Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234]

PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY

Comtemporary with Contextualism

NAME: Ho Leon

STUDENT ID: 0310402

LECTURER: Ms. Shahrianne

SUBMISSION DATE: 11/ 11/ 2014

Comtemporary with Contextualism

Table Content

Abstract

1.0. Introduction

2.0. What is Contextualism or contextual architecture?

2.1. Why is context important?

3.0. The approach of comtemporary architecture, Belum Rainforest Resort to the nature and culture

of Pulau Banding.

3.1. Building elements

3.2. Building materials

3.2.1. Bamboo

3.2.2. Timber

3.2.3. Rammed Earth

4.0. Relationship between Contextualism and sustainability

4.1. The other building elements and building materials of Belum Rainforest Resort Phase

1 and Phase 2 that achieve sustainability.

4.1.1. Building elements

4.1.1.1. Corridors

4.1.1.2. Paneled walls

4.1.1.3. Pitched roofs

5.0. Contextual theories applied in Belum Rainforest Resort with the nature of Pulau Banding

5.1. Place Theory

5.1.1. Implementation of Place Theory in Belum Rainforest Resort

5.2. Poetry and Pictureque

5.2.1. Implementation of Poetry and Pictureque in Belum Rainforest Resort

6.0. Challenges faced by the other architecture in Pulau Banding

6.1. Luxury Villa Aerial

6.2. Tanjung Satu Orang Asli Village

7.0. Conclusion

8.0. Reference

1.0. Introduction

Why there is Belum Rainforest Resort because it is because of the passion, love and

appreciation towards the nature by the director of EMKAY, Tan Sri Datuk (Dr) Haji

Mustapha Kamal bin Haji Abu Bakar.

This is my research questions:

1. What is contextual architecture?

2. How is the comtemporary architecture (Belum Rainforest Resort) actually

approach the nature (Belum Rainforest)?

3. What are the contextual theories applied on Belum Rainforest Resort with the

natural surrounding?

4. What are the challenges faced by the Belum Rainforest Resort in Pulau Banding?

5. How did the materials, facades and the planning of Belum Rainforest achieve a

unity and harmonious relationship with the nature fo Pulau Banding?

Abstract

What is contextual architecture? According to Curl (2000), contextual architecture is also

called Contextualism. The term suggests an architecture that responds to its surrounding

by respecting to its surrounding by respecting what is already there, unlike Contructivism

or Decontructivism which deliberately work against established geometries and fabric. The

purpose if conducting this research paper is to study the Comtemporary (modern

architecture) with Contextualism (contextual architecture)e and identify the approach of

Belum Rainforest Resort (comtemporary architecture) to the nature of Pulau Banding .

After the approach is discovered, the relationship between the Belum Rainforest Resort to

Pulau Banding will be further research, and will lead to in depth studies.

There is a statement stated that Contextualism actually destroyed the identity of the

building (Cizgen, 2012). But according to the lecture given by Ar. Khoo, who is

responsible to design the Belum Resort Rainforest Phase 2, he is not really mad about

complying with nature, but very appreciate it. Contextualism of Belum Rainforest seems

very naturally applied and very feeling-touched, but it requires certain theories to design

too. According to Cizgen (2000), he discovered the two concepts regarding Place Theory

in regards of Capon (1999):

1. Movement concept: Activities in the steps, alleyways and streets leading to one

another.

2. Enclosure concept: Definition of space.

The purpose of this paper also gave the opportunity to find out more about the challenges

faced by the Belum Rainforest Resort when the materials, facades and the building

planning were involved in the design and building of the resort. Furthermore, to learn the

mutual understanding between them to achieve a unity and harmonious relationship.

Contextualism is not about preserving the historical value of the land, but also a practice

that can actually enhance and extend the value. According to the architect that designed the

Belum Rainforest Phase 2, he actually foreseen the look of his building in the future.

Nature is the host, the master, we are building on it, mutual respect is needed. Is not up to

us to decide how our building should be, is a language spoke between nature and the

building that make the building construct itself a shape. Louis Kahn once said: “What does

the building want to be?

2.0. What is Contextualism or context architecture?

In this modern days, contextual architecture is widely practiced in the urban city areas.

