Sunway Pyramid: The New Ancient Egyptian Architecture?

Architecture Culture and History

COMPARATIVE ASSIGNMENT

How to be a good architect?

By understanding "In the beginning..." of a successful architectural creation and applying it.

By learning from this process, this will act as a benchmark for architects to create architecture that is better than what has come before and to avoid the history of design failure from repeating itself. Therefore in a group of 8 , we are to investigate historical works to not just enrich our proficiency in architectural language, design and ideas but most importantly to develop and hone our historical and architectural criticism skills, defining what is history and what is not. We are given a study case of Sunway Pyramid to conduct precedent study analysis via site visits and through on-line forum discussion, sketch analysis journal, verbal and digital presentations with these questions in mind:

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What is the main function of the building?

What was the concept or philosophy of the architect or founder that makes the building meaningful?

What were the major influences of a historical era of architecture on the building?

How does the context, building period and evolution makes the building significant and meaningful?

What is the form or shape of the building?

How does the form or shape of the building connect / contrast / derive from a historical era of architecture?

What were the materials and construction technology or method used?

How do these materials and construction technology or methods compare / contrast with the historical methods from the ‘influencing era’?

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"Is Sunway Pyramid even Original?"

The answer lies below.

Mohamad Tajuddin Haji Mohamad Rasdi, in his book, the Malaysian Architecture: Crisis Within (2005) felt unpleasant when seeing the architecture landscape of Malaysia sprinkled with simplistic revivalism and rash importance of foreign cultural fashion (p.63). He felt that Sunway Pyramid’s use of architectural languages raises issues of architectural integrity and morality of transformation of function (p.64). In the process of honouring the Egyptian architecture, the ornaments have somehow made fun of the ancient civilization by substituting divine gods into a rather quirky character, diminishing their once important place in history. The issues raised here is whether Sunway Pyramid is a new form of architecture, or just a product of uncreative thinking? As mentioned in his book, this kind of architecture appeals to the lay persons and offended no race or culture (p.63), however in an architectural perspective, it has triggered some arguments amongst designers. Doesn’t all art movement starts with a revolution and end with a reformation? Struggles will always exist.

It cannot be denied that there is absolutely no perfect monument or design and each work of man comes with a price to pay. We can assume somehow that the designers of Sunway Pyramid is using back a reference hugely bound to the fact that Egyptian architecture is popular in history, thus, will not lose its taste quickly and for unidentified commercial reasons. However, what can be appreciated is that the designers took their job as an experimental scope and are not bound by any architecture rules, because, isn’t art a form of free expression? In conclusion, as long the clients are happy, the building serves its main function and the design is appealing, the building itself will not pose a threat to society. By focusing on a small negative speck, not only will it make life harder, it will bring much unnecessary commotion. Besides that, by reintroducing ancient imageries on modern buildings, this will definitely encourage the new generation to learn and appreciate the contributions of the ancient civilizations, just like what we are doing now.

Hence, we can sign off by saying that indeed, the spirit of overcoming the pressure of critics, the effort of making a progress, the innovative mindset of experimentation and the appreciation of details and history is worth applauded for. Then, is Sunway Pyramid the new ancient Egyptian architecture? We can say: “Not entirely, but it is somewhere there.”

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Precedent Study & Analysis Sketch Journal (Issuu)

I could say that the first impression of Sunway Pyramid is “ expensive place”. Sunway pyramid shopping mall has given me the lifestyle that is different from my hometown, the lifestyle of extravagancy painted in exotic design. Because of the design itself, it is imprinted in my mind of what Sunway is, indeed, something worth remembering.

In my opinion, Sunway Pyramid is eye-catching as it’s architecture is different from other buildings and has a special theme. In the beginning, I felt this concept is interesting and is something new; but as i stayed on longer, I felt that this concept has lost its design value and have become too commercialized. Still, I appreciate how the visionaries strive to overcome the obstacles of breaking the norm. To the extent of whether it is an act of plagiarizing, it is debatable. For me as a customer, I don’t need to worry about that, as long as it pleases the eye, it is good to go.

Although the circulation of the building has to improve (easy to get lost because of the different volume of space posed by different section of the walkway), I felt that the design and the decoration is indeed wonderful enough to cover the defects posed by the vastness of void in relation to the troubles of accessibility. Overall, the designer indeed did a good job in breaking the norm of architecture in Malaysia, surely breaking past criticism along the way to where it is now.