Shelter Project 2 PDF

ARCASIA MEMBER INSTITUTES
Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB)
Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM)
House 11 Road 4
Dhanmondi R/A
Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh
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President: Mubasshar Hussain
4 & 6 Jalan Tangsi

50480 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
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E info@pam.org.my
President: Boon Che Wee
The Union of Mongolian Architects (UMA)
The Architectural Society of China (ASC)

9 Sanlihe Road
Beijing China 100835
T +00 86 10 8808 2236
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President: Chunhua Song
P O Box 59
Ulaanbataar-210620a
Mongolia
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E uma_gc@magicnet.mn
President: Khurelbaatar Erdenesaikhan
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)
The Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP)
19th Floor One Hysan Avenue

Causeway Bay
P O Box 20334
Hennessy Road Post Office
Hong Kong
T +00 852 2511 6323
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President: Dominic K. K. Lam
ST 1/A Block 2
Kehkashan Clifton
Karachi 75600 Pakistan
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E info@iap.com.pk
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President: Shahab Ghani Khan
The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA)

Prospect Chambers Annexe 5th Floor
Dr D N Road Fort Mumbai
400 001 India
T +00 91 22 204 6972
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E iia@vsnl.com
W www.iia-india.org
President: Prafulla Karkhanis
Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI)
Kantor Pusat IAI
Gedung Jakarta Design Center Lt 7
Jalan Jend Gatot Subroto Kav 53
Jakarta 10260 Indonesia
T +62 21 5305715
F +62 21 5304722
E iai-nasional@cbn.net.id
President: Endy Subijono
Japan Institute of Architects (JIA)
Kenchikuka Kaikan
2-3-18 Jingumae Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo 150 0001 Japan
T +00 81 3 3408 7125
F +00 81 3 3408 7129
E myasuda@jia.or.jp
W www.jia.or.jp
President: Taro Ashihara
Korea Institute of Registered Architects (KIRA)
1603-55 Seocho1 dong Seocho-gu
Seoul 137-877 Korea
T +00 82 2 581 5711
F +00 82 2 586 8823
E secretary@kira.or.kr
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President: Choi Young-jip
Architects Association of Macau (AAM)
Avenida Coronel de Mesquita 2F
P O Box 3091
Macau
T +00 853 703 458
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E macauaam@macau.ctm.net
President: Leong Chong In
United Architects of The Philippines (UAP)

53 Scout Rallos
Quezon City
1103 Philippines
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F +00 63 2 372 1796
E uapnational@yahoo.com
W www.united-architects.org
President: Ramon Mendoza
Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA)
79 Neil Road
Singapore 088904
T +65 6226 2668
F +65 6226 2663
E info@sia.org.sg
President: Ashvinkumar s/o Kantilal
Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA)
120/7 Vidya Mawanta
Off Wijerama Mawanta
Colombo 7 Sri Lanka
T +00 94 1 697109 / 691710
F +00 94 1 682757
E sliagen@sltnet.lk
W www.slia.com
President: Ranjan Nadesapillai
The Association of Siamese Architects (ASA)
Under Royal Patronage
248/1 Soi Rong Rian Yepun
Rama IX Road HuayKwang
Bangkok 10320 Thailand
T +00 66 2 319 4124
F +00 66 2 319 6419
E foreign affair@asa.or.th
W www.asa.or.th
President: Thaweejit Chandrasakha
Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA)
23 Dinh Tien Hoang Street
Hoan Kiem District
Hanoi Vietnam
T +00 84 4 825 3648
F +00 84 4 934 0262
E hoiktsvn@hn.vnn.vn
President: Nguyen Tan Van
Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA)
Jung Hem Hirnya Complex Tripureshawor
G P O Box 20461
Kathmandu Nepal
T +00 977 1 426 2252
E sona@htp.com.np
President: Binod Neupane
XXXX House
by Mount Fuji Architects Studio
House in Fukawa
by Suppose Design Studio
a journal of the architects regional council asia (ARCASIA)

which is an international council of presidents of
17 national institutes of architects in the asian region
Front cover
Purple Hill House
IMAGE COURTESY OF IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS
ARCASIA OFFICE BEARERS 2011
THE ARCHITECTURE ASIA TEAM
President
Editorial Board
George Kunihiro
Lee Chor Wah

Boon Che Wee
Saifuddin Ahmad
Abu Zarim Abu Bakar
Adele Chong
Zone A Deputy President

Kalim Siddiqui
Zone B Deputy President
Sathirut Nui
Zone C Deputy President
Anna Kwong
Honorary Secretary
Advisers
Kun-Chang Yi
Dr Tan Loke Mun
Editor-in-Chief
Lee Chor Wah
Marco Corbella
Projects Editor
Honorary Treasurer
Adele Chong
adele@pam.org.my
Junichi Ito
Designers
Immediate Past President
Mubashar Hussain
Imaya Wong
Lin Hsueh Yin
www.grainstudio.asia
Advisers
Kun-Chang Yi
Yolanda Reyes
CHAIRMEN OF ARCASIA COMMITTEES

Chairman ACPP (professional practice)
Balbir Verma
Chairman ACGSA
(green and sustainable architecture)
Ashvinkumar Kantilal
Chairman, ACAE (architectural education)
Abu Sayeed
Chairman Fellowship Committee
Corresponding Editors
Zakia Rahman Bangladesh (IAB)
Wang Xiaojing China (ASC)
Chairman of Media Resource & Publication Committee Hong Kong (HKIA)
Vijay Garg India (IIA)
Andra Matin Indonesia (IAI)
Takayuki Matsuura Japan (JIA)
Chun G Shin Korea (KIRA)
Rui Leao Macau (MAA)
Lee Chor Wah Malaysia (PAM)
E Purev Erdene E Tuya Mongolia (UMA)
Bishnu Panthee Nepal (SONA)
Arshad Faruqui Pakistan (IAP)
Michael T Ang Philippines (UAP)
Ow Chin Cheow Singapore (SIA)
Prasanna Silva Sri Lanka (SLIA)
Veerachat (Jop) Thailand (ASA)
Nguyen Van Tat Vietnam (VAA)
Nela De Zoysa
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Purple Hill House

by IROJE KHM Architects
CONTENTS
40
ISSUE 1
January / February / March 2011
20
50
Editorial
Projects
THAILAND
12
Bunker House
VaSLAB Architecture
Events
74
50
Pims Guesthouse and Ceramic Studio
all (zone)
8
Special Report:
14th Asian Congress
of Architects
Lahore, Pakistan
50
PAKISTAN
20
Green KaravanGhar Initiative
The Heritage Foundation
Features
24
KOREA
28
Purple Hill House
IROJE KHM Architects
24
Mediations in an Emergency:
The Rise of Disaster Housing
CHINA
34
Embedded Project
HHD_FUN
Books
78
JAPAN
40
Bubbletecture H
Endo Shohei Architect
78
8
54
Fukuwa House
Suppose Design Studio
74
XXXX House
Mount Fuji Architects Studio
INDONESIA
46
Wisnu House
Djuhara+Djuhara
SRI LANKA
60
Tsunami Housing Development at
Payagalawatta, Kalutara
Sheran Henry Associates
MALAYSIA
66
Sime Darby Idea House
Jason Pomeroy
70
BAKITA Bar
ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd
4 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 contents
12
46
34
54
28
EDITORS NOTE
shelter
All too often enough, mental images of starchitect-designed edifices are evoked upon
initial mention of a citys architectural presence. No doubt, the runaway success of
the Frank Gehry-initiated Bilbao Effect left a prolific trail of proclaimed urban landmarks trailing breathlessly in its wake, with city authorities all over the globe vying
against all odds for their own version of the Guggenheim Bilbao; or more specifically,
a transformative, albeit costly, architectural facelift which could potentially serve to
retrieve an economically-ravaged area from the ashes. The all-too-recent natural disaster on March 11 which propelled the country of Japan into a state of emergency
overnight has, however, emerged as a kind of rude awakening from this previous
preoccupation with large-scale window-dressing, forcing architects and laymen alike
to reassess what exactly it is that architecture means to humankind and how the
medium can potentially serve as a better mediator in the case of circumstances
that come about as a result of environmental, sociological or political shifts in the way
we live.
In this first issue of 2011, we are redirecting our focus to the very basics of architecture: creating shelter. Regardless of whether the task lies in designing a suburban
housing block or devising makeshift dwellings for disaster victims, as in the case of
the resourcefully crafted Green KaravanGhar module in Pakistan, the question remains
as to how architecture can respond more effectively and adequately to heightening
degrees of personalisation with respect to contemporary living environments. What
are the ways in which housing may be customised so that it may be better equipped
to accommodate the immediacy of our needs yet fulfill the diversity of our wants?
Lastly, how can architects strive beyond the confines of dispiriting structures and
cultivate a balance between resourceful strategies and preserving the human aspects
of housing? Indeed, the distinctive projects featured in these following pages give one
the hope that a more thoughtfully crafted future is at least somewhat within reach.
Adele Chong
Projects Editor
Erratum: The India Glynols LTD project was mistakenly accredited to Arcop (Pakistan) on the cover of Issue 3,
2010. The architect responsible for that project is Morphogenesis (India). The editors would like to apologise for any
confusion or misunderstanding arising as a result of this oversight.
6 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 editors note
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EVENTS
SPECIAL REPORT:
14th Asian Congress
of Architects,
Lahore, Pakistan
Background
Formally founded in 1980, The Architects Regional Council,
Asia, (ARCASIA) is a vibrant association consisting of
architects from 17 Asian countries. It is represented on
the Council by the presidents of the Institutes of Architects within each country. The Council meets each year
at different venues and accompanying the meeting, in
alternate years, are the Asian Congress of Architects and
the ARCASIA Forum.
In 2010, The Institute of Architects, Pakistan (IAP) hosted
the 14th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA-14) with
the theme Go Green: Architecture of the New Order.
Alongside ACA-14, the 31st ARCASIA Council Meeting and other related meetings as well as the ARCASIA
Architectural Students Jamboree were held in Lahore
from 25 to 29 October. The new EXPO and Convention
Centre in Johar Town, Lahore, designed by Ar. Nayyar Ali
Dada, was the venue of the ACA-14 as well as the Building
Products Exhibition, where the 2008-09 ARCASIA Awards
for Architectural Excellence and an exhibition of the
ARCASIA Students Design Competition 2010 was held.
CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (COC)
The Congress Organizing Committee (COC) is headed by
its convener Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui. The Students Jamboree Organization Committee comprised of Ar. Syed
Akeel Bilgrami as Convener while Prof. Dr. Yusuf Awan
was appointed as Deputy Convener. Prof. Fauzia Qureshi,
Ar./Plnr. Sadia Fazli and Prof. Tauseef Ahmed acted as
members.
In planning the event, the COC faced a number of notable challenges: ongoing economic recession had very
severely hit the construction industry, affecting the situation of necessary sponsorship for hosting a large number
of foreign delegates for seven nights in Lahore.
The floods further eroded the ability of potential sponsors
as they diverted, their entire marketing budgets for relief
8 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 events
works. The aggravating security situation in the country

was also a major hindrance. Blasts in Lahore on two occasions seriously impinged IAPs efforts to persuade foreign delegates, especially concerned parents of visiting
students, to defy growing resistance against the hosting
of ACA-14 in Lahore.
It was no small feat to invite 100 foreign delegates to
stay for a week in an environment brimming with fear and
uncertainty, as was reported by foreign media. The successful hosting of ACA-14 was indeed a national service
on the part of IAP who, against all heavy odds, proved to
the international audience that life still goes on as usual in
Pakistan. This, truly, was a tribute to the resilience of the
Pakistani people.
ARCASIA MEETINGS & STUDENTS JAMBOREE
October 25, 2010
The first day began with the ARCASIA Golf Championship
held at Lahore Gymkhana Golf Club and saw the enthusiastic participation of foreign and Pakistani architects.
An international jury comprising Ar. Rita Soh of Singapore,
Ar. Jayantha Perera of Sri Lanka, Ar. Dr. Chalay Kunawong of Thailand and Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami from Pakistan, as Chairman, met in the morning to select winners
of the ARCASIA Students Design Competition-2010. 16
entries emerged from eight ARCASIA countries. The first
prize was jointly awarded to entries from Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh while the third prize was also awarded to
Bangladesh.
The ARCASIA Office Bearers meeting was convened
in the afternoon by Chairman ARCASIA, Ar. Mubasshar
Hussain from Bangladesh. This was followed by parallel
meetings of ARCASIA Committee on Professional Practice
Group (ACPP) chaired by Ar. Balbir Verma from India (in
absence of Ar. Edric Florentino from Philippines) and ARCASIA Committee on Green and Sustainable Architecture
(ACGSA) convened by Ar. Chandana Edirisuriya from Sri
As we pursue the goal of Green

