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1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2015) [5 MARKS]
NAME: Yuan Khai Shien ID: 0314818
LECTURER: TUTORIAL TIME: 2-4pm
SYNOPSIS NO: 1 READER TITLE: Life Between Buildings : Using Public Space
AUTHOR: Jan Gehl
The book "Life Between Buildings : Using Public Space written by Jan Gehl mainly introduces about
the important of human activities to create efficient building for current century. Public space
between buildings is commonly known as outdoor space has act as a main key to drag attention
from people or pedestrian. As what Jan Gehl has talk about in this story, no matter what kind of
spaces, design, attractive pattern and so on, it is generally that people and activities will attract
people that pass by and somehow when there are big amount of people in a certain place, more
people will go there to gather. This statement has proven through two different incident which using
two benches and face different direction, one facing the plant plus once facing the outdoor street, the
result is people tend to go to the bench with outdoor street view. Same as current century in our
country Malaysia, the more obvious incident is people prefer to sit outside "mamak" instead of inside
because of the large interaction with surrounding. It doesn't really relate to the pattern and dramatic
of entire building.
However the second thing that promote by Jan Gehl is street life can always bring a dead city to be a
warm and cheerful city. For example roadside sports, roadside food stall are the main thing that
enhance the quality of building with the interaction between people yet it can also help to unite
different races and ages. Usually when there are activities happening on the entire place, it will be
remarkable for the place.
From this book, I have learned about people and human activities are the strong points to define the
building. In some way, exterior of building, creative façade or high rise not the only thing attract
people somehow human activities could be the main reason to consider with.
WORD COUNT: 309 DATE: 12/4/2016 MARK: GRADE:
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2. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2015) [5 MARKS]
NAME: Yuan Khai Shien ID: 0314818
LECTURER: TUTORIAL TIME: 2-4pm
SYNOPSIS NO: 2 READER TITLE: Semiology and Architecture
AUTHOR: Charles Jencks
The book “Semiology and Architecture” written by Charles Jencks mainly introduce the study of
language and signs which has been mostly applied to outside linguistics. Nowadays, semiotics took
a huge place in our life. Base on Jencks theory, he had brought out a meaning that perception on
anything usually defines by the society. Things always come with a meaning and purpose. An object
without a meaning it cannot work well same goes to a meaning without an entity, it’s simply not
complete. Just like how people define the car, when people talk about car, everyone automatically
has their own vision of their car, whether is Mercedes Benz or a BMW. At the same time, without all
names and price that create by human being, it only appears as a car in our life. Same goes to what
Jencks has explained, even though avant-garde and nihilist has their own perception and thinking
toward this society, but somehow their statement is contradictory.
In this book, I disagreed in some points. What I disagreed is that Jencks talk about semantic triangle
is effective for a conversation between people. But somehow, there are some critics that have
challenged this over years and years. Nonverbal communication is also a main factor that can affect
what a person trying to convey. When applying Semantic Triangle to interpersonal conversation,
there will still have the possibility of misunderstanding between one person and the other person. At
this time, an addition method which is nonverbal message is important to bring out and let both
people to pick up the same massage which this has break the rule of the “Semantic Triangle”.
In conclusion, people should not perceive anything through peer pressure; the original essence is
always the important thing that people should know. Before giving any judgement and perception
toward other, think about what they have been through and the effort that they have spent.
WORD COUNT: 316 DATE: 25/4/2016 MARK: GRADE:
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3. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2015) [5 MARKS]
NAME: Yuan Khai Shien ID: 0314818
LECTURER: Ms Ida TUTORIAL TIME: 2-4PM
SYNOPSIS NO: 3 READER TITLE: The Eyes of the Skin
AUTHOR: Juhani Pallasma
The book " The Eyes of the Skin" written by Juhani Pallasma has mainly discuss about the connection of
both touch and visual sense introduce by the Le Cobusier and the dominant of vision in architecture world
compare to the other senses. He has discuss about with only visualize can’t achieve 100% experience of the
architecture work unless it come along with the touch sensory. By this, vision will show the image of the object
while touching however through touch it will enhance the feeling of unconcious texture and material of the object.
Juhani Pallasma did mention that “ I dwell in the city and the city dwell in me”, this has given a thought of human
and city are somehow related and by balancing them , architect could achieve to design high quality of building.
In my opinion, the appearance of duality is important to balance the life and raise up the quality of the art.
The author has also mention most of the buildings today seem to have rich aesthetic value on the outside
but lack of the functionality of itself due to the people surrounding and business issue in this world. First
impression of an object has really take a huge place to attract people nowadays which somehow they neglected
some other important things .These phenomenon isn't only because of the architect who design this but also due
to the client and also the user to achieve a higher market value in this society. For example, with the comparison
of both famous architecture works, Zahah Hadid building which always in an organic form and Le Cobusier which
more concern on the functionality and experience of the interior spaces. People most probably will get attract
more by Zahah Hadid building because of the beautiful and aesthetic exterior. This is why that some of the
current era architects only put more effort on the exterior of the building and at the same time the building itself
eventually lose their functionality and quality of it. Conclusion, I agree with what the author has speak out.
Architects shouldn’t always just follow what client and users need yet they should have their own opinion and
responsibility to balance the exterior appearance and also the essence of the interior. They are the only people
who can change user thinking and guide them to the right path.
WORD COUNT: 393 DATE: 30/5/16 MARK: GRADE:
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4. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2015) [5 MARKS]
NAME: Yuan Khai Shien ID: 0314818
LECTURER: Ms Ida TUTORIAL TIME: 2-4PM
SYNOPSIS NO: 4 READER TITLE: Towards a Critical Regionalism
AUTHOR: Kenneth Frampton
The book " Critical Regionalism " written by Kenneth Frampton has mainly discuss
about arriere-garde which It is situated equally between the 'Enlightenment myth of
progress' and the reactionary return to vernacular forms. Frampton has proposes that this
arriere-garde position will generate a “resistant identity giving culture while at the same
time having discreet recourse to universal technique” Through all this, I agreed on the
critical regionalism should be balance. Architecture of any places need to have implant
their cultural design and bring it up in this world, for example our country have the very
own identity of Malay house which is much significant compare to other country. After
reading through this, I did realise me myself has also include in the circumstance where
the actor Kenneth Frampton proposed that I fail to identify our own country's identity of
architecture. Rather than just trying to look through what happening on the outside world
and trying to merge the mordernism design in my own work. What if there is also bunch of
architect who do the same right now, it will result in creating a bad architecture work of its
own identity and culture in the sense of architecture which also might affecting the image of
the region itself as well.
Besides this, architecture design that create by architect has to potientially on
solving problem of nowadays. But somehow architects are just blindly follow the theories
that come from book or internet throughout the whole process of designing although it can
be a very good reference. However some architects are also 100% design based on what
client needs which all these might affecting in lost of the real identity and the very own
culture of the region although this can create a prefect building and also sucess in their
business. Architects should be really critic on their work to solve current issue and balance
with critical regionalism.
Lastly , I did agree what Kenneth frampton was trying to propose and somehow i do feel
that there might be several solution in this way. Implanting multiple culture of diffrent
country can bringout different identity and at the same time a very own identity on the

5. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2015) [5 MARKS]
NAME: Yuan Khai Shien ID: 0314818
LECTURER: Ms Ida TUTORIAL TIME: 2-4PM
SYNOPSIS NO: 4 READER TITLE: Towards a Critical Regionalism
AUTHOR: Kenneth Frampton
entire country can be preserve hence it can solve chauvinism and placelessness of the
urban context.
WORD COUNT: 374 DATE: 13/6/16 MARK: GRADE:
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