LECTURE 12
ARTICLE READING
What is the role of nature in architecture today? Is nature predominantly a design metaphor, a set of physical factors to emulate, or a set of physical factors to overcome or oppose; some combination of these; or something else?
In Carol Burn’s theory, site is defined as the meaning of position of an object, building, monument, or town, and
landscape. He comparing two attitudes regarding the relationship between nature and architecture involvement site. Form my opinion, like what Carol Burn mention about ‘constructed site’ and of ‘cleared site’ , most of the
architect today is disregarding the natural environment that already exists as part of the site when they choose to clear the site. They cleared site for a building that responds to the forces of a site uses the constructed site
method. Nature often being demolish by the developer to build more and get more profit. But I think architecture and nature should become a combination of architecture and site forces by designing using nature elements.
Junsekino Architect design a Nature House in Bangkok that use nature as a design metaphor, the design is to
make every space in a house to feel the nature and the presence of “water”, which is the main theme of this
project, either by visual, sound, or feeling.
Besides, Bangkok, Thailand is a topical country so the house is to blend with genuine tropical feeling and style, energy conservation concept for the house. Lighting in all area is balanced with positive and negative lights. As for the natural light, The ceiling is designed to be very thin like paper and designed to let natural light penetrates
through during the day and disperse light to all areas.
The building materials are mainly local materials, it is a combination of natural materials such as wood, rock
and natural finishing products in order to create the feeling of natural living with architecture.
Nature is an important part of the context. Architecture responds to local conditions such as climate, geology
and seismic conditions. Another example is Menara Mesiniaga that was built in 1992 in Petaling Jaya.
The building is a design with climate responsiveness. The building form serves as a diagram of the various passive solar and natural ventilation principles that informed the design. Besides, the building have consider the heat
gain, climates, wind path and etc. Which reflect what Carol Burn mention about ‘constructed site’ -
“Connecting the earth as natural form to the building as constructed form, the notion of the constructed site
Implies that the resulting architecture is meant to be understood in physical terms—building and setting are seen
to be shaped through obviously physical processes “
As a conclusion,the relationship of architecture and nature is very important. Nature should always be consider
in designs so that the building is no longer a foreign object that is not involving with any nature but it will
become a combination of architecture and site forces. Moreover, the materials used to construct a building
should also be considered in correspondence to the site by using local materials. I believe that it is the
responsibility of architects to improve upon the existing site not degrades it by demolishing its inhabitants. The
buildings we create should invoke the spirit and souls of the site.
