Advent of the [Pirates]

Near future plans

2008-05-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

I am working on developing and refining the thesis for publication at this moment. I welcome all comments and reviews. Thank you!

Finally... uploaded my Architecture thesis video

2008-05-10T15:04:00.001-07:00

Final Presentation 15th Sept, Saturday!

2007-12-10T01:14:00.000-08:00

My final thesis presentation at SCI-Arc on 15th Sept 2007. There were at least 60 people total at my presentation! Quite a daunting sight I must say.

Fortunately, with God's grace and mercy, I managed to pull it off. Many thanks to my thesis adviser, Rob Ley. Also to my super dedicated helpers, without whom I would not have been able to put up such a massive presentation.

One of the comments from the panel went in my favour. The comment was(as accurate as I can remember), "The way you have orchestrated the whole presentation, using almost every media possible, is somewhat very manipulative."

Other comments are:
> This discussion can actually go on for another hour!
> What you are trying to do is actually to investigate a new methodology, marketing a new framework for critical discussion about architecture and city planning with policy makers.
> Hey! Pirate!
> ... ... (many more, but I cannot remember at this point)

Besides my main thesis adviser, Rob Ley, who believed in me and given me tremendous support during the whole thesis ordeal, there are also these wonderful individuals who have so kindly offered their intellect and advice to me from time to time >>
- Michael Speaks Architecture Critic and Writer
- Edward Keller principal of A|UM Studio & a.CHRONO
- Christian Lorenz Sheurer Established Film Concept Artist
- Jawn Lim Designer at Gehry Partners
- Gesa Buttner Designer at Gehry Partners

The jury panel consists of >>
- Tom Wiscombe Principal of Emergent
- William E. Massie (Bill) Associate Professor of Architecture at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute
- Peter Testa Principal of Peter Testa Architects
- Mark Goerner Established Film Concept Artist
- Christian Lorenz Sheurer Established Film Concept Artist
- Jawn Lim Designer at Gehry Partners
- Anthony Vidler Cooper Union Architecture Dean
- Nanako Umemoto principal of Reiser + Umemoto RUR Architecture
- Edward Keller principal of A|UM Studio & a.CHRONO
- Heather Roberge principal of Gnuform
- Rob Ley principal of Urbana
- Heather Flood principal of F Lab
- Craig Hodgetts principal of Hodgetts & Fung

My wonderful thesis helpers consists of (please forgive me if I missed out anyone by mistake. I will update the names in their full version asap) >>
- Robert Cha Rendering & Animation
- Jessie Madrid Video Editing
- Dave O'Regan Video Editing
- Lennard Ong Video Editing
- Jeffrey Ang Presentation Boards
- Yunong Chuo Physical Models
- Xuan He Physical Models
- Prabhu Sugumar 3D Modelling
- Jiwon Eom Physical Models
- Reine Wong Presentation
- Jawn Lim Concept, Ideas-Bouncer
- Sylvia Bay Presentation Boards + Super Flat Screen TV sponsor!
- Philip Ramirez Installation Construction
- Jared Poenisch Installation Construction & Presentation Montage
- Linawati Hasmy Physical Models

There are so much more that I wish to say. But I will leave those for another time. Sorry for the lag in entries. I promise to update with the final boards and also future plans for the post-SCI-Arc development of the thesis as well as details of my thesis presentations in Singapore to the government authorities, design institutions, firms and public.

Graduated! ... but thesis still lives

2007-09-30T11:51:00.001-07:00

15th Sept 2007_final presentation setup

15th Sept 2007_resin cast(left); 3d print site model(right)

16th Sept 2007_SCI-Arc Graduation Ceremony

16th Sept 2007_SCI-Arc Graduation Ceremony

Comments from Gesa Buttner (Designer at Gehry Partners, LLP)

2007-09-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

Sernhong,

I have looked at the pdf. I think the direction is very promising but 
needs some structuring. Each sheet shows an array of possibilities. 
Your job is now to zoom in and focus, make your argument stronger, more
 
polemic (if that is your intention). Read below for some of the ideas 
and questions that came up while reviewing your drawings.

Playing with the past and using it as guideline for possible 
developments is an interesting topic. You turn it upside down, instead 
of history you look for the inherent fiction of the city, the pasts 
untold. You extract the relevant elements by "copying" them into 
today's context. You use the past to diversify the present, by 
reintroducing rejected ideas you bring the city again into a critical 
situation in which different scenarios become valid. This forces 
society, politics and business alike to reevaluate the future. Instead 
of an inflexible monooriented planning approach based on the assumption
of continuous groth and control, you develop a matrix of possible 
scenarios that show how the city could prosper and survive even under 
the worst conditions. Your pirates are synonyms for these worst 
conditions, overcome in the past but not resolved forever.
I'm guessing all the above and would love to see something that 
sustains this argument. I see bits and pieces of it all over your 
presentation, you just have to put them together in a densified format.
 
I think you should not anything to your thesis, reduce instead and 
filter the strong points. I.e. I did not understand your pirate matrix 
at all - and this should be one of your strongest sheets. You are the 
insider of Singapore and everybody in the Jury will be dying to get 
some first hand information from you that they don't know from the 
media. The matrix could present all of this untold insider knowledge. I
recommend that you explain the idea of the pirates in more detail. What
is pirate? A player? Or an action?

