Tropical Architecture In Darwin - Essay Example

Running Head: TROPICAL SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE Course: Name: University: Date: Introduction In architecture the term known to describe environmentally conscious design is known as sustainable architecture. The sustainable architecture seeks to minimize negative impacts on the environment by buildings both residential and also non residential. In modern buildings and architecture, it is done through enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of building materials, energy used in maintaining comfortable indoor environment and development space. Some of these methods of ensuring sustainability are seen in houses built which require low energy, others using renewable energy, buildings with efficient natural ventilation and heating systems to reduce the need for much power to dissipate the polluted air inside among others. Modern architecture therefore tries to address this issue by the way the structures are designed. Some of this is done through using the available modern design and building technologies. Modern architecture also tries to reach the peoples aesthetic needs and environmental needs at a midpoint through use of designs that ensure maximum utilization of space and material required.. Many of the structures seen in the modernist architecture trying to ensure they maintain sustainability borrow their designs and ideas from the older architecture. Joo-Hwa et al in his report indicates that building science tries to use mathematical formulas to reduce environmental issues1. According to many practitioners perspective, principles of architecture should be based on good designs that respond to climate. Bioclimatic approach through which one designs according the climatic elements of a place has been seen to be one of the most important principals. According to Joo-Hwa et al studies, many practitioners in the South East Asia tend to forget that tropical architecture also applies to part of Africa, Australia and also America2. Further more it is evident that tropical architecture can be found in other non tropical countries in Asia like Japan and Indonesia. Tropical architecture however, has been known to be revolutionary dating from as far as from the 17th century to date. These styles of architecture however have been known to vary from one region to another with some regions adopting some styles form others at a later period. These regions consciously tried to tackle their environmental issues by either in one way or another using the principals of a bioclimatic approach to suit their needs. Structures in hotter regions were found to have maximum interior space and better natural ventilation to be able to clear the indoor environment than the ones found in colder regions. In many of these countries however the architectural periods can be grouped into pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods each of them carrying new styles. Most of the ancient sustained architectural styles in this region include: Victorian, Georgian, Tudor, Grecian-Spanish, Neoclassical, Gothic, Palladian, Renaissance and modernist architectural styles. Australian architecture on the other hand has been known to be basically “exotic and derivative” and not until recently that influence of weather and climate have been seen to play a major role in designing3. Designs by the Australian architects during the nineteenth century were seen to be inspired by the architectural developments in England. Architecture in Australia however can be classified in two main categories: "Residential" and "Non-Residential" with the residential styles being the most prolific in the buildings made. At a closer look there is limited evidence of indigenous Australian structures in the pre-colonial period since most of them were semi-permanent domestic structures. Thus, most of the architectural work is attributed to the colonial and post-colonial period4. These pre-colonial period houses varied from round houses thatched with grass, temporary windbreaks to wiltjas (shelters) of Stringybark/paperbark. Construction materials also varied across geographic regions depending on the availability of materials and also the regions environment. Colder regions of southeastern Australia were more known to construct huts from stone while using whale bones for the structures framework. For the Desert people in the western region, their shelter frames were made from tree limbs and for cladding spinifex was used. Mud was used In the Lake Eyre region with grass to waterproof dome shelters5. Meriam house of the Torres Strait Islands Winter shelter covered in spinifex grass Australian architects however were known to be among the early adopters of imported styles and putting local interpretation to them6. Some of the early architecture included among others the Georgian architecture seen in the early government buildings and mostly in Melbourne and Sydney, Victorian architecture which was seen in regional capitals: Ballarat and Bendigo other styles include Art-Deco and Classical. Federal, Functionalist, Structuralist and modernist architectural styles were adopted later on in the turn of the 20th century after architects tried to define the modernist styles and how to adopt them and sought to reject historicism. Darwin’s’ architecture Darwin “the capital of the Australian northern territory” just like the greater Australian region has ancient designs but many with colonial and post-colonial designs7. Darwin however is mostly is characterized