Personal Reflection

Main Concept/ New Knowledge learnt
I learnt the design considerations when it comes to Architectural Design. I learnt that the shape of the building should link to its purpose or its audience so that the building would have a strong concept and people will know what the purpose of the building easily without even going into the building. I have also learnt the appropriate colour schemes for different rooms to evoke different emotions and give a different impression.

Difficulties encountered
When using Google Sketchup, I was at first not sure of how to use the tools even with last year’s experience with Google Sketchup. After I got past creating the exterior, I found out that I had drawn the exterior not to scale and had to redo the exterior many times to get an appropriate scale that fit the field I chose. After adding the furniture, I had problems moving around the furniture as I grouped the furniture, making the file very laggy and I could not make changes to the furniture layout with ease. After I figured that out, I found out that I had to add the colour for the furniture. However, I did not know how to manipulate the colours at that time. This caused me to waste much time and also, I had to redo the entire furniture for my building when adding the colour schemes.

How did you overcome difficulties faced?
I learnt to be patient with the software, and used the time that the software was lagging to do up my journal and other homework. This allowed me to manage my time better. In addition, I played around with the colours and found out how to manipulate the colours. In addition, I also found out that I could import pictures to use as the wallpaper in my building. This proved very useful to me as I thought that the colours available in Google Sketchup were not very appropriate for my building.

Learning Ages - Serene Fong

Project name: Learning Ages

Purpose of this building: The purpose of this Enrichment Centre is to provide educational services, outside the boundary of academics, to children aged 3 - 12. It will allow students and children to equip themselves with a skill that they are particularly interested in and also do something constructive during their free time. This will also show students, children and their parents that there is more to education than solely academic studies in school.

Concept behind the design: The design was mainly based on a pile of books. I chose to make it asymmetrical as I think this shape would intrigue and inspire the children of the abstract art of the design of the building and may cause them to want to learn to design like that. Also, the pile of books relate nicely to the life of a teenager. The part of the book which are supposed to be the page will be made out of glass. This will allow light to enter during the day. Natural light also provide natural comfort to the people and are beneficial to the growth and development of students’ learning. The different colour schemes of the classrooms will bring out the boldness in students to allow them to be very creative and have a good attitude in learning.

What makes a good Architectural Design?

What makes a good Architectural Design?

• The design of the area has to suit the environment the design it is in. (be integrated into the surroundings)
• The building suits the functions it is supposed to perform.
• The building is in a location that is useful to the people in the area.

Some example that have a good Architectural Design includes:

- The Esplanade

The Esplanade's unique shape which reminds many of a durian is what intrigues many. It is one of the buildings that represents Singapore and as such it is near the Singapore River. It contains world-class performing spaces along with other support services and facilities like meeting rooms. Its Concert Hall is able to seat 1600 people and its Theatre, 2000.

Source: http://www.theodora.com/wfb/photos/singapore/singapore_photos_4.html

What is Architectural Design?

What is architectural design?

Architectural design involves designing the various components of an infrastructure; to style the building. To allow the building to perform the certain functions that it was built for.

source:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/architecture

1. the art and science of designing and superintending the erection of buildings and similar structures

2. a style of building or structure: Gothic architecture

3. buildings or structures collectively

4. the structure or design of anything: the architecture of the universe

www.businessdictionary.com/definition/architectural-design.html

Concept that focuses on the components or elements of a structure or system and unifies them into a coherent and functional whole, according to a particular approach in achieving the objective(s) under the given constrains or limitations.

http://www.answers.com/topic/architecture

1. The art and science of designing and erecting buildings.
2. Buildings and other large structures: the low, brick-and-adobe architecture of the Southwest.
3. A style and method of design and construction: Byzantine architecture.
4. Orderly arrangement of parts; structure: the architecture of the federal bureaucracy; the architecture of a novel.