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