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THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC2224) (ARC61303)
PROJECT PART II: ANALYZING AND THEORIZING
ARCHITECTURE
NAME : CHUNG KA SENG
STUDENT ID : 0316922
LECTURER : LAM SHEN FEI

Analyzing and Theorizing Architecture
Theories Of Architecture And Urbanism (Arc2224)
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Table of Contents Page
1.0 Introduction.....................................................................................................3
2.0 Pragmatic Theory in Architecure..................................................................4-5
3.0 Adaptability.....................................................................................................6
4.0 Connectivity....................................................................................................7
5.0 Functionality ...................................................................................................8
6.0 Sustainability ..................................................................................................9
7.0 Conclusion ...................................................................................................10
8.0 References..............................................................................................11-12
9.0 Appendixes..............................................................................................13-14

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Figure 01 Kelana Jaya LRT Development (Source: Ar. Karlson Goh, 2014)
1.0 Introduction
The purpose of this study is to analyze and theorize architecture, in the way to
understand of the complexity of architecture and enhance the sense of critique the
relationship between architecture and its social, cultural and intellectual context. This
also is a way to achieve in different critical perspectives on key issues within the
contemporary discourse of architecture. In order to further explore the theory in
architecture, will referred to the design process and theory of Architect Karlson Goh.
Therefore, the design strategies development in planning and design in architecture of
Ar.Karlson Goh will be discussed.
Ar.Karlson Goh was born in an architect’s family. His dad was a famous
professional architect in Malaysia. So he was growing in an architecture family
environment that inspired him to be an architect. When he was 18 years old, he went to
Melbourne College of the Arts to study Bachelor in Architecture degree.During his
university life, most of his work was influenced by the contemporary architecture culture
in Australia .After he graduated from Melbourne College of the Arts and after several
years of professional practice, he was succeed to get the title as (PART III)
Professional Architect in Malaysia by Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM).
Figure 01 Working Experience of Ar.Karlson Goh

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Figure 02 Kelana Jaya LRT Developments (Source: Ar. Karlson Goh, 2014)
In the way to explore his theory in architecture, one of his prominent works
Kelana Jaya LRT Development will analyze as case studies to discuss furthermore in
theorizing his way of architecture. Kelana Jaya LRT Development is a proper
integration of public transport will complement the urban development of a city. The
main idea in design and planning of Ar.Karlson Goh is to establish more liveable
communities under the banner of sustainable development. He believe that liveable
communities are places with high social and environmental quality where people have
access to the necessary facilities and amenities, including public transportation, work
place, healthcare services, entertainment and recreation. The key focus for sustainable
road and railway development is how the two are designed to interface with the city to
bring about the potential benefits.
Ar.Karlson Goh recognized the importance of linking the developed towns and
districts throughout cities with new highways and railway lines. This project is a mix
development of public transportation with commercial retail lots and integration with the
largely residential project where comprise two 30-storey blocks of condominiums and
one 10-storey block of office suites, all of them linked by a podium.

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2.0 Pragmatic Theory in Architecture
Most of the works of Ar.Karlson is designed to achieve harmonic development in
high quality human space with environment. Basically his design strategies are based
on four elements, which are adaptability, connectivity, functionality and sustainability.
These are the most fundamental elements to drive his design and planning in
architecture. By generating four of these design thought in architecture, Ar.Karlson Goh
considered himself as a pragmatist in architecture field. Pragmatic architecture is about
adopting the approach that achieves to complete the architecture design by balance
between the quality of design and budget of the construction. It is much more like
practically to solve the problem in architecture and ensure the quality of design space
will create the poetic space of the building as well. Normally pragmatic architect
focuses on essential concrete tasks and prioritizes the work according to the value it
brings to the project.
Ar.Karlson Goh as a pragmatic architect is open-minded and never refuses to
consider a solution just because it is not the trend of the year. The pragmatic architect
revisits the design as the development of the system progresses. The identity of
pragmatic architecture is adhere to minimalism and simplicity principles .For example
like the case of Kelana Jaya LRT Development project, the 3rd to 5th car parking
space area design to totally open space to allow cross ventilation flow in to cool down
the car park floor area. Other than that, the open area car park level design with steel
mesh facade together with vegetation to make it more simplicity aesthetic.
Figure 03 Wire Mesh with Greenery Facade (Source: Ar. Karlson Goh, 2014)

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3.0 Adaptability
The first element of Ar.Karlson Goh theory is adaptability. He believes that
Architecture has stood as an expression of permanence, recording a specific moment
in history. This project begins with an idea that the adaptation of architecture is
eminent, thus changing the process in which we design. The strategies of a general
building system could be familiarized with a local place, inherent with the idea of
versatility.
Adaptability in the terms of the architecture is more than the mere definition of
space. His way of design is adaptability to various ecological conditions, being off-the-
grid in terms of power, and keeping in mind conditions of its inhabitants through
specific needs. This idea was that in needing something of a specific need, it could
create an interactive adaptability that both a user and onlooker could understand.
In the design and planning of Kelana Jaya LRT Development, his way of design
is more approach to flexibility and adaptability integration in the building as well as a
study of contemporary approaches dealing with the concepts allowed to come out with
a hierarchical deterministic approach that takes into consideration the different
dimensions related to the building, including social, professional, economical, spatial,
functional, and technical aspects.
Figure 04 Adaptability Flexible Space of Working Studio and Resident Space: SOFO Units
(Source: Ar. Karlson Goh, 2014)