Timeline: What is worth copying from the past? Name it. What were the 
keystones in Singapore's development were history and the city could 
have taken a different turn? I.e. No independence vs independence, No 
land-gain vs land gain. How about a graphic, that shows these moments 
as a timeline and and a spreadsheet that traces other possible 
combinations/ fast-forwards a missed possible future into the present.

Project: Explain the drivers that created this tentacle. What was the 
architect's leverage that you are mentioning? Why do we need an 
architect? I would prefer it if the design was an outcome of all your 
spreadsheets instead of being intentional. You need to package it, 
brand it more!

Keep going!
I truly believe this could be marvelous.
When is your presentation?

Good luck

Gesa

more work in progress

2007-09-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

An Invite to the [Pirates] Den

2007-09-03T16:46:00.001-07:00

Strands details (work in progress)

2007-09-02T15:01:00.001-07:00

3d Print (at last)

2007-08-25T15:30:00.001-07:00

The Infrastructure as Architecture Possibility

A common ground providing for ‘diverse voices’

An Un-realized Reality ... A City's Future?

Untouched by the “Believers”, operated by the “Cheaters”

for SCIArc Thesis Catalogue book

2007-08-17T05:38:00.000-07:00

[Pirated City]

Leverage of Architectural Possibilities through Fiction

The thesis realizes the potential of augmented realities as a transformative force that interactively informs design, and aims to demonstrate the possibilities of Leveraging Changes through the diverse powers of Architecture and Urban Planning.

__Architecture & City

Traditionally, architecture and urban planning have been treated as separate entities. With the recent movements in globalization, both in the physical and cyber worlds, cities’ boundaries and growth are constantly being redefined and challenged. The thesis investigates the prospect of a city in which architecture and urbanism perform symbiotically while leveraging design that is a careful balance of the following juxtapositions:

>>>[Abstract Design Decisions vs Quantifiable Values];

>>>[Truth vs Fiction];

>>>[Nation States vs Enclaves]

__Enclaves as architectural expression

Enclaves challenge the many architectural discourses on globalization. They exist within global city systems as emerging ‘self-rule’ establishments and hybrid spaces outside normal jurisdictions. The Enclave attempts to resolve this crossroad between the complex growth of Cities and simplistic perspective of Architecture.

__[Pirates] as tool of investigation

Part of the investigation looks at the hypothetical return of [Pirates] to the city system. [Pirates] here are defined as policies, strategies and actions which were rejected in the city’s past or are yet-to-be proven successful for the city’s future. Are cities ready to accept [Pirates] into its system and acknowledge that “certain BAD(s) are not bad all the time”?

This polemic investigation of alternative pirated ‘worlds’, seen as “Un-realized Realities” is devised as a retroactive manifesto: to rethink cultural, architectural and populace development in the cities today and the future.

Thesis Abstract Poster

2007-08-13T02:14:00.000-07:00

Advent of the [Pirates] !

2007-08-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

The thesis investigates the potential of augmented reality as a transformative force that interactively informs architecture, thus rendering the design process no longer exclusively a conscious and intentional act.

The investigation looks at the hypothetical return of [Pirates] to the city system. [Pirates] here is defined as policies, strategies and actions which were rejected, failed or yet-to-be proven successful in the city’s past. What happens if these [pirates] re-emerge in the city at a different time era? What “other benefits” and “costs” might they bring to the city? This polemic investigation of alternative pirated ‘worlds’ is devised as a retroactive manifesto: to rethink cultural, architectural and populace development in the cities today and the future.

At the same time, the thesis will look into the overlap of City and Architecture. The thesis investigates the prospect of a city with architecture and urbanism acting together as a whole. Looking at diverse behaviors would strengthen the weak relationship of architecture with the constantly changing urban world. The thesis not only concentrates on design, but on concepts of intelligible urban form fed by constant research.

Hence, a parametric scenario simulator, The Dreammaker, is conceptualized to attempt the quantification of design strategies, which undergoes a statistical simulation involving quantified urban factors and [pirated] forces, which then lead to the qualification of the proposed design scenarios. What this ‘Fiction’ methodology does is to gather mob-like intelligence, making sense of seemingly dissimilar information, and contributing to the design of the city and architecture. Hence, the normative perception that “Fiction is False” is no longer, in fact, Fiction is the Truth!

The architectural aspect of the thesis then adapts the simulated design strategy and incorporates the concept of Enclaves which are ‘self-rule’ entities within a state of rule, performing as series of buildings of a critical mass within the site context. The impact due to the scale of the enclaves involved should be substantial enough to provoke a critical response and address possible urban visions, with the intent to empower, inspire and provoke city-dwellers and policy-makers to take responsibility and realize the value of their participation in the development of the cities they live in.

No longer is the architect reacting. He can be a visionary for the people. Taking on new approaches in the modern, fast-evolving cities, the Architect has to claim Action!

[Architecture and City]

I am interested in the Intersection of the City and Architecture.

I am also interested in the romance and promise of Utopias. I totally embrace them and they are one of my important sources of inspiration. However, I realize that they have certain disengagement with how the actual city works. (This is with reference to the sensation of utopias and how they WANT people to behave). From one volume of the series LA Now, Morphosis principal, Thom Mayne states the difficulty architects and urban designers have in the “Leap of Faith” they have to take when translating from facts, analysis findings to beautiful forms and feasible design solutions. The thesis aims at understanding the Leveraging of the design through a balanced and strategic juggle of both the Statistical and Intuitive.