Architecture we shall work toward
the day when the prefix Green will
no longer be necessary.
clockwise from top left
Ar. Rafiq Azam from

Bangladesh presenting
his paper; Ar. Bashirul
Haq from Bangladesh
presenting his paper;
A group photograph
of the ARCASIA Council
Meeting participants;
Ar. Karan Grover from
India presenting his
Keynote address at the
Inaugration of the ACA14, 2010; Ar. Shariah
Hosseini from Iran
presenting her paper
Lanka (in the absence of Ar. Kazuo Iwamura from Japan).

Ar. Balbir Verma of India was elected the Convenor of
ACPP for 2011-12 and Ar. Ashvinkumar from Singapore
was elected the new Convenor of ACGSA.
In the evening, the ARACSIA Students Jamboree Inauguration Ceremony took place in the Sports Complex Auditorium at UET campus.
October 26, 2010
The 31st ARCASIA Council Meeting was held under the
chairmanship of Ar. Mubasshar Hussain and attended by
official delegates from 14 of the 17 member countries.
Country Reports and progress reports on various ARCASIA projects were presented to the Council. Later, all
participants joined the rescheduled ARCASIA Fellowship
meeting convened by Ar. Rabiul Hussain of Bangladesh.
In the afternoon, the ARCASIA Committee for Architectural Education (ACAE) chaired by Dy. Convenor, ACAE,
Prof. Dr. Chalay Kunawong from Thailand. Country Reports on architectural education were presented and
progress on specific ACAE projects was discussed. A
briefing and update was given on the ongoing Students
Jamboree. Prof. Abu Sayeed M. Ahmed of Bangladesh
was elected the new Convenor of ACAE and Prof. Dr.
Chalay Kunawong, the Deputy Convenor.
At the UET, the Jamboree programme commenced in the
morning with presentations by official student delegates
on the theme of the Jamboree, Dynamism in Architecture The Asian Spirit. In the afternoon, they participated in an exciting and most informative architectural quiz
competition organized by Ar. Gita Balakrishnan of ETHOS
India, who came especially for this event. The three-hour
marathon concluded with the two-member team from
National College of Arts, Lahore declared as the winners,
the team from Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture,
Karachi, as runners up and the National University of Singapore team in third position.
Prof. Sajjad Kausara gave a slide presentation of the

Walled City of Lahore and briefed on a Workshop that
was to take place in the Walled City the next day.
October 27, 2010
The ARCASIA Council Meeting continued for the whole
day. Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui was elected unopposed as Vice
President of ARCASIA representing Zone A comprising
India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Ar.
Sathirut Nui Tandanand from Thailand was elected Vice
President, Zone B and Ar. Anna Kwong Sum Yee from
Hong Kong was elected Vice President from Zone C. Ar.
Nela DeZoysa from Sri Lanka was elected Convenor of
the ARCASIA Fellowship.
Indonesia won the bid against Hong Kong to host the
33rd ARCASIA Council Meeting and ACA-15 in Bali in
2012. The 32nd ARCASIA Council Meeting and Forum-16
on the theme Asian Cities in the 21st Century, will take
place in Danang, Vietnam, 15 to 20 August 2011.
In the morning schedule of the Jamboree, assigned student group were dropped at a different gateways to the
Walled City where they followed the route chalked out
for them. Documenting various aspects of the inner city,
the students returned with thousands of photographs,
sketches, video and sound recordings. Members of each
group also used the data to create their own story of Lahore.
October 28, 2010
All the foreign delegates moved to UET Sports Complex
in the morning for a ceremony at which trees were planted on behalf of each of the 17 ARCASIA member countries. Powerpoint presentations on their Story of Lahore
were then made by the six student groups before a large
audience. The Jamboree events led to fruitful interactions
and an important bonding experience between students
of different countries, cultures and languages. It was the
first time students of different institutions within Pakistan
met in such large numbers.
14TH ASIAN CONGRESS OF ARCHITECTS (ACA-14)

October 27, 2010
The ACA-14 Inaugural Ceremony was held on the evening
of October 27 at the new Convention Centre, Johar Town,
Lahore. Inaugurated by Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime
Minister of Pakistan, the ceremony was attended by over
900 architects and students representing 20 countries
including all of the ARCASIA countries plus Austria, Australia, Canada and Nepal. Participants from within Pakistan originated from Jamshoro, Peshawar, Multan, Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Abbottabad and Islamabad.
In his welcome address, Ar./Plnr. Kalim. A. Siddiqui, the
Convener ACA-14, briefly touched on the background of
the conference and its theme, Go Green: Architecture of
the New Order. Upon his request, the guests observed
a minutes silence for those who lost their lives in the
devastating floods. A short video presentation was also
made on the floods and IAPs relief efforts. In his address,
Ar. Shahab Ghani Khan, President IAP, traced IAPs history and its links with international organizations as well as
its role in dealing with national calamities. IAPs efforts towards sustainable and green architecture and its proposal of forming a National Rehabilitation Authority (NARA)
were highlighted. In his address, the Prime Minister lent
the support of his government towards sustainability and
promised to consider the rehabilitation proposals put forward by IAP. He announced the lease of Bradlaugh Hall,
a heritage building, to IAP for restoration and use of the
Lahore Chapter as its Secretariat.
The Prime Minister later inaugurated the building material
and products exhibition and other exhibitions at the EXPO
Centre and mixed freely with all the foreign delegates.
The ACA-14 inaugural session included the keynote
speech of Ar. Karan Grover of India, entitled The Complex Green a powerful, 40-minute presentation promoting the value of natural resources.
October 28, 2010
The first technical session began in the afternoon, after
the return of the delegates from UET. The first speaker
was from Pakistan, Dr. Naumana Anjum, followed by Aga
Khan Award Winner, Ar. Dr. Anna Heringer of Austria who
is currently residing in Bangladesh. Heringer presented
her sustainable projects, including the award winning
Community Centre. Her presentation was followed by
that of Martin Rauch, an Austrian ceramist who utilised
compressed earth blocks for building construction in his
home country.
A friendship night was later hosted at the Punjab Governors House which saw all the foreign delegates and host
organisers being received by Governor Salman Taseer
and given a tour of the historic building. He also briefly
joined the audience to watch cultural performances by
delegates and students from different countries.
10 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 events
October 29, 2010

The morning session began with a very memorable presentation by Ar. Indika Samarasinghe from Sri Lanka. He
was followed by Ar. Qazi Azizul Mowla from Bangladesh.
A highly inspiring paper presented by Dr. Ajantha Perera,
an activist and environmentalist from Sri Lanka, received
a standing ovation from the large audience. Focused on
the rehabilitation of flood victims, papers were also read
by Ar. Bashirul Haq from Bangladesh, Ar. George Kunihiro from Japan, Ar. Mishal Abidi from Canada, Ar. Hajjah
Noorzehan from Malaysia, Ar. Sharriah Hosseini from Iran
and Ar. Rafiq Azam from Bangladesh. The last paper included some delightful, environmentally friendly projects.
The technical sessions were concluded in the evening
by Prof. Dr. Gulzar Haider who summed up the proceedings. A resolution drafted by him together with Ar. Ejaz
Ahed, Ar. Arif Belgaumi and Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami was
adopted unanimously. Ar. Kalim Siddiqui then formally
presented the resolution as stated below, at the Awards
Ceremony and Farewell Banquet.
RESOLUTION
The 14th Asian Congress of Architects assembled in
Lahore, Pakistan hereby resolves:
That as we pursue the goal of Green Architecture we
shall work towards the day when the prefix Green will no
longer be necessary.
That the ideas of Green Architecture should be introduced in early education in schools and that the ARCASIA professional architectural institutes will offer outreach
programmes in their countries to promote Green concepts in schools.
That the curricula in architectural educational institutions will be developed to introduce Green concepts
from the first year of architectural degree programmes.
That the ARCASIA professional architectural institutes
will develop and maintain continuing education programmes to disseminate Green concepts to professionals in the field.
That the national governments of ARCASIA countries
should develop policies to provide incentives to develop
and adapt sustainable building materials and manufacturing processes.
will identify Green Leaders from amongst professionals,
educators and members of the construction and materials industries in their respective countries, who may be
recognized by ARCASIA with a special ARCASIA award.
That there should be productive collaboration between
the governments, construction materials industry, educational institutions and professionals in the development of
Green building materials, so that research and development effort can be sustained without public funding.
shall advocate to their respective governments, proGreen policies at the macro level, especially the planned
Green human settlements.
Awards Ceremony and Farewell Banquet
The last event of the Congress was the Awards Ceremony
and Farewell Banquet, held at the State Guest House. At
the event, the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Mohammad
Shahbaz Sharif, as Guest of Honour, presided over the
ARCASIA Awards 2008-09. The Mehdi Ali Mirza Awards
2009, conferred to the top student from each accredited
institution and the IAP Graduate Awards 2009 for the
most outstanding thesis projects were awarded.
Two graduates from the Indus Valley School of Art &
Architecture and one from NCA, Lahore received IAP
Graduate Awards. Winners of the ARCASIA Architectural
Students Design Competition were also acknowledged
and prizes were given for the best stalls at the exhibition.
In addition, a video documentary on the historical buildings of Lahore, produced by Ar. Prof. Sajjad Kausar, was
screened on the occasion.
October 30, 2010
As part of the city outings arranged by Ar. Prof. Sajjad
Kausar, the foreign delegates were taken on a guided tour
through the Walled City of Lahore, Badshahi Mosque, the
Lahore Fort, the Museum and the Lawrence Gardens
on the last day of the festivities and treated to tea and a
cricket match at the Gymkhana Cricket pavilion.
A very interesting programme was also organized by Dr.
Afshan Siddiqui for the non-architect spouses who accompanied the foreign delegates. They were taken to an
exciting polo match and after participating in a meeting of
the International Womens Club the next day, took in other
attractions within the following two days.
CONCLUSION
The success of ACA-14 and the related events can be
gauged by the warm comments received by the President, IAP from delegates and attendees including Ar.
Mubasshar Hussain, Chairman ARCASIA and Ar. George
Kunihiro, Chairman-Elect.
Regarding the event, Ar. Hussain remarked: I hope for
other member institutes interested to host such ARCASIA
events in the future, the 31st Council Meeting, ACA-14
and Student Jamboree will serve as a source of inspiration. Please convey my special thanks to the student
volunteers for their dedication and interest in the activities
of IAP and ARCASIA. They are the future of ARCASIA.
Audience applauding
Dr. Ajantha Perera;
Dr. Ajantha Perera from
Sri Lanka presenting her
paper; Syed Yusuf Raza
Gilani, Prime Minister of
Pakistan, declaring
ACA-14 open; The COC
with other committee
members; Ar. Mishaal
Abidi receving shield
from Ar. Sohail Abbasi;
Ar. Hajjah Noorzehan
from Malaysia receiving
shield from Dr. Gulzar
Haider; Dr. Gulzar Haider
giving away shield to
Ar. George Kunihiro
from Japan
I am sure that all of us will have fond memories of the

