In this article, we continue our series on Competitions.archi, presenting a collection of articles on different architectural competitions. Today, we will be featuring the winner of the Kaira Looro 2023 Competition – an article from Architecture Competitions Yearbook 2023.
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Introduction
Last May, I decided to take the opportunity to participate in the Kaira Looro’23 competition. This is my second participation. The failure in the previous year’s edition has been a stepping stone to achieve my current success. This time, I will share the journey I have gone through and discuss the key steps I took, starting from the initial process of deciding to participate again to the preparation of the proposal which ultimately led to a significant victory for my career. I hope this story will inspire everyone who aims to achieve a similar goal, even without prior experience.
The Reason Why I Participated in This Contest
The same reason motivated me to participate again this year. This is a competition where there is no defeat. It is based on a noble purpose, which is to address humanitarian issues in the location where it will be built. It not only provides an opportunity to be involved in a charitable project but also offers participants a chance to develop themselves after winning, including the chance to work at the judges’ studios and companies.
Identification of Categories
In my participation in the previous edition of Kaira Looro Children House, which focused on malnutrition issues, we felt that we made a mistake. At that time, we defined the competition under the “problem-solving” architectural category. This approach caused us to focus on things that shouldn’t have been the main aim, which made us abandon the functional aspect of the project.
Basically, the function here represents the solutions predetermined by this competition. So, it’s more accurate to categorize this competition as “architectural design,” where the main focus is designing architecture that is efficient and aesthetic according to the established functions. Participants are expected to develop design solutions that optimize space usage and meet existing functional needs.
Identification of Design Focus
The brief stated that the main objective was to select an architectural design for a primary school that would contribute to improving the quality of children’s education, ensuring their rights to learn, health, and necessary cross-curricular activities. The architecture was expected to inspire students, the community, and authorities, creating a place with a unique, simple, and symbolic identity. The proposed facilities included six classrooms with a capacity of 25 students each, management offices, a meeting room for teaching staff, a flexible laboratory area for recreation and experiments, medical care space, a canteen for less privileged students, storage rooms, and toilet facilities for students and staff. The project had to meet certain requirements, such as being realized through sustainable technology without heavy vehicles, utilizing natural or recycled materials to reduce economic and environmental impact, and integrating with the rural environment. The design was expected to have a maximum area of 650 m2, covering only the ground floor, considering building costs under €70,000, and giving priority to the use of local natural materials.
Identification of Architectural Characteristics
To identify the appropriate architectural characteristics for this function, I could contextualize what was described in the brief. However, I personally believed that many elements needed to be combined to create architecture that not only aligned with the brief but also had its own character.
Subjective. It might be more challenging for the judges to determine whose work is most deserving, as it will be highly subjective if participants adopt similar approaches based on the detailed brief, which also contains constraints that must not be violated. Here, I planned a different approach. I attempted to analyze the architectural character of one of the judges in this competition, namely Kengo Kuma. Why Kengo Kuma’s architectural character? Because he was the most senior judge in the contest and could be considered the main decision-maker for the winner. In my opinion, since one of the main prizes of this competition was an internship opportunity with Kengo Kuma, he would indirectly select the winner as he chose potential interns. In other words, the design that aligned with his architectural character would have a great chance of winning. This personal opinion seemed to be validated by my victory and based on my observation, Kengo Kuma’s architectural character was evident in previous winners’ designs.
To explore and identify the characteristics of Kengo Kuma’s architecture, I read several articles about his works and used sketching methods to get closer to his visual character. My subjective analysis revealed that Kuma’s design combines symmetric and asymmetric balance, utilizes negative and positive space for visual depth, and considers human scale for a familiar appearance. Environmental consciousness is reflected in humble designs, while functional flexibility shows responsiveness to change. Respect for local culture gives a sincere impression, the tendency to display long horizontal lines creates wide flowing vistas aligned with the horizon, and it subtly responds to the surrounding environment. Moreover, most of Kuma’s designs have a single mass, and in this sense, all functions are under a unified roof, reflecting his desire to create closer connections between different functions within the building, promoting interaction, and providing a comprehensive experience for its occupants.
Application of this identification is still very flexible. Furthermore, Kengo Kuma’s architecture has intricate geometry and some aspects require specialized craftsmanship. This is an example that various adjustments could occur in the next stages, especially when combined with the design’s focus.
Shortcut Strategy
Within the brief, there’s a provision that the total building area must not exceed 650 m2; however, this doesn’t apply to spaces without walls or partitions under the cantilevered roof. I tried to use this as a way to expand my design space by creating a strong character that would stand out and provide a distinctly different impression if my competitors didn’t do something similar. This might sound bold and risky, as it has the potential to be interpreted differently and considered a violation of the brief’s rules. Nevertheless, I proceeded with it. It felt like participating in a race where you’re not informed beforehand whether a small shortcut at the end of the track can be taken or not. If we choose to take that shortcut, there are only two possibilities: either you fail by not following the main route, or you pass and become the frontrunner.
Defining the Concept
I am highly considerate of the first impression from the judges. All essential elements must be visible in a single object without explanation. The visually apparent form and easily imaginable atmosphere are the initial aspects I determine before proceeding further. The process of discovering these form and atmosphere elements was conducted through sketches and simple 3D modeling. This approach enabled me to effectively and efficiently explore various alternatives for comparison in order to achieve the most accurate outcome. Of course, this was based on the identification and strategy I have planned.