While the city is a highly complex system, Architecture comparatively involves an almost simplistic perspective.

>> Architecture is Simple <<

Hence, rather than just deal in chunks of spaces like in master-plans, the focus of the thesis is on the issue of how the contemporary architect deals with City Planning and not lose the intricate spaces in Architecture.

[Enclaves]

Enclaves challenge the many architectural discourses on globalization. Instead, enclaves focus not on the blending, city and global connectivity, but rather on the emerging ‘self-rule’ establishments; hybrid spaces that exist outside the normal jurisdictions, aspiring to be worlds unto themselves. These ‘worlds’ provides new tools for practitioners to be sensitive to the political and social composition and implication of urban landscapes

The Enclave attempts to resolve this crossroad between the complexity of Cities and simplicity of Architecture. The scenario simulation design of the Enclaves takes into account several seemingly simplistic and ‘dumb’ elements that collectively create a smart holistic solution.

[Scenario & Simulation]

In terms of the method of design> Scenario Simulation

We often misunderstand that Fiction=False where in fact, Fiction=Truth --- Where the simulation becomes more real than the real and where our perceptions are very much shaped by what we see in the Fiction avenues of the world today. Hence, the Scenario Simulation (design tool) generates the Enclaves (the architecture).

Section Sketch

2007-08-04T01:44:00.001-07:00

A playful sketch of the section of a portion of the potential design for the thesis project.

Emotional Landscapes

2007-07-27T19:12:00.001-07:00

Woohooo .... I had Peter Cook in my crit panel !!! There is also Michael Rotondi (one of the founders of SCI-Arc) and Yael Reisner, Peter Cook's wife. Amazing, insightful and inspiring comments they gave!

Some of the comments they gave >>
- basically, i have to play up the 'pirates' in the architecture. what it means to have a type of architecture that is made of of self-rule parameters

- right now.. the architecture looks too singular

- they wanna me to work on the section(hand-drawn) which they said is most intriguing

- Using the wits & efficiency that Singapore has and need, to create an architecture that shows a certain arrogance (in a good way). An eg. would be to have the desalination proposal played up to become a national symbol of free expression, as well as the nation's high efficiency and 'full independence' from the long-time sources.

- Be very aware of the issue of scale and specify the spatial experience with the water desalination theme via research and technology.

I had fun talking to Rotondi. He began talking to me about spatial experience... how one walks and observe .. then he uses his hands like a chopper and literally lands it on my head and 'slice' it down to show the different experiences.

of Dreams & Emotions

2007-07-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

The works below are what I have done for this workshop led by Yael Reisner, who is teaching at Bartlet. She is also the wife of Peter Cook. The workshop is about creating emotional landscapes... expressing one's own cultural and emotional identity, asking oneself 'What moves you?" and pushing one to 'dream' more...to achieve that point, the moment, when reality JUST turns fiction... where impossibilities seem possible.

I have incorporated my thesis project into the workshop. The bubble thing is a desalination plant machine that sucks in the seawater and releases steam and produces potable water. The whole design also serves as a symbol of national identity and sports enclave.

Thesis Midterm Review

2007-07-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

Finally, the midterm is over. My review jury panel consists of Rob Ley, David Gerber, Juan Azulay and Andy Ku. Michael Rotondi was supposed to come but could not make it.

The discussions were interesting and overall very active, which was better than what I had expected. Welcome more comments! Enjoy!

MSN Feedback

2007-07-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

Super helpful feedback from a kind friend, Yvette. Here's an excerpt from our msn conversation.

z i g g y says:

how did ur crit go?

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

went pretty well.... cleared up a lot of things, especially where to focus and develop

z i g g y says:

cool

z i g g y says:

i like ur graphical representation

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

thanks. i have to work on them to be more consistent tho. was running out of time for some and i just anyhow plant them in

z i g g y says:

how did ya concur on those figures for ur parametric scenario simulation chart?

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

pretty much based on my understanding of Singapore's history and facts..etc

z i g g y says:

so it's a personal scale/perception?

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

erm.. not entirely... there's a portion of it that has a basis on a factual database

z i g g y says:

ah, ok.

z i g g y says:

:) just questioning, so that i know how to interpret ur information

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

yeps

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

there are still loopholes and weak links... as discussed in the last review.. so i will be working them on in the next few days for my midterm next monday

z i g g y says:

wanna hear my general feeling from what i perceive of the boards?

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

yeh.. of cos

z i g g y says:

it's still quite superficial naturally, unless i study it deeper...

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

bring them on

z i g g y says:

ok well, i'd suggest that you be a little more careful with choice of words and phrasing.. each paragraph comes across as being loaded with very strong messages, one after another. and if u're not careful abt substantiating them, they seem like potential potholes that critics wld distract themselves with

z i g g y says:

your first two boards are great because they have some semblance of vision and abstract in them. but as they developed, maybe i'm not understanding them well enough yet, they seem to have lost a bit of that abstract quality in its bid to be more explicit

z i g g y says:

am i making any sense?

