BSC (Hons) (Arch) STUDIO ARC60608 60306 Project 1 August 2020 - V3 Revised PDF

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V
(ARC60608/60306)
PROJECT 1
August 2020
Legibility analysis from Responsive Environments, Ian Bentley et.al. 2013
0
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306)

Prerequisite: Architectural Design IV/Architectural Design Studio IV
Project: 1 Preliminary studies

15% of the final marks
Submission date:
Final Submission & Presentation: Week 4
Introduction
The Preliminary Studies is a preparatory assignment that focuses on investigating basic notions of
the city, and learning from examples of Community Centre around the world. This assignment aims
to firstly introduce students to the basics in urban design and its relation to architecture, and
secondly, studying and determining the programmatic function, societal role and spatial layout of
an Community Centre and architectural responses for urban blocks.
The Preliminary Studies comprises of three components: Site Documentation, Site Analysis, and
Precedent Studies of Urban Blocks and Community Centre. The Site Documentation and Site
Analysis will equip students with a firm understanding of the site they will be working with this
semester, while the Precedent Studies will provide an insight into architectural responses for
designing an urban block Community Centre.
The outcome of the Preliminary Studies will include the production of site documentation materials
(drawings and models in both digital and physical copy for further use), a comprehensive analysis
of the site, and a detailed case study of a relevant urban block and Community Centre.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 1

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Objectives of Project
The objectives of this assignment are as follows:
1. To have an overview of the formation of cities and introduce basic concepts of urban design in
relation to architectural design
2. To introduce and implement basic methodologies of urban studies
3. To investigate the role of multi user typologies in traditional and contemporary urban societies
4. To examine various examples and architectural responses for urban blocks
Learning Outcomes of this Project
Analyze and interpret urban situations to identify conditions that determine the place making characteristics
1
of the street, with theoretical inquiry.
Investigate and examine the effective conditions to propose architectural strategies that connects to the
2
urban communities and complies with the Design Codes and Regulations.
Brief
The studio runs through two projects: project 1: urban study on place making aspects; project 2
comprises of architectural strategy and design development. The site context is the area covering
Jalan Tukang and Jalan Sulaiman, Old Town Kajang. There is a real life scenario to reactivate the
urban spaces in order to connect to the urban community. The studio project is collaborative with
a research project at Taylor’s University and the scenario of the future vision for the area to be a)
a place for the community and b) with an active frontage of the streets.
The project is about improving the spatial and social qualities of an urban node within the Old
Town of Kajang. There are two sites at the convergences of historic streets of urban blocks. The
blocks are fragmented and built in different period of times due to evolution, hegemony of private
sectors and fire accidents. Some parts of the blocks are also attempted for conservation by the
location authorities.
Proposals are to be made for the communities rather than individual clients. The urban issue being
the city that is ‘displaced’ in its spatial character and social quality. For example, locals have been
displaced by immigrants, street as public spaces has been displaced by cars, traditional business
has been displaced by contemporary service based businesses, walkable and cycle routes have been
fragmented by new developments. The students are challenged to interpret various possibilities for
a Community Centre in order offer urban intervention that identifies the distinctiveness of place,

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without disrupting the locale character. The Community Centre is a place for the local community
with a public space adjacent to the building. Your objectives should be:
1. Attempt to respond the issue of displaced city