“Context” is an English word borrowed from the Latin word “contexere” which means to

merge together (El-Shorbagy, 2013). Contextualism also defined as the aesthetic position

that a building or the like should be designed for harmony or a meaningful relationship

with other such elements already existing in its vicinity (“Contextualism”, 2014).

According to Curl (2000), it is also a term that suggests an architecture that responds to its

surrounding by respecting what is already there, unlike Constructivism or Decontructivism

which deliberately work against established geometries and fabric.

According to the etymological manner statement made by Johnson (as cited in Cizgen,

2012) about Contextualism that expresses the relationship and the architecture context, he

said that:

“Derived from the Latin word “contexere”, which means weaving together, the word

“context” can be described as “the setting of an event, composition, or text, in the sense of

describing the spatio-temporal parts immediately preceding or following that determine its

meaning." The word “contexture” which is no longer in use, can be considered to be more

specific for the field of architecture as it has the following meaning: "the weaving together

of words and sentences, or the structure of a composition." Although the adjective

“contextual” is being used instead of the adjective “contextural”, bearing in mind the

architecture textural, this words evokes the essentials of architecture such as the mix of the

elements, the tactility of surface, the perceptibility of material property, the cue to scale as

well as sign of handiwork. When modern architectural usage is considered the word context

may have more than one meaning. It may refer to the physical built fabric in which a project

is situated, it may refer to the ground, or it may refer to the environment in which the

architects work taking into consideration the culture, history and other aspects.”

2.1. Why is context important?

Context is a defined as the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event,

situation etc. (“Context”, 2014). Every site context has a story that communicates visually.

The story of the context will share why and what is the individual happenings or business

behind it (Bradley, 2014). According to Cizgen (2012), we are able to identify a solution

to every problem we had faced with the completeness or unity of context. Nesbitt (as cited

in Cizgen, 2012) stated that the foremost belief behind Contextualism is every knowledge

is context related and it is important to understand every knowledge which has the

relationship with context itself.

Besides, under the help of contextual thinking, with the meaning of a method of diagnosis

in which the practitioner evaluates a patient's symptoms as an individual segment in a

complex continuum rather than an effect of a specific cause or influence (“Contextua l

thinking”, 2014) will enable us to think critically without making assumptions or being

stereotype on certain situations, we are able to come out with a long term solution instead

of temporary.

According to Cizgen (2012), just like in the modern school days, when we answer the

subjective questions of the essay question, it is impossible to understand the whole essay

with just reading one opening paragraph. Essays were made up of paragraphs, paragraphs

were made up of sentences, sentences were made up of words, and words were made up of

letter. The accumulation of all these elements, details and relationships actually made up

the totality, just like context is made up of one whole unity and it can’t be separated or

divided.

3.0. The approach of comtemporary architecture, Belum

Rainforest Resort to the nature and culture of Pulau Banding

Figure 2: A screenshot the site of Belum Rainforest Resort. Source: http://www.panomatics.com/nextgen/my/belumrainforestresort/

Phase 1

Phase 2

Reception

Sidai Restaurant

According to Capon (as cited in Cizgen, 2012):

“Buildings… like so many people all talking at once,” said Le Corbusier. Louis Kahn also

noted that: “Society of spaces talking to each other in a plan.”

Belum Rainforest Resort Phase 1 and 2 (contemporary architecture) approach Pulau

Banding (nature) by building elements and building materials to achieve a unity and

harmonious relationship.

“Always design a thing by considering it in its larger context: a chair in a room, a room

in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan,” quoted by Johnson

(as cited in Cizgen, 2012). The Belum Rainforest Resort building plan is designed like the

topography of the Pulau Banding’s nature.

3.1. Building elements

Clustered design is applied in the building planning of Belum Rainforest Resort Phase 2.

One of the definition for the word “cluster” is a group of buildings and especially houses

built close together on a sizable tract in order to preserve open spaces larger than the

individual yard for common recreation (“Cluster”, 2014). Clustered Phase 2 is actually a

suitable design that best describe the randomness and disordered pattern of the nature. Just

like the pattern of the growing trees, they grew naturally with no order.

Figure 3: Staircase of Phase 2.

The staircase of the Phase 2 is

designed to let the visitors to

experience the height of the

landscape.

Figure 4: Open roof of Phase 2.

