AR2226 HISTORY AND THEORY OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE

REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC AND FUMIHIKO MAKI:

THE COLLISON OF GROUP FORM AND TOP DOWN APPROACH IN SINGAPORE

Tutorial Group 8
Lee Jin Ting A0126360

Lecturer: Tsuto Sakamoto

Teaching Assistant: Cheng Yu-Qi Lynn
30 October 2015

1. Introduction
In the realm of modern architecture, Fumihiko Maki (born September 6, 1928 in Tokyo) is
one of the architects who introduced Metabolism, a whole new idea in urbanism and architecture to
the world in 1960s. Originating from Japan, the ideology was intended to lead Japanese society into a
new order as a respond to dynamic urbanization and transformation of Japanese cities after Second
World War (Lin 2010, 1). In 1963, Maki introduced group form as his approach in Metabolism in
his book Investigation of Collective Forms. In 2002, forty years after Metabolism was introduced,
Maki implemented the idea of group form in Singapore through master planning of Republic
Polytechnic. From Japan to Singapore, across four decades, it is meaningful to investigate how Makis
ideology is being adopted in different region and era. Most importantly, is the idea of Group Form
effectively translated in Republic Polytechnic to perform what the ideology is trying to achieve.
The essay examines Republic Polytechnic through 2 important aspects in Makis Theory of
Collective Form: Social engagement in design and sustainability in adapting future changes. In order
to test on the argument and to maintain the depth of discussion, another Makis project Shinjuku
Station Project (unrealized) has been studied in comparison with Republic Polytechnic. The reason of
choosing Shinjuku Station Plan is that the two projects share the same form and have the same
typology as a master planning project. Apart from that, it is also a comparison between the ideal
outcome and the reality in context. All of the researches above has led to the born of main argument;
Makis ideology of Metabolism did not fully translate into Republic Polytechnic compared to
Shinjuku Station Development in Japan due to the lack of social engagement and consideration in
design process. Group Form is a bottom-up approach which emanates from the people themselves
(Lin 2010, 116), whereas development mode in Singapore is oppositely top-down, with a longterm orientation by the government in deciding policy options (Subramaniam 2001, 68). The
incompatibility between Makis ideology and Singapores context has causes Makis strategies to be
superficially adopted and performed ineffectively.

2. Metabolism, Fumihiko Maki and Group Form

In 1950s, Japan entered the period of rapid economic growth and the population began to
concentrate at big cities, resulting in overcrowding. Cities like Tokyo, which had already been
urbanized had no room for expansion and needed to transform its urban form (Lin 2010, xxii). In
1960, a group of young Japanese architects, including Fumihiko Maki, published their manifesto
Metabolism The Proposals for New Urbanism at the World Design Conference in Tokyo. As the
biological name suggest, Metabolism contends that buildings and cities should be designed in the
same organic way that the material substance of a natural organism propagatesdeftly adapting to its

environment by changing its form in rapid succession (Mori Art Museum 2011).Maki approached
Metabolism with his concept of group form. In his book Investigation of Collective Form, Maki has
investigated 3 prototypes of collective urban forms: compositional form, megastructure and group
form as shown in figure 1. Maki advocated group form. In 1958, Maki spent two years to travel in
Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe. The vernacular human settlements have impressed
him with their formal cohesion and non-hierarchical multi-directional social structure supporting
their particular aesthetic order, which then become the inspiration of group form (Lin 2010, 115).

Fig. 1. Fumihiko Maki, diagram of three collective forms: (left to right) compositional form, megaform, and group form, 1964. From: Lin, Zhongjie. Kenzo Tange and the Metabolist Movement: Urban
Utopias of Modern Japan. New York: Routledge, 2010. Page 11
Maki stressed that group from is not arbitrary but evolved from social structure of a society.
He saw in those collective forms an expression of regional culture (Lin 2010, 115). Hence, the
principle behind group form is derived from regional culture and natural order (Lin 2010, 115) which
always engages the society in the process of making a city. It represents a more democratic and
flexible system (Lin 2010, 116) which opposes to centralized power.
Besides, Group form is executed by repeating the form of its component to achieve a total
image. Group form derives from the abstraction of individual forms and presents itself as a
typology governing the individual elements (Lin 2010, 33). Hence, the total image will not be
affected if there is a change in individual component. . With this underlying principle which reflects a
high level of democracy, Maki claimed that group form would take the challenge of create(ing) and
maintain(ing) order without sacrificing the fundamental freedom of the individuals making up the
society and accommodate the unpredictable and rapid changes characteristic of contemporary
society .(Lin 2010, 32-34)

