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Encountering a space
- CAO DAI TEMPLE, TAY NINH
Overview
This project documents an exploration into the life of a specific urban space, the Cao Dai Temple in Hoa Thanh Town, Tay Ninh City, as part of the "Encountering a Space" assignment. The primary goal was to define and communicate the essence of this religious space through a primary research method known as the AEIOU inventory (Actions, Environments, Interactions, Information, Objects, Users).
The task involved creating a 2-color visual inventory on an A0 format, using original observations (supplemented by research due to potential confinement limitations) to capture the specific details and overall sense of place within the temple complex.
Primary Research Method: The core methodology employed was the AEIOU inventory framework. This design observation technique guided the detailed recording of the various facets of the chosen space.
A - Actions: Observing the primary purpose (prayer, religious festivities) and secondary activities (visiting, walking, enjoying nature) within the space.
E - Environments: Documenting the material context, characteristics (size, light, sound, atmosphere, materials), and distinct sub-spaces within the vast temple complex.
I - Interactions: Recording person-to-person communications and how people interact with artifacts and objects, such as discussions after prayer sessions or seeking guidance from custodians.
I - Information: Noting how the space communicates with its users, through elements like nameplates for temples or notice boards with regulations.
O - Objects: Identifying items used to conduct actions and exchanges, differentiating between objects used by worshippers and those used by temple dignitaries (e.g., bells, ritual clothing).
U - Users: Characterizing the people using the space (believers, visitors, dignitaries) and their behaviours and observable values.
Research
& Inspiration
Chosen Space:
Programmatic Type: Religion
Specific Location: Cao Dai Temple, Hoa Thanh Town, Tay Ninh City
The Cao Dai Holy See is a significant religious site, established for prayer and Cao Dai religious festivities. It encompasses the Main Temple, administrative offices, residences, and other key institutions within a large, nature-filled property. Its peaceful atmosphere attracts both believers for daily prayer and visitors seeking relaxation.
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF SPACE
- Long Hoa Market
Overview
This project addresses the "A Graphic Description of Space" assignment, aiming to graphically explore and communicate the complexities of a living city space – Long Hoa Market in Tay Ninh.
The collage integrates diverse representational techniques from spatial design, such as perspective views, mapping, diagrams, and text, to capture both the objective characteristics and the subjective, sensory experiences of the market environment. A key requirement was incorporating an image sequence (minimum five images) to reconstruct movement through the space.
Building on Prior Research: This assignment extended the exploration initiated in the first assignment (AEIOU inventory of the Cao Dai Temple) by focusing on a different type of city space – a bustling marketplace – and employing a more complex, layered graphic representation method: collage.
Chosen Space: Long Hoa Market, Tay Ninh. This location was selected for its vibrant atmosphere, diverse activities, and rich sensory inputs, offering ample complexity for graphic exploration.
Inspiration & Techniques: Inspiration was drawn directly from the dynamic environment of Long Hoa Market. The assignment brief encouraged combining factual and expressive descriptions using various techniques. Based on the visual evidence in the final collage PDF, the following techniques were likely explored and integrated:
Actor (User) Scenarios/Multi-sensory Mapping: Represented through snippets of dialogue ("CHẠY XE VÔ ĐÂY LUÔN ANH ƠI!", "TÔM KHÔ BAO NHIÊU 1 KÝ VẬY CHỊ?") capturing typical interactions and the sounds/language of the market.
Spatial Mapping: Indicated by the inclusion of street names (Phan Đăng Lưu, Nguyễn Du,...) and potentially a simplified map structure placing the market within its neighborhood context.
Diagrams, Tables, Charts, Words: Utilized extensively through text elements, including large letterforms ("LONG HOA MARKET" ), signage ("MUỐI TÔM ĐÂY!"), product labels ("MUỐI TÔM THƯỢNG HẠNG" ), and prices/quantities ("HAI CHỤC", "BỐN CHỤC" ).
Perspective/Panorama: Included photographic or drawn perspective views to fulfill the image sequence requirement, depicting movement towards or within the market.
Research & Inspiration
Presenting a space
- TAY NINH RICE PAPER MOBILE DISPLAY
1. Overview
This project addresses the "Presenting a Space: A Mobile Display" assignment, which tasked us with creating a mobile (or wearable) display to communicate the identity of a living city. This display integrates descriptive approaches from previous assignments with new spatial concepts—models, samples, multiple viewing orientations, transparencies/opacities/layers, and user interactions.
The final product is a mobile display focused on Tay Ninh's iconic rice paper, aiming to stimulate interest, provoke a desire to discover, and accompany the viewer in that process.
The research for this project focused on Tay Ninh's identity, specifically its renowned rice paper. As a Tay Ninh native, I recognize the cultural significance of this product. The research process involved:
Exploring the history of Tay Ninh rice paper: From its origins to its present-day status as a culinary symbol.
Identifying key attributes: Highlighting its popularity, its designation as a national intangible cultural heritage, and the variety of its forms (including the famous dew-dried rice paper).
Understanding its role in Tay Ninh's culinary culture: From its use in everyday dishes like mixed rice paper to its presence in special occasions and family meals.
This research provided the foundation for the display's concept, which aims to showcase rice paper as a central element of Tay Ninh's identity.
2. Research & Inspiration
3. Sketch & Ideation
The ideation phase involved a series of sketches (documented in the "Visual Diary") to visualize the display's form and content. Key ideas included:
Display Structure: Using stacked boxes to create a multi-layered display, reminiscent of a rice paper store.
Time Representation: Incorporating an hourglass to symbolize the passage of time, connecting the past (traditional production) to the present (modern consumption).
Content Organization: Planning the arrangement of information, images, and samples to tell the story of Tay Ninh rice paper.
Material Selection: Choosing readily available materials like cardboard boxes (from online shopping) and watercolor paints.
The sketches explored different configurations, views (including a top-down view), and methods of representing the information gathered.
4. Final Design
The final design is a mobile display constructed primarily from repurposed cardboard boxes. It showcases Tay Ninh rice paper through a combination of:
Models: A scale representation of a rice paper store, evoking the presence of rice paper shops in Tay Ninh.
Samples/Artifacts: (Inferred from description) The display likely incorporates actual samples or representations of different types of rice paper.
Multiple Viewing Orientations: The display is designed to be viewed from multiple angles (sides, top, ends), encouraging viewers to move around and interact with it.
Transparencies, Opacities, Layers: The layered box structure creates depth and varying levels of visibility, revealing different aspects of the rice paper story.
Interactions: The mobile nature of the display allows for interaction with viewers, facilitating a direct engagement with the presentation of the cultural artifact.
Specific elements include:
The hourglass feature, symbolizing the evolution of rice paper production over time.
Descriptive text and images, including a reference to Ba Den Mountain (a Tay Ninh symbol) and a poem about dew-dried rice paper.
Visuals of rice paper being dried under the sun and dew, illustrating the traditional production process.
A section dedicated to "bánh tráng trộn" (mixed rice paper), a popular local dish.
A section with "fun quiz" questions about rice paper.
The display's name: "Tay Ninh, the city of rice paper".
The display aims to provide a comprehensive and engaging presentation of Tay Ninh rice paper, fulfilling the assignment's objectives.
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