week spent in a city that is functioning well as any other
cities around the world. We shall work together to take
ARCASIA to another level to become more involved in the
global network. maintained Kunihiro.
The event was attended by a total of over 260 architects
and faculty members and 550 architecture students from
all over the country. More than 100 architects from 20
countries and 17 foreign students acted as participants
while over 100 representatives of the building materials
industry were also present.
(This article is based on the report submitted by Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui,
convener ACA-14)
The ARCASIA professional architectural

institutes will develop and maintain
continuing education programmes
to disseminate Green concepts to
professionals in the field.
Architect VaSLab Architecture

Thailand
Bunker House
Built by young Thai studio, VaSLab the iconic Bunker House manages to hold
its own against the stoic military backdrop of Thailands Lopburi province.
a matter
of security
PROJECTS
PROJECTS
BUNKER HOUSE VASLAB ARCHITECTURE
Inspired by bunker architecture built and abandoned along the coast of France during
World War II, Bangkok-based architects VaSLab Architecture took advantage of their
clients partiality to concrete as well as the specific context of the site to create a
structure which taints the space of domestic life with the feeling of something a little
less civilian. The location, a province home to the largest Thai military camp in the
country, also lays claim to Cholasit Dam, the biggest reservoir in Central Thailand. The
dams profound structure and exposed concrete appearance made a strong impact
on both the architects and the client with respect to the aesthetic decision to use
cast-in-place concrete as the houses shell.
Aside from being influenced by its characteristic surroundings, the house is curiously
defined by its contradicting sensibility, notably that of being both a hidden and visible
space. The challenge to harmoniously fuse together these conflicting elements was
one which was deliberately posed by the client for whom a private, secure, yet open,
home was a priority. The architects, thus drew their concept from the sophisticatedly
crafted French defense system, attracted by its ability to maintain a hidden, placid
presence while allowing inhabitants to keep on guard at all times from within. The
unorthodox approach to designing the house also meant an unconventional layout:
the asymmetrical H shaped floor plan of the house gives rise to two inner courts.
Separated by a corridor that links the main living space and guest room, these inner
courts can be utilised as outdoor living areas in both the morning and afternoon.
In response to a compact budget, the idea of incorporating concrete was also costeffective, aside from being a strong aesthetic factor. Reinforced concrete posts and
beam structures were chosen as economical options for the framework of the house.
Aside from the implementation of cast-in-place concrete as the principal material,
industrial materials include metal sheet siding, used for the overhang shading situated
above the walkway, and aluminum louvres on the west faade to alleviate the effects
of the strong afternoon sun. Green-tinted glass and black aluminum frames were implemented in the case of voids and openings while the use of warm timber around the
stairs, terraces, ceilings and roof deck help create a contrast with the raw surface of
the concrete. An aspect of the house that remains particularly evocative of authentic
bunker design is the slot opening embedded in the balcony of the master bedroom
wherein one can experience a view of the sites lush green surroundings, canal and
nearby highway.
Approaching the main

entrance with aluminum
louvre as shading
element; recreational
sky deck with access
from master bedroom
architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 15
PROJECTS
16 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects
from left
View of patio towards

car port, view of covered
terrace with cantilevered
steel structure above for
shading
The dams profound structure

and exposed concrete
appearance made a strong
impact on both the architects
and the client with respect
to the aesthetic decision to
use cast-in-place concrete
as the shell of the house.
architecture
architecture
asia october
asia january
/ november
/ february
/ december
/ march 2011
2010 projects 17
15
The roof terrace

connects to the
master bedroom
PROJECTS
IN
Principal Architects
Vasu Virajsilp
Boonlert Deeyuen
Project Architect
Ratthaphon Sujatanonda
Client
Siriwan Tiensuwan
Location
Lopburi Thailand
Site Area
800 sqm
Bldg Area
293 sqm
Gross Floor Area
360 sqm
Bldg Coverage Ratio
37 percent
Gross Floor Ratio
45 percent
Bldg Scale
Two stories above ground
TE
RN
AL
AD
RO
CANAL
7
PARK
SITE PLAN
SECTION A
Structure
Cast-in-place concrete
Max Height
7.6 m
Landscape Area
507sqm
Parking Lot
2 cars
Exterior Finish
Bare concrete
Year of Completion
2009
Structural Engineer
Konpoj Jittijaroonglarp
Contractor
Polpaiboon Limited
Partnership
Photography
Spaceshift Studio
1
CAR PORT
2
PATIO
3
LIVING
4
DINING
5
PANTRY
6
STORAGE
7
KITCHEN
8
CORRIDOR
9
GUEST ROOM
10
STORAGE
SECTION B
12
11
BATHROOM
12
SCULPTURE COURT
13
INNER COURT
14
POND
15
MASTER BEDROOM
16
WALK-IN CLOSET
17
MASTER BATHROOM
18
PLANT BALCONY
19
ROOF TERRACE
20
OPEN
10m
10m
17
7
18
9
16
14
6
8
11
18
5
19
15
2
14
4
14
13
3
LOWER LEVEL PLAN
20
UPPER LEVEL PLAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM
in the face of
disaster
Architect The Heritage Foundation
Pakistan
Green KaravanGhar (GKG)
Defined by its inventive employment of traditional and modern techniques, the

Green KaravanGhar initiative is aptly evocative of the ingenuity and resilience
of both its designers and the community it was designed to house.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM
PROJECTS
GREEN KARAVANGHAR (GKG) THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Seven million people were reportedly displaced when the recent floods in Pakistan left
the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in ruins, prompting the Heritage Foundation to
extend the combined architectural expertise of its project team. As the first phase of a
three-part disaster outreach programme, relief packages of food and non-food items
were sent to 500 families in the district of Swat. Phase Two entailed the construction of
transient shelters or nucleus houses known as Green KaravanGhar.
Finding the most resourceful means of building a hardy structure was initially a chief
concern for the architects. Using lime-mud mortar, and wood and stone retrieved from
the debris of the devastated houses and corrugated galvanized iron sheets for roofs,
some 1200 units, were constructed in 75 hamlets within Hazara. A traditional crossbracing technique locally known as dhijji which survived the effects of the earthquake
was crucially incorporated as a supporting element within the design. Tying methods
and bolting techniques were also researched and implemented in the case of wooden
posts and bracings. Later, the galvanized iron roofs were replaced with timber joists
and purlins carried on cross-braced timber structure. Mixes of mud and lime, inspired
by mud-lime mortars traditionally used in medieval Pakistani architecture, were used as
mortar and plaster, resulting in a high level of insulation.
from left
Split bamboo planking

used for roofing;
household member
finishing walls with
mud/lime plaster
Taliban insurgence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in early 2009 led to the internal displacement of local communities, inducing the need for easily fabricated housing and community facilities. While a mud-brick community kitchen was initially designed, excess
costs and time constraints prevented the actual utilisation of the design. A quicker
alternative involving bamboo posts, beams and matting with stone, mud and lime was
later devised by Yasmeen Lari, a local architect renowned for her work in emergency
housing. Requiring a completion period of just three days, the bamboo matting, walls,
completed with mud-lime plaster, allowed for a 10-degree temperature variance between internal and external temperatures.
Keeping in line with the objective of creating a green module, bamboo was implemented in the roofing system. Dhijji filling with stone was also used for the first time. By
July 2010, the objective of achieving a green low cost construction methodology was
realised with a circular structure that was to be used as a Womens Centre. This unit
utilised materials that were both indigenous and renewable, incorporating a traditional
construction technique that had been tested against every extreme natural element,
including earthquakes. At the advent of the floods in August 2010, a lightweight, easily
fabricated and sustainable Green KaravanGhar was ready to be deployed.
A Green KaravanGhar demonstration unit was completed in Marghazar, Swat in September 2010, one month after the onslaught of the floods. A workshop/warehouse was
consequently established to prepare a kit for each house. Artisans made the foundation, plinths, frames and roofs. Each household broke their own stones, made infill
walls, and plastered the inside of the walls and floors, with assistance from the artisans
team. A unit, consisting of a room, a veranda, kitchen, bath and WC, was completed
at the cost of just USD500, employing the use of bamboo posts and beams, bamboo
matting, stone, mud and lime. Plinth was made with stone while masonry walls supported by a bamboo cross-braced structure with stone infill or other materials derived
from the area. Both the walls and floors were finished with mud/lime plaster while the
roofs consisted of bamboo ring beams and joists, with a polythene sheet waterproof
layer sandwiched between thick mud/lime layers, edged with grass to keep in line with
local practice.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. SALEEM BUKHARI
The structures incorporated easily transportable prefabricated doors and windows.

