6__

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

DESIGN CONCEPT SPATIAL ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP BOUNDARY ELEMENTS OF THE WALL SPATIAL EXPERIENCES VISUAL EXPERIENCES

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

65

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

66

6.1 Design Concept In the early twentieth century, as the expanding colonial urban economies absorbed large numbers of labor migrants, the shop house in New Town, Ipoh grown rapidly to accomodate the increasingly overcrowded conditions in Old Town.

The architectural solution that was employed was to build flexible and pratical shop houses that was economical to build. And it was much influenced by ‘Anglo-Chinese Urban Vernacular’ style in which reference to the incorporation of the Southern Chinese building form and Colonial urban plans.

The design concept can be further discussed in the context of: 1. An individual shop house 2. Multiple shop houses as a unit.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

67

6.1.1 Concept and Layout ( Individual Shop House) The shop houses were designed to have two floors in which the ground floor is used for trading and the upper floor as a living space, providing

(Trading Space)

an economical space for the rapidly growing community. As shown in

(Living Space)

the layout diagram,the ground hall and the first floor hall are the main space. At the end of the hall, there is a door that con- nects to the rear court where the service space is located and a long staircase leads to the storage or living space upstairs. The tenants can access to the back lane through the rear court. The interior spatial planning was maximised but keeping it to its’ minimal by avoiding unnecessary partitions.

Ground Floor and First Floor Layout [77]

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

68

In comparison to the older shop houses in Old Town, it is visible that the Rainbow shop houses are much shorter in terms of depth. This is due to the overwhelming demand of living and commercial premises in a short period of time, resulting in the simplifying the layout to its’ most effecient form to shorten the construction process. The common depth usually applied to shop houses is 6-7 meters wide and 30 meters deep, sometimes extending to 60 meters. But the rainbow shop house is shorter and narrower, coming in at 5 meters wide and 21 meters deep.

In short, the shop house was design with maximum effeciency, flexibility and practicality in mind.

The Rainbow Shop House has Shorter Depth [78]

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

69

6.1.2 Concept and Layout ( Shop Houses as a Unit) Apart from design considerations for the spatial planning of an individual shop house, the shop houses was also carefully designed as a unit to Rectangular plan to provide a pair of parallel walls for the support of beams and roofs. And no wasted space as houses are arranged next to each other.

maintain the effeciency throughout.

The shophouses are designed based on a rectangular plan as an individual as well as a whole unit. One of the basic reasons for the rectangular plan was that it provided a pair of parallel walls for the support of floor beams and roof trusses. Another advantage is that it allows rooms or houses to be put nest to each other economically in terms of both the use of space and construction.

In parallel wall houses one party wall will provide half the support needed for the floors and roofs of two houses. Also there is no wast- ed space, and rows of houses can be arranged to face each other acrros

Parallel Wall Strategy [79]

access streets.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

70

The parallel wall strategy is the layout of typical traditional shop houses.

Each house is acoomodated bewtween two parallel walls. The parallel wall arrangement allows many houses to be arranged side by side, sharing party walls. Arranged opposite each other, with a street in between, such shop houses are an effecient way if organising space.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

71

6.2 Spatial Organization and Function 6.2.1 Spatial Organization The rainbow shop houses has a strong axial plan, as the spaces of the ground floor and the first floor shows linear sequence. Linear organization consists essentially of a series of spaces. These spaces are linked as they are related to one another. The ground hall is symbolically impor-

Strong Directinal Axis [80]

tant to the shop houses as it is emphasized by the location, in the middle of the linear sequence. Due to the rectangular layout of the shop house, the public have a tendency to walk into the shop house due to its strong directional form.

6.2.2 Spatial Hierarchy There are three division areas in the shop house which are arranged according to the hierarchy as shown in Fig. ; the public space: the fivefoot way, where people can freely walk through the covered walkway; the semi-private main hall which has boundaries but can be entered by

Spatial Planning on Floor Plan [81]

Public

Semi Private

Private

public and lastly the private rear court.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

72

6.3 Spatial Relationship GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

The rainbow shop houses have spaces that linked by a common space.

As for the upper floor that consists of 3 spaces – the balcony, the hall

For instance, the ground floor that consists of three spaces, the front

and a room facing the back lane. They are spaces that linked by a

hall acts as the common space that link the five foot way and the rear

common space which is the hall. These spaces used to share the same

court. The front hall and rear court share a common border which is the

nature and common bond when the upper floor was used for living.

wall with a door and a window that allows natural light to penetrate into

However for the rainbow shop houses, the hall is the dominant space

the hall. The wall clearly segregates the two spaces so that the occu-

based on the ceiling height and size of the space, with the two spaces

pants are able to define and respond to each space in its way. Spatial

supporting the hall. Due to the size of the hall, functions can be unde-

continuity of the ground floor is not interrupted as the window of the

fined. The balcony and room are relatively small due to lesser usage.

common border allow public to see through till the end of the rear court.