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

yeps.. you are. i understand. and you are dead on. it was one of the main comments for my review yesterday. the missing link that i have failed to show.. linking from the 2nd board to the final 2 boards

z i g g y says:

ok personal point of view, i found that ur key ideas of Simulation and Enclaves more enticing than "Pirated City". so i shall go on from there

z i g g y says:

i was engaged with simulation and enclaves.. made me wanna think of ur argument, loopholes etc.. BUT it got me interested

z i g g y says:

it was an architectural idea. whereas PIRATED CITY appears a bit gimmicky, and dated.

z i g g y says:

being interested by ur S & E argument, i was searching for that follow up in ur subsequent boards

z i g g y says:

i guess the question is, what is ur link? to follow up on simulation n enclaves, or ur interpretations of simulation n enclaves as the pirated city

z i g g y says:

i'm actually very curious about how you argued a few of your conceptual statements... im' sure you must have argued well to have ur tutors accept it... things like "fiction=false where in fact fiction=truth" ...

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

what 'architectural' value/potential do you see in the S & E? reason i am asking cos now i am torn between keeping and throwing out the 'S' component. cos i am finding it difficult to defend and develop the simulation part of my thesis

z i g g y says:

yeah you clearly have a lot of ideas ... each one being too loaded with meaning

z i g g y says:

hey u didnt answer my question abt how u argued the fiction=truth item

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

the fiction=truth part is argued based on the current phenomenon of hyperreality found in online 'worlds' like Second Life, Sim City, multiplayer games, etc.

z i g g y says:

and ur tutors bought it?

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

as well as movies like Children of Men.. which takes on the approach of taking a point in real events and depart from it to take on a fictitious route in order to provoke and bring awareness to a underlying issue in society

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

same goes for Gundam... a cartoon about galaxy wars between robots, and 2 races of humans.... spuned from the societal concern about the abuse of human cloning, weapon industries' involvement in 'creating wars' etc....

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

also, i am arguing that many dissimilar factors can actually contribute to a seemingly unrelated issue.... eg.... in the 1970s of wall street... economists found out by chance that the development patterns of the economy actually is very much linked and follows closely to the changes in skirts' lengths of the fashion

z i g g y says:

wait but u're starting to argue abt dissimilar factors contributing to result. causes and effect, more chaos and butterfly theory than fiction

z i g g y says:

see what i mean?

z i g g y says:

i think these are controversial statements u're making which can be very attractive.. but you gotta really tighten your argument and dont give in to loading up your concepts with more concepts...

z i g g y says:

i'm sure you are currently trying to trim down ur concepts... it's probably very very crucial

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

hmm...

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

>>>> The architectural aspect of this thesis, considers the potential of augmented reality as a transformative force that interactively informs architecture, thus rendering the design process no longer exclusively a conscious and intentional act.

Architecture as time and space shift. An overlap of virtual and real zones.

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

yeh.. i am still trying to gather and be trim my thoughts

z i g g y says:

keep at it! u're so close! it's all so exciting :)

z i g g y says:

hey if u're documenting this, send me a copy of it? maybe when i'm home and my mind isnt so tired from work i can help better

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

the fiction part , i would see as part of the creation of these 'parallel universes' , augmented realities of the same space changed by the parametric scenarios from inserted 'failed pasts' ... and though.. the final scenarios din really happen, and considered fiction ... it serves as a reality check and a point of contention and provocation of thought

SHY ...can someone give me their hours? says:

hey.. you are super helpful! i need these discussions to clear out my thought. You really got me there.. when you got me 'desperately' trying to defend and articulate the 'fiction' argument

z i g g y says:

:) yeah i cld see u fumbling a bit.. but it's ok cos this is the time isn't it, to really clear ur thoughts

z i g g y says:

try to define ur key terms... try this if u havent already:

1. thesis statement. keep this concise.

2. every loaded word you use in #1, prepare a definition for the way you're using it. again, keep this definition concise, 1 or 2 sentences max.

z i g g y says:

then if u continue to build upon this like a tree, u might come to realise a few concepts dont belong anywhere and u can trim those out

z i g g y says:

ur thesis abstract ... "Thesis deals" with City + Architecture <--via Enclaves

z i g g y says:

"Thesis investigates" Ubanism + Architecture >> giving u City

z i g g y says:

it's a bit loosely linked.. infact, seems like u're discussing two different ideas

z i g g y says:

i'm just brainstorming, ignore stuff i say that will confuse things ok

z i g g y says:

when u say INTERSECTION OF THE CITY AND ARCHITECTURE > that splits the city and architecture very clearly. is that your intention?

z i g g y says:

architecture is read by many as the Event at these intersections

z i g g y says:

by positing that there is an intersection between the city and architecture, you posit architecture as stagnent and formal, as opposed to dynamic

z i g g y says:

if that is ur intention thats cool..