Initially, a split bamboo planking that was diagonally fixed onto the beams was used,
taking almost three days to complete. It was later replaced with a strengthened bamboo
matting that was interwoven for increased strength. This matting was made available
in prefabricated panels, taking up no more than mere minutes to secure. The standard GKG proved ultimately advantageous due to its capacity to be customised in
accordance to the various temperatures and climatic constraints of different regions of
Pakistan, rendering the module a versatile emergency shelter.
Crediting much of the initiatives success to the close co-operation of local administration and the Pakistan Army who provided logistics and facilitated security within Swat
in the aftermath of the disaster, the Heritage Foundation is currently involved in Phase
Three of the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH
In all, the Green KaravanGhar initiative involved four primary groups of people: the
skilled artisans team, the local artisan trainees, student volunteers and the local community and household members. The success of the module can be measured by not
only the effectiveness of construction materials and techniques it utilised but also by
the number of trained artisans produced through the process and the job opportunities
that it presented to the devastated locals. The involvement of college and university
students was fundamental with respect to making the Green KaravanGhar module a
success. Household owners and community members were also urged to participate in
the construction process, including the excavation of foundations, general help around
the site and the finishing of the mud/lime plaster. The construction of 266 houses was
completed in under six months, enabling affected families to inhabit their houses before
the onset of winter. The units, insulated with three to four inch-thick walls, proved sturdy
enough to withstand extreme conditions, including snow loads of up to four feet as well
as the heavy rains that preceded the snow.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH
This unit utilised materials that were both

indigenous and renewable, incorporating
a traditional construction technique that
had been tested against every extreme
natural element, including earthquakes.
PROJECTS
Location
(Villages in Swat district Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province Pakistan)
Biha
Buklaria
Charma
Chatikal
Chuprial
Ditpani
Fazal Banda
Gawalrai
Islampur
Koray
Labat
Mandaldag
Marghazar
Nalkot
Pishtunai
Roringar
Sedara
Serai
Shingaltan
Site Area
Estimated over 3000 sqm
(Plot sizes of each
GKG dependant on land
holdings available)
Client
Community
Project Team
(The Heritage Foundation)
Yasmeen Lari
(Sitara-I Imtaiz Honorary
Project Director Chair and CE)
Naheem Shan
(Project Manager)
Mariyam Nizam
(Project Coordinator)
Wajiha Siddiqui
(Architectural Drawings)
Civil and Structural Engineer
Amin Tariq
(Amin Tariq and Associates)
Quantity Surveyor
Heritage Foundation
GREEN KARAVANGHAR (GKG) THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
BAMBOO DOOR
MUD PLASTER
ELEVATION
SECTION
1
BASE
2
VERANDAH
3
KITCHEN
4
BATH
5
W.C
6
ROOM
from top
Fixing bamboo matting

for walls; completed unit
with beneficiary family;
completed unit, Biha,
Swat
PLAN
5m
FEATURE
Text by Adele Chong
For many, the on-the-ground reports that really struck a

nerve following the March 11 disaster in Japan did not
come via CNN, the BBC or any other major news agency
for that matter. The most compelling accounts of the
tragedy, significantly, managed to trickle their way
through the news feeds of social networking sites such
as Twitter and Facebook. While successive tweets,
status updates and uploaded images quickly became
indicators of life for anxious family members and friends
awaiting news from suddenly displaced loved ones,
the civilian commentary that surfaced also offered the
international community a deeper, more intimate
glimpse into the situation at large as well as the severe
impact of the earthquake-cum-tsunami on the Japanese
urban environment. A short video posted on YouTube,
for instance, depicted the hair-rising effects of the tremours as the anonymous filmmaker himself remained
crouched beneath a table within the crumbling interiors
of the Sendai Mediatheque, a highly publicised building
designed by Toyo Ito. Watching the walls and ceiling
shudder violently from side-to-side as if the structure
itself were composed entirely of foam, one cant help
but be left aghast at the disclosed fragility of such outwardly robust architecture - and of the human condition
- in the face of Mother Natures wrath.
Without a doubt, the last decade marks an ominous
period in the history of modern civilisation; the Japanese
catastrophe comes as the latest in a string of natural
disasters that have continued to strain global communities in the past few years, ranging from a destructive
earthquake in Haiti in 2009 to the recent floods in Pakistan which displaced as many as seven million people.
But while the wary among us might be inclined to interpret these events as the beginning of the end, what can
at least be said about the ensuing process of rebuilding
communities and cases of affected individuals striving
Mediations in
an Emergency:
The Rise of
Disaster Housing
beyond their means to achieve the seemingly impossible is how thoroughly these actions - brought about
by a revived consciousness of our collective mortality divulge the resilience of the human spirit, irrespective of
the kind of future that awaits us all. It is a sentiment that
one, in an ideal world, likes to imagine designers of all
emergency housing bearing in mind, particularly in the
generation of structures which not only serve their initial
purpose of temporarily sheltering displaced victims but
also function as a psychological respite from the traumatic effects of the disaster.
According to Cameron Sinclair, co-founder of Architecture for Humanity (AFH), an NGO which has garnered
critical acclaim for the pro bono design services it
offers to communities in need, the commonly accepted
idea of architect-as-pure aesthete, in these situations,
is automatically delegated to the backdrop. Ego gets
you inches but it doesnt get you impact, maintains
Sinclair. A true architect is not an artist but an optimistic
realist. 1
That said, being an optimistic realist in Sinclairs
books doesnt mean deferring to poorly devised and
cheaply manufactured structures that give little or even
no thought at all to the mental and physical plight of
disaster victims. On the contrary, he emphasises that
there is a need for architects to better comprehend
the intricate workings of the situation they are helping
to resolve in order to create a beautiful yet tangible
solution that is loved by others and the community at
large. In Sinclairs opinion, a generic solution simply
often doesnt suffice in these circumstances. Concerns
and needs of housing have to be addressed in direct
relation to the affected community in question in order
to achieve the desired impact; it is a matter of integration vs. imposition. So while the at-times overshadowing
In an age rampant with natural disasters, can publicity and

smart branding strategies help call attention to the pressing
need for intelligent, sustainable shelters which house the body
as well as the soul? What can this mean for the future of
architecture in general?
persona of the author-architect may be diminished, the
need for intelligent design, for him, remains more pertinent than ever before.
But its not to say that getting your cause plugged by a
larger-than-life personality exactly hinders things either.
Acknowledged in the past as architectures potentially
most important patron,2 American actor Brad Pitt has
been lending his star appeal to the profession since the
he reportedly interned at Frank Gehrys office subsequent to being bitten by the architecture bug a few
years ago. Call it what one will but Pitts steadfast devotion to furthering the reaches of humanitarian design
to where its most needed is turning the heads of some
of the hardiest cynics around and proving to the public
that hes not just exercising his celebrity right to nurture
a very expensive hobby.
After chairing an architecture competition to rebuild a
block in New Orleans, Pitt made the leap and founded
his own organisation, Make It Right, collaborating with
a Los Angeles based architecture firm, Graft and a
Green consultant. Devised as a means of reconstructing
the Lower Ninth Ward district of New Orleans, one of
the areas in the city reportedly most affected by Hurricane Katrina, the initiative was launched in 2007, with
the objective of building 150 affordable high-quality
design homes. A total of 13 architects, including highprofile personalities such as Thom Mayne, MVRDV and
Shigeru Ban were enlisted to contribute to the project,
working for severely reduced design fees or for nothing
at all.
But really, money isnt the main issue here. The respective star power of each big-name architect within
global architecture circles, combined with Pitts own
movie star clout, not surprisingly, served to generate
an avalanche of media coverage beyond ones wildest

expectations. Good intentions aside, the collaborative
efforts harnessed in support of the Make It Right initiative amounted to the kind of publicity that is very nearly
impossible to buy. More crucially, it so happens that
the domain of public perception, of all domains, is one
which Pitt finds himself faring rather well in.
The actor wisely took the opportunity to drum up attention to the dire circumstances surrounding the displaced residents of the Lower Ninth Ward, promoting
his cause on every well-watched media programme
from The Charlie Rose Show to Entertainment Tonight,
with a trail of picture-hungry paparazzi thrown in as a
perpetual given. Implementing an idea of Pitts to fill a
few blocks of the Lower Ninth Ward with bright pink
canvas houses initially meant to be replaced with digital
renderings of where future homes would stand, Make It
Right threw a symbolic bent on the idea of sponsoring
a house. Photo-op moments at the launch of the posturing actor with the houses as a memorably graphic
backdrop gave the cause something of a trademark
identity, aptly and officially affirming the merger between architecture and Brand Brad.
What is also important to note about the predictably
overblown hoopla around Make It Right is the fact that
it was all completely part of the big picture which was,
inevitably, to draw attention to the scale of the physical
and psychological damage that was wrought by Katrina.
The main message of the entire initiative was communication, whether one is looking at the deft way in which
the publicity machine was wielded or at the actual architecture itself; examples of the development include
a poetically crafted dwelling by Thom Mayne which is
being supported by two pylons meant to anchor the
house in place like a boat should future floods ensue.
architecture asia january / february / march 2011 feature 25
IMAGES COURTESY OF SHIGERU BAN ARCHITECTS
IMAGE COURTESY OF MVRDV
What can at least be said about the ensuing process of

rebuilding communities and cases of affected individuals
striving beyond their means to achieve the seemingly
impossible is how thoroughly these actions brought
about by a revived consciousness of our collective
mortality - divulge the resilience of the human spirit,
irrespective of the kind of future that awaits us all.
FEATURE
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma asserts

that design can only really speak to
inhabitants when due respect is given
to the original context of an area.
There is also a controversial addition by MVRDV which
offers a twist on the conventional shotgun house by
drastically folding the structure in the centre and forming a V in mid-air while the floors remain level. The
latter was deemed controversial by critics due to its indirect allusion to actual houses which were tossed and
mangled during the disaster.
Although Pitt received a great deal of praise for his efforts internationally and managed to raise enough funds
to build over 50 houses for 200 occupants in the Lower
Ninth Ward to date, there are those who do continue
to question the discrepancy between the architects
newfangled contemporary designs and the original
structure of the traditional shotgun houses that were
formerly situated in the area as well as how successfully inhabitants are able to adapt to the drastic change in
housing typology. Shelter is one thing but can so-called
highly designed architecture help to rehabilitate a community of disaster survivors in a truly social sense?
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma asserts that design
can only really speak to inhabitants when due respect
is given to the original context of an area. In a recent
commentary in the Financial Times published shortly
after the latest disaster in Japan, Kuma criticised the
countrys government and wealthy elite for shunning
the relevance of Japans rural areas and failing to acknowledge the problematic gap that continues to exist
between the poor and the rich. For him, the fact that
nuclear power stations are generally shuttled away to
the innermost corners of rural outskirts - with local governments being paid generous subsidies to turn a blind
eye to the risks of hosting such a facility - is revelatory of the blatant neglect that many authorities living in
cosmopolitan areas are guilty of.3 According to Kuma,
it is a fact that was left mostly unacknowledged until
recent widespread fears of leaked radiation emerged
as an aftermath of the disaster, threatening to have a
critical impact not only within the vicinity of the country
alone but also on a global scale. Long renowned for championing the virtues of local materials and techniques,
Kuma implored architects and planners to overcome
the powerful influence of Tokyo cool and the temptation to submit to trends that have become so readily associated with the big-city glamour of the nations
capital, particularly when designing for local regions
whose culture and traditions are vastly estranged from
popular urban design elements.
Now we must rethink how we design buildings for
particular locations, he states. Each place has its own
history, culture and - potential risk. Each place must
adopt a design that is adapted to the specific risks of
an area.
While Kumas perspective on the futility of creating environments based on a city-centric mindset is not exactly unheard of, the timeliness of his statement lends
an invigorated validity to the real meaning of designing
in accordance to context. Bearing this in mind, the example of disaster housing should not be perceived as
an isolated domain; ensuing developments in the field
are destined to modify the way in which we live, disaster or no disaster. With so many architects already
paying heed by employing a more sensitive approach
to projects in accommodating cultural, social and environmental factors, its a clear sign that perplexing challenges as well as an important new beginning await
architecture.
1 Conversation with Cameron Sinclair, The Atlantic, March 21, 2011

http://technologyforgood.info/2011/04/11/a-conversation-withcameron-sinclair-ceo-of-architecture-for-humanity--by-danielfromson-of-the-atlantic-and-sinclairs-ted-talk/
2 Andrew Blum, Saint Brad, Metropolis Magazine, March 19, 2008
http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20080319/saint-brad
3 Kengo Kuma, Tokyo cool has swayed Japan for too long,
Financial Times, April 5, 2011
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/30c411f0-5fb8-11e0-a718-00144
feab49a.html
clockwise from left
Shigeru Bans paper structures temporarily shelter

the displaced in a gymnasium in East Japan;
Dutch firm MVRDVs controversial take on the
traditional shotgun house for Make It Right;
recent examples of disaster housing in Sri Lanka
and Pakistan
architecture asia january / february / march 2011 feature 27
Architect IROJE KHM Architects