The open roof that maximize the

usage of space on the top which

will let the visitors to get near to

the sky and it resembles the top

hill of the landscape.

The ramp that will let visitors to

feel the slope as in to feel the

hardship and difficulties of the

nature of Pulau Banding.

Figure 5: Ramp connected to the Phase 2.

Capon also defined the idea of buildings “talking to each other” as a relationship or

buildings communicating between each other with the site around them and stated that it

is a concept of context. This statement applies on urban context, but it also spoke the same

on the communication of Belum Rainforest Resort Phase 1 and 2 between the nature of

Pulau Banding which result the nature became the design concept of the building.

Figure 6: Cylindrical pilotis in the Phase 2.

The cylindrically pilotis which

resembled more like a tree trunk

which defined the complexity of the

nature. According to Khoo Boo

Siew, the project architect Juteras

Sdn. Bhd., the loosely arrangement

of the pilotis is to optimize the view

to make it more visual transparent.

Cylindrical pilotis

When the visitors actually stepped

on the fibre steps on the stairs, there

will be a sound reaction respond

back to the visitors. To let the

visitors to fee they are surrounded

by the buzz of nature. Besides, the

sound reaction on the fibre steps will

actually make the people feel safe

when they are in the darkness.

Figure 7: Fibre steps that wood patterned.

The result of the cripples plant

covered one of the building of Phase

1 will create a forest like

resemblance. It will create a man-

made natural context.

Figure 8: Cripples plant crawled over the surface of the building.

3.2. Building materials

Using the materials which are obtainable from the site is important because it will made

the building unique in the sense of it belonged to the particular site only but not elsewhere.

In both phases of Belum Rainforest Resort, there are some materials that can be found from

the site.

3.2.1. Bamboo

The application of yellow bamboo as building material borrowed the culture and building

traditions from the orang asli in Pulau Banding in Figure 9. Besides it also applied on the

deconstruction wall design in the reception area in Figure 10.

Figure 9: Bamboo design on the safari roof at the reception area. Figure 10: Yellow bamboo as wall design in the

reception area.

Figure 11: Phase 1. Figure 12: Phase 2, Traditional Chalet. Source:

http://www.belumresort.com/media_gallery.html

Figure 13: Rammed Earth Wall in Phase 2, Deluxe

Suite. Figure 14: Rammed Earth Wall in Phase 2, Traditional

Chalet.

3.2.2. Timber

Timber is used as a building materials for the construction of wall panels in Phase 1 and

Phase 2, Traditional Chalet, shown in Figure 11 and Figure 12.

3.2.3. Rammed Earth

Rammed Earth can be obtain from the site (Pulau Banding) which is contextual related and

it is applied as the building material of the wall of Phase 2, Deluxe Suite and the Traditiona l

Chalet.

4.0. Relationship between Contextualism and sustainability

El-Shorbagy (2013) stated that Contextualism can be valued into three different unique

aspects which is vernacular architecture (Vernacularism), regional architecture

(Regionalism) and Critical Regionalism. In Pulau Banding, vernacular architecture is

practiced in the building of two phases of the Belum Rainforest Resort.

Vernacular is an English word borrowed from the Latin word “vernaculus” which means

domestic, native and indigenous. Besides, the word “verna” also defined as native slave or

home-born slave. The building materials source used to build the architecture or the

buildings in the village by the villagers (local inhabitants) can be found from the site itself.

Even the building construction styles also can be found from the local area. The shapes and

forms of the architecture will be affected by the surroundings climate, culture of the locals

and the restriction of building materials from the site.

The definition of the word “sustainability” means the ability to be sustained, supported.

Besides, it is an Environmental Science which the quality of not being harmful to the

environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological

balance (“Sustainability”, 2014).

Whereas in Pulau Banding, the orang asli there actually practiced their tradition and culture

vernacular architecture. Just like what Johnson (as cited in Cizgen, 2012) had stated,

architects should take consideration on the aspects like: culture and history etc. The

architects here also refer to the orang asli builders that able to comply with the context

(restricted building materials, climate and their culture) to build a sustainable building

design which no harm to the surrounding.

4.1. The other building elements and building materials of Belum

Rainforest Resort Phase 1 and Phase 2 that achieve sustainability

4.1.1. Building Elements

Figure 16: Modern chalet in Phase 2.