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Figure 05 Greenery Linkage Bridge Connections (Source: Ar. Karlson Goh, 2014)
4.0 Connectivity
Other than that, the connections in architecture and urban design architecture
ties structural elements and spaces together to achieve cohesion. Connections in
urban design link three distinct types of elements with each other: natural elements,
human activity nodes, and architectural elements. Examples of Kelana Jaya LRT
Development, the transportation LRT transit station is one of the urban nodes .Served
as the attraction point of gathering human activities. Human activities define nodes
such as a workplace, a residence, a storefront, or a spot to sit and drink a cup of
coffee. Architectural elements include everything that man builds to connect natural
elements and reinforce his activity nodes. Urban nodes are entirely defined as a space
where people come to gather and disperse. Ar.Karlson Goh believe that architectural
sites that do not reinforce human activity are unsuccessful, isolating themselves from
the urban web.
Ar.Karlson Goh draws a distinction between visual connections, and paths that
connect the physical movement of persons. The Kelana Jaya LRT Development as a
serving area for LRT transit station node. He also designs few public realms greenery
linkage bridge connection between the towers of condominium residential to
connecting the community. Architectural elements connect to each other at a distance
visually through symmetries, similarity, and intermediate forms. There is a basic
difference between architectural and human connections. Functional connections
between human activity nodes are not amenable to a treatment in terms of symmetries,
because those patterns are highly complex. The connective paths are multiple and
irregular.

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5.0 Functionality
Furthermore, the functionality is one of the key elements as well. Functionality
in terms of architecture is the most important factors to generate a comprehensive
design and planning. The primary means by which architectural styles induce simplicity
is by applying the principle of separation of concerns to the allocation of functionality
within components. If functionality can be allocated such that the individual
components are substantially less complex, then they will be easier to understand and
implement. The functionality arrangement in layout is a very important in the way to
determine a value of architecture. For example the mix development of Kelana LRT
Development, design in integration with different function comprise of residential,
commercial and public transportation.
Figure 06 Functionality Space Arrangements

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Figure 07 Surrounding Vegetation as Barrier to Filter the Noise and Air Pollution
6.0 Sustainability
The last element in the theory of Ar.Karlson Goh is sustainability design
strategies in architecture. Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to
minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation
in the use of materials, energy, and development space. Sustainable architecture uses
a conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built
environment. The idea of sustainability, or ecological design, is to ensure that our
actions and decisions today do not inhibit the opportunities of future generations. For
example in the case of Kelana Jaya LRT Development, Ar.Karlson Goh designed the
whole project development in minimize the impact to the site in the way to reduce the
impact of the surrounding environment. He also encourage to plant more tree around
the site to utilize the natural vegetation as a barrier to filter the noise and air pollution
where generated from the highway.

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Figure 08 the Design Strategies of KELANA JAYA LRT DEVELOPMENT
7.0 Conclusion
In Conclusion, with the detail analysis through the case study of Kelana Jaya
LRT Development shows that Pragmatic theory in architecture looks at the need to
respond sensitively to the limitations or potentials to the design and environment .With
the golden four rule element of adaptability, connectivity, functionality and sustainability,
a design can totally emerge with the site environment. It also play as a solution to solve
sustainability issue of modern development.With all the benefits in planning and design
of mentioned above proven its practicality in both development in planning and
restoration in design. This theory utilizes holistic philosophy stemming from the field of
phenomenology and the higher ideologies of transcendentalism applied to meaningful
living environment. Pragmatic theory in architecture is an ideal theory to achieve
sustainable development to create a better world in future architecture towards
challenging and shifting paradigms into a new landscape of built environment.

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8.0 References
Books
1. Teo, C., & Martin, R. (2011) Malaysia Landscape Architecture 2011 Yearbook
(1st ed.). Selangor: Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM).
2. Wines, J., & Jodidio, P. (2000). Green architecture s T s
Websites
1. Wong, j. (2014). Blu Summer | DMP Architects Sdn Bhd | Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.Dmparchitects.com.my. Retrieved 9 November 2014, from
http://www.dmparchitects.com.my/architecture/current-projects/page41/
2. Hos k, W 20 “Ci i s D sig SYMBIOTIC
ARCHITECTURE” Wmhosack.blogspot.com. Retrieved from 07Nov 2014,from
http://wmhosack.blogspot.com/2011/08/symbiotic-architecture.html
Website Articles
Loh, John. (2013). Crest Builder in RM1bil Kelana Jaya LRT development.
The Star Malaysia. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-
News/2013/12/20/Crest-Builder-said-to-have-won-bid-to-develop-Kelana-Jaya-
land/?style=biz.

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List of Figures
1. Figure 01 Working Experience of Ar.Karlson Goh
2. Figure 02 Kelana Jaya LRT Development
3. Figure 03 Wire Mesh with Greenery Façade
4. Figure 04 Adaptability Flexible Space of Working Studio and Resident
Space:SOFO Units
5. Figure 05 Greenery Linkage Bridge Connection
6. Figure 06 Functionality Space Arrangement
7. Figure 07 Surrounding Vegetation as Barrier to Filter The Noise and Air
Pollution
8. Figure 08 The Design Strategies of KELANA JAYA LRT DEVELOPMENT

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