This module is founded on the premise that architecture is a shared outcome of people groups, discernible in their life activities, thoughts and products. It recognizes that the heterogeneity of unique identities evolved over time in specific locations and places are continuously at odds with the onslaught of forces such globalization, commodification, forced urbanization, and political agendas. It also recognizes that a shortage of land in urban city-centres has resulted in an increasing demand for tall buildings in cities in general, and in tropical Asian cities in particular. Vigorous architectural thinking is therefore required in designing for such conditions to ensure socially sustainable yet also ‘vertical’ communities and neighbourhoods. The module explores embedded, as well as overt, social and cultural expressions in a selected community in order to derive innovative architectural proposals to help sustain and invigorate community life in tall buildings for the future. In doing so, the module is aligned to the goals of UN SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). This will be an architecture that adds value to the idea of the tall residential building and mediates between the notion of progress and of retaining the uniqueness of a place amidst the evolving challenges of the contemporary city.
The aim of the studio is to explore and question the possibilities - and the problems - that come with high-rise dwelling in the city. What does it mean to design a tropical high-rise residential building? What are the flaws of current models and what has been done right in precedents? How can common spaces in housing be redefined as shared spaces of experience, rather than limited to a purely managerial term? Can these spaces be designed more sensitively to take advantage of climatic conditions and foster community life within the high-rise block? Is it possible to design a new housing project within an existing neighbourhood and somehow integrate it within the community? Ultimately, what is the role of architecture in shaping and enhancing cultural and communal life in the city? This module will be delivered via studio-based learning involving lectures, class discussions, tutorials and pin-ups and will be supported by an external fieldwork as well as technical input from teaching staff and practitioners. It will be assessed via panel crits of completed works (summative assessment involving external practitioners and full-time academics) as well as interim advisory workshops (formative assessment involving full-time academics).
This module will be conducted through lectures, class discussions, tutorials and pin-ups and will be supported by an external fieldwork as well as technical input from teaching staff and practitioners.
- Lecturer: Keith Tan Kay Hin .
