architecture enlightens life

I’ve been lazy to post my design works during last year. so thanks to kahmeng (whom I discussed helluva lot about design) - my previous housemate, I felt the urge of publishing my works to share with limkokwing peers as I have transferred to curtin university. don’t worry, my 2009 works are intact and awesome; I’ll publish them when I publish them.

the brief is simple, design three projects of a small relaxation pool with shelter according to three schools of thought; civics, technics and poetics narrative. civics is about using architectural forms to relate as a story that roots in history and culture of site while technics is on beauty of construction design; joint and structural details. poetics on the other hand is about individual experience of the viewer while approaching architecture. simply speaking; robert venturi on civics, renzo piano on technics and peter zumthor for poetics.

civics, strobocycle : full board here

on the site Burns Beach, I found out how bicycling culture is so profound as there is a neverending cycling path along the beach among some suburban houses in the background. so, I enclosed the cycling path to the shelter while putting up full height windows to induce stroboscopic effect whenever there is cyclist passing through. the parking of bicycle is highlighted in two concrete slabs with a skylight above. this also resonates with the idea of the terminal point of circulation where the series of social activities begin. one parks the bicycle in concrete slots, walk down ramp or steps to a communal seating area - followed by cooking, sunbathing and the pool.

technics, floating pool : full board here

a floating platform that responds to the water level and tide, the pool itself is actually a recessed space defined by strips of timber battens folding up and down. thus, the water of the pool directly linked to the ocean, with ocean waves move  intermittently throughout the pool. the interesting thing is however the chain and pulley mechanism put together ala Tom Kundig, instead of being pulled by users - the roof flap is opened by the pulling force of the platform moving up due to the changes in water level. thus, allowing more light during low ceiling level of the high tide and vice versa.

poetics, the grotto : full board here

as for poetics, I tried to recapture the phenomenal experience of the natural skylight cave I visited on site and infusing it with the water element of the pool. one walks down the darkening ramp, while slowly aware of the dark limestone wall that is continously washed by water. the water flows to the channel next to handrail, where observers touch the streaming water while holding the rail. then he arrives at what is called the grotto space, where he will have to wade through the water in a diminishing tunnel ramp to reach the pool. the skylight reveals the beginning of the water edge in darkness, the view of the ocean opens up in the end. this is followed by a space cross cut by canals, an elaborate flowing to the floor water fountain and a chimney channeling barbecue smoke to unbeknowing visitors above.