Comments (Internal Review)

2007-07-18T04:51:00.001-07:00

Here are the main comments from Rob and Josh for the internal review held on 14th July.
[Thanks a lot to Juan who helped me wrote most of these comments down while I was presenting]

1) Have consistency in the graphics

2) Be clear in the representation and explanation of the parameters which I have setup

3) Look up MVRDV's design proposal for Barcelona (Hyper Cataluna), which is based on blocking everything from the outside

4) My knowledge of Singapore's history is not represented by the numerical values of the parametric table. There is a discrepancy in the ability of the quantitative representation by the table

5) The parameters differ from what I proposed in the scenarios

6) Think about the issues of QUALITY vs QUANTITY in my proposals

7) There is a missing part between the parameters and the scenarios. The link which shows the 'rules' of the 'game'; the layout of what what the city should be. The way I design the scenarios is still done using the traditional way

8) How are you able to digest the parameters, consider their 'values', analyze the impact of the change of one variable, then consider the new set of values as a whole, to reconfigure the qualitative aspect of the city on a 'parallel reality'? All these before you set down to stamp your design authorship ... ...

9) If you are able to figure this approach and methodology and apply it successfully, you can use it for your future career, having your office staff do the parametric analysis and setting up the 'augmented reality scenes', and you are the designer translating these results of the 'game'

10) In your presentation today, there is an untruthfulness in what you are saying. (referring to the link between the scenarios to the parameters changes). You are not actually taking the logic from the past in your scenarios

11) The diagram about Pirated Forces itself is very interesting

12) You shouldn't design just based on one variable. You have to treat the whole set of parameters in a holistic way, and design in relation to the 5 categories which are put under simulation to generate different possibilities

13) Link the Architecture to your parameters

14) Are you able to handle this 'simulation' aspect of the thesis? Maybe it is more of a 'scenario' at this point

Pre-Midterm Review

2007-07-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here are the boards done up for an internal review today. The midterm is next Monday, 23rd July. It was a very helpful review. Rob Ley, our adviser, invited a friend of his, Josh, who is teaching at Woodbury University and is currently working with Rob on a project. Below are my boards. Will post the comments soon.

Architecture is SIMPLE

2007-07-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay of new posts. Here's the updated development as of 5th July 2007.

>>> Designing Begins!

I have began to generate about 6-8 different scenarios and their proposed designs. Below is one of them. After a review with my adviser Rob Ley, he brought to my attention the need to narrow the variables to just one and show the change in the alternate versions subtly so that the parametric scenario matrix I have developed(shown in previous post) can be appreciated and proven its value in a clearer way. So.... I'll have to get back to work and watch out for more illustrations!

Here's a refined version of the thesis statement >>>

Premise

I am interested in the Intersection of the City and Architecture.

I am also interested in the romance and promise of Utopias. I totally embrace them and they are one of my important sources of inspiration. However, I realize that they have a certain disengagement with how the actual city works. (with reference to the sensation of utopias and how they WANT people to behave). From one volume of the series LA Now, Morphosis principal, Thom Mayne states the difficulty architects and urban designers have in the “leap of faith” they have to take when translating from facts, analysis findings to beautiful forms and feasible design solutions. The thesis aims at understanding that “Mystery Leap”.

While the city is a highly complex system, Architecture comparatively involves an almost simplistic perspective.

>> Architecture is Simple <<

The thesis deals with this overlap of City (Complex) and Architecture (Simple), via the concept of Enclaves. In particular, I am dealing with the idea of Enclaves in the scale of a series of buildings within a critical mass of site context. The impact due to the scale of the enclaves involved should be substantial enough to address and provoke a critical response.

Enclaves challenge the many architectural discourses on globalization. Instead, enclaves focus not on the morphing, worldwide connectivity, but rather on the emerging ‘self-rule’ establishments; hybrid spaces that exist outside the normal jurisdictions, aspiring to be 'worlds' unto themselves. These ‘worlds’ thus provides new tools for practitioners to be sensitive to the political and social composition and implication of urban landscapes

Rather than just deal in chunks of spaces like in urban master-plans, the focus of the thesis is on the issue of how the contemporary architect deals with City Planning and not lose the intricate spaces in Architecture.

In terms of the method of design> Scenario Simulation

more critic's notes ...

2007-06-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a comment from Ed Keller, one of the professors teaching at SCI-Arc. Very talented and super smart guy. Just a brief intro to show his amazing accolades:

Edward Keller::architecture, design technology & media

___A|UM Studio & a.CHRONO | partner / principal

___SCI-Arc | MediaSCAPES Postgraduate Program Coordinator

___Columbia GSAPP /SCI-Arc| design & theory faculty

Comments from Ed >>

"I think you are really getting at an interesting problem- as i am sure you know. Funny, I was reading an essay Tony Blair wrote in the Economist a couple weeks ago, titled something like "Things I've Learned" - a kind of ridiculous false modesty or even hubris for a politician of his level, but at the same time an interesting read. One thing he comments on is the changing role of the state. He is discussing it on a domestic level; but he is also implying on a global/geopolitical level. Here it is. Again- it's not Fred Jameson, but it is interesting. I see a very vague, unsophisticated connection here to the kind of scenario thinking that neal Stephenson is using in Snow Crash and Diamond Age.

I guess what I am getting at is: where is the territory you will Claim as a designer in this kind of world?

You reference 'Three Days of the Condor" and you know Jameson writes a bit about that in Geopolitical Aesthetic. ... ... Keep to your agenda and concept! "

Critics' Notes

2007-06-19T14:27:00.001-07:00

Wes Jones + Gary Paige were the 2 official critics at the review. The following are the main critiques:

--> How do we test the efficiency of the success of your suggested approach?

--> How will you evaluate the success of the approach - "success of scenarios'?

