Bicol University

Institute of Architecture

Legazpi City, Albay

CONTEMPORARY ASIA:
THE DEVELOPMENT IN MODERN
ASIAN ARCHITECTURE

SUBMITTED BY:
DE MATA ,ED JERAN

NAVARRO, CECILLE ANN

SABIO, JAEL D.V

BS-ARCHITECTURE 3B

SUBMITTED TO:
AR. REYNALDO O. NACIONAL JR.
FUAP PIEP MS ARCHI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3

SUMMARIZED DISCUSSION

MODERN ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE 4

MODERN INDIAN ARCHITECTURE 5

CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE 5

CONTEMPORARY KOREAN ARCHITECTURE 6

CONTEMPORARY CHINESE ARCHITECTURE 6

SOUTHEAST ASIAN ARCHITECTURE 7

CONCLUSION 8

REFERENCES 8
 I. INTRODUCTION

Asia is too massive and diverse to conceptualize as a single digestible travel "destination". Even defining the borders of
this continent is difficult - from the mountains around the Black Sea in the west, to the snow fields of Siberia in the east,
there are more people and cities in Asia than outside of it.

TRIVIA
 The world's highest point, Mount Everest, lies within Asia along the border of Tibet and Nepal soaring 8,848m
(29,028 ft) above sea level.
 Its lowest point is the Dead Sea, located at the meeting points of Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Jordan,
whose surface is 400m (1,312 ft) below sea level.
 Asia's longest river is the Yangtze, which runs 6,300km (3,915 miles) through China, all the way from the high
Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai.
 Its largest lake is the 386,400km² (149,200 square mile) Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by several Central
Asian nations.

Asia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, by Australia to the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the south. It's
bordered by the Red Sea to the southwest, by Europe and the Urals to the west, and by the Arctic Ocean to the north.

There are ultra modern, largely democratic countries like Japan and the East Asian Tigers (regions and countries)
of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea which are very prosperous and in which people enjoy very high
standards of living. On the other hand, Afghanistan, Laos and East Timor are extremely poor countries where people
struggle even to get a few grains of rice each day. Of course, there are also many countries lying somewhere in the
middle, such as the emerging powerhouses of China and India which make wonderful travel destinations in themselves
due to their long history, size and diversity. Thailand is a magnet for travelers, with great food, a tropical climate,
fascinating culture, and great beaches. On the other extreme, Asia houses Communist North Korea, perhaps the most
oppressive regime in the world, which has no travel freedom and constant monitoring by the government.

Asia offers very diverse travel options, and undeniably, each country’s architecture is truly remarkable.

Because of this, we highlighted some of the continent’s exemplary architecture of each region.

East Asia (China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea)

South Asia (India)
Southeast
Asia (Cambodia, , Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
 II. SUMMARIZED DISCUSSION:

MODERN ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

Islamic architecture as a design category, a process that developed over the last century. Slowly
emerging as a revivalist trend in the early 1900s, Islamic architecture remained on the margins during the late colonial
and early nationalist periods when a more vocal modernism embodied the architecture of the new nation-states. This
dominance, however, was somewhat supplanted by the historicist push of post-modernism, which, along with the
parallel burgeoning of critical regionalism and vernacular revival, undergirded the evolution of Islamic architecture from
the 1970s to the 1990s. More recently, mounting global pressures brought historic preservation and reuse, new
technologies, as well as landscape and environmental design within the purview of contemporary Islamic architecture.
The modern mosques where also one of the trend that was developed in time. Henning Larsen Architects has set out to
prove that it is possible to design a modern mosque that speaks to the younger Islamic generation while respecting
those age-old traditions.

Modernization of Mosques

PROBLEMS OF CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE, The challenge facing architects

and designers in the contemporary Arab world is varied and complex; ranging from the
practical and commercial realities of the building industry to the communal and cultural
identity of this part of the world. Architecture also has to work at a cultural level where
buildings have to become symbols of the identity of the community; representing its
continuous development and establishing its architectural tradition. Most importantly of
all, architecture has to seek its inspiration in the world of the Archetypes; it is to this world
that we, as architects, go to seek the essence and true meaning of Form and from which
we bring back our interpretations of these universal archetypes.
 MODERN INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

Indian architecture has taken on many styles and forms throughout history. Many of these past
forms have become globally iconic, such as the Taj Mahal and South Indian Temples. Domes, minarets (slender towers),
intricate latticework, and calligraphy work are all traditional characteristics of Indian architecture that can be found on
sites like the Taj Mahal. Although images of ornate buildings with domes and minarets may come to mind when we think
of Indian architecture, modern Indian architecture looks much different than its traditional lineage . Modern Indian
architecture still honors and upholds the traditions of India, but the architectural form works to better meet the needs
of modern day society. Modern Indian structures didn't even start coming around until after India gained independence
from the British in 1947. Post 1947, Indian architecture was at a standstill in terms of progression; there was no unique
identity being formed. However, when the Indian Punjab government took on world famous architect Le Corbusier to
design the city of Chandigarh, an architectural breakthrough began.

CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE

What draws us to Japanese architecture? It is because of the renowned success of projects by renowned
designers lies in their ability to shift our expectations. Japanese contemporary architecture is often admired for its
Simplicity, Attention to Details , Contemplative atmosphere, palpable emphasis of material lightness and/or gravity.

Though these characteristics are indeed common among recent projects designed by Japanese architects, they
fail to address a quality that is fundamental to understanding these works. This quality is embodied in the Japanese
concept of ihyou (pronounced “ee-hyoh”), meaning something unexpected or surprising. Ihyou is a unifying force in
Japanese architecture today and a primary aspiration of its designers. Regardless of project type, scale, or material
character, they believe that a building must shift our expectations—and by doing so, reveal the broader possibilities of
experience within the physical environment.Although there are many types of surprises, from subtle to abrupt,
architectural ihyou is rarely shocking or gratuitous. Rather, it awakens the mind of the user without causing alarm,
sparking curiosity, intrigue, and delight. The goal of ihyou is to make a conscious connection in order to impart an
indelible memory. Three primary strategies for achieving ihyou can be described by what the designers seek to convey:

IMPOSSIBILITY - appears to challenge the laws of physics, manipulation of light and shadows

INCONGRUITY - along with impossible details, seek unexpected relationships

TOTALLITY- treats buildings more like landscapes, focus on single material system
 CONTEMPORARY KOREAN ARCHITECTURE

With one of the world’s strongest economies, both the government and private enterprise have in the last
decade begun to invest in better design. Local architects, having trained abroad, returned to their native country to
implement more sophisticated design and construction techniques. Celebrated foreign architects were either invited or
submitted their own proposed plans for major projects backed by increasingly impressive budgets.Progressive, inventive
and often strange constructions have sprung up, some of them better than others, but all of them contributing to the
morphing of South Korea’s landscape.South Korea may be known for its sharp focus on the new, but architects -- and
their increasingly sophisticated clients -- are looking to the past for inspiration.Once a familiar sight across the country,
traditional Korean houses, called hanoks, have been steadily disappearing since the 1990s. Despite government efforts
to preserve them, these single-story courtyard homes have been replaced by modern housing, or destroyed to make
way for large commercial developments and infrastructure.But just as K-pop grew from Korea's musical past to express
newfound wealth and national identity, 'K-architecture' is now offering a contemporary take on traditional
living."Historically, the prevalent view was that the hanok was useless -- it was blocking development and economic
progress," says Hyumgmin Pai, an architectural historian at Seoul National University who curated South Korea's award-
winning pavilion at the 2014 Venice Biennale.

"Now we are just

beginning to understand what
hanoks mean.”

“The close relationship

between a building's interior
and its exterior is another
design principle that today's
architects are hoping to
revive.”

MODERN CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

Since entering the modern era, the Chinese have struggled to combine Chinese architectural principles and
Western urban planning and design. China's intense population pressures and urban migration trends have led to the
disappearance of traditional Chinese architecture as China makes room for more efficient but less eye-catching
buildings. There are certain features common to all Chinese architecture, regardless of specific region or use.Though
affected by the modern western architecture, it also keeps some traditional characteristics. Traditionally, Chinese
architecture put more emphasis on the width of buildings. Affected by Western architecture, Chinese architecture now
tends to grow in height and depth instead. Another important feature is its emphasis on symmetry, which remained a
subject from ancient China until now. It connotes a sense of grandeur; which now applies to everything.The use of
certain colors, numbers of the cardinal directions in traditional Chinese architecture reflected the belief in a type of
immanence, where the nature of something could be wholly contained in its own form, without reference to a
momentary belief. Although the Western tradition gradually developed a body of architectural literature, little was
written on the subject in China, and the earliest text was never doubted.
 SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asian art and architecture includes works from the geographical area including the modern countries
of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The area is also
known as Indochina. The art of this region draws from three major sources: indigenous traditions, China, and
India. When most people think about architecture in Southeast Asia, they tend to focus on ancient structures such as
temples and monuments—and with good reason. The region is, after all, decorated with some of the oldest buildings the
world has ever known.However, recent times have seen the construction of numerous unique and beautiful buildings
across Southeast Asia; buildings that glow with their very own magnificence and shine as symbols of modernisation
without shying away from being different.

These contemporary structures are striking examples of cutting edge construction, and they represent a series
of sights that you should not miss the chance to marvel at some of these unique modern structures.

The modern architectural style of

the Institute, designed by the inimitable Zaha
Hadid, embraces the timeless humanitarian
values and rich culture of Cambodia while
transitioning away from traditional genocide
and memorial architecture.

-Cambodia

Without a doubt, the most famous modern architectural landmark in Kuala Lumpur are the Petronas Twin
Towers. Opened in 1999 after three years as a building site, they stand at nearly half a kilometre tall, with 88 floors (with
an additional 5 basement floors) and 382,000 sqm in floor area. The Petronas Towers are the most iconic modern
buildings in Kuala Lumpur, standing nearly half a kilometre tall. When they were unveiled in 1998, they were the tallest
buildings in the world.Their unique tapered shape can be
seen from vantage points all over Kuala Lumpur, and even
from parts of the neighbouring state of Selangor. Those
who aren’t afraid of heights can take an elevator up to
the Skybridge—a double-decker bridge that connects the
two towers on their 41st and 42nd floors—for
unparalleled views of Kuala Lumpur. Arguably the most
commanding bridge in Singapore, Henderson Waves is a
structure that impresses in terms of both appearance and
the views it provides. Regarded as the nation's highest
pedestrian bridge, its 274-metre body is a union of steel
and wood, combined in a fashion that simulates the
undulation of waves.
 III. CONCLUSION

As Somerset Maugham once said, “Nothing in this world is permanent…”- a cliché statement which connote that
change is inevitable. Everything changes and so as Architecture. These changes are maybe caused by the innovation in
our society, technology and even by the demand of the environment and its people. The change in the practice of
Architecture is vividly shown through the years; from the caves to pyramids, small sheds to skyscrapers, distant lands
made closer through the bridges and structures are made stronger through innovations. It grows, changes and evolves
through time and still preserves its principles, characteristics and functions. Architecture has cope with the rapid change
of time and has shown its flexibility- catering different race, culture, tradition, religion and even with the challenge of
Climate Change. Architecture has defined time, and time has defined Architecture.

IV. REFERENCES

http://study.com/academy/lesson/modern-indian-architecture-characteristics-examples.html

https://www.nomadinception.com/islamic-design/islamic-design-resources/islamic-architecture-islamic-decoration.html

http://www.goasean.com/stories/7-unique-modern-structures-in-southeast-asia

https://wikitravel.org/en/Asia

http://islamicartsmagazine.com/magazine/view/the_new_concept_of_islamic_architecture_in_europe/

http://study.com/academy/lesson/modern-islamic-architecture-patterns-concepts.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/20/architecture/korean-traditional-hanok/index.html

http://study.com/academy/lesson/modern-chinese-architecture-design-styles.html

https://www.quora.com/How-are-traditional-Chinese-architectural-styles-and-elements-adopted-in-modern-Chinese-architecture

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2012/11/chinese-architecture-old-and-new/100409/

http://www.boredpanda.com/amazing-modern-japanese-architecture/

https://prezi.com/k0reiga7assq/korean-modern-architecture/?webgl=0

https://www.e-architect.co.uk/south-korean-architecture
PERSONAL INFO

Name: ED JERAN C. DE MATA

Date of Birth: NOVEMBER 1, 1998 Age: 18

Home Address: HOLIDAY HOME BRGY. LAG-ON DAET, CAMARINES NORTE

Place of Birth: DAET, CAMARINES NORTE

Father’s Name: EDMUNDO E. DE MATA Mother’s Name: EDITHA C. DE MATA

Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC

Gender: MALE Civil Status: SINGLE

Language: ENGLISH, TAGALOG

Contact Number:09476334795

Email: edjerandemata@gmail.com
PERSONAL INFO

Name: CECILLE ANN L. NAVARRO

Date of Birth: NOVEMBER 22, 1998 Age: 18

Home Address: ZONE 3 UPPER BONGA BACACAY ALBAY

Place of Birth: BACACAY ALBAY

Father’s Name: ALLAN BEJO NAVARRO Mother’s Name: IMELDA LOTIVIO NAVARRO

Religion: CHRISTIAN

Gender: FEMALE Civil Status: SINGLE

Language: ENGLISH, TAGALOG

Contact Number:09150910337

Email: navarrocecille7@gmail.com
PERSONAL INFO

Name: JAEL DE VERA SABIO

Date of Birth: : SEPTEMBER 23, 1998 Age: 19

Home Address: SAN ISIDRO, NABUA, CAMARINES SUR

Place of Birth: NAGA CITY

Father’s Name: SETH T. SABIO Mother’s Name: ALEXANDRA D.V SABIO

Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC

Gender: FEMALE Civil Status: SINGLE

Language: ENGLISH, TAGALOG

Contact Number: 09102326380

Email: jaelsabio@yahoo.com