by relatively low houses unlike Sydney which is filled with skyscrapers. Among the architectural styles that can be seen here is the Victorian architecture, in which Burnett’s work is attributed to. Some of the famous buildings in the Darwin Northern Territory include the Parliament House, Burnett House and the government House which was the official residence of the Administrator of the Northern Territory which is located on the Esplanade8. Construction of the Parliament House was done from 1990- 1994, and officially opened by the Governor-General of Australia, Bill Hayden since the old colonial administrative building build in 1948 was demolished owing to the fact they were temporal structures9. Parliament House in Darwin Historical Burnett house Burnett House is one of the most famous examples of tropical architecture in Darwin. Build in 1939 and allocated to the NT director of works by B.C.G Burnett. It is a surviving example of the type “K” house an unusual design that incorporated an entrance, lobby and lounge/ dining room at ground level and bedrooms above. It was restored in 1989 as a result of suffering world war two and cyclone Tracy in 1974. Burnett designs have been one of the most adopted designs in the modern architecture since it is seen to meet the standards for sustainable architecture. The designs conceptualized to maximize the space inside the house allowing maximum ventilation and penetration of natural light. These designs have been coupled with the modern architectural designs to bring out the environment friendly and at the same time modern exquisite structures. This can be seen in the modern Burnets’ house designs all over Darwin by current architects. Sydney Sydney located on the southern Australia, is known to have one of the most magnificent building and structures in the world with the land mark Sydney opera house and the Sydney harbor bridge. Sydney is known to be filled with the most of the Georgian architecture, Edwardian/Federal architectural styles, some Victorian styles and also modernist architecture. Foundations of this English Georgian architecture a branch of Renaissance architecture were laid towards the end of the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren among others but this style flowed out into the provinces slowly. However when Francis Greenway was transported to Australia in 1814 and appointed Civil Architect by the energetic and visionary Governor Lachlan Macquarie, it was expressed and desired fully. Some of Sydney’s most magnificence however can be attributed to the building designs of Francis Greenway10. Some his works includes the; Hyde Park Barracks, the new Government House, Macquarie Lighthouse and St. James Church. Hyde Park Barracks New Government House Another great architectural feature in Sydney is the Sydney opera house conceived by Jorn Utzon a renowned architect in the late 1950s and opened in 1973. The building design reminiscent of a ship at full sail was considered to be above the capabilities of engineers at the time11. This type of structure is sometimes difficult to classify for many architects but it is classified under Structuralist architectural style. It is also considered as one of the sustainable architectural structures built with the perspective of meeting the national standards for environmentally friendly buildings with efficient ventilation. Like other famous buildings which allow maximum natural cross ventilation, the opera house in its concept traps the cool breezes from its surrounding reducing the need for use of mechanical ventilation. Sydney opera house Parliament House Canberra The organic modernist style of architecture is also seen in Sydney. One of the great features is the works of the renowned architect/land architect that help to design the suburbs of Sydney Castlecrag and Canberra Australia’s capital city. Melbourne architecture Melbourne a city re-known for its Victorian architecture is located on the southern region of Australia. The city also has notable landmarks such as the third largest tram network in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, Flinders Street Station, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground12. These 1937 tropical houses designed are some of the works by B.C.G. Burnett the NT governments’ principal architect. Burnett designed elevated houses with steep-pitched roof and open eaves 13. These designs by Burnett are some of the few designs adopted with modifications by the modern architecture for structures which are considered environment friendly. Influence on the contemporary housing designs in Australia, is attributed to Burnett's practical and aesthetic designs that seemed to have interaction with the environment positively. Walter Burley Griffin an American architect also left a legacy of his unique building designs which remain in a small number of Melbourne buildings. Some of the famous structures include the Royal Exhibition Building built in 1880s, Collins Street 19th century that adopted the "boom style” and Federation Square. Some of the modernist architectural style is also seen in the cities architecture mostly built with an aspect of environment friendliness although with modern modifications14. Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne Federation Square Malaysian architecture Malaysian architecture is one of the richest architecture with a blend of Asian tradition, old colonial influences, Malay Islamic inspirations modern and post modern mix. Most of these architectural structures can be seen in Kuala Lumpur's but it being a relatively young city most colonial buildings were built toward the end of 19th and early 20th century15. Unlike the architectural structures in Darwin and other parts of Australia these buildings were in; Neo-Gothic, Tudor, Moorish or Grecian-Spanish style of architecture. However, modifications have been seen to take place in these buildings so as to cater for the use of local resources and also suit the climate changes. Some Malaysian buildings and ancient temples are seen with wide roofs, big indoor space and large louvers as some of the modifications considered by early architects in order to allow efficient indoor ventilation. Due to independence and rapid economic growth from the 70’s to the 90’s, buildings with more local (Malay architecture) and Islamic motif were allowed to rise in the city16. One of the tropical structures that are sustainable is the Troika tower in Kuala Lumpur that was designed to allow maximum daylight and also natural and artificial ventilation. It was also designed to allow commercial businesses to be carried out in it maximizing the space used in the community. Building designs in this region with local architectural styles were seen to borrow their designs from traditional items e.g. head dress and the Keris but some have Islamic geometric motif integrated with the designs. The late 90's and early 2000’s however saw the birth of Late Modernist and Post Modernist style architecture which is seen in buildings with glass shells around the city and prominent examples such as Petronas Twin Towers17. This tower allows maximum penetration of natural light and also easy ventilation to the individual rooms. It provides space for numerous activities in it favoring the community surrounding it. Petronas Twin Towers Features of the Tudor styled architecture are found in, the serene Royal Selangor Club and the Selangor Chinese Club situated in Dataran Merdeka built in 1910 and 1929 respectively. Neo-Gothic architecture exists in religious building such as the St. Mary's Cathedral, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and Church of the Holly Rosary and St. John's Church. Some of the Victorian architecture structures also include; the Central Market, National Art Gallery, Malaysia Tourism Center, Industrial Court Building, the Mansem, PAM Center and Coliseum Theater18. Other structures found in the country are in the Neo Moorish or Mughal architectural styles built at the turn of the 20th century by the colonial power. Most of these architectural designs however are seen in Dataran Merdeka and some in Chinatown buildings. Some of the famous buildings include Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Bandaraya Theatre, National History Museum and the old Sessions and Magistrates Courts designed in the neo-Moorish style19. Sultan Abdul The Old Supreme Court Building (left) & City Hall (right) to be converted into the National Art Gallery of Singapore. The city central business district currently is filled with many new and tall buildings with Late Modernism and Postmodern architecture. Architecture of Singapore Singapore’s architecture comprise of a range of styles and influences from various regions and periods20. It could be grouped into different periods being largely the traditional pre-world war II colonial period and the modern post-war and post-colonial period21. In the pre-colonial settlement, Singapore houses were built in the Malay tradition architecture which was the pattern of the surrounding region. However changes came to the way buildings were being constructed after the British established a settlement in 1819 near the mouth of the Singapore River. The buildings in the colonial and post-colonial period included a range of European Neoclassical, Gothic, Palladian and Renaissance architectural styles that were seen in places of worship of different ethnic and religious setting as well as colonial civic and commercial architectures. Introduction of Modernist architecture in Singapore began with the arrival of “reinforced concrete” a popular building material and also the transition of Art Deco style22. This International Style modern architecture afterwards from the 1950s to the 1970s gathered popularity especially in the public housing. One of the popular architectural styles in the building boom periods in Singapore history was the Brutalist style of architecture in the 1970s. This period gave rise to some architecturally significant works like Pearl Bank Apartments, People's Park Complex and Golden Mile Complex. Golden Mile Complex Pearl Bank Apartments Some of the architectural experiments that did not make appearance until the 1980s were the post-modern experiments. A recent example of the Palladian, Renaissance, or Neo-classical styles is the National Museum of Singapore23. Other significant buildings included the Fullerton building, Old supreme court, city hall, concert hall, military camps, Victoria theatre and police stations around the Island. An example of Art Deco architecture, dating mainly from the 1920s and 1930s includes types of buildings, like Kallang Airport, the Ford Factory, Singapore's first skyscrapers, the Cathay Building and the Asia Insurance Building24. All these structures are considered sustainable because of the designs they have that allow more use of natural lighting and ventilation. For the design of the Golden Mile complex provides for the penetration of natural light and increases cross ventilation in the building rooms. The windows designs all cater for that and