3. Context study - Top Down Approach in Singapore

Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary system of government based on Westminster
System. It emphasizes on political integration, centralized authority, a command operating code
implemented through bureaucracy and the power of the centre to revoke decentralized power
(Singapore Politics Blog 2006). Singapore adapts the mode of Good governance. It constitutes an

accountable and transparent government, a long-term orientation by the government in deciding

policy options for its society, and social justice, that is, equality of opportunity irrespective of race or
religion (Subramaniam 2001, 68). From the above references, we can conclude that Singapore adopts
a top down approach in policy making and nation building. As shown in the table below, top down
approach reflects bureaucracy with centralized power and rigid framework, which is a totally
opposing concept compared to Makis ideology of group form. Group form is more inclined to
bottom up approach, as it is a flexible framework derived from the participation of society. With the
understanding that Republic Polytechnic as part of the policy under Ministry of Education, it can be
said that the implementation of school, from the teaching method to master planning, and even the
architectural design of school building, is largely affected by the top down approach.

Fig. 2. The table is showing the difference between top down approach and bottom up approach in
policy implementation. From: Singapore Politics Blog,

http://singaporegovt.blogspot.sg/2006/01/policy-implementation-in-singapore.html (accessed October

28, 2015)

4. Republic Polytechnic
Located at Woodlands, Singapore, Republic Polytechnic is designed by Maki and Associated
in collaboration with local architecture firm DP Architects (Figure 3). Completed in 2007, the school
has reconfigured its teaching method, from lecture based learning to Problem Based Learning an
interactive method which evokes discussion and group collaboration introduced by Ministry of
Education (DP Architects 2007). Republic Polytechnic is conceived as a campus with a central
nucleus of main educational programs (Maki and Associates 2007). It exemplifies Makis concept of
the group form, as 11 learning pods and an administrative building are designed into a group of
highly flexible independent building at 5-6 storeys high (Xi 2013, 93). The learning pods are
unified and connected by two elliptical spaces of common facilities, namely the Lawn (the roof of
Agora) and the Agora (Maki and Associates 2007) (Figure 4).

showing
the 11 learning
Fig.3. PlanFig.4.
viewSketches
of Republic
Polytechnic
campus. pods
are connected by the Agora. From:
From: ArchiTravel,
Architecture in Singapore,
http://www.architravel.com/architravel/building/republi
https://architecturesingapore.files.wordpress.c
c-polytechnic/
(accessed September 25, 2015)
om/2014/10/republic-polytechnic-makidiagram.jpg (accessed September 25, 2015)

5.
Shinjuku Station Project

Shinjuku Station Project is a redevelopment of the west side of Sinjuku Station into an
entertainment and business district (Figure5). It is an unrealized joint urban design proposal by
Fumihiko Maki and Masato Otaka at World Design Conference in 1960. The project envisioned a
gigantic concrete slab over railway tracks, which became the artificial land. Buildings such as
shopping centres, office towers, and amusement squares would be grew in the manner of group
form upon this artificial ground. The office tower cluster in the west is designed by Otaka while the
amusement squares in the east is designed by Maki. It is noticeable that the amusement square was
conceived as flowers, with a major plaza occupied the centre surrounded by opera houses, theatres,
concert halls and movie theatres. The same character is also appearing in Otakas office tower cluster
(Lin 2010, 34). Maki confirmed that the enormous artificial ground which span over railroad tracks, is
serving as a permanent platform for clusters of commercial, business and entertainment in the
manner of group form. The artificial land is also functioning as a long-term basic frame which
supports the elements with various life cycles. (Xi 2013, 63)

Business
District

Entertainment
District

Fig. 5. Masato Otaka and Fumihiko Maki, Shinjuku Station Project, 1960. Model view. From: Lin,
Zhongjie. Kenzo Tange and the Metabolist Movement: Urban Utopias of Modern Japan. New York:
Routledge, 2010. Page 33.

6. Republic Polytechnic and Shinjuku Station Project Social engagement in design decision
As Maki mentioned in his book Investigations of Collective Form, the meeting of different
systems and elements are becoming ubiquitous in the city of the world, perhaps their combination
() can really reflect distinguishing characteristic of the people and the place in which they are
structure () according to their value hierarchy (Maki 1964, 22). However, Republic Polytechnic