--> Are you designing a building? (my defense: I am designing an enclave, possibly a series of buildings)

--> Your critique of the utopias is valid

--> We have to wait and see your results

--> Instinct and romance of this automated (aka. author-less) design approach is something not comfortable and convincing. (my defense: I am NOT kicking out the architect; on the contrary, I want the architect's voice to be heard even more)

--> Suggestion of having a gathering of necessary experts for the suggested design approach. (my defense: Precisely, that's my goal. To make aware the value of views of others in other disciplines. In the thesis, the attempt is to make sense of these views and the sensibility of the architect to manifest them into architecture. Think of this in contrast to singular architecture where the architect's ego and economy are the dictating factors.)

--> When you quantify factors of design process, you will be trapped into the 60's 'formula of truth'.

--> The 'game' table that is devised is debatable.

--> The problem of Corbusier's plans for his utopias, is not the author, but that of a naive author.

--> Can Corbusier's plans be analyzed with this computational theory and approach to understand what went wrong?

--> Design something. Then tell us how it should be.

--> Start with the scenarios to know where it is going.

1st thesis review boards and presentaton

2007-06-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Pirated City - Augmenting reality through fiction

Defining Reality architecture possibilities through fiction - Parametric Scenario Simulation

Before I go into the thesis argument proper, I wish to clarify the issues I am interested in… and what I am NOT interested in.

Argument Tier 1>>

Interested IN>

1) Fiction & Simulation: How they can be generative tools in looking at the design cities and buildings.

2) Seeing Cities & Buildings as Enclaves: For decades, the City and Building are seen as separate things. It is often dictated by the coming together of developers. Seeing the phenomenon in the construction scene especially in China and Middle East, it is important to realize and see that cities act and get built like architecture projects. This is in contrast to architecture projects that are so massive that they overlap and take on a urban planning role.

3) Investigating and devising Strategies as a way of design in urban planning and architecture.

Given the complexity of the thesis, I am NOT Interested in and NOT dealing with,
X1) The development of perfect Utopias ; rather, I am developing imperfect utopias
X2) Certain styles of architecture.

Argument Tier 2>>

In this thesis, I am investigating:

1) Strategies that deals in homogeneous ways the processes, specifically between the city and architecture design.

2) How is the future like for cities and architecture? I am advocating the analysis from the Past, through simulations, to offer multiple options, laying them out the possibilities and consequences to the decision/policy-makers, maybe as well to the general multitude.(much like how the computer brain is used to pit against chess players)

3) Simulations. This involves a research into several methodologies like Game Theory, Mob intelligence and Augmented reality (fiction) analysis. (see movie 'Three days of a Condor').

4) The Feedback loop process to the current from both the past and present. Where the past is about the present; the present is about the future.

Argument Tier 3>>

This part of the argument will go into the details like the methodology of simulation.

1) Method of simulation > explain the tabulation chart and process of generating the scenarios ; input-output characteristic.

2) Reiterate the using of a fictitious tool, like simulation, in design.

3) Explain the novelty of using dissimilar or seemingly unrelated facts (eg. Using of women skirts’ length’s as an economic prediction factor)

4) Architecture manifestation - ENCLAVES

Precedents >
There are 2 types of precedents that I am showing.

Left > examples that exemplify the thesis's goals, which includes: Spacefighter; Evolution City; Sliding Doors; Gundam; Sim City; 2^nd Life; Hani Rashid’s virtual museum & stock exchange; Keller Easterling’s ‘outlaw spatial products’

Right > examples that diminishes the thesis's goals, which includes: Built projects like: Emperor Qin,

China

; Rotterdam Blitz; Zaha Hadid’s Biopolis in

Singapore

; Corbu’s Chandigarh. Utopias which dictate individuals to behave and act like Radiant city by Corbu.

SITE >
1) Explained briefly historical and current context of

Singapore

, leading up to the urban planning situation of the whole

Singapore

and Marina Bay itself.

2) Briefly show the different proposals already presented for the Marina Bay development.

Design Methodology >
Explained the 3 scenarios generated from the Simulation Tabulation, the process and initial schematic design.

Goal of thesis >>

* Detailed analysis, scenario simulation and design to demonstrate the successful overlap of urban + architecture for the future.

* Implications of The City & Architecture

* Implications of Role of the Contemporary Architect (leaping up the hierarchy to be on par with decision-makers and multitudes alike, to impact changes more pro-actively)

Be Small and Wrong

2007-06-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

A inspiration just dawned on me(during a daily essential 'event' better not mentioned here... if you are about to have a meal), specifically on how to best express my thesis:

Look BIG .... ... think small
>> With the massive scale of urban and architecture projects now, there is the tendency to look at the big picture, think in terms of big ideas and strokes. In my thesis, on the contrary, I am advocating to take into account of the small things, the minute intricacies in society and living structure; even dissimilar facts that seemingly has nothing whatsoever to do with planning of the city and architecture.

Get RIGHT ... ... do wrong
>> Normally, decisions and ideas are taken from successful examples in order to create a design or planning that would guarantee a certain degree of correctness. Here in my thesis, on the contrary, I am taking previously ostracized and avoided strategies and giving them a new value and outlook in a new time era. Bad things need not be bad all the time for everything.