Korea
Purple Hill House
For South Korean firm IROJE KHM Architects, the problem of insufficient natural
light gives way to an ingeniously designed house fraught with idiosyncrasies.
PROJECTS
structured
outlook
Devising an innovative
design, the designers kept
the coveted view of the
mountain intact by concocting
a way of making the most out
of light originating from both
the south and east side of
the structure.
PROJECTS
PURPLE HILL HOUSE IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS
Sited in a scenic residential area near Gwanggyo Mountain, the Purple Hill House is surrounded by the lush greenery of a sprawling natural environment. While being situated
next to a picturesque mountain meant being able to enjoy access to spectacular views
of the landscape, the northwestern positioning of the site also alludes to a lack of natural sunlight emanating from the south. Thus emerged the dilemma that plagued IROJE
KHM Architects when the South Korean firm first took on the task of building the house
in question. For principal architect HyoMan Kim, it seemed ironic that the outlook of the
structure would prove to be such an issue given the panoramic locale; in order to fully
partake in the breathtaking beauty of the mountain, inhabitants would literally be forced
to remain largely in the dark due to insufficient natural light.
Devising an innovative design, the designers kept the coveted view of the mountain intact by concocting a way of making the most out of light originating from both the south
and east side of the structure. The resulting floating glass garden features a complex
clustering of glass boxes which meander through the interior space, facilitating the
presence of sunlight on various levels. By lining the boxes with a combination of various
plant life, the designers essentially created a garden specifically for each room, literally
bringing the outside, inside. Strategically positioned directly over the main living area
throughout the defining three floors, the floating boxes generate a distinctive identity for
the house with respect to a exuding a dynamic that alludes to movement whichever way
one choose to view the entire structure.
SITE PLAN
FRONT ELEVATION
LEFT SIDE ELEVATION

0
5m
Principal Architect
HyoMan Kim
Design Team
KyeongJin Jung
JiWon Ym
EunHae Park
Structural Designer
MOA
SungYeong Oh
Contractor
JEHYO
Location
Gyeounggi-do Korea
Site Area
554 sqm
Bldg Area
110 sqm
Gross Floor Area
291 sqm
Structure
Concrete Rahmen
Exterior Finishing
Aluminium Sheet
Exposed Concrete
Interior Finishing
Exposed Concrete
Lacquer
Photographer
JongOh Kim
1
MAIN GATE
2
SUB GATE
3
ENTRANCE
4
ENTRANCE COURT
5
PARKING
6
ROAD
7
STAIR WAY
8
SUNKEN COURT
9
MECHANICAL ROOM
10
LIVING ROOM
11
DINING ROOM
12
DINING GARDEN
13
KITCHEN
14
UTILITY
15
LIVING DECK
16
POND
17
WATER FALL
18
SERVICE YARD
19
STAIR DECK
20
STAND DECK
21
BALCONY
22
STUDY ROOM
23
BEDROOM
24
MASTER BEDROOM
25
MASTER BATHROOM
26
DRESS ROOM
27
GARDEN
28
MASTER GARDEN
29
REAR GARDEN
30
FLOWER GARDEN
31
ROOF GARDEN
PROJECTS
PURPLE HILL HOUSE IROJE KHM ARCHITECTS
31
31
30
24
31
31
26
30
25
23
22
18
23
13
18
14
23
9
6
SECTION 2
SECTION 1
31
5m
21
23
30
30
30
30
22
20
26
24
28
THIRD FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
27
29
23
7
30
10
7
23
15
22
19
11
14
13
16
18
27
17
12
6
2
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN

0
5m
An unusual temporary project by HHD_FUN introduces visitors to a new way of

observing urban change.
asymmetrical
shifts
PROJECTS
Architect HHD_FUN
China
Embedded Project
PROJECTS
EMBEDDED PROJECT HHD_FUN
Based on the concept of complex systems, young Beijing-based firm HHD_FUN, in

collaboration with artist Aaajioa (Xu Wenkai), dreamt up a temporary, interactive installation designed to observe, perceive and research our living world, society and biology. The structure housing the installation was inspired by a triangular fractal pattern.
Each triangle has been sub-divided or cracked again and again, resulting in a unique
cube-like enclosure wrapped with a three-dimensional, surface pattern. The element
that clearly sets the structure apart is most certainly in its jettisoning of traditional
architectural design methodology in favour of a computational algorithm. For the designers, the appeal was in the creation of an organic structure through combining the
logic of the algorithm with the physicality of architecture.
Within the internal space of the installation, virtual architecture is embedded into various cities and regions within the mapping programme Google Earth and projected
onto the floor. To further enhance the connection between the computational design
and realised architecture, the generated digital data or three-dimensional architectural
models of the external structure have been embedded into the Google Earth projections. The movement of visitors entering the space is tracked by motion sensors
which then forward the resulting input to corresponding projectors. As visitors move
throughout the space, the displacement of their bodies triggers subsequent changes
in the projected scene. Hence audiences play a direct role in generating unusual perspectives from which to view the globe, the city, open fields as well as the algorithmic
architectures embedded into the Google Earth projection. Through the Embedded
Project, the designers ultimately hope to place emphasis on the dynamic that exists
between the movement of people, visual experience and what they term, urban messages. In short, the idea is that one may be able to experience the simulation of shifts
occurring within our urban environment through the projection.
The Embedded Project

is wrapped in a skin
inspired by a triangular
fractal pattern
Through the Embedded

Project, the designers
ultimately hope to place
emphasis on the dynamic
that exists between the
movement of people, visual
experience and what they
term, urban messages.
PROJECTS
EMBEDDED PROJECT HHD_FUN
Location
Beijing
Site area
100 sqm
Date of Completion
2009
Project team
Zhenfei Wang
Luming Wang
Collaborator
Aaajiao (Xu Wenkai)
Materials
Steel and wood
Client
E- Arts
Curator
Xiaodong Yan
Project Cost
20 0000 RMB
ELEVATION
An interactive projection
is housed within the
interior space
Architect Shuhei Endo Architect Institute

Japan
Bubbletecture H
Based on the idea of circulation, the new bubble-shaped environmental

institution by Japanese firm Shuhei Endo Architect Institute, draws inspiration
directly from functions inherent to the structure itself.
PROJECTS
a tribute to
nature
BUBBLETECTURE H SHUHEI ENDO ARCHITECT INSTITUTE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MR. YOSHIHARU MATSUMURA
PROJECTS
Bubbletecture H by Shuhei Endo Architect Institute is a recently built structure sited

on a steep slope along the north side of a forest in Japans Hyogo Prefecture. While
its overall construction may appear a tad out of the ordinary, its situated context is
certainly appropriate with respect to the nature of its intended function; the clients
brief called for an architectural space which could be utilised as a point of contact
with respect to the surrounding nature. The main objective was in the creation of a
place which could foster local and widespread interest in global environmental issues.
Bearing this in mind, the Japanese firm based their unusual design on the notion of
circulation.
The design of Bubbletecture H, at the request of the client, revolved around three
main functions with two being arranged on flat land due to the existence of an old
road used for commuting to the old town nearby. The third function was coordinated
in conjunction with the natural slope of the site so that it could float alongside the
same level as the two corresponding functions. The rationale behind the correlation of
all structural functions lay in a few key factors: to maximise the use of the limited flat
land and landform and to minimise the damaging effects of construction on the natural environment. The form of the building thus, unveils the naturally generated shape
which arose from connecting all three functions.
The part of the building that achieves direct contact with the earth consists of RC
structure and composite underground beam while the part of the building that floats
above ground uses SRC structure in conjunction with a steel frame. The floating part,
propped with an underground beam, is supported by the building frame of RC which
also doubles as a water tank for fire prevention. The superstructure itself boasts a
single-layered, three-dimensional truss structure made out of Japanese cedar thinning wood log and ready-made hardware. The truss, made of out several logs, was
assembled on site and connected by hand in each of the three main spaces within the
building, giving way to spaces such as a waiting room or an office.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ENDO SHUHEI ARCHITECT INSTITUTE
In the case of the superstructure, the designers chose to use Japanese cypress thinning wood log with the intention of promoting localised building materials. According to the architects, Japanese wood was used also in an attempt to neutralise C02
emissions. The emphasis on materiality extended to other aspects such as the roof
and wall which features 1.2mm thick weather-resistant steel board. The ultimate advantage of using the steel board lies in the ready presence of initial rust which stabilises the material and prevents further rusting from occurring. But while the low
maintenance feature of the steel board was considerably beneficial what remained
of foremost interest to the design team was the evolving form of the material which
achieved a clear correlation with the ever-changing mode of nature itself.
from top
The structure is sited

along a foresty slope;
Bubbletecture H as
seen from above
The main objective was in

the creation of a place which
could foster local and widespread interest in global
environmental issues. Bearing
this in mind, the Japanese
firm based their unusual
design on the notion of
circulation.

44 architecture asia october

january // february
november
/ march
/ december
2011 projects
2010 projects
Architect
Shuhei Endo
Architect Institute
Location
Sayo cho
Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Date of Completion
February 2008
Principal Use
Environmental institution and
exhibition space
Height of Structure
One storey
Site Area
5000 sqm
Building Area
968 sqm
Total Floor Area
995 sqm
Period of Construction for Truss
Structure (Upper Part)
August 2007 to September 2007
Period of Construction for Truss

Structure (Lower Part)
May 2007 to July 2007
Period of Construction for Roof
September 2007 to
December 2007
Design Duration
May 2005 to March 2006
Period of Construction
November 2006 to February 2008
PROJECTS
top
BUBBLETECTURE H SHUHEI ENDO ARCHITECT INSTITUTE
These main spaces

within the structure are
connected by way of a
hand-assembled truss
1
a
4
11
1
14
13
14
NORTH ELEVATION
SECTION A
11
8
14
12
WEST ELEVATION
SECTION B
10m
3
2
9
10
8
1
11
6
10
10
8
7
4
5
PLAN
SITE PLAN
1
ENTRANCE
2
THEATRE ROOM
3
STAGE
4
LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION AREA
5
WORKSHOP ROOM
6
OFFICE
7
WAITING ROOM
10m
8
STORAGE
9
OPERATING SPACE
FOR THEATRE ROOM
10
LAVATORY
11
COURTYARD
12
MACHINE ROOM
13
FIRE TANK
14
TANK OF RAINWATER
FOR REUSE
PROJECTS
Architect Djuhara + Djuhara

Indonesia
Wisnu House
Energy-efficient and cleverly designed, the Wisnu House in Pondok Gede,

