Sunday, July 10, 2011

What makes a good Architecture Design

What I have in mind: Shopping Centre/ Recreation centre

Some pics of Shopping centre:


1.Pedregal Shopping Centre by Pascal Arquitectos


2.Paragon Shopping Centre, Singapore


3.Bangsar Shopping Centre, Malaysia


4.Vivo City Shopping Centre, Singapore


5.Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, Singapore


Evaluation of designs:
Here are the criteria I use for evaluating these shopping centre:

Since its for "recreation" purposes, of course I would rank desirability as first:

Criteria:
1. Desirability 85%
1.1 Lighting - 20%
1.2 Outer Shape - 30%
1.3 Surface appearance/ Reflectiveness - 10 %
1.4 Weariness/ quality - 10%
1.5 Uniqueness - 30&

2. Structure 10%
2.1 Presence of support beams - 40%
2.2 Presence of structurally strong geometric - 60%

3. Environmentally friendly 5%
3.1 Structure - 40%
3.2 Plants and cooling systems - 30%
3.3 "Just Right" lighting etc. - 30%

Design 1: Pedregal Shopping Centre by Pascal Arquitectos
Desirability - 82% (Very nice and unique designs)
Structure - 8% ("looks" safe)
Environmentally friendly - 4% ("Looks" environmentally friendly; presence of planting etc.)

Good Design. Nice design which promotes a better recreation experience. Also includes designs for disabled users.

Design 2: Paragon Shopping Centre, Singapore
Desirability - 65% (Looks common)
Structure - 10% ("Looks" safe)
Environmentally friendly - 3% ("Does not look" environmentally friendly; absence of planting etc.)

Average Design. Common in Singapore. Could not analyse lighting; daytime.

Design 3: Bangsar Shopping Centre, Malaysia
Desirability - 78% (Looks nice and unique)
Structure - 8% ("looks" safe)
Environmentally friendly - 1% ("looks" overpowered with lighting)

Desirable design. Lighting a bit overpowered according to picture.

Design 4: Vivo City Shopping Centre, Singapore
Desirability - 78% (Looks desirable, unique geometric)
Structure - 7% ("Looks" safe)
Environmentally friendly - 4% ("Looks" like it is wasting energy on air conditioning)

Desirable design.

Design 5: Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, Singapore
Desirability - 30% (Looks wear out and too common)
Structure - 6% ("Looks" okay)
Environmentally friendly - 2% ("Looks" like it doesn't have environmentally friendly measures)

Bad design. Too common and wore out.

Resources:

Design 1:
http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2008/01/square6.jpg

Design 2:
http://www.singapore-traveltips.com/pics/paragon-shopping-centre.jpg

Design 3:
http://mywilayah.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/bangsar-shopping-complex1.jpg

Design 4:
http://images.travelpod.com/users/macro1234/1.1248566155.vivo-city-shopping-centre-singapore.jpg

Design 5:
http://www.h88.com.sg/shopping/bukit_timah_shopping_centre/images/bukit_timah_shopping_centre_00001.JPG

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Definition of Architectural Design

Source 1: Wikipedia.org
An architectural designer is an architect that is primarily involved in the design of buildings or urban landscapes, as opposed to the construction documents and management required to construct it. Architectural designers have good creative skills, imagination and artistic talent. Although most students of architecture are trained to be designers in school, not all become designers in practice. Non-registered designers are similar, but cannot legally refer to themselves as "architectural" designers in most parts of the world. Most are referred to asbuilding designers, especially when not employed by an architectural firm.



Concept that focuses on the components or elements of astructure or system and unifies them into a coherent and functional whole, according to a particular approach in achieving the objective(s) under the given constraints or limitations. See also behavioral design.











Source 3: Dictionary.com
The profession of designing buildings, open areas,communities, and other artificial constructions
and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design
or selection of furnishingsand decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination,
restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings and similar structure.


Hi

Hi Miss Seah!!!