Is Perception Reality?

Is Perception Reality?

In architecture, the concept in design should be easily perceived by the public. Hence, interaction of spatial existence with human is essential in order for the intended communication to work. But how real is perception? The following article on the reality of perception that I have come across helps explain whether perception is reality after all.

A phrase that comes up a lot nowadays is "Perception is Reality." Although this concept is wrong on a factual basis, it is reality in terms of living in today's society in which interacting and relating to others is a necessity for survival and success in today's world.

When it comes to the field of communications, which is basically the most important field in terms of work and life, other people's perceptions can dramatically shape our self concept and self esteem. It can also make or break a career. Whether the perceptions are accurate or not, if your actions portary laziness, rudeness or a lack of professionalism, whether it's deserved, or not, it can make or break a career path.

In growing up, especially as an adolescent, what others say about us, or our perception of what they think based on the reactions of others, tends to act as a mirror for how we see ourselves. As we get older, we find that being true to ourselves is necessary when it comes to being able to actualize our potential and that we cannot control how others perceive us. We can only control our actions. However a lot of us still have a bit of adolescence in us, and how we feel about our attractiveness or self worth is still very much governed by what others say about us.

A lot of young people fall into this trap. It involves aspiring to meet an image that is unattainable for most - the glossy image of beauty and success quantified by a standard imposed by those around us. We feel we must meet a standard of success; that in order to be happy, others must look at our lives and careers and say you're successful. If we can be strong enough to focus on happiness rather than "success," or hold our own definition of what success is and aspire to that, life will be a lot more enjoyable. Most of our lives will be spent in the pursuit of goals, not the attainment. Therefore, it is far more important to enjoy the journey.

The problem, of course, is that an over reliance on other people's perception, and how it pertains to our self esteem, can lead to psychological problems. Too much of a reliance on positive feedback from others puts us in the vulnerable position of creating an environment in which others can make or break us. The maturity and strength of character that comes with an acceptance and an appreciation of ourselves, along with our flaws, will help the individual journey through this complex world we live in which is awash in shades of grey.

One thing that can fog a person's perception is biases created by past experiences. Take, for example, the perception of the world a person might have if they were raised in a loving, supportive family. That particular individual's perception of self and others, and the world we live in, would be one of optimism, which opens the mind, creating a filter that feeds the individual the information that will help a person grow and succeed.

By contrast, someone who grows up in a dysfunctional, abusive environment, could find their views discolored to the point that they choose paths that lead them to dissapointment and further misery. In a way, they actually choose misery over happiness because they unknowingly assume they deserve it or expect it. Most of us know through basic psychology that thoughts lead to actions and negative perceptions of self and the world we live in causes us to prove ourselves right.

Source: Peter V. Ruble is a CEO of AmericanRubles.com.

Is Perception Reality?

Emotional Provocation In Built Environment

Emotional Provocation in Built Environment

Have you ever been emotionally charged when you enter a built environment for the first time? Well, I for certain have on several occasions. You can say to some degree that the designer has hit the winning spot when the environment is able to “speak” back to its user.

One such incident is where the space I just entered, a rather huge lobby space, got me really mad because I can’t find my way to where I was supposed to go next. In another word, I got lost. And there was just not enough signage to show me the way. At that time, the space seems to smile back in sarcasm.

Perhaps the best room for you to be when you want some solitude and peacefulness is a house of worship. Though normally big in terms of scale, the emotional sense of closeness and intimacy is apparent.

How about the lift lobby? What kind of emotions reached your senses when you are in one? From experience, I would say that the feelings were of being pressed against time. It made jump every time the lift doors open.

Apart from the aesthetics, a built environment should be able to provoke the senses of users to make it really worth its design.

Emotional Provocation In Built Environment.

Finding Meaning: Bursa Malaysia

Finding Meaning: Bursa Malaysia


Here is a brief description of the Bursa Malaysia or formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Building:

Location

Along Persiaran Maybank off Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. It is annexed to Exchange Square, and occupies part of Bukit Kewangan (Financial Hill). Well within commercial district, it is surrounded by offices and banks, notably the Maybank headquarters.

Owner’s Brief

The public should readily identify the building as the local stock exchange. It should project the image of being strong, solid, and at the same time inspiring confidence and reliability. Besides its basic function as a house of share trading and money making, it is also a place for information retrieval and an arena of educational seminars with state-of-the-art building technology.

