A Community Home for Homeless: Self-productive and Living Place for Those Who Don’t Have Home

1.1 Background of Study:

A public space is defined as a social space such as a town square that is open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic level. (Wikipedia, Public Space, August 2011). A private space is an area where accessibility is determined by one person or a small group of people. An open area, room or space may be conceived either as a more or less private place or as a public area, depending on the degree of accessibility, the form of supervision, which uses it, who takes care of it, and their respective responsibilities. Property visibilities of a space can also determine whether the spaces are private, semi- private or public. Hence, accessibility of a space can be determined by transparency of spaces enclosure.

Transparent architecture reflects the spirit of the era, reveals visions and dreams besides gives lifestyle a form. It helps to eliminating barriers, exuding freedom and shows the expression of openness and expansiveness. Transparency opens up the enclosed space on all sides, provides transition between insides and out, creates interface between the building and the municipality, between man and his environment. Transparency can be divided into 3 stages: transparent, semi-transparent and opaque.

This thesis proposal is to explore on transparency of building enclosure (transparent, semi-transparent and opaque) that helps to determine the privacy level of certain spaces. It can be achieved by using several architectural elements, like: mechanism of building materials, lighting, steam, colors, louvers, etc. Case studies on the architectural elements that help to achieved and enhance the visibility and privacy level of certain spaces in buildings will be done. Transformation on the transparency level of materials based on mechanism and chemical reaction also will be studied due to the demand of flexible usage of spaces (certain public spaces that want to become private spaces or reverse versa…)

Transparent Semi- transparent Opaque

Figure 1.1.1: Transformation on transparency of materials.

1.2 Thesis Statement:

Transparency of the spaces enclosures can define privacy and accessibility of spaces. Transformation of the transparency level can also help to enhance the flexibility usage of the building spaces.

1.4 Thesis Aim:

With the exploration of several architectural elements, the transparency of the spaces enclosure’s materials can be achieved and help to define the privacy and accessibility of spaces. It also can enhance the flexible usage of a space by transforming the transparency level of the space.

1.5 Thesis Objectives:

1) To explore the usage of architecture elements that help to achieve transparency of the spaces.

2) To solve the flexibility usage of spaces by using transformation on transparency of spaces (architecture elements).

3) To study or explore more options or ways to achieve transparency of spaces.

1.6 Thesis Issues:

1) Flexible usage of a space.

– Nowadays due to the increasing value of lands, many spaces were required to have flexible usage so that the land and spaces can be fully used.

– Transformation on transparency of spaces can help to achieve this.

2) Openness era.

– In this new modern era, a lot of buildings try to propose open space in order to solve emergency running distance and also some aesthetic and environmental issue.

– Transparency architecture indirectly solves these issues.

1.7 Site and Location:

Somewhere around Kuala Lumpur.

1.8 Significance of Design Thesis:

Visibility and accessibility of spaces can help to define the spaces whether it is private or public. Transparency architecture can help to resolve these issues. In this new modern era, value of lands are increasing, hence flexible usage of spaces are more and more being emphasized. Transformation of transparency of spaces can help to achieve this.

1.9 Case Studies:

1) Olnick Spanu House

Transparent walls can open beautiful panoramic view that give sense of living in the middle of beautiful forest. However, an architect Alberto Campo Baeza thought that New York would be a good place to build a transparent house. The park that lies near the site of the house gives a wonderful view to its inhabitants.

Figure 1.9.1: Olnick Spanu House’s side view.

2) Architecture elements that affect transparency.

a) Lighting: Illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some aesthetic visual or practical effect.

b) Steam: Steam is the technical term for water vapor, the gaseous phase of water, which is formed when water boils. In common language it is often used to refer to the visible mist of water droplets formed as this water vapor condenses in the presence of cooler air. It can creates sense of mysterious and affect the visibility.

c) Chemical reaction or mechanism of building elements:

It is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Some building materials chemical properties can change their transparency due to certain condition.

d) Colors: Color or colour (see spelling differences) is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light (distribution of light energy versus wavelength) interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors.

e) Louvers: Window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise. The angle of the slats may be adjustable, usually in blinds and windows, or fixed. It can creates visual effect as well.