does not reflect this characteristic. The school administration is deciding on schools matters whereas
the students do not have opportunity and initiative to involve in the implementation process of school.
Hence, it did not express the social character of the institution as what Makis ideology always
stressed on. Examining the design of Republic Polytechnic, it is observed that students have little
engagement in shaping their learning spaces. The spaces in Agora which are open without boundary
are flexible for students to have various kinds of activities. Plenty of study area with tables and chairs
are provided (Figure 6), whereas there are many corridors and corners which have the opportunity and
potential to be turned into a congregate space or event space (Figure 7). The design gives flexibility
for students in using spaces but since the form of spaces is already fixed, it has no opportunity for the
space to derive from the social structure of the institution. The function of a corner could be changed
from study area to dance practice venue, event space or meeting area; however the form can never be
modified to accommodate different activities in a more user sympathetic way. Other than Agora space,
the teaching pods also reflect the same issue, as their faade and spatial design are highly identical
although they are different faculty housing different programs with different student activities (Figure
8). From another perspective, the spaces are over general and have no specific characteristic poses no
trace of derivation from everyday life of students. The spaces are not well defined and give user
difficulty in recognizing the spaces. Besides that, during an interview with Tran, a Year 2 student who
is currently studying in Republic Polytechnic, he voiced that the school design looks more like a
shopping mall for him instead of a learning institution (Lee 2015). This has further proven the
lacking in reflecting students life in the design. The configuration reflects schools bureaucracy in
deciding students learning experience rather than students initiative and involvement in shaping their
own learning environment. It did not reflect democracy as Maki uphold in his concept of group form.
Fig.
Studyalong
area at
Agora. Photograph
Photograph..
Fig.
7. 6.
Spaces
corridor.
From:
Lee,
Ting,
2015.
From:
Lee,
JinJin
Ting,
2015.

Fig. 8. Learning pods viewing from The Lawn. From: Lee, Jin Ting, 2015.
On the other hand, Shinjuku Station Project is a derivation from everyday life of the people.
As a gathering space for the people, the amusement square is surrounded by opera houses, theatres,
concert halls and movie theatres forming a center point for people to gather and congregate (Figure 9).
The elements and systems for other spaces are also developed through several themes which are
generated from human association such as gathering, milling and vista (Maki 1964, 59). The theme
which dictate the character of spaces in multi-level shopping center is derived from milling of
people who engage in retailing, wholesaling, window shopping, drinking, eating, chatting and
passing (Maki 1964, 58). The office tower is designed with the consideration of vista and
development of interesting vista from the building window, which stressed humans association
(Figure 10, 11). Maki referred this as an attempt to create an image through grouping of elements
that is reflection of growth and decay in our life process a metabolic process. It is also an attempt
to express the energy and sweat of millions people in Tokyo, of the breath of life and the poetry of
living (Maki 1964, 59).
Fig. 10.
Office towers
Otaka.
From
9. Shinjuku
Stationdesigned
Project,by
model
view
of
Australian
Design
Review,
entertainment
district
in a petal configuration.
http://www.australiandesignreview.com/wpFrom Imgarcade.Com,
content/uploads/2014/11/interlace-5.jpg
http://imgarcade.com/1/fumihiko-maki(accessed
28 October
2015)28 October 2015)
collective-form
(accessed

Fig. 11. Plan view of business district. Office towers are arranged with consideration of vista. From

Archive of Affinities, http://archiveofaffinities.tumblr.com/post/14581209288/fumihiko-maki-projectfor-shinjuku-plan-for-the (accessed 28 October 2015)

7. Republic Polytechnic and Shinjuku Station Project

Sustainability in Adapting Future Changes

Makis group form is a planning strategy which offers a master key or a visual grammar,
through which one can cope with an expanded scale of operations and rapid transformation (Lin
2010, 113). Maki advocated that group form encourages cumulative growth that results in in a nonhierarchical collective form which is in contrast to top-down planning. Republic Polytechnic did not
work as a flexible design that is able to adapt future transformation. This is due to the restriction of
master planning which marks clear boundary without grey area for further growth possibility. At
Republic Polytechnic, 11 individual learning pods which house classrooms, lecture theatres and
offices are arranged in group form manner on top of 2-storey Agora space (Figure 12). The layout can
be reconfigured to adapt flexibly to change in departmental organization (Xi 2013, 93). However, it is
observed that instead of shifting in
departmental organization, educational
institutions in Singapore generally have
greater need in expanding their campus to
accommodate more students and new courses
in future. As reported by Singapore Statistics,
the population of Singapore by June 2014 is
5.47 million and it is expected to hit 6.5-6.9
million in 2030. As the population will be
increasing 1-1.5 million in future 16 years, it
is logical to say that there will be an increase in number of student for all institutions in Singapore,
including Republic Polytechnic. Moreover, as a polytechnic which emphasizes on preparing students
to work in industry, it is important for the school to introduce courses that is up to the development of
technology. It can be foreseen that the school has the need to introduce new courses and faculty in the
future. As evidence, Republic Polytechnic has offered total 4 new diplomas in 2014 and 2015.
Unfortunately, the design of Agora and the Lawn as an elliptical plate containing the 11 blocks gives
no opportunity for the school to add in new blocks in the same way as other learning pods. New
structures can still be added at the second ring of campus, together with the satellites buildings, but
the total image of agora containing teaching blocks will be altered in this case. This is contradictive
to Makis concept of group form, which will create a flexible urban system more responsive to the
fluctuating condition of contemporary society and remain sustainable as an open-ended process.
(Lin 2010, 117). By observing Master Plan 2014 by URA (Figure 13), the boundary of Republic
Polytechnic and the future use of surrounding land are clearly demarcated. There is no buffer area in
between the school and nearing developments, leaves the campus design no opportunity to use the
surrounding space flexibly. While the existing campus has already taken up the given plot, it has no
chance to be expanded externally.