The Design Concept

Overall, the design is contextually classical. It has fulfilled the owner’s intention of establishing a strong and solid existence, a monumental architecture that embodies timeless spirit. Long term endurance for beauty, utility, commodity, solidity and permanence are harmonised in classical buildings. It is with this spirit that the building takes its shape.
Description

The Bursa Malaysia is a 16-storey tower. Inside, it houses the bourses, public library, an information technology centre that can link the Bursa Malaysia to any international financial centres world wide, a conference room for 300 people convertible into two smaller seminar rooms, a theatrette for 138 people with the latest audio visual system, 11 floors of typical office spaces all with raised floor systems and two floors of executive offices at the 14th and 15th floors.

It also has recreational facilities at the lower ground and semi-basement floors. These are a multi-purpose hall with a seating capacity of 500 people and two badminton courts with terraced seatings. Other facilities include two squash courts, music training rooms, gymnasium and a surau (Muslim prayer hall) for about 70 persons.

On the ground and lower ground level, the tower is connected to Exchange Square. The Square features an automotive mall, air-conditioned food court and a restaurant. An amphitheatre sits atop the roof of the Square that becomes part of the features of a beautiful landscaped garden, complete with cascading waterfalls.

Summary Notes

• Client Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange
• Architect Idris Bhat & Associates-Architects
• Civil & Structural Engineer Hussein & K H Chong Sdn Bhd
• Mechanical & Electrical Engineer Antara Jurutera Perunding Sdn Bhd
• Quantity Surveyor Perunding NFL Sdn Bhd
• Landscape Architect Malik Lip & Associates
• Interior Designer IsskAplus; Elya Impressions Soft Furnishing Sdn Bhd
• Main Contractor Bina Alam Bersatu Sdn Bhd

Finding Meaning: Bursa Malaysia

Enter The Tower

Enter the Tower


Considering the scale factor, one can easily forget that the entrance to a high rise building is as important as the whole design itself. No matter how high the building rises, the entrance has to relate to human scale.

There are more than one approach to the design of entrances to a high rise tower buildings. One that I find of most importance is their appearance.

The main entrance requires the following basic elements to make it work:

1. It has to be grand enough so people can easily identify it. It doesn't have to be unique, just different from the rest of the facade. There must be a distinct visual difference between a row of windows or other sub-entrances and the main entrance.

2. There must be enough signages to say that this is the main entrance to the tower. I don't want to get lost looking for it. I could ended up entering the wrong tower.

3. It should project the image of hospitality. I want to feel like I'm being welcomed as I approach the main entrance, even if it is a hospital.

4. Make it as bright as possible at night so nobody is going to miss it.

Enter the Tower

The Elements of Expression

There are three elements that is considered as sacred in every creative architectural development:

1. a client with an instict for quality;
2. a master who knows how to awaken the creative possibilities of newer generation; and
3. the existence of a rising generation

Looking back at the KLCC twin towers reminds me of a statement made by the first "master" who started this school of thoughts, Peter Behrens, way back in the early 1900s:

Materials such as glass and iron possessed within them a secret strength of expression that could be brought out as soon as an artist understood how to develop their means and possibilities.

Unlike Le Corbusier's expression of forms, the new expression, that is glass and iron, were no longer enclosed by huge and solid walls. This is skin and bones construction, as Mies van der Rohe once put it.

So, the application of this concept for the twin towers, in a sense, is perfect. It makes the building stands out in the croud. Because its the only steel and glass building in the area surrounded by concrete and stone ones.

Isengard

The believe that man can't live forever on asphalt has prompted the ideas of taking high-rise buildings into an open space. First concieved by an architect Walter Gropius in 1930, the concept grew in popularity and fast becoming an accepted norm in contemporary urban design.

If the original intention of the designer of the twin towers of KLCC were to become realised, then Kuala Lumpur would have a landmark worthy of Isengard. I wonder if Cesar Pelli & Associates (USA), the architect of the Petronas Twin Towers, was inspired by Tolkien when designing the towers.

However, the drawback would be the distance one has to travel by foot from the open space car park to the entrance of KLCC. No doubt this problem might not exist if you park in the multi-level basement car park. But the basement car park has another story to tell.

That, in my next post.

The Busses Stop Here

I think the management of KLCC should do something about tourist busses parking. Because at present these busses just park at the side of Jalan P Ramlee causing traffic jams, especially during afternoon rush hour.

It's not that there are no parking spaces for busses, it's just plain too far from the twin towers and Suria KLCC. The actual parking spaces for busses are on the opposite side of the entire KLCC ground. So it means that you have to walk about half a kilometer through the park before ariving at the main entrance of Suria KLCC.

Somehow I see this as a flaw in the overall design of KLCC and the location of the twin towers.

I heard rumours that the original design of KLCC has the twin towers positioned right in the middle of the park. Therefore, realizing its concept of having a twin-towers in the park. But due to foundation issues, the final location is where it stands now.

Unless something is done now, this is where the busses stop, by the side of busy P Ramlee Street.