DESIGN BRIEF

Urban development is generally associated with tangible, identifiable built forms related to the socio-economic development of cities. Most of the world's civilizing centres have become large socioeconomic powerhouses of cities, while development could be sprawling or are even shrinking. Such cities typically house vibrant commercial, residential and employment centers, as well as a variety of amenities that form the basis for sustainable, livable and viable habitats. Interestingly, such cities also overlay with natural systems such as rivers or estuaries that have their ecosystems. Similarly, cities and urban areas are primarily characterized by human-made or man-made systems, reflected in the intersections of transportation systems, workplaces, institutions, etc. These latter systems were chosen as the main topic for design interventions in this semester's units.

The synergy between socio-economic and ecological systems - as represented by the described intersections of cities - is an essential feature that improves upon the quality of life and resilience indices of cities, while promoting sustainable spatial development and place-making process. This is achieved through appropriate architectural design tools and methods, as well as sound knowledge and analysis. Intersections are points where real change and growth occur. The brief calls for design interventions at intersections of critical activities and phenomena. Throughout the semester, the students in Design Pre-Thesis 1 are required to interrogate and critically evaluate a plethora of issues in Johor Bahru, ranging from living affordability to anticipating the dynamic changes that are continually happening at a rapid scale. Responding to these issues, as it was suggested earlier, each student will be rigorous, critical and explorative in exploring the solutions in a form of tangible, architectural interventions that could act as a beacon of resiliency within the fabrics of the city.

SEMINAR PRESENTATION

STUDENTS' WORKS