This document contains summaries of four readings related to architecture and urbanism. The first summary discusses an article about critical regionalism and resisting homogenization while incorporating local traditions. The second summary describes a text about how sensory experiences and materials can make buildings unique. The third summary examines how space, place, memory and imagination are related. The last summary analyzes a piece about how the lifestyle and behavior of individuals differs between large cities and small towns.

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOUR) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYPNOPSIS : REACTION PAPER
(AUGUST 2017)
Name : Liew Min Yee ID No : 0324525
Lecturer : Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time :
Reader / Text Title :
Towards Critical Regionalism: Six Points for an
Architecture of Resistance
Synopsis No : 4 ( No 1, 2 & 3)
Author : Kenneth Frampton
The reader text is about a way of building that is trying to resist the international
architectural state and the lack of identity, but also against the modern architecture of
capricious individualism and decoration. The key regionalist style is designed to provide a
building rooted in modern traditions, but related to geographical and cultural backgrounds.
The key regionalism is not just regionalism in the sense of native architecture, it is a gradual
design approach designed to mediate local and global architectural languages.
According to Frampton, technical improvements and financial turbulence limit the scope
of urban design in a great effect. Architectural thinking has been divided into the profit
forecast of product technology and a compensatory appearance to cover the reality.
The momentum of the industrial process in the mid-19th century and the movement of the
architecture with the beginning of the neoclassical form was a reaction to the traditional part
of modernization, incorporating the ideas of Gothic Revival and Art & Craft that react with a
negative approach.
He also mention that visual and other sensory experiences should be taken partly at
design period as cooperation between all senses makes buildings deeper and unique. This
concept supports the use of all materials, all materials correspond to all sensations, allowing
different emotional reactions.
In my opinion, Frampton's understanding of "geography" is limited to geographical or
natural and other physical factors. A similar concept should be "national", implicated in
group identity, cosmology and values, the same can increase the diversity of building to
break the monopoly of the purpose, but implicated in the basic concept rather than just the
form of expression.
Word Count : 270 Mark : Grade :
Assessed by : Date : Page No : 4

2. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOUR) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYPNOPSIS : REACTION PAPER
(AUGUST 2017)
Name : Liew Min Yee ID No : 0324525
Lecturer : Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time :
Reader / Text Title :
Space, Place, Memory and Imagination: The
Temporal
Dimension of Existential Space
Synopsis No : 3A PG 188 - 193
Author : Juhani Pallasma
In this reader text, the author examines about the architectural experience with multi-
sensory in different atmosphere, ambience or feeling. That can re-call certain form of
integrations in memories and images, desires and fears, the past and the present. In fact,
the judgement concerning the character of a space or place calls for categories of sensing
that extend beyond the five Aristotelian senses, such as the embodied existential sense,
and, as a result, the entity is perceived in a diffuse, peripheral and unconscious manner.
The author mention that understanding the individual sensibility, we are influenced by
artwork in spirit and emotion, or we may not understand their wisdom at all. Sensitive artists
and architects' intuition about space, place and image experience and sensual quality. This
ability requires a specific imagination, an emphasis on imagination. The atmosphere is
perceived by diffuse vision interacting with other sensory patterns, and they are perceived
emotionally rather than intellectually.
According to the author, atmosphere is more objective in the literature, film, drama,
painting and music than the building, traditionally close to the main, through a concentrated
vision to feel. But when we look at things, we experience of calling for space views and
views is not concerned because we are an outsiders to it. One of the causes of poverty in
contemporary experience may lie in the isolation of poverty around them.
In my opinion, nothing lasts forever. Every physical object, including human existence, is
subject to decay. Yet through the facility of memory, a trace remains of things that have
gone before, both as tangible reminders as well as personal interpretations. Within the built
environment, architecture has the ability to encrypt the faded memory. Although,
architecture may represent an externalization of human actions and identity, buildings can
be demolished someday. The linked through the memory to me, will be the environment
that’s linked to the demolished building because although the meaning is still there that
contributed to the environment.
Word Count : 324 Mark : Grade :
Assessed by : Date : Page No : 3

3. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOUR) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYPNOPSIS : REACTION PAPER
(AUGUST 2017)
Name : Liew Min Yee ID No : 0324525
Lecturer : Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time :
Reader / Text Title :
“The Metropolis and Mental life” (1903)
Synopsis No : 1
Author : Georg Simmel
In this reader text it examines the lifestyle of an individual within metropolis and a small
rural town. The author mention that the metropolis is dominated by objectivism and that
affects the behaviour of an individual in terms of inflation of sensory stimulus coerces man
into being rational and instrumental in his social interactions, and he has to screen out much
stimulus in order to psychologically be able to cope with its rate. Therefore, rather than
emotional, metropolis is essentially intellectual. The city is like an economic hub, it is where
the most advanced division of labour can be found due to its highly diversified labour group.
The author described the metropolis as a place of liberation from the binding mind-set of
the small community, thus allowing the individual more room and freedom to define
themselves independently. Being unique, different and noticeable provides meaning and
generates self-esteem for people in metropolis.
According to the author, the city's indifference is indifferent to the difference, that is, it
cannot be related to the difference between things. Things have no intrinsic value, which
will make them more valuable than others, only through the external objective, the value of
money and the time can be measure but there’s no difference between them.
In my opinion, too agree with the author’s analysis of urban life, we have so much stimuli
that if we don’t develop a form of armour we will indeed become emotionally depleted. We
are all aware of the somewhat dynamic relationships we forge with people in different
groups. I suppose communities can plan activities to increase community involvement, or
outreach from local social institutions such as religious institutions.
Word Count : 276 Mark : Grade :
Assessed by : Date : Page No : 1