Indonesia by Djuhara + Djuhara promotes a very human way of
living while adhering to the constraints of a modest budget.
ad-hocism
at its best
PROJECTS
WISNU HOUSE DJUHARA+DJUHARA
Nugroho Wisnu and Tri Sundari, the then soon-to-be owners of the Wisnu House
knew what they were looking for when they consulted Indonesian firm Djuhara +
Djuhara about building their dream property. The client initially purchased the land
that he had been living on in a tiny 26-metre house. Measuring 78-metres within a
high-density housing area in a Jakarta suburb, the originally acquired land eventually
grew to encompass a total of 250 sqm after Wisnu managed to buy up the remaining
land behind his house. After investing a great deal of capital on the land, a limited
budget was left when it came time to renovate the actual house. Ahmad Djuhara,
principal of the Djuhara + Djuhara, had been earning accolades for his work on the low
budget Sugiharto Steel House. As Wisnus initial preference for the architect in charge
of the project, Djuhara appeared to be the perfect choice.
The concept was at once simple and unconventional: build a floating box as a means
of sheltering an open space on the ground floor, bringing to mind a modern interpretation of the traditional rumah panggung or platform house. The open-air concept of the
living room also promotes natural ventilation, encouraging the inhabitants to minimise
the use of air-conditioning. The living and dining area have been situated on the first
level while the bedrooms, a sitting room and study are housed on the second floor for
ample privacy. The feeling of open space further extends outwards into the houses
surrounds; the main front gate serves as an adjustable barrier, opening up to create
a spacious connection between the house, communal garden and badminton court.
Location
Pondok Gede, Bekasi, Indonesia
Architect
Ahmad Djuhara (Djuhara + Djuhara)
Interior Designer
Ahmad Djuhara (Djuhara + Djuhara)
Project Team
M Lukman Hidayat
Imron Yusuf
3D Illustration
Imron Yusof
Structure
Eduard Sirait
Contractors
Eduard Sirait
Alex Gandung
Andi Linardi
Ujang
Nurhayat
Supri
Still bearing in mind the restraints of the budget, Djuhara chose to employ the use of
concrete columns, beams and slabs as main components of the basic structure - at
the time of construction, concrete structure was reportedly cheaper than its steel
counterpart. The challenge of creating a lightweight structure was overcome by crafting the second floor out of a lightweight steel framing and metal deck roof. To shield
the house from the effects of the hot sun, a screen composed of reclaimed wood was
purposefully implemented on the front facade of the box.
Other repercussions arising from the natural elements were also considered. In order
to keep the rain at bay while simultaneously facilitating the presence of sunlight, the
project team created a 600 mm gap which would allow excess rainwater to flow directly
into the gutter, preventing any leakage concerns. The design also took into consideration the well-being of the inhabitants, including the servants living in-house. Eschewing a layout typical to most houses of its like in Indonesia, the designers opted to
locate the servants quarters in the front of the house. This pragmatic restructuring of
typology not only grants the servants easier access to the general space, it also allows
them to enjoy ample sunlight and ventilation while fulfilling their daily domestic duties
within the home.
Built Area
215 sqm
Site Area
242 sqm
Project Duration
2005 to 2007
Cost of Project
RP 200 0000 000
Client
Nugroho Wisnu and Tri Sundari
The concept was at once simple and

unconventional: build a floating box as
a means of sheltering an open space on
the ground floor, bringing to mind a
modern interpretation of the traditional
rumah panggung or platform house.
from top
The design achieves a

gentle transition from
inside to outside; the
cleverly devised layout
makes the most out of
the limited site area
PROJECTS
WISNU HOUSE DJUHARA+DJUHARA
FRONT ELEVATION
SIDE ELEVATION
SECTION 1
ROOF
MASTER BEDROOM
BEDROOM BEDROOM SITTING ROOM

SECTION 2
LEVEL 1
SECTION 3
MAID ROOM
LIVING ROOM
PARKING
DINING ROOM
SECTION 4
GROUND LEVEL
SECTION 5
GARDEN
0
PROJECTS
a house
reborned
Architect all (zone)
Thailand
Pims Guesthouse and Ceramic Studio
The resourceful renovation and transformation of a small 70-year old wooden

house in Bangkok by local firm all (zone) fittingly reiterates the idea that less
is more.
PROJECTS
PIMS GUESTHOUSE AND CERAMIC STUDIO ALL (ZONE)
Originally built as a family house on a large plot of land measuring about 1600 sqm,
the structure in question was initially sited in an area that was previously considered
a faraway suburb of Bangkok. Over time as the plot evolved into a middle class residential development, the house, having been converted into maids quarters and a
space for storage, was well on its way to complete deterioration. The familys decision
to keep the original structure and renovate the house was reinforced by their desire to
retain a sense of the authenticity in a neighbourhood that was fast becoming gentrified by the emergence of expensive condominiums.
A critical part of the design strategy revolved around minimising the usage of new materials. Opting to re-use and reassemble much of the original structure, the designers
intention was to allocate a larger portion of the overall budget to labour costs in an
effort to benefit the low-waged builders who worked on the project. The restructuring
of the dissembled materials also meant that the design and building process had to
amalgamate as virtually nothing could be planned out beforehand in the architects
drawings. Hence all (zone) found themselves working quite intensely with both the
contractor, carpenters and owners in order to arrive at the end result.
After dismantling the house into parts, a main structure, reinforced with steel, was
initially erected as the framework for the reassembled pieces. While the second storey
of the house more or less retained its shape, the first storey was stripped of walls,
doors and windows and transformed into a traditional open air living space or sala,
alleviating the need to return the building to a time when houses were naturally ventilated. Layers of paint peeling off the surface of the structure were deliberately left as
is to serve as an aesthetic reminder of the houses history.
Leftover materials from the renovation such as the wooden planks, door and window
frames were enterprisingly used in the construction of a small open-air ceramic studio
located in the compounds garden. Like the adjoining house, the studios main structure is composed of steel which serves as a connective element with respect to reassembling the salvaged materials. In enlisting the skills of local carpenters, the sensibility typical of vernacular Thai buildings was cultivated throughout the entire project,
once again placing emphasis on the extensive history behind the original house.
Moving beyond budget concerns, the resourceful execution of the project more significantly arose out of a need to achieve several planned objectives: to minimise the
impact on the environment by re-using and recycling materials, to create a naturally
ventilated home that would stand in stark contrast to the air-conditioned spaces which
have become the norm in the city, and finally, to endow the realisation of the project
with a sense of social responsibility by drawing attention to the plight of underpaid
workers in Thailand.
all images
The house and studio

combine the best of
the past and present
In enlisting the skills of local

carpenters, the sensibility
typical of vernacular Thai
buildings was cultivated
throughout the entire project,
once again placing emphasis
on the extensive history
behind the original house.
A ceramic studio was

created out of materials
leftover from the
renovaion of the house
PROJECTS
PIMS GUESTHOUSE AND CERAMIC STUDIO ALL (ZONE)
STUDIO
HOUSE
SITE PLAN
40m
Project Team
Rachaporn Choochuey
Sorawit Klaimak
Isara Chanpoldee
Namkhang Anomasiri
Total site Area
1600 sqm
Total Floor Area
215 sqm
Budget
USD60 000
Engineer
CM One Co Ltd Somnuk Chatayanoon
Somchai Kadpudpong
Contractor
Terdsak Tassayarn
Duration of Project
June 2007 to June 2008
Client
Sudhikam Family
WORKING
MULTIPURPOSE
AREA
HOUSE SECTION 1
TERRACE
FOYER
MULTIPURPOSE AREA
WC
MULTIPURPOSE AREA
E
7
4
3
STUDIO SECTION
2m
HOUSE SECTION 2
E
WORKING
STORAGE
2m
BEDROOM
OVEN
1
FOYER
TERRACE
WC
2
WORKING AREA
HOUSE SECOND FLOOR PLAN
MULTIPURPOSE AREA
MULTIPURPOSE AREA
WC
UP
STUDIO PLAN
2m
HOUSE GROUND FLOOR PLAN
2m
Designed by Makoto Tanijiri of the young Japanese practice, Suppose Design

Studio, a thoughtfully crafted suburban residence channels the feeling of living
in a more organic environment.
skewed
perspectives
PROJECTS
Architect Suppose Design Studio

Japan
House in Fukawa
PROJECTS
HOUSE IN FUKAWA SUPPOSE DESIGN STUDIO
Situated in the suburbs of Hiroshima, Suppose Design Studios recently built House in
Fukawa was designed specifically to accommodate a family of four. Due to the abundance of traffic around the site, the main challenge was in creating a residence which
could function successfully as both a closed and open space. Bearing this objective in
mind, the architects reasoned that in order for the house to maintain an internal sense
of spaciousness while remaining walled-off from the chaos of the outside world, an
illusion of infinite space had to be conveyed through the design of the interiors.
Working with a limited site area, each space had to be carefully devised so that it
could act as a catalyst for the one situated next to it. A staircase stands at the heart
of the house, surrounded by walls and built up towards the ceiling. In the narrative
of the design, it is clear that its role is that of a main character, the pivotal focus of
the entire structure itself. Spaces are randomly located at various levels and angles,
reinforcing the perception that every room appears to have been fashioned using the
pillar as a point of origin. The unusual structuring of the interiors allude to spaces at
the top of each room which harbour the potential to be utilised as multiple terraces,
giving inhabitants additional points of engagement.
Non-standardised clusters of spaces two entwined rooms, two entwined terraces,
and a room combined with a terrace contribute greatly to the dynamic sensibility of
the house. Aside from enlarging the perspectives of the interiors through the layering
of the rooms, the architects had also hoped to simulate the peaceful experience of
residing within a more natural environment; the organic nature of the interior layout
was inspired by the sublime act of lingering beneath a leafy tree and gazing upwards
to attain a sense of eternity.
The unusual structuring of the

interiors allude to spaces at
the top of each room which
harbour the potential to be
utilised as multiple terraces,
giving inhabitants additional
points of engagement.
Makoto Tanijiris unusual

design breaks up the
conventional layout of the
Japanese family house
all images
Intimate alcoves are

created out of the nonstandardised clustering
of rooms
PROJECTS
HOUSE IN FUKAWA SUPPOSE DESIGN STUDIO
12
3-2F FLOOR PLAN
SOUTH ELEVATION
3m
14
11
1
ENTRANCE
2
LIVING
3
DINING
4
KITCHEN
5
BEDROOM
6
STOCK
7
BATHROOM
8
WC
9
TERRACE 01
10
TERRACE 02
11
LOFT 01
12
LOFT 02
13
CLOAK 01
14
CLOAK 02
15
KIDSROOM 01
16
KIDSROOM 02
16
10
3-1F FLOOR PLAN
13
EAST ELEVATION
9
15
Designer and principal

Makoto Tanijiri
Client
Kenta Kubo
Location
Hiroshima Japan
Built Area
114 sqm
Date of Completion
May 2010
Photographer
Yano Toshiyuki
2F FLOOR PLAN
12
4
6
9
3
11
1
5
10
2
SECTION
1F FLOOR PLAN
3m
housing hope
Architect Sheran Henry Associates