2. Remnant spaces to be effective public spaces.
3. Programmatic aspects to be connecting to the urban communities.
4. Façade and scale to be part of the urban block.
Can the site have an architectural catalyst to provide cohesiveness to the urban fabric? Could the
transit save the town and if so can a conservative approach to urban architecture provide the right
kind of intervention? The contemporary architecture again to lack the cohesiveness in the social
and physical dimension. Can the street be a truly traditional street with appropriate activity,
walkability and scale? In all, the solution is in design employing critical approach to the notion of
‘content’ as a purposeful narrative to powerful questions relevant to the context (Low, 2010). To
begin with, the question is:
The community needs a place to transform because of the tides of contemporary urbanization.
What are the possibilities to establish an architecture for place-making that connect to and
empower the urban community, at the street scale?
The above question should be answered by design by exploring various possibilities of relevant
sub-questions that suits your interest and exploration from Project 1. For the rest of the semester,
you will concentrate on designing a Community Centre within an urban block corner site in Old
Town Kajang. The design of the building consist of appropriate architectural responses that address
the aspects of the urban street context and user behavioural patterns as discerned and analysed in
the Preliminary Studies. The final project has two distinctive stages: a) Architectural Strategy and b)
Design Development and detailing. It should also be noted that the new/proposed facade should
be carefully designed to retain the architectural character of the historic town.
Urban situations: The existing communities of Kajang old town are of mostly the elderly, women,
students, children and migrants for low consumption economic activities. It is suggested to take
into consideration the probable social and cultural implications in order to conserve the existing
communities without causing issues of gentrification.
There are three situations (see Appendix I for more info) to consider the Community Centre for the
vocational skill group. The first one for the urban community of school going/leaving teenagers.
This will tackle the issue displacement occurring at the school truancy and on-street behavior. And
the second is for the urban community of local skill groups. This will tackle the issue of displacement
of local cultural heritage by contemporary developments. The third option is to combine user-group
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of young and skill-set. Please refer to the Appendix I to choose the situation you are interested to
explore and your objective is to design a community centre for that chosen situation through the
semester.
Task
Urban study
The study has to be done in two levels of complexity, namely, the macro and, with more focus to,
micro contexts. Whilst the macro study is about the role and how the location fits into the city. In
micro study the students are to make a comprehensive study on urban form, activity and
movement-pattern. ‘Legibility Analysis’ (Bentley, et.al. 2013) which is a method through the
exploration of Kevin Lynch’s Elements of legibility (Lynch, 1979) is employed here as a study method.
The students are to establish possible opportunities (such as routes and attractions) to sustain and
to offer legibility by the proposed Community centre. The students will also begin to demonstrate
an understanding of urban issue given in the scenario above. The course work will integrate to
Theories of Urbanism in which the Studio site (the street) will be studied for the spaces between
the buildings which will focus on public realm furthering the case studies from the West. Such an
understanding should reflect here in the Project 1.
Site information:
The site context is in a few in-fill corner-lots with a significant characteristic of an adjacent public
spaces in Jalan Tukang and Jalan Sulaiman. The extent of studies for macro and micro studies are
500m radius and 200m radii from the street, respectively. For the analytical stage you are to analyze
two block-corner sites. For the subsequent stages in the studio, you must choose either of the
block-corner sites.
You are given a data-bank of macro data inventory (of about 500m radius) and micro data inventory
(of about 200m radius). Please refer to Taylor’s Times. An intensive use of diagramming and
mapping to represent findings, is imperative. The macro understanding should be combined and
synthesized onto Micro studies, especially in terms of walkability.
Micro Studies (of about 200m radius):

The above themes of study apply and the task here is to formulate evidences on the sense of place
following the workshop on keywords or narratives, on micro scales. It is imperative that a) an
intensive use of diagramming and mapping to represent ideas and findings and b) the relevance
of macro studies to the site and micro studies is consistent.

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For micro studies, in addition to using perceptional theories of Kevin Lynch on Legibility analysis
and Way-finding (5 Lynchian elements of legibility), key concepts and theories (see Appendix II in
page 15 for Weekly Guided Learning Activities for the Reading List) to be discussed in depth
with strong inquiry through at least one of the following urban theories:
1. MORPHOLOGICAL: Built-form typologies and Morphology, Figure/Ground Mapping (Roger

Trancik)
2. SOCIAL: Patterns of Movement, Human Behaviour, Street Culture (Gehl’s Contact point)
3. FUNCTIONAL: Land use diagram and building types (Functionalism by J.Lang)
4. TEMPORAL: Time-lapse mapping, What time is this space by Lynch
5. VISUAL: Serial vision (Gordon Cullen’s)
A special focus to be given to URBAN WALLS. Although urban walls fall under the category of urban
form above, the space, perception and use on such a form will be the point of interest here. A
façade study on the walls to be done to exemplify the understanding on:
 Positive outdoor space
 The edges
 Building size and scale
 Usages and
 Public realm
The main focus is the scale in the urban studies. It is about micro and human scale. One care refer
to the daily plans posted in Times, for a variety of explorations in class. The conclusion from the
urban analysis should be formulated by identifying urban issues and inspirations. An effort of
mapping to rationalize the Displaced city is imperative. You must also conclude the micro study
with a representation of design position or scenario or idea. The objective here is find relevant
question that you want to explore in the next stage of the studio, the Architectural Design Strategy
Precedent Studies
Each of you are required to study and analyse two precedent studies; one from international context
and the other from tropical cities; to cover the aspects of a) Community Centre, b) tropical
architecture and c) block context. In analysing the precedents, students should develop an
understanding and awareness of:-
(1) What is an Urban Block?

