Christine Lee Yet Yee
Foundation in Natural And Built Environment
Project 2A: Design Process-Group Work
Project Brief:
As a group, students need to organize a site visit to any houses with the minimum size of a semi-detahced unit and do a site survey. Students were required to conduct a site inventory and analysis of the existing condition based on the following information:
Site Location and Context
- Identify location of the house and land uses surrounding it
Topography
- Identify the existing landform and slope condition
- Identify the elevation changes
Drainage
- Identify location the drainage and water spots on specific area.
Vegetation
- Identify existing types of vegetation/softscape
Microclimate
- Identify direction of sunrise, sunset and wind direction
Existing Structure
- Identify existing structure
- Identify rubbish bin/dumping spot, cloth line etc.
Views
- Observe and identify views from all vantage points;
On-site views – from inside of the house looking outside.
Off-site views – from outside looking inside.
- Identify the good and bad views.
Site synthesis
-Design Solutions which will mprove the existing condition.
It was quite a lot of content to cover.Therefore, we chose my house which was built up on two pieces of land as there will be more elements to be elaborated on.
We traveled to Seremban together by ktm and reached our destination in about 3 and a half hours. We started our site analysis around evening time.
Photos of Site Visit:
We gathered all the information from our site analysis and distributed our works among each other. We were having a one week mid-term break at that moment so all work was done at home.
I was assigned to in charge of the vegetation part. It was quite challenging for me as there are various types of vegetation at my house. I also have a edible garden where many different types of vegetables were planted there. It took me 2 days to search all over the internet to identify every single species of vegetation.
Then I drew the base plan of the house so as to draw a layout plan of each element around the house. It was quite hard to indicate all the details in one base plan as the scale was too small. Therefore, I drew zoom in areas so that each vegetation can be identifued clearly. It was very challenging for me to zoom in each area with the correct scale and it has to point to the north.
Then, I drew plan views of vegetations on the base plan which indicates all the position of the vegetations at that area and colored it. Fortunately, I was able to finish everything within 6 days.
We combined all our works on Monday morning and I was extremely exhausted as I had been staying up all night for 7 days with just 15-30minutes of sleep per day. I went back to my room and dug into my bed as I slept like a " dead person" till the next morning. I was glad that my group did quite a good job.
Final Compilation:
Reflection:
Through this project, I have learnt how to draw a landscape schematic plan where all the elements on site are indicated. I also get to learn how to draw things to the exact scales with precise lines. Reading the base plan of the house also exposed me to know what exactly I will be facing in the future where I learned how to interpret basic information of a base plan which is so complicated. Through the site synthesis, I got to know what are the weaknesses of the design in my house too.
In addition, I expericed perseverance throughout the whole process and not to give up when trials arises. This project also trained me to face bigger projcects in the future as the pressure in this project is much more bigger than the previous one.
In conclusion, I get to know many species of plantation at my own home. I wouldn't have the chance to see all the amazing elements in my house without the help of this project. I appreciate my house more as I can see the sense of both landscape and architecture in it.
Taylor's Graduate Capabilities:
Discipline Specific Knowledge
Get to know different types of vegetation.
Lifelong Learning
Learned to draw a schematic plan.
Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Discipline myself in my time management and to solve every problems that arises.