Corridor Paneled walls

Pitch roof

Figure 15: Traditional orang asli house at Tanjung Satu.

Corridor

Paneled walls

Pitch roof

There are some building elements

resemblance that can be found from

the traditional orang asli house and

the modern chalet building design

which are the corridors, paneled

walls, and pitch roof.

Figure 17: Traditional orang asli house at lower Belum.

Photo by Deidre Zhang.

4.1.1.1. Corridors

People no need to squeeze around to get to the next space which increase the comfort and

free circulation decrease the heat accumulation in the sapce. Besides, corridors which also

provide natural lighting.

4.1.1.2. Paneled wall

Louvered paneled walls in the modern chalet actually helped to prevent rain water from

entering the house.

4.1.1.3. Pitch roof

It is very good in draining of rainwater. In order to obtain thermal comfort, the roof will be

added with insulations.

Figure 18: Sun shading by bamboo planting in Phase 1.

4.1.2. Building Materials

4.1.2.1. Bamboo

According to Figure 9, the safari roof consist of an air ventilating gap which act as a natural

heat recovery and insulating system for the hot water from air-conditioning system (Ooi,

1998).

In Figure 10, the decontructive wall design actually act as sun shading device and protect

the visitors from the rain.

Bamboo is a sustainable material because it grows very fast and easy to maintain once we

used it. And it also provide sun shading.

4.1.2.2. Timber

Timber is a good heat insulator because small air traps actually resist the heat transfer.

Besides is easier for timber to keep the building in thermal comfort zone because it requires

a small external energy.

4.1.2.3. Rammed Earth

Rammed earth can absorb heat in daytime but release heat at nighttime, which will cool

down the space. It has low maintenance cost which did not require much human energy to

work on it too much. It is organic and fresh because there is no need of termites or any

insects repellent to prevent it from erosion.

5.0. Contextual theories applied in Belum Rainforest Resort

with the nature of Pulau Banding

5.1. Place Theory

According to Capon (as cited in Cizgen, 2012), he stated that there are two concepts in the

place theory:

1. Movement concept: Activities in the steps, alleyways and streets leading to one

another.

2. Enclosure concept: The definition of space.

5.1.1. Implementation of Place Theory in Belum Rainforest Resort

In the recent days, place theory actually successfully assist the approach of context and

influenced the carrying out actions (Cizgen, 2012). Nesbitt (as cited in Cizgen, 2012)

actually state that Schumacher made a statement about modern architecture actually

Figure 19: The pathway that connected the private spaces and the public spaces in Belum

Rainforest Resort Phase 1.

distanced itself from the outer world and cause an imbalance space arrangement of

common or public living areas.

Cizgen (2012) also noted that this theory also created a structure or a bridge that join the

historical and the contemporary contextually. Furthermore, it also create a sense of

belonging for the elements which explained and highlighted the importance of space or

venues.

Beaver (as cited in Cizgen, 2012) gave attentions to “Contextual intervention: a sense of

place” that narrates the buildings’ facades are the city’s street and public spaces. The

clarification between public space and private space is very clear which the exterior walls

are supposed to mediate both spaces, and draw an edge to define.

Refer to what Beaver said, there are some similarities that can find in Belum Rainforest

Resort Phase 1. The pathways are the facades, the saplings screen walls actually act as an

element that creates an enclosure, create an edge to define two spaces, which mediate or

separate the private space (visitors’ rooms) with the public space.

5.2. Poetry and Pictureque

In the year 1996, Nesbitt (as cited in Cizgen, 2012) highlighted the exterior of the buildings

including the visible and touchable façade, texture and shape and even the building

materials will finally got an abstract meanings when they are included together. The sense

of space of certain place is not built up by the visible and touchable details (quantitat ive)

of the space itself but also the combination of abstract (which is the qualitative) aspects

and those poetic feelings. In order to live up the space, “atmosphere” and “character” must

be included in it. The theory of Poetry and Pictureque is a new theory formed from the

overlapping of Place Theory and Contextualism (Cizgen, 2012).

