Last time I have promised to put my works in this blog, on the last project in my Design 102 module of the whole semester, called as Project ‘…for the…’. It is a project which we design a dwelling for our specific client in Malacca.
My chosen client through a lucky draw, at first is Christie Brinkley, a famous model. However, I am given a second chance of lucky pick since there is not much thing can be done on model. Hence, my second and final pick is Amadeus Mozart, a famous musician.
Part 1: Client and Function.
I need to get to know deeply onto the personalities and characteristics of Mozart. What is special about him? What is interesting about him? Mozart is addicted to music when he was only 3 years old, and he was able to write music when he was aged 5 only. He completed his works very fast, but stress was his main problem. His most famous work is ‘Requiem’, which is incomplete, as he felt into severe illness and died before even he could finish it. I am trying to design a place for him to complete the music and perform it.
Client and Function poster (1 A2 size board)
Part 2: Site Analysis.
We had conducted a site visit at Malacca Old Town area. I have chosen a water edge area, a very spacious empty area in the region of new development. Many modern buildings are built and being under construction there, and my dwelling will be notified as part of it, proudly. The calm atmosphere from the peaceful surrounding, flowing water, and windy breeze will surely be effective in reducing stress by Mozart while writing his marvelous piece of work. My site faces the Maritime Museum, a museum built in a form of Portuguese ship and Taming Sari Tower, an observation tower basically for tourism.
My chosen site sits right beside a newly-built park, in a geometrical pattern. My dwelling will be an extension of the park, benefiting the existing pedestrian walkways, which will direct visitors from the tourist center nearby, to the square, next to the park, and finally, to my dwelling. It will be able to attract visitors in such a strategic location of tourist hotspot.
Site Analysis board (1 A0 size board)
Part 3: Design.
The name of my dwelling will be very grand, ‘Performing Center of Amadeus Mozart’. Malacca has many museums, many cafes, many tourist spots, but don’t have a proper performing center. There are many spaces in my dwelling, making it as multi-purpose, such as lobby area to welcome visitors, gallery to display his masterpieces, outdoor platform for audiences to enjoy the surrounding, private working space for Mozart to write his music, and staff area for performers to prepare for performances. The main space will be the performing hall, with a stage and concrete terraces as seating area.
Two concepts are chosen based on Mozart’s personalities.
1. Emphasis on external appearance
My dwelling will have a grand and modern outlook appearance, and is easily visible from afar, especially from the Taming Sari Tower and Maritime Museum. It is located on the spacious empty land in the middle of the reclaimed land (Malacca River Square) on Malacca River. The large scale of the project making it more distinctive. The interior is very plain, with no decorations or ornamentations. The seating area of performing hall is just of concrete terraces, and all the floor, wall, and roof have no finishes. Even the stage is simple, with a background of glass screen.
Mozart emphasized on his outer appearance. He loved to wear elegant clothing. However, he was very poor and has financial difficulties. Hence, this concept suits him the most, and shows that this place is dedicated for him, while not letting the others know (also not letting the others know that he was actually poor).
2. No distinction between exterior and interior.
As I have mentioned just now, there is so much difference between exterior and interior look of the building. Now, there is another concept of linking them back, harmoniously, by using one material: glass. Mozart should not be enclosed by solid walls when he was writing his music, as this will lead to stress easily. Hence, his private working space is built mainly of glass, four walls of glass to separate him from the outside weather, while combining the area with the surrounding. He will be enjoying the time of writing his music with the surrounding at a high level. Imagine, how comfortable he will be…
Usual backdrop of current performing center is a plain black wallpaper. For my performing center, it will be different. The backdrop will be the lively background showing the Maritime Museum and Taming Sari Tower with the surrounding. By this way, audiences will feel different kind of atmosphere at different time of performances. It will not attracts the eyes of the audiences during performances but will affect the mood of the audiences. They have entered a boring, dull and plain hall, hence, their focus will be just on the music, while the backdrop plays a role to regain their feeling of being carried away by the music performed by Mozart. The glass backdrop will also provides natural lighting during daytime of performances. The side facade of the gallery is also built of glass, but of two different glass. There are no nice views visible from that side, hence translucent glass will be used, so that the visitors will only enjoy the music sheets displayed. The upper facade will be of transparent movable glass, which allows sunlight to enter for natural lighting, and for air ventilation, supporting the idea of a green building, in a clean, unpolluted and historical city of Malacca. The facade which faces the park will be of solid wall and glass wall. Solid wall separates the performing hall from the outside, so that the activities occuring in the park and square will not disturb the performances. However, the visible lobby from outside will be able to attract visitors to enter.
The entrance to the private working space is small, and short, specially dedicated to Amadeus Mozart. He was s short and small person. However, as soon as he enters the area, the large volume of the space will provides greater freedom and movement for him, thus, giving him more space and less pressure to complete his music. He can went out to the nearby park to enjoy the scenery too.
I have explained almost all of the things related to my design.
Part 4: Interior space.
I have chosen a portion of the performing hall, to be investigated on its finishes, lighting, and construction details. The foundation will be simple, since there is already an existing concrete surface on the ground and the site sits on a reclaimed land (reinforced and stabilized). The portion is on the side showing part of the seating area, stage, and entrance to the outdoor platform, accompanied by the glass backdrop. Among the most interesting feature of my design is the glass backdrop. There is no finishes on it, as i have explained earlier. The lighting during the day is provided with aid of the glass screen. The materials used to built is mainly of concrete and glass.
My overall presentation board (5 A1 sized board combined together):
My final model (sectional) on the site model (scale 1:100):
My interior model (scale 1:20):
This is overall of the project, which ended by a verbal presentation during review by external panels, and the whole semester successfully ended with submission of box containing all the works and portfolio…
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