Honest x Deception -- Yan Chyuan Kai

In the modern age , the building built widely debated to be viewed as a  "Honest" or "Deception" as both of them existed in architecture .

But what does it takes to say it is an "Honest" or "Deception" architecture ? 

"We May Not Be Able To Command Good , Beautiful , or Inventive , Architecture ; but We Can Command an Honest Architecture " -John Ruskin

John Ruskin emphasized the morality and honesty in crafting , emphasized the true architecture style which has no covered-up , concealment or masking in using materials . For instance which now widely can be seen ,the outer surface area of iron is covered up with plaster and so on.






Generally , according to dictionary definition : 
1. Honest - free of deceit; truthful and sincere.
2.Deception - The action of deceiving someone


Regarding the two very different style "Honest" and "Deception", we were to give our thought and opinion on these two . Referred to the dictionary , it is antonym to each other and both has general idea in architecture .In general , both of them are quite the opposite meaning . People referred the old building from the past are "Honest" , which its originality of the material is fully exposed . On the contrary , we can say some of the building have too much of column which does not imply or uses on the building itself also can be said "Deception" . 

Sekeping Tenggiri , W.P.Kuala Lumpur 

3.121686, 101.669446
Coordinate .







The case study i chosen for this Honest x Deception discussion 

The Sekeping Tenggiri is a well-known leisure spot and home-stay accommodation designed by MR.Ng Sek San , a Malaysian architect and engineer . It has the best looks to exhibit the "Honesty" lies in this building itself . The material chosen , the environment , the contrast of the material to the environment . Top of all , the material exposed its true identity to world

A peek into the interior n spaces designed . The material speaks on its own .

No materials and texture covered up . The identity of the material itself will reveal through the outlook of the Sekeping Tenggiri . John Ruskin said this,:"Nobody wants ornaments in this world , but everyone wants integrity... Leave your walls as bare as a planned board , or build them of baked mud and chopped straw , if need be ; but do not rough-cast them with falsehood"  Thru this , we understand the honesty illustrated , material will speak for itself . Honesty illustrated the imaginative work which does not have to be advanced or following the era technology preference material. The traditional material such as brick is pure and showcase the straightforward to its function . 

                   Do not ban and exclude "Deception" because it still have a role in modern architecture . "Deception" plays a part when it uses to give out a good impression , an impressive outlook of the building to attract people to it and so on . There is time where economic takes place , budget of client is limited . "Deception" architecture can be used to overcome this issue . For instance , wood with quality is getting costy as trees are always chop down for it . To overcome this , there is fake wood which looks like wood but it made out of other materials to replace wood for the exterior look.

Honesty and Deception architecture are both predominantly on the expression of the structure . It requires the mindset of an architect how to apply his or her design on the building . Either Honesty or Deception , or maybe both at the same time . It express the architect 's design idea well thru the materials used .  According to the writer of the second article, Viollet Le Duc support the idea of using new and modern material especially the ironwork which is contrary to the John Ruskin's honesty traditional material such as brick , stone and many others. In my opinion , I do not see why modern materials does not work well with the honesty concept . We currently in the 20th Century as we will go further n further more to advanced technology world which modern material will be used more frequently , as we moving forward we do not forget the fundamental of the Honesty concept must be brought along to learn and apply. It will be a good combination of Honesty concept with the help of new materials . World is changing , so is the mindset of architects . Revolution it may seems , but the concept must not be forgotten . 




Reference : 

The lamp of truth : 
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/ruskin/7lamps/2.html


Architect profile :
http://www.seksan.com/resume.html

Case study profile :
http://www.sekeping.com/tenggiri/home.html

Oxford dictionary : https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/deception

Oxford dictionary :
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/honest
Comments on Sekeping homestay : https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/ShowUserReviews-g298570-d677341-r160424852-Sekeping_Serendah_Retreat-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.html