FUNCTION vs FORM

In a lifespan on an architecture work, the form usually remain or last longer than the function initially programmed into it, there were so much examples like Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, it had undergoes many major and minor of functional changes due to historical events, civilization and also railway development, but the thing that remains stood is the form of the building, although it undergoes some minor changes. Kilang Bateri Johor also, remains the major forms of the previous battery factory, and with some minor interior changes and add-ons, they changed the building into a commercial area. There are too much examples of a building being adapted and renovated into a new building in terms of function. When we refer back to " form follows function ", by Louis Sullivan, he wrote that a form changes when the function changes. I believe this is partially true during a design stage of building, when the function have any changes, so do the design may need to change. When it comes to reuse, the form is already there, which is the turn that how we fit function into existing design, but this is not one way traffic, the form may have some changes to suit the new function too, is just that now we work in a revert sequence of " form follows function " which we consider to slot in new function first before considering major change on form.

KL Railway Station

Interior of Kilang Bateri Johor

An architecture work with initial form and function is like a new person in a new enviroment, the person have his original purpose and thoughts. As we all know the world is keep changing, a person have to live with the changes, either adapt to change or change to influence. I believe this happens same in architecture, when some of the function does not required anymore in the area, and those function slowly eliminated, then too to the space designed for the specific function. What remains is the structure, and form designed earlier. The integrate of new function to the remaining skeleton is like a reborn of an old structure, which make the shell a building again.

The adaptation also may be partially, not all of the building being occupied by new functions. Is like modifying cars, with new update inner parts, or changing a van to a carhouse, that car still function as car, but less seat, bringing along with a tiny house.

Shoreham Street Project

by PROJECT ORANGE

192 Shoreham Street is a Victorian industrial brick building located at the edge of the Cultural Industries Quarter Conservation Area of Sheffield. It is not a listed iconic building but considered locally significant.

The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the once redundant building, to celebrate its industrial heritage and allow the building to be once again relevant for use. The requirement was to provide a combining double height restaurant/bar within the original shell and capitalise on the raw industrial character of the existing building with duplex studio office units above. What the designer done is an upward extension of the existing building in a contrasting but complementary volume, a replacement for the original pitched roof.The new design is very contrast in style with the old one, more dynamic and engaging with the host structure in a couple of locations, where windows bite into the existing building. The overall reuse process remain the original spirit off the building furthermore enhance it, as LOUIS SULLIVAN wrote: When I say the hand of the architect, I do not mean necessarily the accomplished and trained architect. I mean only a man with a strong, natural liking for buildings, and a disposition to shape them in what seems to his unaffected nature a direct and simple way.

This project applies a new life to an old building, moreover increases its dynamic and hierarchy to surrounding buildings. The form of the old building remains with an addition on top, and the function of the building is totally different from initial design. The popularity of the old building is already there, this renovation again rises up its significance and transform it from an industrial building to a restaurant and studio office. To determine a building if it is living or not is depends on the function provided and spirit of the building, as LOUIS SULLIVAN said : while the spirit and the matter fade away together, and it is this that we call decadence, death. The building may had been sunken deep in minds in the society of the area, but now it refloats again with a new appearance and use in terms of function, society, enviroment and hierarchy, just like " The source of the theory of society that altered the understanding of the relation of buildings to use was, of course, biology, what biology gave to the study of society was, in addition to the notions of “function” and of “hierarchy,” the concept of milieu, or “environment.” " by ADRIAN FORTY.