Fig. 12. Bird eye view of Republic Polytechnic

Fig. 13. URA Master Plan 2014. From URA

campus. Agora, the elliptical plate is housing

Maps, https://www.ura.gov.sg/maps/ (accessed

eleven blocks of learning pod. From

28 October 2015)

Architecture Week,
http://www.architectureweek.com/cgibin/awimage?
dir=2011/1214&article=culture_13.html&image=15249_image_9.jpg (accessed
28 October 2015)

On the other hand, Shinjuku Station Project poses a bigger flexibility and opportunity to
embrace changes (Figure 14). Shopping, amusement, and office blocks in the planning are
expandable. Maki called the overall form master form, which is somewhat loose, and in a state of
equilibrium sustained by given elements. The concept of master form is more elastic and enduring
through changes in the society (Maki 1964, 57). The form of amusement square designed by Maki is
radiated like petals of a flower, with the underlying concept even if certain petals were missing, the
total image would remain. In the multi-level shopping centre, the vertical shaft would be the only
permanent element whereas floors can be extended freely. Shop areas, access lanes and passageways
are freely changeable depend on needs (Maki 1964, 58).

Fig. 14.Masato Otaka and Fumihiko Maki, Shinjuku Station Project, 1960. Master plan. From Lin,
Zhongjie. Kenzo Tange and the Metabolist Movement: Urban Utopias of Modern Japan. New York:
Routledge, 2010. Page 32.

8. Idea vs. Reality - Disparity in between ideology and real life context
On a more practical note, Republic Polytechnic is not sensitive enough in considering the
social norms of people. While the design starts to move away from peoples everyday life in the
progress of top down approach, the architecture loses its performance and deflects from Makis
concept. In Republic Polytechnic, the lawn area on the roof of Agora serves as a linkage in between
11 learning pods and unifying element for the different blocks. It is a huge open to sky lawn with
covered corridors connecting the 11 blocks (Figure 15). However it is observed that Lawn area is
seldom use by the users due its exposure to Singapores hot weather. People in Singapore would
prefer sheltered spaces which provide protection from weather rather than open spaces. Although
covered corridors are provided, it is still underuse because it is only connecting to adjacent buildings.
Users would prefer to move from block to block by using Agora. It is understandable that Lawn area
is supposed to be open due to structural reason and architects concept, however it has brought down
the performance of Lawn area as a linkage in real. It can be argued that the Lawn area is supposed to
be a conceptual element which link individual elements to be a whole and do not mean for linkage in
terms of human circulation. However it is more meaningful for an element to serve its conceptual
function and practical function as well.

Fig. 15. Panorama of Lawn area. Photograph. From: Lee, Jin Ting, 2015.
9. Conclusion
Fumihiko Makis ideology of group form in urban planning is suggesting a concept of open
regionalism, which regional qualities could be created while structuring a city in an orderly manner.
He called the primary regional character the grain of city. In the development process of a country,
both top down and bottom up approaches are essential and necessary. Singapore is always seeking for
new and innovative urban planning methods which are able to balance in between high density
development and peoples living quality, as well as creating spaces with strong sense of placeness,
which different group of people can be engaged. In the case of Republic Polytechnic, Makis concept
in bottom up manner is more appropriate and relevant. As an educational institution which aimed to
inspire and provoke students thought, the school should adapt a bottom up approach to provide
opportunity for students to express themselves instead of executing strong bureaucracy. By studying
the collision between Makis concept and Singapores context, the essay has tried to test on the
possibility of using Makis concept in futures Singapore and the possible changes to make while
fitting into the context. As a conclusion, the collision between Makis bottom up approach and
Singapores top down development mode has caused the incompleteness in performing the central
idea of group form. If Makis idea of Metabolism is to be used in Singapore, it needs further
modification which can be derived from local social norm, societys need and national growth at the
meanwhile compatible to Singapores nation building policy.

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