The connection of large and small space make the large element seem

However some tenants use furniture or curtains to cover up the win-

larger and the small element seem smaller (Kai, I.L. ,1982). These 3

dows so that the rear courts which consist of service area and storage

spaces are link to each other forming a linear sequence of spaces.

are out of the public’s sight. This is to concentrate the focus of the customers as well as to ensure the privacy of the rear court is maintained.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

73

6.4 Boundary Boundary is the most explicit formal quality of space. Roof, ceiling and the wall are the physical boundaries of space as the formal quality of the space depends on the configuration of these elements. The spaces of the shop houses are defined by various configuration of wall, roof and ceiling. The five foot way is a narrow walkway in front of the entrance of the shop houses. It is an interior space because it has a roof, but show-

Five-foot Way [82]

ing the qualities of an exterior space as it is not enclosed by solid walls.

The boundary of the five foot way space is defined by the four columns, which is visually transparent and therefore have open quality.

Another interior space with exterior quality is the balcony. The reason is because the balcony of the shop houses is partially covered by the roof.

However this space is not surrounded by full height solid wall but parapet wall, thus showing the open quality of an exterior space.

The Balcony [83]

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

74

6.5 Elements of the Wall A wall may consist of windows and doors. The connection of interior to exterior is a very important aspect in Western architecture and often a successful building is defined by how accessible the building to its exterior view. However in Chinese architecture, the connection between interior and exterior is totally discouraged but inside the building, the spaces are highly accessible. Windows and doors are the functional elements on a wall as both of these elements provide light and ventilation as well as accessibility from interior to exterior (Kai, I.L. ,1982).

Based on our observation, we realised that the walls facing the back lane have limited or small windows that show the influence of Chinese architecture. These openings are not large enough to be called as windows, but they are used as air vents for the shop houses. Air vents are small openings on the wall to encourage ventilation.

Air vents at rear elevation.

[84]

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

75

The rainbow shop houses are recently renovated by the new owner, Mr Lim. The original form of the shop houses may have no windows on the wall facing the back lane, only small openings can be found. This shows that the rear of the shop houses have no relation to the exterior. Air vents or windows of the rainbow shop houses are installed to suit modern function. Each shop house has a door on the wall to allow access to the back lane.

Unlike the exterior boundary, the interior boundary of the shop houses which is the wall that segregates the ground floor hall and rear court has a large window and door that provides access and view to the rear court.

The window allow the occupants to monitor the activity at the rear court from the hall.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

76

6.6 Spatial Experiences 6.6a Ground Floor 1. Ground Floor Hall As entered from the ground floor entrance, a moderately spacious space can be seen as no permanent partition were added in to the rather narrow yet long space, apart from the Yellow shop house which were split into two halves interiorly.

Spatial Features: -Brightly lit, receiving ample sunlight from the wide entrance -Moderately spacious -Well ventilated All seven shop houses have different businesses thus resulting in slight different spatial experience, which will be reviewed latter.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

77

[85] Contrast of Dark Interior With Brightly Lit Five-foot Way

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

78

2. Ground Floor Rear Court The ground floor rear court is brightly lit by window openings which are situated high above the ground. This space is a private space for the tenants.

Spatial Features: - Brightly lit, receiving ample sunlight from the wide entrance - Well ventilated

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

79

[86] Light That Pours into the Space Enhances The Depth of Space

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

80

6.6b First Floor 1. First Floor Hall This space is spacious as it has high ceiling roof which creates a sense of welcoming to the users. Repetitive arched windows are placed on the side of the wall to allow natural sunlight inside the space.

Spatial Features: -Brightly lit, receiving ample sunlight from the wide entrance -Moderately spacious -Well ventilated

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

81

[87] Repetitive Openings Across the Facade Reduce the Artificial Lightings

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

82

2. First Floor Balcony The balcony is the unique feature of these shop houses. It has an adequate space for doing house chores or having family gatherings. Back in decades, this space is very useful to dry wet clothes. This is because maximum sunlight can be obtained in this space.

Spatial Features: -Brightly lit, receiving ample sunlight -Moderately spacious -Well ventilated

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

83

[88] Unobstructive Perspective

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX

CHAPTER 6

SPATIAL LAYOUT

84

6.7 Visual Experiences

[89] Cross Sectional Diagram

The balcony allows the occupant to have a wide view of Jalan Sultan Iskandar and surrounding context. If view from the five foot way, visual transition of spatial qualities is achieved by the great depth of the hall. The pedestrian walkway allows the public to have a good view of the façade. On the upper floor, there are no skylights for the occupants to view the sky. The connection of the interior and exterior is achieved by the windows on the upper floor.

IPOH RAINBOW SHOP HOUSES

TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY 2016 MEASURED DRAWING GROUP SIX