PAC-POD
Water Filtering Hotel Capsule at River Clyde
River Clyde in Glasgow was once the pride of the city; shipbuilding industry in the 18th century brought wealth to the city, and subsequently introduced many great inventions to the world. After World War II the industry went downhill, leaving the heavily polluted river with organic chemical from shipbuilding and power stations. Much regeneration and clean-up plans have been done but it remains as an unpleasant space in the city.
The project, PAC-POD, envisions a floating capsule prototype that combine both hospitality and environmental technology that help reducing pollution of River Clyde. Floating from Glasgow city centre to the west of Scotland (Gourock), one can enjoy the bustling city in the day, and retrieve to PAC-POD at night. PAC-POD will then travel roughly 30 miles in a slow speed along River Clyde, allowing guest to wake up next to the beautiful Scottish nature on the next day. While PAC-POD travels, its waste filtering technology will operate; PAC-POD will filter and remove floating waste from the river, and treats the water with intention that it is safely returned to the environment. All waste collected will be disposed once PAC-POD is docked in either one of the docks along the river. Intentionally to be self-sufficient, PAC-POD can also generate its own electricity for the use in the capsule through water movement. In term of profit-making, part of the money generated from the hospitality will fund the cleaning mechanisms while creating more jobs for the locals.
The Angel's Staircase
Scottish Scenic Routes Competition
Located along the A93, the site is an interesting place to draw attention to; it has rich history in past, and still play an important role in Scottish tourism. The site is one of the lay-bys for people who are driving towards Glenshee Ski Centre as it provides dramatic view over the landscape of the south of Glenshee. The disappearing Devil’s Elbow can still be seen from the Google map, only if one is being acknowledged by the history. Currently, the site is rather unpleasant where it is used as a car park for hill trekkers and wildlife observers. Therefore the proposal calls for a viewing pavilion which provides a more secluded space for spiritual engagement with the nature.
The viewing pavilion is positioned in the north-south direction; as it helps visitors to locate themselves among the vast landscape. The northern end is raised above the street level; one can observe the two lay-bys that was once the famous Devil’s Elbow before the old military road being straightened for safety reason. The raised platform also increases visibility of the pavilion, attracting visitors to stop by for a breath of fresh air after the long drive. On the other hand, the southern end is lowered approximately 3m from the road level, intended to serve as a more tranquil and secluded space for wildlife observers. In order to enhance the experience of viewing, the viewing pavilion is clad with a concrete filigree façade, where it is designed in strong geometry pattern in contrast to the undulating landscape of Glenshee. It also acts as a shelter to wildlife observers and hill walkers.
Polemic Architecture
Proposal of the New French Parliamentary Quarter
Architecture has always played a vital role in politics; by materializing the presence and nature of power in its attempts to create fictional relationship with community through abstract idea of ‘nation’. Throughout the rise and fall of empires and political powers, architecture is constantly being reproduced in new forms and styles, ranging from classical to baroque, from modernism to de-constructivism, each and every empire intended to leave their legacies to the next generation through architecture.
Peter Eisenmen once said ‘a building takes ten years to build, but politicians work in four or five year blocks’. This expresses the incapacity of architecture to adapt to changing political landscapes. In the contemporary era, what would be the right architectural style to represent democracy properly?
Inspired by Palace of Versailles and its political symbolism of absolute monarchy, the thesis explores the interdependent relationship between architecture and politics. Architecture plays a vital role in materializing political power through its physical appearance; decorated with excessive ornaments based solely on an architect’s and a political parties’ conceptions of symbols and representation. My thesis argument is a critique of the inflexibility and style-driven architectural design of contemporary parliaments. Architecture in politics should be neutral; to allow interventions of political agendas into the generic space where people live and play, thus representing the nation through the public realm. In other words, architecture acts as a polemic tool, serving the purpose of propaganda in politics.