also the louvers made in it a classical desirable design adopted fro modern architecture. In the late nineties the Singapore government decided to take a step to develop the “iconic” landmarks in the cities to strengthen its identity to foreigners. Old Supreme Court Asia Insurance Building It is however important to note that some tropical traditional houses with ancient designs have been seen to pose great stress to the environment. Unlike other ancient buildings with poor lighting and ventilation, the Supreme Court is one example of buildings with an urban context that allows maximum natural ventilation. Some of these structures have poor ventilation requiring a lot of energy to ventilate them. This may sometimes require remodeling of these buildings or upgrading using modern designs to match the required environmental standards. In conclusion topical architecture requires an approach that can be sustainable through use of designs that allow maximum ventilation, have low use of non renewable energy to provide comfort in the house environment, allow maximum use of space, and allow use of natural lighting and more so does not pose a threat to the surrounding environment. Use of solar panels on high rise towers, roofs with mechanisms to tap water, windows and house openings that allow penetration and use of natural light and structures that maximize use of space e.g. complexes that allow business and residence at the same time should be adopted. Endnotes . Joo-Hwa Bay and Boon-Lay Ong (2006). Social and environmental dimensions in tropical sustainable architecture. Singapore National University. 2. Ibid 3. Reynolds P, Apperly & Irving R (1994). Australian architecture. Harper Collins publishers Australia. 4. Ibid 5. Goondie, Paul. G, Wurley. (2007). Australian Aboriginal architecture. Queensland University press. 6. Goondie, Paul. G, Wurley. (2007). Australian Aboriginal architecture. Queensland University press. 7. Alcorta, Frank. (1984). Darwin Rebellion 1911-1919. Northern Territory University Planning Authority. 8. Alcorta, Frank. (1984). Darwin Rebellion 1911-1919. Northern Territory University Planning Authority 9. Reynolds P, Apperly & Irving R (1994). Australian architecture. Harper Collins publishers Australia. 10. Reynolds P, Apperly & Irving R (1994). Australian architecture. Harper Collins publishers Australia. 1. Angus & Robertson. (1995). "A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Austrlian Architecture; Styles and Terms from 1788 to the Present" Sydney. 12. Macquarie Dictionary. (2005). Melbourne, Fourth Edition. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. 13. Alex Taylor. (2007).Inside the Artistic Affairs of Bohemian Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing & State Library of Victoria: North Melbourne. 14. Alex Taylor. (2007).Inside the Artistic Affairs of Bohemian Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing & State Library of Victoria: North Melbourne. 15. Gurstien, P. (1985). Malaysia Architecture Heritage Survey. A Handbook, Malaysia Heritage Trust. 16. Ibid. 17. Gurstien, P. (1985). Malaysia Architecture Heritage Survey. A Handbook, Malaysia Heritage Trust. 18. Garvin W. J. (2002). South East Asia urbanization and the growth of mega urban regions. Journal of poplation research. 19. Garvin W. J. (2002). South East Asia urbanization and the growth of mega urban regions. Journal of poplation research. 20. Wong Yunn Chii. (2005). A Gallery of Architecture & Urban Design. Urban Redevelopment Authority Singapore. 21. Powell, Robert. (2004). Singapore Architecture: A short history. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd, Hong Kong. 22. Powell, Robert. (2004). Singapore Architecture: A short history. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd, Hong Kong. 23. Wong Yunn Chii. (2005). A Gallery of Architecture & Urban Design. Urban Redevelopment Authority Singapore. 24. Powell, Robert (2004) Singapore Architecture: A short history Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd, Hong Kong Bibliography Alex Taylor. (2007).Inside the Artistic Affairs of Bohemian Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing & State Library of Victoria: North Melbourne. Alcorta, Frank. (1984). Darwin Rebellion 1911-1919. Northern Territory University Planning Authority. Angus & Robertson. (1995). "A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Austrlian Architecture; Styles and Terms from 1788 to the Present" Sydney. Dr. A Ghafar Ahmad. (1999). The architectural styles of Mosques in Malaysia from vernacular to modern structures. King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia vol 2. Gurstien, P. (1985). Malaysia Architecture Heritage Survey. A Handbook, Malaysia Heritage Trust. Garvin W. J. (2002). South East Asia urbanization and the growth of mega urban regions. Journal of poplation research. Goondie, Paul. G, Wurley . (2007). Australian Aboriginal architecture. Queensland University press. Macquarie Dictionary. (2005). Melbourne, Fourth Edition. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. Joo-Hwa Bay and Boon-Lay Ong. (2006). Social and environmental dimensions in tropical sustainable architecture. Singapore National University. Powell, Robert. (2004). Singapore Architecture: A short history. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd, Hong Kong. Reynolds P, Apperly & Irving R (1994). Australian architecture. Harper Collins publishers Australia. Wong Yunn Chii. (2005). A Gallery of Architecture & Urban Design. Urban Redevelopment Authority Singapore. Read More