Sri Lanka
Tsunami Housing Development at

Payagalawatta, Kalutara
PROJECTS
A social housing scheme devised for low-income families in a Tsunamidevastated area of Sri Lanka came as a much-needed respite for displaced
inhabitants.
PROJECTS
TSUNAMI HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT PAYAGALAWATTA, KALUTARA SHERAN HENRY ASSOCIATES
Realised by Sri Lankan architect Sheran Henry, the scheme for the Tsunami Housing Development at Payagalawatta, Kalutara consists of 18 housing units located on
10 perches. The task at hand was to generate a low-cost housing scheme for lowincome families who happened to be victims of a tsunami that ravaged the area. The
objective was to study the lifestyles of this unique group of people and devise a series
of feasible spaces based on the research. The resulting development facilitates social
interactions by incorporating pockets of communal gathering spaces within the housing clusters. The scheme is part of a proposed village master plan consisting of 150
houses. The master plan simultaneously incorporates recreational areas, commercial
activities, community and religious activities.
The cluster of 18 houses is set along a linear pedestrian pathway, forming pockets of
community gathering spaces, including two shophouses. Each unit is made up of a
large verandah space, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a toilet. The kitchen, recognised
as the domain of the women folk, was located closer to the garden to allow mothers
to watch over their children as they played outside. The bedrooms have been tucked
in for more privacy while a covered toilet can be accessed from the outside in keeping
with traditional planning practices. Consideration was also given to the possible expansion of the houses by extended families by positioning the houses along an edge
of the site for ample garden space.
Concrete grills along the faade allow for the house to be ventilated via natural means.
In addition to the grills, the roof promotes ventilation through gaps between the rafters, purposefully left uncovered to enable the passage of air. Most walls, finished with
a rough plaster, have been outfitted with coconut vertical sections in order to enhance
cross-ventilation. A simple single pitch roof composed of coconut timber rafters is
clad with Calicut tiles. Another significant aspect of each unit is in the lighting of the
interiors. Flooded with ample daylight, the use of electricity is minimised. The overall design of these simple houses bears in mind the importance of inner and outer
spaces in a traditional context, existing as an apt architectural response to the vast
paddy field and rubber estates that surround this scheme.
The objective was to study the

lifestyles of this unique group of
people and devise a series of
feasible spaces based on the
research. The resulting development
facilitates social interactions by
incorporating pockets of communal
gathering spaces within the
housing clusters.
all images
The development
incorporates a cluster
of 18 houses set along
a linear pedestrian
pathway
PROJECTS
TSUNAMI HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT PAYAGALAWATTA, KALUTARA SHERAN HENRY ASSOCIATES
SITE PLAN
0 15 30
50
150m
LAYOUT PLAN
FRONT ELEVATION
REAR ELEVATION
SECTION
5m
Location
Pepiliyawatta Sri Lanka
Dates of Construction
September 2006
Principal Architect
Sheran Henry
Structural Engineer
K P Piyasena
Architectural Assistant
Thanushka Wijayapala
Write-up Research
Dilini Mapagunaratne
Land area
10 perches per house
Floor area
61 sqm per house
Cost
Rs 12 500 000
Client
The Lion Brewery Ceylon LimitedRehabilitation programme
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
5m
Architect Jason Pomeroy

Malaysia
The Sime Darby Idea House
Designed by architect Jason Pomeroy, The Sime Darby Idea House is conceived
as a test bed for new ideas, showcasing the latest in sustainable architecture in
its designers quest to devise the first carbon zero residence in South East Asia.
PROJECTS
eco-living
redefined
An understanding of the needs of the Malaysian demographic, coupled with due respect of the expansion and contraction of the family nucleus, finds its expression in
the Idea House as a fully adaptable dwelling. Void spaces can be transformed into
additional living or sleeping spaces as the family expands. These spaces can even be
removed as the children grow up and leave home. An open-plan living format allows
for a more flexible lifestyle, promoting the internal / external adaptation of spaces to
suit the families requirements in terms of work, play and everyday life.
The environmental agenda is rigorously pursued with the installation of innovative
active systems which include BIPV cells, rainwater harvesters, grey water management system and low energy appliances. Ultimately, a back-to-basics approach to
the environmental strategy underpins the design; the building is carefully orientated
to minimise heat gain and enhance cross ventilation while deep overhangs have been
installed to provide shade and respite from the sun and tropical showers.
Such social and environmental responses also contribute to the buildings economic
efficiency. By using a modern method of construction (prefabrication and modularisation), a speedier construction process is enabled, saving time and alleviating the
financial / resource burden. The modular frame and construction also allows the development, if necessary, to be demounted at any point to preserve the terrain for
future generations and / or future development.
The promotion of clean renewable energies in the scheme also mitigates the reliance
on artificial / mechanical means of lighting and cooling, reducing energy costs. The
commitment to keep the design green even extends to often underlooked areas such
as the driveway and parking spaces: instead of conventionally applying asphalt or
concrete tiles in this areas, a lightweight, recyclable plastic grid structure specially
designed to stabilise and support soil and turf is installed.
To increase the wireless integration of the community, and hence the impact of transport requirements, the Idea House incoporates Ciscos Smart+Connected solutions.
The solutions involve communities in real-time information exchange while facilitating
interactions and access to virtual resources that help spur on social, economic and
environmental sustainability efforts. For example, the safety and security system, accessible from any display device, heightens situational awareness of the occupants,
while the unified communication system functions as a single communication infrastructure to serve multiple needs for information access, communication or even as a
lighting control panel, hence enabling reusability and sustainability.
An Integrated Building Management System (IBMS) has also been implemented to
enable inhabitants control over the systems within Idea House in the case of security,
HVAC, kitchen appliances and telecommunication. Furthermore, the IBMS doubles as
an environmental dashboard for the management of running costs, energy consumption and generation (via BIPV), water consumption and comfort levels within the Idea
House.
Overall, the Idea House demonstrates the importance of having a sustainable process
in place in order to deliver a truly sustainable product. The structure draws upon the
combined expertise of some of the worlds leading technology and solutions providers, specifically, architects, engineers, landscape designers, urbanists, contractors
and suppliers, culminating in a design that reinterprets the Malay Kampung house in
its ability to respond to the tropical context whilst embracing clean technologies with
the impetus of achieving carbon neutrality.
PROJECTS
THE SIME DARBY IDEA HOUSE JASON POMEROY
1
ENTRANCE FOYER
2
GUEST BEDROOM / TP
ROOM
3
GUEST BATH
4
LIVING AREA
5
DINING AREA
6
DRY KITCHEN
7
WET KITCHEN
8
BATH 1
9
STORAGE
10
UTILITY ROOM
11
OUTDOOR DECK
12
POWER ROOM
23
21
22
20
19
void
18
17
15
16
14
13
CAR PORCH
14
STAIRS
15
MASTER BEDROOM
16
MASTER BATH
17
FAMILY AREA
18
FUTURE EXPANSION
19
BEDROOM
20
BATH 2
21
BATH 3
22
ROOF GARDEN (FUTURE
EXPANSION)
23
BALCONY
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
13
02
03
12
04
01
05
06
11
07
08
09
10
09
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
5m
10m
Architect
Jason Pomeroy
Architect of Record
Alizar Architect
Typology
Eco-friendly bungalow
Rooms
3 +1 (expandable to 5 +1)
bedrooms 5 bathrooms
Site Location
Denai Alam Shah Alam Selangor
Lot Area
3431 sqm
Gross Floor Area
710 sqm
Net Floor Area
586 sqm
Construction method
MMC (Modern Method of
Construction)
Client
Sime Darby Property Berhad
Civil & Structural
Mohd Asbi & Associates
Mechanical & Electrical Consultant
Perunding Eagles Engineer
Landscape Architect
Clouston Design
Planner
Mohd Asbi & Associates
ESD Consultant
Aurecon Singapore
Main Contractor
Shimizu Corporation
Branding and Digital
Communication
Thinkscape Group
An open-plan living format allows

for a more flexible lifestyle,
promoting the internal / external
adaptation of spaces to suit the
families requirements in terms of
work, play and everyday life.
a refreshed
take
The newly installed BAKITA bar-lounge and restaurant in one of Kuala Lumpurs
most happening areas by local firm, ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd makes the most out
of a run-down, historic structure.
PROJECTS
Architect ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd

Malaysia
BAKITA Bar
Faade, corner view: The outer fencing

wall mimics the building envelope,
allowing visual transparency yet shielding
the Forecourt.
Emerging from the remnants of a dilapidated 1950s shophouse, the recently built
BAKITA makes a much-welcomed addition to the Changkat Bukit Bintang neighbourhood, the most bustling nightspot in Kuala Lumpur. The name, BAKITA literally translates as our own bar, having come about as a combination of the words bar and
kita, a Malay word for our or us.
Located on a corner lot just off the main strip, the ArchiCentre-designed bar-lounge
and restaurants strategic locale and expansion towards adjacent streets allow for
a clear linkage to be created between the enclave it resides in and Changkat Bukit
Bintang. The corner lot location also affords BAKITA two sides of elevation and an allencompassing 20-foot strip of forecourt which was subsequently transformed into a
timber-decked outdoor beer garden on the ground level.The brief called for a relaxed
and eclectic space which could simultaneously accommodate a combination of both
male and female guests while allowing for gender-specific refuge points wherein
men or women could retreat to. Consequently, three disparate spaces were derived
from these specifications: a masculine bar on the ground level, a feminine cocktail
lounge on the first floor and an alfresco dining/drinking area. The unique ambiance
associated with each space, ranging from the tropical sensibility of the forecourt,
the Neo-Industrial feel of the beer bar to the cosmopolitan sleekness of the cocktail
lounge, is directly indicative of the establishments multifaceted nature and aesthetic.
Upon first glance, BAKITAs faade remains one of the most striking elements of the
overall design. Expanded metal used to envelop the existing balcony on the first floor
became something of a reiterated motif throughout, framed by rhythmic repetitions of
triangulated panels. Though seemingly random in placement, the sheets formation
came about as a strategic way of reducing material wastage while metal was utilised
as a way of filtering glare and creating a voyeuristic feel. Existing aspects of the building such as the original soldier-bond balcony balustrade and masonary ventilation
grilles above doorways were retained to establish a connection with the past and
present. Steel columns mounted on individual footings and buttressed against the
existing structure play multiple functions, supporting the expanded metal envelope
and new eave overhang and bar equipment loading on the balcony and acting as an
encasement for piped rain water during rainy periods.
The presence of nature is heightened in the alfresco forecourt, an area leveled by two
large planar surfaces to correspond with the fluctuating levels of the road on the front
and side. Rain trees lean towards the building envelope, offering a foliaged canopy
over the forecourt and creating a visual synergy with the outdoor chengal wood furniture. To generate additional seating area, the brick fencing wall surrounding the forecourt was lowered to open up the previously cloistered space, giving way to seating
ledges between the posts. Large openings surrounding the industrial-themed beer
bar entice passing visitors. This area is complemented with a 18m-long bar finished
in black granite and polished chrome workmen stools which strike up a contrast with
the bar and rectilinear workbench steel tables.
The masculine vibe of the beer bar also stands in stark juxtaposition with the cocktail
lounge which has been envisioned as a communal living room, enabling casual interactions. Anointed with a sharp colour palette, the space is laden with shades of grey
that permeate the ceiling, raw cement rendered columns and polished cement floor.
The grey is punctuated with a scarlet wall which defines the rear as an intimate nook
for small parties or gatherings. The lounge features a well-blended mix of modern
and classical with respect to furniture and interior fittings. Strip windows along the
two elevations welcome a panoramic view of the urban landscape. Peripheral seating
facing the view outside redefines the spatial experience of the central area, enhanced
by a drop ceiling which facilitates essential cooling, ventilation and lighting. As a apt
finishing touch, a glass-encased lightwell sets the mood with its diffusing of natural
daylight and reflective play on the stainless steel mosaic-clad bar counter, generating
a multi-chromatic experience for all.
PROJECTS
BAKITA BAR ARCHICENTRE SDN BJD
1
BEER GARDEN
2
BEER BAR
3
BEER MACHINE
4
TOILETS
5
KITCHEN
6
OUTDOOR KITCHEN
7
STORAGE
8
LIQUOR STORAGE
9
LIGHT WELL
10
STAIR CASE
11
PRIVATE LOUNGE
12
OFFICE
13
TOILETS
14
LOUNGE AREA
15
RAISED PLATFORM
16
BAR
17
DJ CONSOLE
18
FLAT ROOF
19
CAVE EXTENSION
20
METAL DARK ROOF
ELEVATION
18
B
20
18
19
18
A
ROOF PLAN
17
12
14
13
15
16
11
10
18
18
A
SECTION
from top
Raised timber platform