5.2.1. Implementation of Poetry and Pictureque in Belum Rainforest

Resort

Poetry and Pictureque is important to discuss the unity of tradition, history or vernacular

design with some supporting nostalgic pictures of Belum Rainforest Resort and the nature

of Pulau Banding. According to Cizgen (2011), the form of Contextualism can be

expressed like wildfire from the stories from the past and some nostalgic memories. Capon

(as cited as Cizgen, 2012) stated that Frank Floyd Wright stressed the importance of this

theory by writing “Poetry of form is as necessary to great architecture as foliage to a tree.”

Le Corbusier also notes that the existence of architecture depends on the poetic emotions…

Poetry can be defined as art, senses’ emotions, it appreciates the joy. “Poetry!” said Le

Corbusier that this word must be stated publicly.

Figure 20: The context of Tanjung Satu. An interaction between people, culture, tradition, history and nature. Photo by Lim Fou

Sing.

Figure 21: A contextual design that allows the nature to be the façade of the building, Phase 1, hotel building.

From Figure 20, the context as unity is shown. The landscape of Tanjung Satu is telling a

story by letting the visitors to experience the high, low and slopes of the landscape. Sit

inside the traditional building, imagined what happened in the space.

Figure 23: Luxury Villa Aerial.

Whereas Figure 21, the warm sunlight give an image of the building is willing to give up

its appearance to let the plants to cover it up to become its new face.

6.0. Challenges faced by the other architecture in Pulau Banding

6.1. Luxury Villa Aerial

Luxury Villa Aerial

Tanjung Satu Orang

Village

Figure 22: Location of the other architecture in Pulau Banding. Source:

http://www.panomatics.com/nextgen/my/belumrainforestresort/

Phase 1 and 2

Figure 24: Tanjung Satu orang asli village. Photo by Lim Fou Sing.

It is a VIP hotel which consist of eight rooms which only one room is restricted from

staying. The challenges faced by the villa were the disturbance of the monkeys. And for

the bigger animals like elephants and white boars, the electric shock circuit that placed in

from the villa 1 Kilometer away in the forest will prevent them from getting near to the

villa.

The architecture challenges faced by the villa itself is how to build to sit on the non-unifo rm

slopes. And how to create a contextual architecture despite the frame of the villa already

so high profile. The exterior of the villa looks contextual with low profile look which did

not overpower the site context, but culture and economy wise it is high class and maybe

middle class people can’t afford to stay on such high cost accommodation. According to

the keeper of the house, the house sometimes will be empty for a long time.

An architecture which cannot serve its function to the community is just a waste.

6.2. Tanjung Satu Orang Asli Village

In 2011, there was a flood happened there that caused the villagers shift their place of living

to somewhere else. According to the forest ranger from Belum Rainforest Resort, the water

level actually rose to Land 2.

The soil condition at Tanjung Satu is not consistent, therefore when buildings need to be

built there, deciding of using which foundation is a very important decision.

Land 1

Land 2 Land 3

Land 4

Section A-A’

Land 1

Land 2

Land 3

Land 4

Section A-A’

7.0. Conclusion

There will be arguments made between “our designed building need to reject context” and

“we should design our building according to our site”. There are pro and con even if we

stand on one of the statement. If the building design actually reject the context, it will stand

out as an individual, and the identity of the design is preserved. But if we designed our

building according to the site context, although there is no identity of itself, but it actually

reflect the site story, the poetic feeling of the site and convey a nostalgic memories to us.

Contemporary (modern) buildings nowadays focus more on unique identity which appear

to express more art value than architecture value (Hillman, 2014).

He also stated, “Art is a form of self-expression with absolutely no responsibility to anyone

or anything. Architecture can be a piece of art, but it must be responsible to people and its

context.” (Hillman, 2014)

Lastly, as stated by Cizgen (2012), Louis Kahn actually said, “What does the building want

to be here?”

I thought we should really consider about the value of contextual architecture. Actually is

not about that selfishness that wanting to develop our own design only, design is for the

community, design is for the people.

8.0. Reference

1. Curl, J.S. (2000) contextual architecture. A Dictionary of Architecture and

Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from

Encyclopedia.com: <http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-

contextualarchitecture.html>

2. “Sustainability”. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from Dictionary.com: <

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sustainability?s=t>

3. “Vernacular”. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from Dictionary.com: <

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vernucular?s=t>