Architecture in Australia however can be classified in two main categories: "Residential" and "Non-Residential" with the residential styles being the most prolific in the buildings made. At a closer look there is limited evidence of indigenous Australian structures in the pre-colonial period since most of them were semi-permanent domestic structures. Thus, most of the architectural work is attributed to the colonial and post-colonial period4. These pre-colonial period houses varied from round houses thatched with grass, temporary windbreaks to wiltjas (shelters) of Stringybark/paperbark.

Construction materials also varied across geographic regions depending on the availability of materials and also the regions environment. Colder regions of southeastern Australia were more known to construct huts from stone while using whale bones for the structures framework. For the Desert people in the western region, their shelter frames were made from tree limbs and for cladding spinifex was used. Mud was used In the Lake Eyre region with grass to waterproof dome shelters5. Meriam house of the Torres Strait Islands Winter shelter covered in spinifex grass Australian architects however were known to be among the early adopters of imported styles and putting local interpretation to them6.

Some of the early architecture included among others the Georgian architecture seen in the early government buildings and mostly in Melbourne and Sydney, Victorian architecture which was seen in regional capitals: Ballarat and Bendigo other styles include Art-Deco and Classical. Federal, Functionalist, Structuralist and modernist architectural styles were adopted later on in the turn of the 20th century after architects tried to define the modernist styles and how to adopt them and sought to reject historicism.

Darwin’s’ architecture Darwin “the capital of the Australian northern territory” just like the greater Australian region has ancient designs but many with colonial and post-colonial designs7. Darwin however is mostly is characterized by relatively low houses unlike Sydney which is filled with skyscrapers. Among the architectural styles that can be seen here is the Victorian architecture, in which Burnett’s work is attributed to. Some of the famous buildings in the Darwin Northern Territory include the Parliament House, Burnett House and the government House which was the official residence of the Administrator of the Northern Territory which is located on the Esplanade8.

Construction of the Parliament House was done from 1990- 1994, and officially opened by the Governor-General of Australia, Bill Hayden since the old colonial administrative building build in 1948 was demolished owing to the fact they were temporal structures9. Parliament House in Darwin Historical Burnett house Burnett House is one of the most famous examples of tropical architecture in Darwin. Build in 1939 and allocated to the NT director of works by B.C.G Burnett. It is a surviving example of the type “K” house an unusual design that incorporated an entrance, lobby and lounge/ dining room at ground level and bedrooms above.

It was restored in 1989 as a result of suffering world war two and cyclone Tracy in 1974. Burnett designs have been one of the most adopted designs in the modern architecture since it is seen to meet the standards for sustainable architecture. The designs conceptualized to maximize the space inside the house allowing maximum ventilation and penetration of natural light. These designs have been coupled with the modern architectural designs to bring out the environment friendly and at the same time modern exquisite structures.

This can be seen in the modern Burnets’ house designs all over Darwin by current architects. Sydney Sydney located on the southern Australia, is known to have one of the most magnificent building and structures in the world with the land mark Sydney opera house and the Sydney harbor bridge.

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