Methods of Documentation and Measured Drawings
The report is an additional document that accompanies the set of drawings for the building that is measured during the semester. Basically, the report will elaborate on the significance of the building measured from various aspects such as architectural, historical and cultural. In this report, students are required to relate the architecture of the building to its significance, highlighting how the two support the inhabitation of the building. Students are required to prepare a presentation, photobook and a video about their site. A video documenting the building is required to provide 3D experience of the building.
Project 1: Sketchbook and Journal
We were to produce sketches that we can capture from what we see and feel in the temple, which includes elements such as the construction detail of the building, ornaments and the urban planning itself from the broad varieties down to the smallest details. This project teaches us to be aware and observant of the surrounding details and to also introduce the cultural aspects of the building from our sketches as part of the communication skills in capturing the details of the place.
Project 2: Building Report and Video
For the first part of our Porject 2, we were required to produce a 3-5 minutes video documenting the building to provide a 3D experience of the building.
Our said video was required to contain one of these categories:
- history and architecture
- culture and architecture
My team had decided to take upon culture and architecture as our main focus as our building is a Taoist temple, which is rich in Chinese culture.
Report
Video
Project 3: Measured Drawings and Model
Project 3 also consists of two parts - a set of measured drawings and a physical model of the building assigned.
The first part of the project requires students to produce a set of measured drawings based on the measurements and data they have gathered during the site visit.
The drawings produced include the key plan, location plan, site plan incorporating the roof plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, site sections, exploded isonometric/axonometric and detail drawings which include construction, architectural as well as decorative/ornamental elements.
The second part of the projects requires students to produce a physical model of the building to provide additional physical information and a better insight of the building, which I've volunteered to join.
Measured CAD Drawings
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ttn5plyzmd0pngs/AADMlNXnG-9TqCUube5sW108a?dl=0
Final Model
Personal Conclussion
When I first step into Temple Sin Sze Si Ya, I found out that the surrounding is totally different from the outside. Being in this Chinese temple, I was surrounded by the elements of Chinese Temple Architecture, which is flooded by lots of carvings, ornaments and red colour. Once stepped into the main hall of the temple which is always crowded, my senses were completely impacted by the surrounding inside the temple, which is extremely saturated. The skylight, ornaments, and the altars formed a very nice view which gives a spiritual feeling. The sound of people chatting, the drum and bell, is one of the things which is unforgettable from the temple. The smell, of course, coming from the burning sticks which people use for praying, the special smell and the smoke coming out from them would be the most unforgettable element in the temple. While measuring, I found out that it is just a simple building with a lot of furniture, ornaments and carvings, which increases the complexity of the temple. And that is why, the important elements are all in the details of the temple. “God is in the details” as Mies Van de Rohe said. Temple Sin Sze Si Ya, which is around 200 years old, was well taken care of. We, who were doing the measuring, found out that the temple, which is not made human scale, covered by ashes. We were told to be careful while measuring, as the building is very old and we risked breaking something. Anyways, it all when out smoothly and we had a different experience staying that long in a temple.
Communication skill
Interpersonal skills
Lifelong learning
Thinking and problem solving skills