1st Bloodbath over ...

2007-06-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

Just got home after a tiring day in school. The 1st thesis review went pretty well. I will put up excerpts of the review, photos and also my boards. I think I managed to hold myself pretty well there with Wes Jones and Gary Paige bringing up issues of the dangers of creating automated design process that will result in the ousting of design authorship. They also brought up very helpful and valid points to help me focus my thesis more.

Thanks a lot to Juan Carlos who helped me take down notes and also took the time to do a mini- one-two-thesis debriefing after the review ended at 6pm LA time. Seems like I have to put on more layers of 'armour' as I realize more and more the controversy my thesis will bring to a considerable amount of architects and students in SCI-Arc.

Visionary ??

2007-06-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

So, what does it mean to be visionary, especially in architecture? Contrary to the common notion that it just means something that is utopian, rather, I think it is best described in the movie "The Corporation".

To quote,

" ... ... Civilization is not flying because it is not built according to the laws of aerodynamics for civilizations that would fly. And of course, the ground is a long way away from the fall off the cliff.
But some people have seen that ground rushing up sooner than the rest of us have. The visionaries have seen it and have told us that it is coming ... ..."

Am I able to see that 'ground'? Or, am I just looking at the wrong direction?

1st Thesis Review coming up ...

2007-06-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

The first thesis review is next Monday, 18th June. Although it's an internal critique session, I am already having a headache at what and how to present in the clearest and most effective way. The critic panel consists of Wes Jones, Gary Paige and Tulay Atak. Rob Ley, my adviser is supposed to be present as well but he has overseas commitments. He's been most supportive, even calling from Europe a few days ago to check my thesis progress.

Anticipated criticisms from the panel:

Ø Failed Strategies: who am I to judge what is considered Failed? Perceptively failed schemes have other successful repercussions. Similarly, perceptively successful schemes have failing repercussions.

Ø Utopia idealism: to defend that architects’ design are not meant to be a guarantee; I am not designing a utopia and I am fully aware of the imperfection of the environment.

Ø Architecture & Urban issues: where is the overlap? How obvious is it? Where is the architecture?

Evoking a Response

2007-06-15T15:06:00.001-07:00

The thesis goal is to evoke a response, a realization from the public, from people who care about their city, that there are several potentials which are untapped and are perhaps important to affect their city in a certain way.

Image taken from the movie, Children of Men.

Image taken from the Japanese anime series, Gundam.

Take for example, cartoons like Gundam, Full Metal Alchemist, or movies like Children of Men, and games like World of Warcraft; they took a point in history and generate a certain scenario based on a shift in a particular aspect of society. From viewing the 'virtual consequences', it makes the viewer realize that there are several things he/she could have done to prevent/assist such a 'consequence'. Then, the overlap happens when he/she takes into account the present and is made aware of the larger picture and perspective of his/her environment, given more options as to how the environment can develop from that present moment.

Again, I wish to emphasize that this is NOT an attempt to build a utopia, a perfect world. The thesis realizes the imperfection of our surroundings and takes that into account and tries to display possibilities from 're-discovered mechanisms/parameters' of society.

why not Reduce, Re-use, Recycle?

2007-06-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

I got a comment from a friend reporter, Shiyong and he raises an issue that I have always been burdened with - the thesis idea being still not well-defined and clear. I am trying to churn out a 'Definition booklet' as there are quite a number of technical terms. Hopefully, that will make things much clearer.

His comment was on why I chose the word ‘Pirates’ instead of just ‘Reduce, Re-use, Recycle’

Here’s my defense:

>I am not Reducing, rather I am Expanding the scope of options for a city to grow.

>Reusing - yes, it is somewhat like a re-use of past/rejected issues, but it more than that. I am trying to gather seemingly 'unimportant'/'unrelated' elements and show that they too contribute and can affect. I would say 'Re-discover' would be a better word.

>Recycling - this is also somewhat related, but there is a slight difference. A recycled entity is meant for another usage. In the thesis, the generated parallel scenario is meant to affect and interact with the perception of the individual, to interact with present thinking, with the possibility that a selected change in another parameter of the scenario results in a slightly different Present and hence Future.

>Pirates - With the notion that 'pirates' means something that is copied, stolen, and re-produced in unofficial ways, it then relates very much to the simulated scenarios I am trying to do here, which is to sieve out the 'treasures' yet unknown, take control of it and generate its potential influence (in reality, it has already been avoided and rejected).

Scenario Planning & Speculative Strategies

2007-06-14T07:59:00.001-07:00

The 3 projects shown above are what I have done before that involves mechanisms of Scenario Planning & Urban Strategic Speculations.

They are (in order):
- Urban Farms (SCI-Arc SCI-FI studio led by Jeffrey Inaba, group work with David, Gurmukh & Juan)
- VertiCity (design competition in collaboration with Jawn Lim)
- Rotterdam Airport - EVENT PORT (Scenario Planning seminar led by Michael Speaks, group work with Jerry, Guy, Mishou & Sylvia)

Definitions: Pirates

2007-06-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

To make the argument clear, I will need to define clearly how I have expressed the word ‘pirates’ in the context of the thesis.

