Context x Building ------- Yan Chyuan Kai

C O N T E X T   x    B U I L D I N G

When we speak of architecture , surely we come across the term -"site context" on how it should be one of the necessary consideration prior to any design stage . Context in architecture term can be many thing at once . Majority of people will think context is just surrounding of the site , but it is way more than that . Context , to me , is the exterior element outside of the building which includes the surrounding , human activities , natural phenomenon , even culture , political and the economic issues that happen in the site . How is the weather there ? How is the land contour ? What culture do the people around site practices ? 

Taking all these characteristics and element to the sites , we able to understand the condition clearly before initiate the design stage , finding the coherence of meaning between peoples and the site itself .

Context is a linkage , connection which join the human interaction with the building . Chaining the building to the whatever happening to the surrounding , identify the issues , identify the outcomes , to create a better architecture to user .

Context changes from times to times , the definition of context is different from the past whereby they mostly have to deal only location , culture , economic situation , etc . But in the present days , the major issue which it grows rapidly , to an extend until designer , architect have yet not found the perfect solution for it till now , overpopulation . We have to recall those who came before us have technologies limitation , but now with fast evolving technologies , designer and architect must be able to come up with design with solution to it . So far , the most supportive solution today is to create high rise building , which able to save more land , and create vertical spaces instead of going full-land development .

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Tanderra House 
   by Sean Godsell Architect

Sun Room

 This house in Victoria , Australia is positioned on top of a hill on a 40ha site to take advantage of beautiful views to the distant ocean . The architect , he considered the geographical and climatic context which occured in southeast Australia . He understand well of the climatic of the local area , which has the strong wind and consider the driest and the highest temperature in the Australia . The architect , Mr Sean Godsell able to identify the climatic issues , geographical site before he enter the designing stage ,  understanding it leads it to a better design strategy towards the building . 

During the summer of the year , the wind of northerlies blow across the site ( which also the building is completely exposed ) the architect create a counterpoint to that exposure which forming the "L" shape building . The reason for that , is to keep the Australian traditional design of verandah then transform it to sun room , for the leisure time of course. Other than that , the house dig itself into the ground to provide sheltered outdoor space for the occupants. 

The house creates the sense of it blends with the surrounding and the existing topography , keeping its height at the least exposure , blends well with the grassland .

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Miho Museum
   by IM Pei

This is the Miho Museum located in Japan , a famous work of IM Pei . By considering the site context and geographical context of the area , he is able to blend the building well with the surrounding trees , making it less noticeable in the nature area , keeping a low profile within it . 

He created the walkway giving a sense , you are actually walking between the trees and it separated from the roads for vehicles .

Le Corbusier said in his Gradiant City design, : "Pedestrian should be considered first ,back to the ground , away from the automobile...) " 

Emphasizing the human activities in the area , separating it from any possibility of close contact with vehicles . 

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In the nutshell , i believe context , has a very important seat in architecture world . As we can see , context varies in all kind of element as it , not predominently in only a physical, social economical, or political issue; it is a combination of these element in architecture term . Forging them together , consideration of context , forming a better design outcome .Jane Jacobs said “cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Cities and buildings are the same, they are created to fulfil human needs, make human life easier and comfortable.



References :

http://www.archdaily.com/335724/tanderra-house-sean-godsell

http://www.seangodsell.com/tanderra-house ( must zoom )

http://inhabitat.com/low-impact-tanderra-house-sits-tucked-into-the-landscape-in-victoria-australia/

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/archive/index.php/t-117435.html

http://www.archdaily.com/639108/miho-museum-i-m-pei

https://www.google.com/search?q=miho+museum+material+used&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjsh4fMx8TWAhUHT48KHea9DvQQvwUIJCgA&biw=1707&bih=789&dpr=1.13

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_Museum

http://www.artnewsnviews.com/view-article.php?article=miho-museum-a-structure-embedded-in-the-landscape&iid=35&articleid=1067