Open: Rememory

Benjamin Lau

Studio Description

Architecture not only shapes our cities but also creates stories and memories far beyond physical forms and functionality. Our memories of cities are collectively constructed. These collective memories are often contradicted by historical facts and reinterpreted from time to time. As part of the urban narrative series, this studio explores how architecture can recall memories in the urban environment through the power of storytelling.

Terry Farrell describes architecture and cityscape as a tangled bank. REMEMORY is a cross-disciplinary studio between architecture and urban design, and how they can be intertwined. Through designing monumental and complex public buildings, students will learn how to create contextual sensitive and culture-centric architecture to evoke memories of places.

In this open studio, students will design public buildings or mixed-use developments intertwined with collective memories culturally, historically, and socially. Students can determine the place (project location), the audience (target users), and the functional brief (program) of their projects to suit their proposed research topics.

Studio Outcomes

The studio will be structured in three parts - research, concept creation, and design development. The studio outcomes include masterplanning, architectural concept and design, design narrative, architectural planning, and communication skills.

In the research stage, students will develop their design brief through architectural theory and precedent research and an in-depth understanding of the proposed field. Works from architect-urbanists such as Aldo Rossi and Terry Farrells will be studied as part of students’ learning.

During the concept creation stage, students will develop their masterplan through morphological mapping and small group discussions. Using physical study models as a key design tool, students will learn how to generate architectural concepts and design narratives, emphasizing contextual and cultural responses.

In the design development stage, key design principles relating to architectural planning for complex buildings will be explained. Engineering support session provides technical structure advice to students. Visual and verbal presentation techniques will be explained and guidance will be provided for the final presentations.

Studio Leader/s

Benjamin Lau is an experienced designer in architecture, master planning, and urban design. Previously a Director at Farrells, (2000-2022) established by internationally renowned architect-planner Terry Farrell, Benjamin led many designs of award-winning projects worldwide.

From the 100-storey skyscraper KK100 in Shenzhen to the Vattanac Capital’s culturally responsive design in Phnom Penh, Benjamin’s design solutions are innovative and multi-faceted, through research and design explorations.

As a passionate urbanist, Benjamin’s design philosophy is rooted in contextual sensitivity and an intimate understanding of ‘place’. With many published drawings, Benjamin is a proficient narrative designer who can communicate complex ideas with exceptional critical thinking skills.

Readings & References

Aldo Rossi, The architecture of the city, MIT Press, 1982

Colin Rowe and Fred Koetter, Collage City, MIT Press, 1984

Nigel Coates, Narrative Architecture, John Wiley & Sons, 2012

Terry Farrell, The City as a Tangled Bank, John Wiley & Sons, 2014

Architecture by Aldo Rossi and John Hejduk

Schedule:
Monday 9am-11am, MSD 239
Friday 9am-1pm, MSD 239

Contact Handbook