Theories of Urbanism & Architecture

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Jordan Tok Wen Xuan ID No.: 0327629
Lecturer: Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 10am
Reader/Text Title: A Global Sense of Place Synopsis No: 1(a)
Author: Doreen Massey
The world is changing, speeding up and spreading out. “A Global Sense of Place” is trying to convey the
idea of retaining the sense of place by considering “time-space compression”, locality and place. How do we
see the world with geographic fragmentation as a whole? Or how do we feel the particular sense of place
when there is no boundaries? Hence, this reader obviously shows the difference with others as it shows us
that we should change our perspective to see the world and rethink the meaning of “Sense of Place”.
“Time-space compression” often occurs as a result of technological innovations, it lets the world become no
boundaries as everyone can communicate and travel throughout the world. But Doreen Massey thinks that
“time-space compression” is dominated by colonists and excluded for certain race and gender. For
example, some elderly is not using technology device and women are generating less movement at night.
From the 4 main arguments that Doreen Massey did for conclusion, we can understand that it as a place
doesn’t have barriers, it offers newcomers and outsiders with different experiences, races and genders to
come in, so it forms a non-static sense of place and it is continually reproduced as everyone has different
sense of place. Thus it is hard to have a single and unique identity for it. Therefore, if sense of place is
about locality and place, how to feel the sense of place?
To answer the question, she mentioned that the sense of place can be divided into introverted and
extroverted. The sense of introverted and extroverted are linked with the experiences, understanding, social
relations and even mobility, but the difference is extroverted affects a larger scale of place in a positive way
than introverted does. Therefore, extroverted is more effective to enhance and maintain the economy by
providing enough job opportunities.
To conclude, I would prefer to stay at a sense of extroverted place, because we can benefit from it as we
can interact with different cultures, languages, food and even costumes. Perhaps it gives us a sense of
dislocation when we are using things from other places, but it doesn’t mean that “time-space compression”
is hurting and disrupting our place and community. However, we can say that it gives us the opportunity to
enhance our bonding, increase our knowledge and widen our horizon.
Word Count: 390 words Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.

3. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Jordan Tok Wen Xuan ID No.: 0327629
Lecturer: Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 10am
Reader/Text Title: Learning from Las Vegas: The
Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form
Synopsis No: 2(a)
Author: Robert Venturi
By using Las Vegas as precedent, Robert Venturi used a lot of graphics (sketches, map, photos) to illustrate
the idea that learning from existing environment is never better than thinking why and how from the
perspective when we look at the environment. This is why modern architects have preferred to change the
existing environment rather than enhance it.
This reader introduces how modern architects see history and ornament as something inappropriate and
how they think about space can be dominated by scale, function and even symbol as modern architects try
to do something simple and functional. Thus, modern architects focused on designing space for
programmatic symbolism and abandoned a tradition of iconology. In my view, space is a necessary for all of
us to function, it should be the priority rather than ornament, sculpture or even paintings. Perhaps
ornamental elements could reinforce the architectural space and enrich the meaning, but I think that can be
done after space.
This reader emphasizes architecture of communication over space through symbol. Symbol can make
connections among many elements and provide a sense of orientation in space. But sometimes,
communication works through proximity and senses such as visual, aroma and sound. In spatial
relationships, we can say that symbols define the space rather than form, because architecture defines very
little. In my opinion, I think that symbol is giving us direction and sense of secure such as the duck store can
be seen as a symbol rather than architecture. But sometimes I think symbol might restrict our creativity and
movement as sometimes symbol gives us a restriction rather than option.
In conclusion, the most fundamental thing that I get from this reader is different method of learning. My
understanding is don’t imitate others, just do yourself. Because I think that instead of doing something in an
improved version, how about doing something new, something has never been done, something that is
totally different that can contribute to our society and world.
Word Count: 327 words Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.

5. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Jordan Tok Wen Xuan ID No.: 0327629
Lecturer: Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 10am
Reader/Text Title: The Eyes of the Skin Synopsis No: 3(a)
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
“The world is reflected in the body and the body is projected onto the world”. “The Eyes of the Skin”
proclaims a sensory architecture in opposition to the prevailing visual understanding of the art of building.
By introducing his own embodied experience, Juhani Pallasmaa tries to use fact and philosophy to convince
us that architecture involves several realms of sensory experience which interact and fuse into each other.
Senses act as seeking mechanisms rather than mere passive receivers, as sensory experiences integrated
with our body, it keeps our body to interact with the environment constantly and it strengthened the sense of
reality. Sensory experiences might directs our attention and existential experience to wider horizons.
Vision reveals what the touch already knows, it can be regarded as extensions of the sense of touch, it
defines interface, opacity, distance and even materiality. But vision needs the help of touch to distinguish
the solidity, protrusion, weight and resistance to ensure the safety.
Architecture generates an indivisible complex of impressions, it isn’t experienced as isolated visual pictures,
it is sensed in embodied material and spiritual presence. Good architecture offers shapes and surfaces
moulded for the pleasurable touch of eye and this is the stimulation of life-enhancing.
Multi-sensory gives us different kind of sensory experiences, it is not only seeing and touching. When multi-
sensory experiences the environment, nature and space, it can create body memory. Besides, your body
will not be a mere physical entity only, it is enriched by both memory and dream, past and future.
In conclusion, I have to say that senses is the thing that let us feel alive, it defines every single person and
characteristics. Besides, the most meaningful quote from this reader is stated by Merleau-Ponty which is
architecture is “to make visible how the world touches us”. Because I think that this is too poetic even
though I know that people would prefer a space that is engaging with senses rather than depriving the
senses because it can ignite our imagination and articulating our sensory thought.
Word Count: 338 words Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.

7. References
1A
We, S. (2018). A Global Sense of Place. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/ohbzbfjuixd-/a-global-
sense-of-place/
* A Global Sense of Place * by Doreen Massey (1991). (2018). Retrieved from
https://thinkurbanism.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/a-global-sense-of-place-by-doreen-massey-1991/
Hoolihan, E. (2018). A Global Sense of Place- Doreen Massey. Retrieved from
https://gg2024.wordpress.com/ben-aultman-moore-entry-1/
2A
Venturi: Learning from Las Vegas. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.amst.umd.edu/Research/cultland/annotations/Venturi1.html
Lazer, B. (2018). Comment: Learning from Las Vegas – IFAcontemporary. Retrieved from
https://ifacontemporary.org/learning-from-las-vegas-and-the-antinomy-of-the-postmodern-manifesto/