PIRATES’ definition

Pirates as in the actual literal meaning of people or corporations or organizations that leech onto the original or legal entities and create a alternative avenue available and attractive to the common masses

[Pirates] referring to a philosophical pirated system where it means a self-organized system of alternatives that reacts to other systems and aims at the 'cracks' or defected areas to provoke or take advantage of , in order to advance a certain cause

Legal bodies somehow need the piracy system to go on simultaneously so as to cause advancement

The latter definition is the one I am referring to.

PIRATED NATIONs proposed to project the future of the city. The idea is to implement [2nd cities] with Pirate Forces interacting within the "UNPirated City" via virtual worlds.

Pirated Singapore[S] which explore new possibilities, unexploited paths, and avoided strategies.

How would these virtual Singapores participate in the real Singapore? How do we collapse both --- the fiction & reality?

Limitation of 'Architecture' ?

2007-06-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

I’m not looking for the limits, but rather the limitlessness of different territories. There are people who would say that building is the limit of architecture, but that’s not true. More and more, architects are being commissioned to build other worlds including virtual reality environments. When I look at other disciplines such as the automobile industry and their standards and procedures for design, I’m amazed at how they have already embraced computerized technologies and fabrication techniques, and at how those aspects have impacted new designs and implementation methods. For some reason, in our discipline --- particularly in the arena of “building design” --- there are limits. I think there is a deep-set inability for people involved in those industries to understand that the so-called limits can be transcended when we embrace certain aspects of automation and new digitally infused methodologies.

Hani Rashid, Asymptote

Interview at Berlage Institute

Mind Map of thesis

2007-06-13T03:50:00.001-07:00

This mind map was done during the thesis proposal period last semester, Spring 2007. I will have to update it and generate a more focused one very soon.

What's the thesis about?

2007-06-13T03:41:00.000-07:00

Current approaches toward city developments involve certain scenario planning methodology. Politicians, economists, even businessmen of big corporations alike, hold the veto power to changing the value, the image of the city. While these approaches is valid in various applications and research, they have often neglected the contributions that architects made or could have made. Hence, this often relegates the role of architects to just ‘face-uplifters’ and icon-branders.

This thesis aims to be a polemic investigation of new methods of urban, city developments and strategies distinct from the normative perception of city operations.

The intention is to explore how previously ostracized influences and strategies can ‘re-infect’ the city through virtual parallel universes activated by parametric-like scenario planning mechanisms, inserted with deep understanding of the political, economical and social issues. A retroactive manifesto, it is hoped that this thesis will cause a rethinking in the current city’s cultural, architectural and populace development, thus empowering the citizens to take responsibility for the development of their cities.

In the site selected, the Marina Bay development of Singapore, the architecture investigation seeks to generate a whole host of temporary LOCAL BREAKS, GEOGRAPHICAL BREACHES, SPATIAL SHIFTS, AND TEMPORAL CONTRACTIONS. I will explain in later posts to justify the site selected.

Below is a conceptual diagram showing the retroactive process I am taking on to simulate the scenarios based on the past, the creating a parallel timeline to propel it forward to the present and beyond. More explanations will come in later posts.

Simulations Paused

2007-06-13T03:35:00.000-07:00

Pirated City – Augmenting reality through Fiction
The architectural aspect of this thesis, considers the potential of augmented reality as a transformative force that interactively informs architecture, thus rendering the design process no longer exclusively a conscious and intentional act.

Architecture as time and space shift. An overlap of virtual and real zones.

Emergence of the NEO-CITIZEN

2007-06-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

>> Rethinking of the urban experience

The widespread technology of the internet and user-generated content avenues has created a new phenomenon in how world boundaries are perceived and hence changed the perception of the ‘the citizen’.

With the emergence of the “NEO-CITIZEN”, how can we, as architects, harmonize architecture with issues of political boundaries, social systems, media exchanges, and the economy?

On a broad sense, I am interested to investigate new ways in which global cities grow amid geopolitical influences. What are the current global systems that define a city and how will potential future interventions augment these systems?

WORLD 2.0

2007-06-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

How did the internet change the world?

"While hierarchies are not vanishing, profound changes in the nature of technology, demographics, and the global economy are giving rise to powerful new models of production based on community, collaboration, and self-organization rather than on hierarchy and control.
Millions of media buffs now use blogs, wikis, chatrooms, and personal broadcasting to add their voices to a vociferous stream of dialogue and debate called the “blogsphere.” Employees drive performance by collaborating with peers across organizational boundaries, creating what we call a “wiki workplace.” Customers become “prosumers” by cocreating goods and services rather than by simply consuming the end product."
quoted from WIKINOMICS, How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

Traditionally, we perceive the boundaries of cities via the physical land mass and the use of the passport as a visual proof of passing boundaries. But now, with the globalization and integration of organizations and interests groups and the internet, the perception is changed and there is a blurring of this linear boundary. The boundaries are more of a 3-dimensional network web of connections.

In the Beginning ...

2007-06-13T02:26:00.000-07:00

It is now 2.27 am, Los Angeles time, 13 June 07, at my thesis pit in SCI-Arc. Pretty excited about setting up my first personal blog for my thesis, titled Pirated City. Sure hope there will be interested parties viewing the upcoming entries and giving me feedback. Do also visit www.urbanthesis.net(up and running by this weekend) to see other interesting theses. This website is a combined effort to highlight the importance of such a genre of urban thesis. Watch for more posts!