of the cocktail lounge
bar; nature and built
form converse: the urban
raintrees interact with the
building, leaning towards
the envelope, offering a
natural foliaged canopy
over the forecourt;
clusters of eclectically
mixed modern and
classical furniture,
cocktail Lounge
1m
2m
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
3m
Client
WishWonder Sdn Bhd
Architect/ Interior
Designer
ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd
Project Team
Ar Dexter Koh
Esther Lau
Andrew Yit
Contractor
TK Woon Construction
Date of Completion
June 2010
Photo Credits
H Lin Ho Photography
3
1
10
1
7
Expanded metal used

to envelop the existing
balcony on the first
floor became something
of a reiterated motif
throughout, framed by
rhythmic repetitions of
triangulated panels.
A
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
1m
2m
3m
in top form
Young Japanese firm Mount Fuji Architects Studio turned typically limiting
budget constraints into a winning factor with the XXXX House by side-stepping
a few conventions with respect to structure and process.
PROJECTS
Architect Mount Fuji Architects Studio

JAPAN
XXXX House
Much like the design rationale behind the work itself, the initial coming to being of the
XXXX House came about in a rather roundabout way: instead of opting to buy a Toyota sedan for his business, the client decided on a less pragmatic use for his money
- an atelier which could serve as a gallery for his ceramic art collection. A mere 1.5 million yen - the amount needed to purchase the car - however, didnt exactly leave much
room for options when it came to building architecture of a conventional scale. Yet for
the architects faced with the project, the sum was still considered substantial enough
to create an everyday object that could enhance ones life. In this instance, could a
compromise be properly achieved? Tasked with this challenge, Mount Fuji Architects
Studio found themselves reinventing the architectural rules and putting their capacity
for resourceful-thinking to the ultimate test.
A drastically scaled-down budget also meant that contractors were exempted from
the picture altogether, requiring the architects to take on the actual building process
on their own, with the exception of a few more complex procedures whereby the
expertise of specialised technicians was sought. To minimise costs, the client, who
stemmed from a ship- and boat-building background, even pitched in to help construct the structure. A total of three days were allocated for the design and construction of the project. Essentially, the team was given a short amount of time to source
for the most inexpensive material and devise a way to create a fully functional space
using the most effective means possible.
With respect to material, structural plywood was utilised for the main framework; as
a highly distributed dimensional lumber in japan, it proved to be the perfect choice.
The building process primarily involved gluing four to five sheets of plywood together
to create a panel while maintaining a width of 900mm, culminating in a main structure
consisting of pillar, beam and brace. For the floor, wall and ceiling, the finishing material included insulation, roof truss and material. By inclining even frames to the left
and odd frames to the right, the framework was joined to form an X-shaped structure
wherein an astylar tubular space was achieved with punctuated triangle-shaped slits
that facilitate natural lighting. The repetitive X-shaped unit also bore an appeal because
of the enhanced possibility to expand the structure in the future; one merely needs to
add on yet another frame. Monocoque construction was purposefully implemented to
simultaneously reduce costs and minimise the building process, reinforcing the value
of the design. Finally, the presence of sunlight and natural breeze renders the structure
fully whole by adding a metaphysical dimension to the final form, endowing both interior and exterior with an otherworldly ambiance.
By inclining even frames to

the left and odd frames to
the right, the framework
was joined to form an Xshaped structure wherein
an astylar tubular space was
achieved with punctuated
triangle-shaped slits that
facilitate natural lighting.
PROJECTS
Location
Yaizu Shizuoka
Japan
Site Area
503 sqm
Building Area
22 sqm
Total Floor Area
17 sqm
Number of
Stories
1
Building Height
3m
Structural
System
Wood Panels
Major Materials
Structural
Plywood
(Exterior and
interior)
XXXX HOUSE MOUNT FUJI ARCHITECTS STUDIO
SECTION L FRAME (#2.4.6.8)
SECTION R FRAME (#1.3.5.7)
1m
2m
5m
NATURAL PARK
FIRST CONSTRUCTION
SECOND CONSTRUCTION
OLIVE TREE
9
900
FRAME 8
WORKING TERRACE
KILN
8
900
FRAME 7
7
900
FRAME 6
900
FRAME 4
ATELIER
GALLERY
7200
900
FRAME 5
FRAME 3
4500
900
900
FRAME 2
2
900
FRAME 1
(GL+50)
2000
1210
1210
500
ENTRANCE
(GL0)
1380
2420
a
AREA FOR EXPANSION
PLAN
0
1m
2m
3m
4m
5m
10m
A gallery for the clients

ceramic art collection
was created by putting
the architects penchant
to resourceful thinking to
the test
BOOKS
Contemporary
Architecture
in China:
Buildings and
Projects
2000 2020
Author Christian Dubrau
Publisher Page One
Without a doubt, modern China
continues to remain a stark point
of fascination for architecture
enthusiasts all over the world.
Its seemingly relentless pace
of urbanisation, initially kickstarted by the 2008 Beijing
Olympic games and consequently
perpetuated by the 2010
Shanghai Expo, have contributed
to so-called mega-cities which
hark back to the industrialisation
age of North America and Europe
in the 19th century.
Featuring thought-provoking
essays by Arno Sighart Schmid,
author Christian Dubrau and
Brigitta Hahn-Melcher,
78 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 books
Contemporary Architecture in
China enables one a thorough
insight into the countrys ongoing
building boom. Simultaneously,
the volume raises questions as
to how Chinas present
developments might affect the
global community at large over
the foreseeable future. Over 30 of
Chinas most successful projects
realised by Chinese as well as
international architects are richly
portrayed throughout the books
pages, making it a lavish feast
for the eyes in addition to ample
fodder for thought.
Japans carefully cultivated

aesthetic sensibility has long
sustained its international
reputation as one of the foremost
producers of elegant design. Its
penchant for referencing classic
traditions while bracing itself
against the changing zeitgeist
throughout the ages has
particularly served the country
well as far as nurturing its
contemporary developments in
architecture.
Author Mira Lochers well-informed
volume, Traditional Japanese
Architecture: An Exploration of
Elements and Forms, pays tribute
to the age-old practices that
have significantly contributed to
Japans cultural and aesthetic
growth with respect to building.

What is made apparent through
Lochers writings is the concept
of an underlying narrative within
each element of Japanese architecture; every part of a building
tells its own story regardless of
function and size. A thoughtful
foreword by Japanese architect
Kengo Kuma touches on the
importance of wood throughout
the countrys architectural history,
reinforcing Japans long-term
fascination with the potential of
materiality an aspect which is
meticulously examined within
Lochners writings.
Available in all leading bookstores
for USD39.95.
Traditional
Japanese
Architecture:
An Exploration
of Elements
and Forms
Author Mira Locher
Photograhy Ben Simmons
Publisher Tuttle Publishing
datum,
noun plural data. See also data.
1 a piece of information. an assumption or premise from
which inferences may be drawn.
2 a xed starting point of a scale or operation.
JULY 2011
Its been quite a ride
DATUM:KL, which started in 2003, will now be the name of an exciting and ambitious new PAM
initiative, the 2011 Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival. Having grown over the years and now in
its ninth year, Datum:KL is restructured and up-cycled as a month long multi-programme
platform to be held throughout July 2011.
The Festival aims to bring forth wider cultural aspects of the discipline onto the public domain and
to invigorate the city of Kuala Lumpur into new and purposeful dialogues. For the month of July,
Datum:KL will frame a moment of architectural intensity, propositions and conversations. A
comprehensive series of conferences, exhibitions, workshops, forums, events, etc., has been
planned with your participation in mind. Watch this space...
Ang Chee Cheong
Datum:KL Curator
www.datumkl.my
(from 20 May onwards)
DATUM:KL & NOW IS ORGANISED BY
KUALA LUMPUR
ARCHITECTURE
FESTIVAL IS
SUPPORTED BY
www.facebook.com/datumkl2011
Dewan Bandaraya
Kuala Lumpur
www.twitter.com/datumkl2011

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ARCASIA MEMBER INSTITUTES

Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB)

Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM)

4 & 6 Jalan Tangsi

The Architectural Society of China (ASC)

The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)

The Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP)

19th Floor One Hysan Avenue

The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA)

United Architects of The Philippines (UAP)

a journal of the architects regional council asia (ARCASIA)

THE ARCHITECTURE ASIA TEAM

Lee Chor Wah

Zone A Deputy President

CHAIRMEN OF ARCASIA COMMITTEES

Architecture Asia is published quarterly. Reproduction

Purple Hill House

4 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 contents

6 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 editors note

tune the light

With the emergence of LEDs

complex lighting engineering

ERCO tools that integrate

8 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 events

works. The aggravating security situation in the country

As we pursue the goal of Green

Ar. Rafiq Azam from

Lanka (in the absence of Ar. Kazuo Iwamura from Japan).

Prof. Sajjad Kausara gave a slide presentation of the

14TH ASIAN CONGRESS OF ARCHITECTS (ACA-14)

October 29, 2010

clockwise from top left

I am sure that all of us will have fond memories of the

The ARCASIA professional architectural

Architect VaSLab Architecture

clockwise from top left

Approaching the main

architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects 15

16 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

View of patio towards

The dams profound structure

The roof terrace

18 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

LOWER LEVEL PLAN

UPPER LEVEL PLAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM

Green KaravanGhar (GKG)

Defined by its inventive employment of traditional and modern techniques, the

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. MARIYAM NIZAM

Split bamboo planking

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AR. SALEEM BUKHARI

The structures incorporated easily transportable prefabricated doors and windows.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH

22 architecture asia january / february / march 2011 projects

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAHEEM SHAH

This unit utilised materials that were both

GREEN KARAVANGHAR (GKG) THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Fixing bamboo matting

Text by Adele Chong

For many, the on-the-ground reports that really struck a

In an age rampant with natural disasters, can publicity and

an avalanche of media coverage beyond ones wildest