REFLECTION ON ORIGINAL PROJECT

Original Project Brief

The original project, titled Solar Flare, was designed as a student clubhouse and learning hub for architecture students. The project aimed to create a space that supports studying, collaboration, model-making, presentations, exhibitions, dining, recreation, and academic networking. Instead of functioning only as a normal student facility, the clubhouse was intended to become an active architectural environment where students could learn, meet, produce work, and experience the relationship between light, space, and structure.

The main concept of the project was a light-responsive student hub. The building used a hexagonal glass façade with varied transparency to filter daylight, reduce glare, and create a strong architectural identity. The façade was inspired by climate-responsive precedent studies and was developed as a layered system, combining glass, aluminium framing, and an air cavity to reduce heat gain while allowing natural light into the interior.

Original Design Objectives

The first objective was to improve the student experience by providing a complete support environment for architecture students. The project included spaces such as a lobby and exhibition area, café, dining areas, design studios, model-making room, printing room, ARCA spaces, reading and discussion areas, recreation spaces, toilets, storage, and a multi-purpose hall.

The second objective was to respond to the solar conditions of the site. The site analysis showed that morning sunlight was more comfortable, noon sunlight created strong roof exposure, and evening western sunlight caused the most critical heat and glare. Because of this, the building form, roof, and façade were developed to control harsh sunlight while still allowing useful daylight into the building.

The third objective was to create a memorable architectural identity. The hexagonal façade became the main visual language of the project. It gave the building a distinctive appearance and connected the design concept to the idea of solar filtering, transparency, and changing light conditions.

The fourth objective was to connect the project with sustainability. The proposal related to SDG 7 by reducing dependence on artificial lighting through natural daylight, and SDG 13 by responding to climate conditions through shading and solar control.

Original Approach Adopted

The design process began with site analysis, user identification, precedent study, and form transformation. The massing started from a basic square form and was gradually modified according to solar direction and façade performance. The west façade was enlarged and treated with hexagonal panels, while the roof was tilted to reduce harsh solar exposure.

The project also explored internal planning. Public spaces such as the lobby, exhibition area, café, dining, and recreation areas were placed to encourage interaction. More focused spaces, including studios, model-making areas, printing rooms, and ARCA spaces, were arranged to support academic production. Circulation was studied through busy, semi-busy, and low-profile movement zones, showing an attempt to understand how users move through the building.

Strengths of the Original Proposal

The strongest part of the original proposal was the clear connection between concept, façade, and environmental response. The hexagonal façade was not only a decorative element, but also part of the project’s daylight and shading strategy. This helped the building achieve a strong identity while responding to the tropical climate.

Another strength was the richness of the programme. The project considered different student needs, including learning, making, presenting, eating, resting, and networking. This made the clubhouse feel like a complete student hub rather than a single-purpose building.

The project also showed technical ambition. The façade detail included laminated glass panels, aluminium frames, variable frit transparency, a secondary structural grid, and a 400 mm air cavity. The multi-purpose hall also included acoustic, lighting, and fire-safety considerations, which showed an effort to think beyond appearance and include performance.

Limitations of the Original Proposal

Although the project had a strong concept and visual identity, some areas needed deeper development. The façade was visually powerful, but its environmental performance was not fully tested. The project mentioned glare reduction and heat control, but daylight levels, thermal comfort, ventilation, and façade transparency could have been analysed more clearly.

The spatial planning could also be improved. The project identified many user groups, including underclassmen, upperclassmen, faculty, alumni, firms, allied majors, and sponsors. However, the design could explain more clearly how each group would use the building and how their activities might overlap.

The circulation study was useful, but it could be developed further to improve wayfinding, crowd movement, and separation between public and academic spaces. The sustainability strategy could also be expanded beyond daylight control to include passive ventilation, rainwater harvesting, landscape shading, renewable energy, and material lifecycle thinking.

Overall, the original Solar Flare proposal had a strong architectural idea and clear design ambition. However, through reassessment, it became clear that the project could be improved by making the façade more performance-based, the spatial planning more user-centred, and the sustainability strategy more complete.

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