This investigation is to help you understand what an urban block is, and what are the architectural
strategies (massing, spatial planning, façade design, etc.) adopted that are necessary in response to

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its physical context and functional programme. Investigate what were the regulatory laws that the
architects were required to comply to as well.
(2) What is a Community Centre?

In this module, we shall define the Community Centre as a “place which provides access to activities
for an urban community”. This part of the Precedent Study entails an investigation into a relevant
example of a Community Centre and inquiry into establishing its role within its specific context and
community. Analysis on form, function and circulation of the cases, is imperative here.
(3) What are the design elements of tropical architecture?

In one of your precedent studies, you are to highlight the design elements that are significant to
tropical architecture. Such elements could be courtyards, interstitial spaces, hot air escape routes
and so on.
Key themes and criteria that require consideration in this study include the following: Programmatic
Response, Formal Response, Street response, Public/Private Realms, Society & Culture .
Final Submission
The submission and presentation is on Monday Week 4. Each of you are to submit the following:
Urban Studies
 8 to 10 x A3 panels in soft copy (PDF) format – macro and micro studies
 1 to 2 x A3 panels on representation of a design idea or position or even a scenario
 3D Modelling (optional) and drawings in 1:200
Precedent Studies
 2 to 4 x A3 panels in both hard and soft copy (PDF) format portrait layout
**You are required to reference at least 2 written/book sources and include a bibliography for both the Site Analysis and
Precedent Studies panels from the Weekly Readings, Main References and Additional References (as provided by the
Module Coordinator and listed in the Module Outline).
References:
Main References:
1. Bentley, I., et.al., 2013, Responsive Environments: Manual For Designers, Routledge, London
2. Carmona, M & Tiesdell, D (Eds) (2007), Urban Design Reader, Architectural Press, USA
3. Lynch, K. 1979. The Image Of The City. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press.
4. Low, K. M., 2010, Smallprojects, Adaptus

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5. Llewelyn – Davies, 2001, Urban Design Compendium 1, Chapter 4 ‘Facades and Details’, , English
Partnerships, the Housing Corporation, London
For Weekly Readings, please refer to the handouts to be provided by the Module Coordinator and the Appendix II in page
15.
You can obtain main references from:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1u7UuSL6tIhwI7nfTTejfgqeXmwnmn1WO
Assessment criteria
1. Urban studies: 75%
2. Precedent studies 25%
Marking Criteria Marks % Acquire

d TGC
URBAN STUDIES 75 1.2, 2.0,
Have the students developed an understanding of basic urban concepts and awareness of 7.0
issues related to the urban context? How is the understanding translated into the
individual design project?
These will be assessed via the following:

SITE ANALYSIS: MICRO 75
IDENTIFICATION 15
Identify key elements related to the sense of place in the urban context
THEORETICAL ARTICULATION 30
Succinct urban theoretical inquiry
Representation techniques are appropriate
CRITICAL ANALYSIS 20
Do the students organize and elucidate their findings critically and clearly using the
appropriate illustrations (i.e. place-making, mapping, diagrams)?
The SWOT presentation is comprehensive.
IMPLEMENTATION OF PRELIMINARY STUDIES 10
Drawing conclusions on the way forward to resolve the urban issue
BONUS MATERIALS 10
Bonus points for creative mappings of textures, sounds, colours, etc.
PRECEDENT STUDIES 25 1.2, 2.0,
7.0
IDENTIFICATION 10
Are the students able to identify and list 1) key elements and architectural strategies in
their case study of an urban block, 2) determine the role and key design criteria for a
Community Centre?
ARTICULATION 5
Do the students use the originality in the presentation of their observations and findings?
CRITICAL ANALYSIS 10
Do the students organize and elucidate their findings critically and clearly using the
appropriate illustrations (i.e. mapping, diagrams)?
TOTAL 100%

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SCHEDULE
(Subject to change at short notice)
Lecture/Presentation Discussion/ Tutorial Self-directed Study

