to remain a stark point of fascination for architecture enthusiasts all over the world. Its seemingly relentless pace of urbanisation, initially kickstarted by the 2008 Beijing Olympic games and consequently perpetuated by the 2010 Shanghai Expo, have contributed to so-called mega-cities which hark back to the industrialisation age of North America and Europe in the 19th century. Featuring thought-provoking essays by Arno Sighart Schmid, author Christian Dubrau and Brigitta Hahn-Melcher, Contemporary Architecture in China enables one a thorough insight into the countrys ongoing building boom. Simultaneously, the volume raises questions as to how Chinas present developments might affect the global community at large over the foreseeable future. Over 30 of Chinas most successful projects realised by Chinese as well as international architects are richly portrayed throughout the books pages, making it a lavish feast for the eyes in addition to ample fodder for thought.
78 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 books
Japans carefully cultivated aesthetic sensibility has long sustained its international reputation as one of the foremost producers of elegant design. Its penchant for referencing classic traditions while bracing itself against the changing zeitgeist throughout the ages has particularly served the country well as far as nurturing its contemporary developments in architecture. Author Mira Lochers well-informed volume, Traditional Japanese Architecture: An Exploration of Elements and Forms, pays tribute to the age-old practices that have signicantly contributed to Japans cultural and aesthetic
growth with respect to building. What is made apparent through Lochers writings is the concept of an underlying narrative within each element of Japanese architecture; every part of a building tells its own story regardless of function and size. A thoughtful foreword by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma touches on the importance of wood throughout the countrys architectural history, reinforcing Japans long-term fascination with the potential of materiality an aspect which is meticulously examined within Lochners writings. Available in all leading bookstores for USD39.95.
Traditional Japanese Architecture: An Exploration of Elements and Forms

Author Mira Locher Photograhy Ben Simmons Publisher Tuttle Publishing
datum, noun plural data. See also data. 1 a piece of information. an assumption or premise from which inferences may be drawn. 2 a xed starting point of a scale or operation.
JULY 2011
Its been quite a ride DATUM:KL, which started in 2003, will now be the name of an exciting and ambitious new PAM initiative, the 2011 Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival. Having grown over the years and now in its ninth year, Datum:KL is restructured and up-cycled as a month long multi-programme platform to be held throughout July 2011. The Festival aims to bring forth wider cultural aspects of the discipline onto the public domain and to invigorate the city of Kuala Lumpur into new and purposeful dialogues. For the month of July, Datum:KL will frame a moment of architectural intensity, propositions and conversations. A comprehensive series of conferences, exhibitions, workshops, forums, events, etc., has been planned with your participation in mind. Watch this space... Ang Chee Cheong Datum:KL Curator
www.datumkl.my
(from 20 May onwards)
DATUM:KL & NOW IS ORGANISED BY
KUALA LUMPUR ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL IS SUPPORTED BY
www.facebook.com/datumkl2011
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur
www.twitter.com/datumkl2011

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ARCASIA MEMBER INSTITUTES

XXXX House by Mount Fuji Architects Studio

House in Fukawa by Suppose Design Studio

Printer Percetakan Zanders Sdn Bhd

Purple Hill House by IROJE KHM Architects

CONTENTS ISSUE 1 January / February / March 2011

4 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 contents

EDITORS NOTE shelter

6 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 editors note

tune the light

SPECIAL REPORT: 14th Asian Congress of Architects, Lahore, Pakistan

8 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 events

clockwise from top left

Architect VaSLab Architecture Thailand

PROJECTS BUNKER HOUSE VASLAB ARCHITECTURE

clockwise from top left

architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 15

PROJECTS BUNKER HOUSE VASLAB ARCHITECTURE

16 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

The roof terrace connects to the master bedroom

18 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

PROJECTS BUNKER HOUSE VASLAB ARCHITECTURE

LOWER LEVEL PLAN

UPPER LEVEL PLAN

in the face of disaster

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM

Green KaravanGhar (GKG)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM

PROJECTS GREEN KARAVANGHAR (GKG) THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION

22 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. SALEEM BUKHARI

GREEN KARAVANGHAR (GKG) THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION

1 BASE 2 VERANDAH 3 KITCHEN 4 BATH 5 W.C 6 ROOM

Text by Adele Chong

Mediations in an Emergency: The Rise of Disaster Housing

architecture asia january / february / march 2011 feature 25

IMAGES COURTESY OF SHIGERU BAN ARCHITECTS

IMAGE COURTESY OF MVRDV

clockwise from left

architecture asia january / february / march 2011 feature 27

Architect IROJE KHM Architects Korea

Purple Hill House

PROJECTS PURPLE HILL HOUSE IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS

architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 31

LEFT SIDE ELEVATION

32 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

PROJECTS PURPLE HILL HOUSE IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN

Architect HHD_FUN China

PROJECTS EMBEDDED PROJECT HHD_FUN

36 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

The Embedded Project is wrapped in a skin inspired by a triangular fractal pattern

38 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

PROJECTS EMBEDDED PROJECT HHD_FUN

An interactive projection is housed within the interior space

architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 39

Architect Shuhei Endo Architect Institute Japan

40 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects