Baskoro Tedjo - Extending Sensibilities Through Design (Architectural Works 1997 - 2012): Book Launch

Social Justice / Systems

The twentieth century will be chiefly remembered by future generations not as an era of political conflicts or technical inventions, but as an age in which human society dared to think of the welfare of the whole human race as a practical objective.

Arnold J. Toynbee, English historian (1889 – 1975)

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech on December 11, 1957, former Prime Minister of Canada, Lester Pearson quoted historian, Arnold Toynbee, author of the book A Study of History. The main thesis of Toynbee’s work is that the well being of a civilization depends on its ability to respond creatively to challenges, human and the environment.

Pearson was optimistic about the twentieth century. He believed that the cycle of rise and decline was not inevitable and that a civilization could choose and act wisely in the face of recurring hardships. However, civilization was proven to overcomes the dangerous aggressivity of the individual, by weakening him, disarming him and setting up an internal authority to watch over him, like a garrison in a conquered town[1].

It is impossible to resist the impression that human beings commonly apply false standards and thoughts, seeking power, success and wealth for themselves and admiring them in others, while underrating what is truly valuable in life. “One of the most remarkable characteristics of human nature”, writes Hermann Lotze (1817 – 1881), a German philosopher, “is, alongside so much selfishness in specific instances, the freedom from envy which the present displays toward the future”[2].

The concept of the spectacle brings together a wide range of phenomena. Diversities and contrasts among such phenomena are the appearance of a social organization. This social organization is part of a class struggle, which according to Karl Marx (1818 – 1883), is a fight for social justice in the living age of the modern society[3]. Like modern society itself, is at once united and divided, struggles between forces.

These struggles have been established for the purpose of running the similar socio-economic and political system. The globalization phenomena, which is more likely is the capitalism invasion towards the world had caused social justice being left at a dilapidated condition. This phenomenon does greatly affects the built environment, which automatically will affect the social system we live in. (to be continued)

[1] Freud, Sigmund, Civilization and Its Discontent, Penguin Books, London, 2002.

[2] Lotze, Hermann, Microcosmus: An Essay Concerning Man and His Relation to the World (4^th edition), (trans. E. Hamilton and E. E. C. Jones), T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1899.

[3] Marx, Karl, Dispatches for the New York Tribune, (eds. James Ledbetter), Penguin Books, London, 2007.

Clippings - My Works in Media

Clippings - My Works in Media

Exhibition and Book Launch

Baskoro Tedjo: Extending Sensibilities Through Design

(Architectural Works 1997 – 2012)

EXHIBITION

August 27 - September 1, 2012

0900 - 1600 WIB

BOOK LAUNCH

August 31, 2012

1500 WIB

Galeri Arsitektur SAPPK ITB

Clippings - Coming Soon

Publishing Architecture

What happens when the architect assumes the role of writer, art director, editor, publisher and distributor?

Zak Kyes

Forms of Inquiry: The Architecture of Critical Graphic Design (2007)

Description

Publishing Architecture is an elective course offered to students of architecture at UPH, starting from August 2012. The course is open to students of semester 5 and above, and will carry a total merit of 3 SKS.

The intention of Publishing Architecture is to expose architectural students to the concepts, processes and practices of publication design and production in the context of architectural and design practices.

It is hoped that by attending this course, students will get better understanding on the importance of architectural publication and its impact towards the development of architectural studies and profession.

Upon finishing the course, students are expected to have clear conceptual and practical understanding on the process of desktop publication, which include:

1.     Conceptual framework of publication works

2.     Approaches in publication design

3.  Production system of books in architecture academia and practice and its impact towards the  profession

4.     Communication techniques in publication (writing, editing, graphic design)

Methods

The course will include series of lectures and presentations on the background, history, current practices and future development of architectural publication. Continuous exercises in the form of case studies and projects will expose students to the approaches, techniques and processes involved in desktop publishing.

Small workshops with specific agenda will accompany the course throughout the semester. To cultivate productivity, participating students from this course will be involved directly into the Architecture Department’s Publication Unit, producing publication such as Archive, event posters and many more.

Course Tutor

Hafiz Amirrol

Architecture offers many things;

ideas, manifestoes, jokes, gossips, frustrations, drawings, attitude, enquiries, beauty, agendas, knowledge, crap-tech, etc.

Peter Cook

AA Book (2008)

Through These Architect’s Eyes

All the majesty of a city landscape

All the soaring days of our lives

All the concrete dreams in my minds eye

All the joy I see through these architects’ eyes

Making a goal, life's a goal, life's a goal

and life's a…

David Bowie

Through These Architect’s Eyes (1995)

Description

The agenda of this year’s Studio Dasar Desain (SDD) 1 is to introduce students to the exploration of their individual and collective potentials and skills, developed through the process of observation, analyzing, drawing, making and communication.                                                             

The studio will provide students with opportunities to develop their conceptual, analytical and representational skill. This shall be done by allowing students to continuously recognize and develop their interests and potentials through an open and creative environment of the school. 

This dynamic and diverse studio will help opened students’ perspectives and understanding on the wide range of design disciplines through concrete process of observing, analyzing, drawing, making, writing and communicating. Continuous exercises, discussion and other creative activities are hoped to help and challenge the students to achieve the objective of this studio agenda.

Methods

Responding to its main agenda, the course will embark on an intensive process of inter-disciplinary approaches, opening pathways to a variety of creative processes and disciplines. 

Series of skill drilling exercises will help prepare students to nurture their design interests and develop skills, balancing their ability to be critically and skillfully creative.

The studio will culminate a fun and creative environment through experimentation on both creative and critical thinking and skills through networked and broad range processes, which include the dissemination of conceptual and representational skills.

The studio will also embark on regular informal walks around the city, looking and observing daily living environments, visiting interesting places, galleries and attending design and other related events. Spontaneous events such as movie screening, discussing movies, music or books will also be conducted within the studio to help nurture the culture of criticism and design intellects.

Studio Instructors

Hafiz Amirrol

Stanley Wangsadihardja

Ari Widio

Veronica Gandha

Baskoro Junianto

Place.MAKING as an Architectural Pedagogy Agenda

Pameran Place

Juli 7 - 13, 2012

‘Tempat’ (place) adalah sebuah titik (locus) pada ruang yang terdefinisikan dari hadirnya manusia berkegiatan. Arsitek, melalui kepekaan dan daya kritisnya,  membaca lapisan rajutan-rajutan teks dari ruang sebagai potensi hadirnya sebuah tempat. Arsitek, melalui kepekaan dan daya kritisnya lagi,  memberdayakan material untuk mengungkap, mengartikulasi, dan mengomposisi lapisan rajutan teks tersebut menjadi sebuah tempat.

Pameran Place ini akan memperlihatkan beberapa karya mahasiswa dari lima studio dan sebuah mata kuliah yang berupaya menunjukkan bagaimana sederhana atau kompleksitas terbacanya lapisan rajutan teks tersebut (konteks) mempengaruhi arsitektur yang hadir. Sebuah kenangan/ romantisme terhadap kualitas sebuah tempat dapat menjadi daya yang kuat untuk merancang arsitektur.

Kondisi iklim/ geografis mempengaruhi sumber daya material, pasti langsung mempengaruhi tektonika dari arsitektur tersebut. Pada tataran kota, lapisan teks sosial, ekonomi, dan politik jelas tak bisa dihindari menjadi rajutan yang harus dengan peka dan kritis dibaca oleh arsitek dalam merencanakan dan merancang sebuah arsitektur dalam ruang.

Pameran MAKING

Juli 14 - 22, 2012

“The scale model machine extends the architect’s own modest ability to measure the perceived chaos of the unknown. The scale mode is our modest mode in which the manner is measured”

Albert Smith

Architectural Model as Machine

Membuat adalah persoalan memindahkan apa yang ada di pikiran menjadi nyata pada dunia indera, untuk menjembataninya, sebuah medium selalu dibutuhkan, medium tersebut adalah scale model.

Dalam subtema pameran ini, melalui scale model yang mereka hasilkan mahasiswa Arsitektur UPH dari tiga studio berbeda ingin menunjukkan dua peran sebuah model (modus). Pertama, ia dapat berperan sebagai penengah (modest) antara pikiran dan dunia; antara apa yang sudah diketahui dan yang belum diketahui; antara apa yang diinginkan dengan segala konsekuensi yang tak terduga.

Kedua, model juga berfungsi sebagai alat ukur atau pencari (modulus), untuk mengetahui berbagai peluang yang tak terpikirkan sebelumnya. Scale model tersebut mendemonstrasikan sejauh mana pemikiran dan menggunakan metode analog dan digital, memahami material dan  konstruksi, serta bentuk dan fungsi. Hadirnya 3 studio dengan titik berangkat yang berbeda ini menunjukkan kesatuan kronologis cara berpikir dalam membuat. Mana yang lebih dulu? Mungkin hanya dapat dijawab oleh mereka yang pernah mengalaminya.

Pavillion Project

Juli 7 - 22, 2012

The Pavilion Project adalah proyek yang diprakarsai oleh mahasiswa arsitektur UPH dan dibimbing oleh staf pengajar jurusan arsitektur. Projek berbasis bengkel eksperimen ini dijadwalkan secara teratur sepanjang semester dari Januari sampai Mei 2012.

Proyek tahun ini bertujuan untuk melakukan percobaan pada penggunaan mesin lasercutter, maka workshop desain ini mengeksplorasi berbagai kemungkinan bentuk yang dapat dicapai melalui modul-modul planar. Workshop ini juga menjajaki kelayakan material dan sambungan, dan bertujuan untuk menemukan cara yang paling efisien untuk mencapai desain yang spesifik melalui penggunaan perangkat Grasshopper, dan batas kapasitas mesin lasercutter (dengan menggunakan kayu multipleks 9 mm).

Desain akhir mengekspresikan susunan modul planar ke ruang volumetrik. Modul-modul metaballs melengkapi instalasi ini dan dihasilkan dengan teknik pemetaan perangkat Grasshopper.

Personal Space Installation

Juli 7 - 22, 2012

Pada studio ini, model merepresentasikan bagaimana eksplorasi mahasiswa menggunakan alat analog. Segala macam permasalahan olah bentuk mereka hadapi saat itu juga tanpa perantara, seperti sambungan, material, dimensi dan bobot, serta masalah lainnya. Tujuan dari studio ini adalah melatih kepekaan indera mahasiswa akan bentuk - fungsi - material.

Tindakan visualisasi adalah tindakan pasif dan merupakan bakat dasar yang mempengaruhi indera dan keadaan pikiran (kreativitas). Oleh karena itu, ia juga mempengaruhi tubuh secara langsung dan menggairahkan indera. Jika arsitektur, dilihat sebagai objek yang diinginkan oleh indera, maka proses membuat harus dilibatkan dalam proses berarsitektur. Dalam konteks ini, proses membuat menjadi sebuah proyeksi visual dan medium desain yang mana ia dapat memperluas spektrum visual untuk dalam pengembangan ide dan cara berpikir.

Tema pameran ini menyarankan proses membuat sebagai komponen dalam proses mengubah ide menjadi benda nyata melalui eksplorasi yang terus menerus. Dasar pembuatan itu sendiri adalah kritik-diri dan produk-produknya adalah kualitas yang berakar pada alam bawah sadar indera tubuh dan pikiran.

Text by Andreas Wibisono, Stanley Wangsadihardja, Dani Hermawan and Hafiz Amirrol