I created several alternatives. Some alternatives tended to be complex to apply, while others had easily applicable forms but lacked strong character. In each alternative, there was a misleading thought. At that time, I persisted with the idea of a long single building mass for quite a while. After a deeper analysis, I found that the elongated single mass form is not suitable for a school’s function. A school is not just a place for formal education but also a primary space for social interactions that significantly impact personal development and students’ quality of life. The use of a linear elongated form resulted in distant spaces, lack of a central point, and inefficiency for communal purposes. After two weeks and with only 10 days left to complete the competition, out of numerous linear arrangements, I tried a new alternative by breaking the linear elongated form into a form with a center. This final alternative was the concept I deemed most accurate. It could accommodate social interactions well, possessed simplicity, clear lines, representative proportions, the strongest character, and the most potential for development to achieve an impressive spatial ambiance while remaining functional.
Design Phase
In this phase, accurately assessed sketches were redrawn to the appropriate size to accommodate all the required program functions, while keeping in mind the predetermined elements. The result of the previous sketch was a broken linear building form. This form appears symmetrical. I experimented by adding another break to create a more asymmetric impression, aiming to enhance the space’s attractiveness for stimulating student creativity. All spatial requirements were integrated into this form. I added new spaces by utilizing the gaps provided by the tor. The spaces that were initially empty corridors for mobility needs transformed into spaces with essential functions as interaction areas. These spaces in front of each classroom and other rooms would serve as social connecting areas before students enter class, during breaks, or when school ends. Additionally, there were flexible spaces for imaginative use, transcending age and time restrictions, and linking the school with its surroundings. In other words, these spaces would remain accessible to everyone, including non-students, after school hours.
This architecture highly considers children as the primary users. Its external appearance represents children’s imagination. Children will define the building according to their own imagination. They might see it as a landing airplane, a place full of fantasies, a representation of their anatomy, or a structure reflecting kindness and respect for those who still have enthusiasm to learn amidst the life challenges they face. However, in reality, I am an adult human. The unusual shape in their environment does not necessarily demand the potential to be perceived diversely by each individual.
Upon entering the building, children will constantly experience the spaces within and will be the primary determinants of what kind of spaces should be created. Sensory spaces are deemed highly important to stimulate sensory sensations as they can evoke feelings such as pleasure, warmth, cleanliness, comfort, and surprise. The sense of sight is stimulated through the interplay of proportions, scale, geometric forms, colors, and lighting. The sense of smell is triggered by the use of natural materials like bamboo and soil. Bamboo has a distinctive aroma; during hot weather, it can release a calming and fresh scent. Soil provides a gentle touch of natural fragrance that can establish a connection with nature and the environment. The sense of hearing is stimulated by utilizing the structure of bamboo. Bamboo inherently contains hollow spaces, so when struck or tapped, it produces a unique sound. This can encourage children to collaborate in creating unique melodies. Furthermore, the interconnectedness of architecture with the environment through the expansive courtyard provides children the opportunity to interact with the sounds of nature. The sense of touch: the sense of touch is stimulated through the proportions of the facade that can be felt even within the interior space. The room with a roof that extends from above to touch the ground functions as a hall. This space possesses both positive and negative qualities, with its depth being felt differently depending on the user’s body anatomy and varying over the years for children going through growth phases. The use of flexible furniture in public spaces provides children with the opportunity to feel the weight of an object. Utilizing natural materials while preserving their true textures offers a closer connection to nature.
Thermal comfort: To achieve thermal comfort in an environment with low humidity and frequent dry weather conditions, I implemented several strategies. The first strategy involves bringing natural air into the building through natural plant filtration to lower its temperature. Then, fresh air is directed into the rooms through openings parallel to the floor, targeting the legs. Air touching the legs can quickly enhance the feeling of freshness due to blood vessels in the skin regulating body temperature. After air flows through the rooms, hot air within is expelled through gaps in the roof. These roof gaps also serve to introduce skylight illumination during the day.
Outdoor Space: The presence of outdoor spaces or courtyards within a school’s design is crucial in creating a functional and holistic learning environment. Apart from providing a place for students to move, play, and exercise, outdoor spaces also serve as relaxation spots that reduce stress and enhance mental well-being. In this school design, the outdoor space is designed with almost equal dimensions and placed at the center to maximize its use.
The architecture profession is a long and dynamic career journey. Sometimes, to develop oneself better, a more flexible approach beyond daily routines is necessary. Pursuing professional growth through advanced training, participation in workshops, seminars, and certainly engaging in architectural competitions can offer fresh insights, additional skills, and opportunities to expand networks. This is an effective way to stay inspired, follow current trends, and navigate evolving challenges in the ever-changing world of architecture. Particularly in the context of competitions, it’s important to view architectural competitions as opportunities to develop skills and insights, not solely as races for victory. While winning a competition is a delightful achievement, it’s vital not to become overly fixated on the end result, neglecting the actual creative process. In the constantly evolving realm of architecture, experiences, and lessons from each competition hold immeasurable value.I hope this article can inspire and benefit its readers, encouraging them to pursue dreams and confidently face challenges.
Author: Artha Krisiantara from Indonesia
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