Date Hours Hours Hours
2 8 10
24 Aug Module Introduction Online tutorial session on Guided learning (G=5)
Mon Lecture 01: Urban Theories and Analysis: Lynchian Exercise & site Reading Material #1
Spatial and Perceptional Study Tools Project 1 discussion
Introduction
(online lecture + online tutorial) Independent learning
27 Aug Tutorial Tutorial session on (I=5)
Thu Desk Study: Urban Site Analysis,
Theories for Analysis; Documentation &
preparation for the Site Precedent Studies
Visit on the 29th August
(Physical and Virtual)
2 8 10
31 Aug Public Holiday: Merdeka Day Online tutorial session Guided learning (G=5)
Mon Online session (eg. Times/Teams) Micro and Precedent Reading Material #2
Lecture 02: Place Making: Asian Streets and studies
Context by Ar. Alice Lim Independent learning
(online lecture + Workshop #1) (I=5)
3 Sept Workshop Online tutorial session Site Analysis,
Thu Workshop #1 Documentation &
SENSE OF PLACE Precedent Studies
2 8 10
7 Sept Lecture 03: Diagramming the City by Dr suchi Online tutorial session Guided learning (G=5)
Mon (online lecture + online tutorial) Micro and Precedent Reading Material #3
studies Worksheet #1
10 Tutorial Tutorial session on LAYERS FOR SENSE OF
Sept Mock finals PLACE
Thu micro/macro/preced
ents Independent learning
(I=5)
Site Analysis,
Documentation &
Precedent Studies
2 8 10
14 Submission of Project 1 15% Submission Independent learning
Sept Online session (eg. Microsoft Teams/Zoom) (I=10)
Mon Online submission Site Analysis,

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(macro/micro/precedent) Documentation &
(online submission) Precedent Studies
17 Final Project Brief by Dr suchi Tutorial session on
Sept Lecture 04: Design Strategies by Reflection and Feedback
Thu Indrani Vanniasingham &
Ar. Fadzwin Hashim
(online lecture)
Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by:
…………………………… ……………………………. …………………………….

Date: 20/08/2020 Date: 21/08/2020 Date: 21/08/2020
Dr Sucharita Srirangam Mr. Prince Favis Isip Mr Mohd. Adib Ramli
Module Coordinator, Design Studio V Stream Coordinator Program Director
Email: Sucharita.srirangam@taylors.edu.my (Design & Design Studies) BSc. (Hons) in Architecture
Office No.: 0356295498
Office Location: C5
Remarks:
1. The Project Brief is to be distributed to the students in the first week of the semester.
2. Any changes to the Project Brief shall be communicated (in writing) to the Programme Director and the approved
revised version must be communicated to the students
Appendix I
Architectural Design V
Situation A: Community Centre for the local skill groups
Introduction: The Project in the Architectural Design V (ADV) aims to design a community centre
for the old town of Kajang. The Project can be designed, to provide following requirements, a) An
architectural outcome for a building typology, the Community Centre (for which it is necessary to
think of a corner lot of an urban block), and b) the external public space where the community
centre shares one of its sides. It is possible to make a single proposal; where the place characteristics
are appreciated and the proposal must have a clear distinction with respect to the context.

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Urban issue: Kajang is facing the issue of urban displacement. The scenario considered is to respond
to the issue of displacement of local cultural heritage by contemporary developments. Local skill
groups mainly offer to the maker crafts, such as, tailoring, carpentry, boutique etc. Specificity of site
has to be explored and designed for connecting to the existing routes of community movement
pattern and various transient natures of the town such as transition space to a target point.
Kajang is multi-faceted - Timeless, Recordings, Fragments, Remnants, Cyclical, Concurrent, etc. All
this layers is what forms Kajang as it is today. But what makes Kajang unique from the others, is
the essence of coexistence. The ability to co-exist with one another, be it the old and the new, the
young and the old and also the locals and the visitors is something we should look up upon.
Urban Communities: The existing communities of Kajang old town are of mostly the elderly, women,
Site information: The site context is in a few in-fill corner-lots with a significant characteristic of an
adjacent public spaces in Jalan Tukang and Jalan Sulaiman. The extent of studies for macro and
micro studies are 500m radius and 200m radii from the street, respectively. For the analytical stage
you could choose to analyze both or either of the sites. For the subsequent stages in the studio,
you must choose either of the sites.
The spaces to be configured within the community centre are shown below:
Total built up area : 1200 m2 to 1300 m2

Community activities
(meeting spaces, studios, workshops etc..) : 50%
Spaces for Public Realm : 20%
Circulation & Services : 30%
(Refer to the lecture notes for more details of the schedule of areas in Pages 14 & 15)
Situation B: Community Centre for the urban youth

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to the urban community of school going/leaving teenagers. This will tackle the issue displacement
occurring at the school truancy and on-street behavior. The programmatic preference is vocational
studies interest group. Specificity of site has to be explored and designed for connecting to the
existing routes of schools and colleges and various on-street behavioral issues and settings in the
town by the urban youth.

(Refer to the lecture notes for more details of the schedule of areas in Pages 14 & 15))
Situation C: Community Centre for the urban youth and the skill-set

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to the gap between the young and old. This will tackle the issue displacement occurring at the local
skill group that could be a tool to resolve the issue of school truancy and on-street behavior. In
other words to explore the possibilities on how the community could fix its weakness (truancy) by
its strength (local skills). Specificity of site has to be explored and designed for connecting to the
existing routes of community movement pattern and schools and various transient natures of the
town such as transition space to a target point.
(Refer to the lecture notes for more details of the schedule of areas in Pages 14 & 15)

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Community Centre: Schedule of Areas
Below are the area requirements:

Total built up area : a minimum of 1200 m2 to a maximum of 1300 m2
Number of storeys : 3 to 5
Community activities (reading, discussion, etc.) : 50%
Refer below for key ideas and recommendations (not just restricted to) on the schedule of areas
NOTE 1: Have a design intension before you read this and THEN interpret the following. For example, if your issue
about lack of spaces for community interaction, then your Gallery spaces could be interactive or visually engaging
spaces rather than just a box of 50sqm. So Gallery spaces can be ‘Interactive Gallery’ or ‘Engaging Galley’.
NOTE 2: Color code categories mentioned below are just generic/basic. You can have your own colour code based
on your specific design intensions.
Spaces for public realm: 20% = 240m2

Color code: 1
Exhibition or gallery space: 50m2

Event space/Social gathering Public space/lobby: 90m2
Retail or cafeteria: 100m2
Community Areas: 50% = 600m2

Color code: 2
Community activities: 200m2 (activity room/studio spaces/class rooms/individual learning spaces)

Lecture/meeting hall: 100m2 (collective learning) this is not an auditorium
Children play learning activities: 100m2 (play area, fun-learning areas, paint rooms, etc.)
Major interactive learning or library: 100m2
Small library: 100m2
Circulation and lobbies: 30% = 360m2

Color code 3
Services areas:
Fire escape stairs, public realm stairs, lifts
Toilets 50m2
M+E room 10m2

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Public space adjacent to your site:
Porch / drop off for the OKU (car access preferably from the back lane): 30m2
Outdoor terraces (50%): (public spaces as open air theatre, recreation areas, garden, etc.)
Landscape (soft & hard)
Flexible open space 50%
Appendix II
Project 1: Weekly Guided Learning Activities

You can obtain the pdf excerpts from:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=10aBnivwuPJkWIHDAPvAMJYVPmPBj75ll
WEEKS
WEEK 1: Reading Material #1:

Legibility Analysis, excerpt from the book of Responsive Environments by Ian Bentley
Use and apply in Urban Studies: perceptional study
WEEK 2: Reading Material #2
Choose one dimension out of the six dimensions illustrated by Matthew Carmona
Use and apply in Urban Studies: sense of place
WEEK 3: Reading Material #3
Chapter 5 of Urban Design Compendium by Llewelyn – Davies
Urban Architecture Reader #1 Use and apply in Urban Studies: urban walls and facades study
WEEK 3: WORKSHEET #1 ON LAYERING FOR SENSE OF PLACE
Use and apply in Urban Studies: sense of place

August2020

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE

Legibility analysis from Responsive Environments, Ian Bentley et.al. 2013

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306)

Project: 1 Preliminary studies

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 1

The objectives of this assignment are as follows:

Learning Outcomes of this Project

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 2

1. Attempt to respond the issue of displaced city

Micro Studies (of about 200m radius):

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 4

1. MORPHOLOGICAL: Built-form typologies and Morphology, Figure/Ground Mapping (Roger

(1) What is an Urban Block?

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 5

(2) What is a Community Centre?

(3) What are the design elements of tropical architecture?

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 6

You can obtain main references from:

Marking Criteria Marks % Acquire

These will be assessed via the following:

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 7

Lecture/Presentation Discussion/ Tutorial Self-directed Study

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 8

Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by:

…………………………… ……………………………. …………………………….

Situation A: Community Centre for the local skill groups

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 9

Total built up area : 1200 m2 to 1300 m2

Situation B: Community Centre for the urban youth

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 10

Total built up area : 1200 m2 to 1300 m2

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 11

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 12

Below are the area requirements:

Spaces for public realm: 20% = 240m2

Exhibition or gallery space: 50m2

Community Areas: 50% = 600m2

Community activities: 200m2 (activity room/studio spaces/class rooms/individual learning spaces)

Circulation and lobbies: 30% = 360m2

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 13

Project 1: Weekly Guided Learning Activities

WEEK 1: Reading Material #1:

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V (ARC60608/60306): 14

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